PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Portland’s LGBTQ+ nightlife community is preparing for another loss. Doc Marie’s, a popular lesbian bar that billed itself as a “bar for everyone,” has announced it will close at the end of October.
A Community Farewell
In a statement posted on Instagram Wednesday, the owners confirmed that the bar’s final night of operation will be Friday, October 31.
“This has been a devastating year for small businesses and for our community and we don’t have the finances to keep our doors open,” the post read. “We want to send so much love and gratitude to our community and all the people that helped us create so much queer joy and magic over the last three years. We love you all, come enjoy October with us!”
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The announcement was met with an outpouring of support from patrons who said the bar provided an essential gathering place for Portland’s lesbian community.
History of Doc Marie’s
The business opened in September 2022 at 203 SE Grand Avenue, filling a void after Portland went more than a decade without a dedicated lesbian bar.
The name honored Dr. Marie Equi, a Portland-born physician and activist who was openly gay in the early 20th century. Equi was known for her medical practice, her outspoken support of labor rights, and her defiance of social norms during an era when LGBTQ+ people faced widespread discrimination.
Doc Marie’s quickly became a celebrated safe space, welcoming not only lesbian patrons but the broader queer community.
Part of a Larger Trend
Doc Marie’s closure is the latest in a string of LGBTQ+ business shutdowns in Portland.
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Sissy Bar and Crush Bar both closed by the end of 2024.
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Misfits Bar + Lounge in Northeast Portland shut down in May 2025 despite community fundraising efforts.
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Scandals, a downtown gay bar that had operated for decades, closed just last month, though its owners plan to reopen as a family-friendly establishment on Northeast Alberta Street later this year.
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CC Slaughter’s, another long-running gay nightclub, was also expected to close in early August. However, a potential buyer has since come forward to keep the venue alive.
The closures reflect broader financial pressures facing Portland’s nightlife scene, with rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and the lingering effects of the pandemic putting strain on small businesses.
The Bigger Picture
Nationally, lesbian bars have long been considered endangered. A 2021 study counted fewer than 25 across the entire United States, compared to thousands of gay bars that historically catered more to men. Advocates argue that spaces specifically welcoming lesbian and queer women remain vital to visibility and community building.
For Portland, Doc Marie’s closure carries added weight. When the bar opened, it was celebrated as the city’s first lesbian bar in over 10 years, rekindling a sense of belonging for many. Its loss leaves another gap in the city’s LGBTQ+ landscape.
What’s Next
Though Doc Marie’s will soon close, its owners emphasized that the spirit of community the bar fostered doesn’t have to fade. Patrons are being encouraged to visit throughout October to celebrate the space’s final month and honor what it created.
“We want October to be full of queer joy,” the owners wrote. “Come dance, drink, and laugh with us until the very end.”
As Portland’s LGBTQ+ community adapts to a shrinking number of physical gathering spaces, conversations are turning toward how to sustain these cultural hubs in a changing economic and social climate.
