Gay skate
Figure Skating’s LGBTQ+ People Has a Story to Tell -- And Many Chapters to Still Inscribe
Buoyed by his first U.S. title in January 2016, Adam Rippon arrived at the following season with singular purpose: To be accurate to himself. So as he took to center
ETA that McCarvel included this in his re-tweet of the article above:
"This is by no means an all-encompassing piece, but rather a picture painted with broad strokes as to where skating has been when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues -- and where it can (hopefully) go"
New platform - SKATE PROUD - started by Javier Raya:
Instagram Live chats are publicized and conducted via their IG account: https://www.instagram.com/skateproud/
Skate Proud YT channel (where the IG Live chats are uploaded afterwards):
What is Gay Skate 🌈🛼
All-ages skating events for Queer woman Gay Bisexual Transgender Intersex Lgbtq+ Questioning Asexual Aromantic Pansexual Brotherboy and Sistergirl plus others (LGBTIQAP+SB) ) community, family, friends and allies
Check out our socials for the latest event details and photos
Gay Skate is hosted by queer and trans community members and generally runs as a private skate rink session, with adventures to other venues plus community meet-ups and special events.
Gay Skate features great music, Reside DJs, club lighting and disco vibes with space for spectating, snacking and socialising - all in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
This event has always been a popular way for rainbow families and society to have fun in a relaxed, all ages, substance free, inclusive safe space. This iteration of Gay Skate has been running since 2009.
In 2025 GAY SKATE Gay Skate received two awards at Queensland's Trans Community Awards. We were recognised both for Group Of The Year and Event Of The Year for our support of the local community
Brisbane Pride's Queens Ball recognised Gay Skate by awarding us the Community Sporting Collective of the Year 2024 and 2025
ABC Australi
The Rose City Rollers Need to Uncover a New Arena to Survive
The first time I went to Gay Skate at Oaks Park, I was 19, and ona first rendezvous with a miss from my college.Bordered by the Willamette, Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge, quaint Sellwood, and the amusement park’s vintagecarnival rides, the place had an out-of-timefeel, a dreamy retro innocence.
Even in the middle of winter when the Ferris wheel stops turning, the windows of the roller rink glowed orange and we could hear the faint echos of a Prince song.
Most of what I knew about skating came from watching roller derby, that perfect integrate of femme creativity and tough-as-nails punk rock attitude. As a young queer miss, I was enthralled by roller derby—which isrightup there with softballand socceras the most lesbian-friendly of sports.
My spend time was good at skating.I wasnot, smashing into the rink’s walls whenever I needed to end. Still, it was the perfect allow to hold her hand.
We didn’t exactly know it then, but we were part of a long-standing tradition and community of LGBTQ skaters here in Portland.
The third Monday of every month for the past 30 years, LGBTQ skaters young and aged, graceful and clumsyhave taken ov
21+ sessions and events patrons must have a valid ID to enter
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Public Skate Sessions
Monday
8:30pm-11:00pm 21+ Totally 80's Cheap Skate $2
($8 skate rental)
Tuesday
8:30pm-11:00pm 21+ Adult Skate $13 ($5 skate rental)
R&B and Hip Hop with DJs Slayground
Wednesday
8:30pm-11:00pm 21+ LGBTQIA+ Pride Skate Night
$13 ($5 skate rental) with DJ Slayground
Thursday
8:30pm-11:00pm 21+ Adult Skate $13 ($5 skate rental)
Mix of classic rink jams and today's hits with DJ Josh
Friday
6:00pm-8:00pm Family Skate $14 (Free Skate Rental)
*9pm-12:00am 21+ LIVE PERFORMANCE Evening $18 with $5 skate rental (see events page for the lineup)
Saturday
11:00am-1:00pm Family Skate $14 (Free Skate Rental)
1:30pm-3:30pm Family Skate $14 (Free Skate Rental)
9pm-12:00am 21+ Saturday Sk8 Party $18
($5 Skate Rental) Old institution, Funk, Hip Hop
with rotating DJs Josh & DJ NightMere
Sunday
11:00am-12:00pm Learn to Skate Class $19
(drop in class-- price includes lesson, skate rental, and the 12-2pm session following the class)
12:00pm-2:00pm Family Skate $14 (Free Skate Rental)
2:30pm-4:3