Portland will name a public square after the late iconic drag queen Darcelle XV

A public square in Portland, Oregon will be renamed to honor the late legendary drag queen Darcelle XV, who passed away in March at age 92.

The city’s O’Bryant Square will officially become Darcelle XV Plaza during a July 13 ceremony at Portland City Hall.

Related:

The life & legacy of Darcelle XV, the world’s oldest working drag queen

The late 92-year-old queen helped shape drag and LGBTQ+ history.

“Renaming O’Bryant Square to Darcelle XV Plaza signifies the progress we have made as a city in embracing diversity and embracing LGBTQ+ history,” said Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler in a statement. “This renaming reflects our commitment to fostering a more inclusive city that recognizes the diversity and immense value of its residents.”

Stay connected to your community

Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter.

Daily

Weekly

Good News

City commissioner Dan Ryan added that the renaming “reflects our commitment to fostering a more inclusive city that recognizes the diversity and immense value of its residents.”

Darcelle XV, aka Walter Cole, was known for being the oldest working drag queen in the world, and she received the official title from Guinness World Records in 2016. Her iconic Darcelle XV Showplace (which is now on the Oregon Register of Historic Places) was also ranked as “the West Coast’s longest-running drag show.”

Many credit Darcelle XV for bringing about more progressive attitudes toward the gay community in Portland. She even performed at former Mayor Bud Clark’s inauguration in 1985.

Darcelle XV was also known for her charitable nature.

“He was always the first to offer the club for people to have events,” drag performer Poison Waters, one of Darcelle’s closest friends, told LGBTQ Nation in March after she died. “Many, many, many memorials were held there. He would always donate gifts for kids, gift certificates for different raffles and auctions. He was really one of the first drag queens that was doing charitable work with nonprofit organizations, and now, many nonprofit groups reach out to the drag community for MCs or entertainment and that sort of thing, which never would have happened if it wasn’t for Darcelle.”

The plaza’s renaming comes at the same time the plaza, itself, is being revamped. First opened in 1973, it has been closed since 2018 due to structural problems with an underground parking garage. The Oregonian reported that the Portland Parks Foundation has been rehabbing the square. The square is also located on none other than Harvey Milk Street.