CC Slaughters

The CC Slaughters in Portland, Oregon, located on Davis Street in the northwest Portland part of the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, was established in 1981.{{Cite journal|url=http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2013/06/27/200-greatest-gay-bars-world|title=200 of the Greatest Gay Bars in the World|date=June 27, 2013|journal=Out|issn=1062-7928|publisher=Here Media|access-date=June 21, 2016|archive-date=January 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107062314/http://www.out.com/entertainment/popnography/2013/06/27/200-greatest-gay-bars-world|url-status=live}} It plays different music genres every night.{{Cite web|url=https://www.frommers.com/destinations/portland-or/nightlife/cc-slaughters|title=C.C. Slaughters|publisher=Frommer's|access-date=September 1, 2013|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402173725/https://www.frommers.com/destinations/portland-or/nightlife/cc-slaughters|url-status=live}} The Portland Mercury has described the club as having a "shiny and modern inside with no cover charge, a big dance floor and crazy laser/light show".{{Cite web|url=http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/cc-slaughters/Location?oid=38381|title=CC Slaughters|date=February 8, 2014|work=The Portland Mercury|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223094809/http://www.portlandmercury.com/portland/cc-slaughters/Location?oid=38381|archive-date=February 23, 2014|access-date=April 3, 2019}} Adjacent to the dance floor was a lounge called Rainbow Room.

File:Portland Pride 2014 - 125.JPG

In 2014, CC Slaughters was one of the few two bars to be featured in the list of bars attributed to DUI arrests in Portland in four years of data reviewed by Jonathan Maus of Bike Portland.{{Cite news|url=https://bikeportland.org/2014/04/07/beaverton-bars-top-olcc-list-of-establishments-linked-to-duii-arrests-103990|title=Beaverton bars top OLCC list of establishments linked to DUII arrests|last=Maus|first=Jonathan|date=7 April 2014|work=Bike Portland|access-date=11 April 2019|quote=There are only two establishments in Portland (and not in Washington County) that appear in the four years of data we looked at: the Dirty Bar and Grill at 35 NW 3rd Ave (they appeared for two years, with an average of 13.5 incidents each year); and CC Slaughters at 219 NW Davis (they had 12 incidents in the period between July 2012 and July 2013).|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411183006/https://bikeportland.org/2014/04/07/beaverton-bars-top-olcc-list-of-establishments-linked-to-duii-arrests-103990|url-status=live}} In May 2017, one of its DJs was murdered in a random stabbing near his home.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/portland-stabbing-victim-made-everybody-happy/283-440666879|title=Portland stabbing victim 'made everybody happy'|website=KGW|date=18 May 2017|access-date=2019-04-11|archive-date=2019-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411181352/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/portland-stabbing-victim-made-everybody-happy/283-440666879|url-status=live}}

In his 2019 "overview of Portland's LGBTQ+ nightlife for the newcomer", Andrew Jankowski of the Portland Mercury wrote: "CC Slaughters & Rainbow Lounge is your prototypical gay bar. It's split into two spaces, joined by a video slot parlor. The Rainbow Lounge is next to Darcelle XV Showplace, and is perfect for a cocktail, chatting, or attending a viewing party, while CC's dance floor hosts multiple drag revues and party nights every day of the week."{{cite news |last1=Jankowski |first1=Andrew |title=An Overview of Portland's LGBTQ+ Nightlife for the Newcomer |url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/queer-issue-2019/2019/06/06/26594597/an-overview-of-portlands-lgbtq-nightlife-for-the-newcomer |access-date=June 8, 2019 |work=Portland Mercury |date=June 6, 2019 |archive-date=June 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609161102/https://www.portlandmercury.com/queer-issue-2019/2019/06/06/26594597/an-overview-of-portlands-lgbtq-nightlife-for-the-newcomer |url-status=live }}

The Portland club announced plans to close indefinitely in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/bars/2020/10/04/cc-slaughters-one-of-portlands-oldest-gay-bars-is-closing-indefinitely/|title=CC Slaughters, One of Portland's Oldest Gay Bars, is Closing Indefinitely|website=Wweek.com|date=4 October 2020|access-date=5 October 2020|archive-date=5 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005182426/https://www.wweek.com/bars/2020/10/04/cc-slaughters-one-of-portlands-oldest-gay-bars-is-closing-indefinitely/|url-status=live}} and was closed on October 11, 2020 "for the foreseeable future".{{Cite web|title=Portland nightclub CC Slaughters has its last call|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/money/business/gay-bar-beloved-in-old-town-portland-cc-slaughters-has-its-last-call/283-598e0e79-bb61-46e3-a62a-800b46a7ec7b|access-date=2020-10-13|website=kgw.com|date=12 October 2020|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-10-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015071637/https://www.kgw.com/article/money/business/gay-bar-beloved-in-old-town-portland-cc-slaughters-has-its-last-call/283-598e0e79-bb61-46e3-a62a-800b46a7ec7b|url-status=live}} The manager said the strain on the business from the pandemic and increasing homeless camps in the Old Town neighborhood was too much.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-10|title=CC Slaughters closes doors, patrons celebrate final night|url=https://www.koin.com/news/business/patrons-gather-at-cc-slaughters-on-eve-of-closing/|access-date=2020-10-13|website=KOIN.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012025940/https://www.koin.com/news/business/patrons-gather-at-cc-slaughters-on-eve-of-closing/|url-status=live}} In March, the business confirmed plans to re-open in April 2021.{{Cite web|last=Gormley|first=Shannon|date=March 30, 2021|title=CC Slaughters, One of Portland's Oldest Gay Bars, Will Reopen Next Month|url=https://www.wweek.com/bars/2021/03/30/cc-slaughters-will-reopen-next-month/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-30|website=Willamette Week|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330211055/https://www.wweek.com/bars/2021/03/30/cc-slaughters-will-reopen-next-month/ |archive-date=2021-03-30 }} In June 2025, the business announced it will be shutting down permanently in August 2025.{{Cite web |last=Acker |first=Lizzy |date=2025-06-02 |title=Classic Portland gay nightclub is closing its doors...again |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/2025/06/classic-portland-gay-nightclub-is-closing-its-doorsagain.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=The Oregonian |language=en}}

In August 2012, CC Slaughters issued a statement on its dress code regarding bachelorette party attire. The bar commented that bachelorette groups would be admitted, but affiliated attire such as penis hats or other costume jewelry, tiaras, veils or other accessories referencing bachelorettes, brides or weddings, were not allowed.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-29047-sorry-bachelorettes-no-more-penis-hats-at-cc-slaughters.html|title=Sorry, Bachelorettes: No More Penis Hats at CC Slaughters|last=Spencer|first=Aaron|date=August 17, 2012|work=Willamette Week|access-date=September 1, 2013|publisher=City of Roses Newspapers|location=Portland, Oregon|archive-date=April 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403220909/https://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-29047-sorry-bachelorettes-no-more-penis-hats-at-cc-slaughters.html|url-status=live}}{{cite journal|last=McCurdy|first=Christen|date=December 6, 2012|title=Lady Liquor: Straight women, gay bars and safe spaces|url=https://www.bitchmedia.org/post/lady-liquor-straight-women-gay-bars-and-safe-spaces-LGBT-discrimination|journal=Bitch|publisher=Bitch Media|access-date=February 8, 2014|archive-date=September 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911191246/https://bitchmedia.org/post/lady-liquor-straight-women-gay-bars-and-safe-spaces-LGBT-discrimination|url-status=live}} The statement issued by the company's marketing director stated:

[The] majority of [CC Slaughters] patrons are prohibited under Oregon Law from entering into a marriage with the one they love. To put it plainly, they're gay. So, when parties of bachelorettes walk through the doors of a gay nightclub, branded from head-to-toe in prenuptial garb and there to celebrate their upcoming marriage, many of our patrons were taking offense to it. This was creating an issue that CC Slaughters and many within the LGBTQ community felt very strongly about. The 'Bachelorette Attire Policy' was created to address this issue.

In 2013, the policy was criticized by a lesbian couple who were denied entry to the bar when they arrived in their wedding dresses (they were married earlier that day). The couple called their experience "discrimination against lesbians".{{Cite news|url=http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-21081-brides_denied.html|title=Brides Denied: A same-sex couple says CC Slaughters nightclub barred them for their wedding dresses.|access-date=September 1, 2013|date=August 28, 2013|first=Andrea|last=Damewood|work=Willamette Week|archive-date=August 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831022533/http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-21081-brides_denied.html|url-status=live}} The bar's owners issued an apology, but the couple demanded "some kind of explanation or a change in policy". A short while later, two male patrons in matching grooms shirts and bow ties were refused entry on the ground they violated the club's policy against bachelorette party attire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30631-cc-slaughters-rejects-newlywed-grooms-citing-no-bachelorette-policy.html|title=CC Slaughters Rejects Newlywed Grooms, Citing "No Bachelorette" Policy|first=Andrea|last=Damewood|website=Willamette Week|date=4 September 2013|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-06|archive-date=2019-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406105720/https://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30631-cc-slaughters-rejects-newlywed-grooms-citing-no-bachelorette-policy.html|url-status=live}}

File:CC Slaughters interior.jpgThe bar has hosted "Ladies' Night" on Tuesdays and drag shows on Sundays, plus many events throughout the year.{{cite web |title=LGBT nightlife: You'll find plenty of LGBT-friendly places to visit when the sun goes down in Portland. |url=http://www.travelportland.com/article/lgbt-nightlife/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906122315/http://www.travelportland.com/article/lgbt-nightlife/ |archive-date=September 6, 2015 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |publisher=Travel Portland}} It hosted an annual block party during the summer and a "Platinum Ball" on New Year's Eve.{{cite journal |date=August 12, 2005 |title=Portland's CC Slaughters 4th Annual Block Party features special guest performance by RuPaul |url=http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews32/page21.cfm |url-status=dead |journal=Seattle Gay News |location=Seattle, Washington |volume=33 |issue=32 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221172620/http://www.sgn.org/sgnnews32/page21.cfm |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2014}}{{cite news |last=Hector |first=Alley |date=December 29, 2008 |title=A gay ol' time for New Years |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/qpdx/2008/12/a_gay_ol_time_for_new_years.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222195322/http://blog.oregonlive.com/qpdx/2008/12/a_gay_ol_time_for_new_years.html |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |newspaper=The Oregonian}} In 2011, CC Slaughters served as a gathering point for a demonstration called "We Are Not Afraid", which was organized by the Oregon State Gay Pride Organization and attracted an estimated 400 people.{{Cite news |date=July 20, 2011 |title=Oregon State Gay Pride Organization schedules 'We Are Not Afraid' Portland peace march on July 23 |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-portland/2011/07/oregon_state_gay_pride_organization_we_are_not_afraid_portland_peace_march_july_23_2011.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222192311/http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-portland/2011/07/oregon_state_gay_pride_organization_we_are_not_afraid_portland_peace_march_july_23_2011.html |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |work=The Oregonian}}{{cite news |last=Bailey, Jr. |first=Everton |date=July 24, 2011 |title=Gay advocates and supporters march on Portland in light of recent bias crime attacks |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/07/gay_advocates_and_supporters_m.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222201643/http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/07/gay_advocates_and_supporters_m.html |archive-date=February 22, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |newspaper=The Oregonian}} The business has participated in Portland's pride parade, organized by Pride Northwest.{{cite web |year=2013 |title=Pride Northwest: 2013 Portland LGBTQ Parade Lineup |url=http://pridenw.org/downloads/paradeorder.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209112616/http://pridenw.org/downloads/paradeorder.pdf# |archive-date=2013-12-09 |access-date=February 8, 2014 |publisher=Pride Northwest}}

In 2013, Out included the Portland location in its list of the "200 of the Greatest Gay Bars in the World".

CC's was a runner-up in the Best LGBT Bar category of Willamette Week{{'s}} annual 'Best of Portland' readers' poll in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers’ Poll 2017 |url=https://www.wweek.com/promotions/2017/02/16/best-of-portland-readers-poll-2017/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}} The business was a runner-up in the same poll's Best LGBTQ Bar category and ranked third in the Best Drag Show category in 2018.{{Cite web |date=2018-07-11 |title=Here are the Winners of the Best of Portland Readers’ Poll 2018 |url=https://www.wweek.com/culture/2018/07/10/here-are-the-winners-of-the-best-of-portland-readers-poll-2018/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}} It was also a runner-up in the Best Drag Show and Best LGBTQ Bar categories in 2020,{{cite news |title=Bars + Nightlife: Congratulations to the winners + finalists of Best of Portland Readers' Poll 2020 |url=https://www.wweek.com/promotions/2020/07/21/bars-nightlife/ |access-date=September 4, 2020 |work=Willamette Week |date=July 21, 2020 |archive-date=August 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200811224343/https://www.wweek.com/promotions/2020/07/21/bars-nightlife/ |url-status=live }} and ranked second in the same poll's Best LGBTQ Bar category in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Drink Winners |url=https://www.wweek.com/promotions/2022/07/13/drink-winners/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Willamette Week |language=en}}

File:Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco (February 2023) - 250 (cropped).jpg bar, 2023]]

PinkNews has said the CC Slaughters in Puerto Vallarta "tends to be quite mixed". In 2020, the site's Amy Ashenden wrote, "If you’re going out mid-week this is likely to be the busiest (although its nightclub at the back of the bar will be painfully empty). Playing pop and Latino dance, the bar is quite friendly and, after you’ve had enough tequila, it has a nightclub at the back."{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/puerto-vallarta-mexico-gay-bars-la-zona-romantica/|title=Beach clubs, drag shows and tranquil relaxation: Why Mexico's Puerto Vallarta is the perfect queer winter sun getaway|website=Pinknews.co.uk|date=16 January 2020|access-date=16 December 2021|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729080639/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/16/puerto-vallarta-mexico-gay-bars-la-zona-romantica/|url-status=live}}

• COVID-19 pandemic in Portland, Oregon
• Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the LGBTQ community
• LGBTQ culture in Mexico

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|CC Slaughters}}

• {{Official website|http://www.ccslaughterspdx.com}} (Portland, Oregon)
• {{Official website|http://ccslaughterspv.com}} (Puerto Vallarta)

{{LGBTQ culture in Portland, Oregon}}

{{LGBT in Mexico}}

{{Old Town Chinatown, Portland, Oregon}}

{{Restaurants in Portland, Oregon}}

{{Zona Romántica}}

{{Portal bar|LGBTQ|Mexico|Oregon}}

Category:1981 establishments in Oregon

Category:2025 disestablishments in Oregon

Category:Gay culture in Oregon

Category:Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the LGBTQ community

Category:LGBTQ drinking establishments in Puerto Vallarta

Category:LGBTQ drinking establishments in Portland, Oregon

Category:LGBTQ nightclubs in Mexico

Category:LGBTQ nightclubs in Portland, Oregon

Category:Restaurants disestablished in 2025

Category:Restaurants established in 1981

Category:Restaurants in Northwest Portland, Oregon

Category:Restaurants in Old Town Chinatown

Category:Zona Romántica