The American city of Salem, Oregon is considered generally LGBTQ-friendly. In 2017, Salem ranked highest among cities in Oregon for having "the most LGBTQ-friendly policies and inclusiveness", scoring 90 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index. According to the Statesman Journal , "Salem scored perfectly on its non-discrimination laws, law enforcement and municipal services. The city lost points for not having transgender-inclusive health benefits and city leadership's lack of pro-equality legislative and policy efforts." [1] Salem has a LGBTQIA+ Rights Committee that was established in 2017. [2]
In 2022, the Salem-Keizer School District established policies aimed at improving the "safety, wellbeing, education and success" of transgender and non-binary students. [3] [4] A committee also decided not to remove the book Gender Queer: A Memoir from libraries. [5] In 2024, the Salem Reporter said, "In the past year, books about LGBTQ+ people and people of color were hidden on far away shelves and thrown in the trash at multiple Salem libraries." [6]
Southside Speakeasy is a gay bar in Salem. [7] The bar has hosted queer line dancing. [8]
The first Pride event in Salem was held in 1978, with nine people in attendance. [9] Attendance remained low for the early years due to fear of backlash; at this time, it was legal to fire employees for being gay in the state of Oregon, and community backlash to LGBTQ visibility was on the rise from the 1970s to 1990s. [9] The first full Pride parade was held in 1996 with 200 people in attendance. [9]
Salem hosts an annual Pride event called Pride in the Park, which is organized by Salem Capital Pride. [10] [11] [12] LGBTQ demonstrations have been held at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. [13]
In 2024, Salem's St. Paul's Episcopal Church held its first Pride Mass. [14]
Salem has a chapter of the LGBTQ organization PFLAG. Youth Era's Salem Drop is a community space for people ages 14 to 25, including many LGBTQ people. Northwest Human Services has offices at West Salem Clinic focused on "creating a healthy community with respect, compassion, and acceptance for all", according to the Statesman Journal. The clinic offers services related to hormone replacement therapy and transgender health care. [15]
