Poison Waters dives into the history, craft and politics of drag

Waters, drag alter-ego of Kevin Cook, is adding professor to their resume, teaching a new summer class about the history of drag performance.

As far back at the 1940s, there was already a thriving LGBTQ+ community in Portland. But at the time, it was largely underground. A small triangle of streets in Southwest Portland became a de facto gathering spot for the queer community with venues like Schneiderman’s Music Hall, hosting classic vaudeville acts as well as drag performers.

Through the ’60s and ’70s, a stretch of what’s now Harvey Milk Street was home to many queer watering holes, and by 1976, LGBTQ+ organizers had created the city’s first gay rights march.

By 2020, the city’s iconic drag club Darcelle XV Showplace was designated a national historic site for its role in the Portland’s LGBTQ+ history.