Updated: 11/24/20 | November 24th, 2020
I’ve added an LGBTQ column to the web site to make it a lot more inclusive and talk about issues that affect some members of our community. In this column, we hear from voices in the LGBTQ community about their experiences on the road, safety tips, events, and overall recommendations for other LGBTQ travelers. Returning this month is our column leader, Adam from travelsofadam.com.
The terrific thing about travel today is that a lot more of the world is easily accessible and open — no matter your sexuality or gender identity. While there have been ups and downs in the political movement for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) equality, major cities still supply the safest and friendliest spots for members of these communities.
I’ve been traveling around the world considering that 2009 and have checked out some of the world’s a lot of popular LGBTQ-friendly destinations along the way. I’ve marched and danced in Gay pride parades from Sydney to Stockholm and been to a lot more queer music festivals than I ever even thought of existed. and as the Orlando Pulse shooting reminded us, clubs are still crucial places to find culture and community.
Many cities really strut their LGBTQ history and queer identity. using some of my favorite LGBTQ travel resources, I’ve compiled this list of 12 terrific gay-friendly destinations. There are, of course, lots of a lot more such hot spots around the world, but these are my favorites because of their history of activism, the number of diverse LGBTQ events they host, and the fact that they’re just really amazing cities.
If you’re a gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or queer traveler trying to find a city that has it all, check out one of these:
1. new York City
New York City is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the world — and there’s no denying it’s a special place for queer people. It’s the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement, which began in 1969 when the Stonewall Inn was (again) raided by police, and the crowd inside and out rebelled and rioted. located in the West village (part of Greenwich Village), the Stonewall still operates as a bar and club today and was recognized as a national historic landmark, with a plaque and statue honoring its history.
Greenwich village is home to many other LGBTQ venues. While it’s easy and satisfying enough to wander the area on your own, there are several guided excursions that mingle the history and present, including the long-running and popular Oscar Wilde Tours.
Besides the Stonewall, other village gay clubs and hangouts are Julius’ Bar (serving low-cost but tasty bar food), the site of Mattachine society events in the past and present; and Pieces, known for its legendary drag performances.
There are also LGBTQ scenes scattered around the city, with lots of bars located in Hell’s kitchen (near Broadway), Chelsea, and the east Village, as well as other boroughs, including in Astoria (Queens) and Williamsburg (Brooklyn).
Organizations that frequently host LGBTQ special events include the gender-neutral clothing store and event space The Phluid Project, the Leslie Lohman museum of Art, and the city’s LGBTQ community Center. look for LGBTQ events, news, and special things to see and do in the city’s gay newspaper, Metrosource.
When to visit: June is national pride Month in the United States, and nyc hosts the nation’s largest pride event, always during the last weekend of June. Millions of visitors flock to the city for a parade that weaves through Manhattan (always passing by the famous Stonewall Inn) and ends with an outdoor music festival on one of the city piers. Halloween is also an equally queer-friendly time to check out new York City, because there’s a enormous Halloween parade that marches through Greenwich Village. For motion picture lovers, the NewFest queer film festival takes place in October.
2. Berlin
Germany’s capital has a special place in gay history. In the 1920s Weimar era, it was one of Europe’s a lot of liberal cities — home to gaudy cabaret and the site of one of the first gay villages. Today, Berlin’s free-spirited attitude has propelled it to the top of lots of “best of” lists thanks to 24-hour nightlife, a burgeoning art and food scene, and a diverse, international population.
Historically, the gay center of Berlin was around Nollendorfplatz in Schöneberg, an area still popular for its fetish clubs and leather bars, not to mention the legendary Folsom Europe street party each September and a gay history museum. but in today’s Berlin, the new hot spots are found throughout the Kreuzberg and Neukölln neighborhoods, in indie bars and clubs such as SchwuZ, SilverFuture, or Tristeza — all popular spots for drag shows.
Berlin’s legendary nightlife shines through queer parties that are increasingly not just for LGBTQ people — everything from the techno-fueled weekends at Berghain to KitKat Club’s öppen och accepterar fetischatmosfär.
När du ska besöka: Kolla in Berlin under sommaren, när staden kommer till liv med många festivaler, friluftsfester och queer-evenemang. Den årliga Christopher Street Day Parade (Gay Pride) firas av hundratusentals lokalbefolkningen och turister varje juli.
3. Manchester
Medan London fortfarande har en avgörande plats i Storbritanniens LGBTQ -scen, spelar Manchester värd för ett antal av de största och bästa queer -evenemangen i landet. När hemmet till den berömda homosexuella hjälten Alan Turing blev Manchester internationellt populärt tack vare TV -serien på 1990 -talet som folk som satt in och runt stadens homosexuella stadsdel, Canal Street.
Idag är Canal Street fortfarande fylld med barer, klubbar och andra gayägda tjänster-från de vackra och glittrande Richmond-te-rummen till populära nattklubbar som G-A-Y och med Manchester. Stadens norra kvartal, med sina trendiga barer, underjordiska rockklubbar och små indie-konstgallerier, har också blivit en queer-vänlig hot spot lite som dessutom har tagits bort från den twinky, tanken-fyllda kanalgatan.
När man ska besöka: Manchester Pride varje september är Storbritanniens största, men andra queer-evenemang inträffar året runt, till exempel den transfokuserade Sparkle Festival i juli och Queer Contact Arts and Theatre Festival varje februari.
4. Dallas
Kanske är det inte den första hbt-vänliga platsen du tänker på i USA, men Dallas, Texas, har blivit en het plats under det senaste decenniet. Oak Lawn-kvarteret är epicentret för queer-kulturen där, med massor av homosexuella barer och LGBTQ-ägda tjänster på Cedar Springs Road, liksom i det närliggande Bishop Arts District.
Legendariska nattlivsplatser som Station 4 och Round-Up Saloon lockar stora folkmassor varje helg med sina dragshower, fyrkantiga dans och andra specialevenemang. Och för dem som försöker hitta lite mer offbeat reseäventyr är den närliggande Wildcatter Ranch en gayvänlig cowboy-resort.
Staden Fort Worth (bara en 35-minuters bilresa från Dallas om du har riktigt tur med trafik) är också hem för en handfull hbt-barer och arenor, men utan den distinkta “gayborhood” du hittar i Dallas.
När man ska besöka: Dallas Pride äger rum varje september, men Oak Lawn -området kommer också levande, full av färg och kostymer, varje Halloween för den årliga Oak Lawn Halloween Block Party.
5. Los Angeles
Med sitt till synes obegränsade varma väder, solsken och grundligt välskötta befolkning har Los Angeles varit en av USA: s många homosexuella vänliga städer under lång tid. Så mycket att med tanke på att det 1969 har funnits ett hbt -centrum i staden som nu har det tjänar det mycket mer queer människor än någon annan organisation i världen. Du hittar också One Archives Foundation här, som har till uppgift att spela in LGBTQ -historia genom att bevara historiska artefakter, publikationer och vittnesmål.
Sedan finns det nattlivet, inklusive West Hollywoods gayklubbar och barer, till exempel Crowd Favorites the Abbey och Rocco’s. Förutom “gay ghetto” av “weho”, är Silver Lake också en populär het plats. Där hittar du den svarta katten, webbplatsen för den första dokumenterade LGBTQ -medborgerliga rättighetsdemonstrationen i USA och nu en populär brunch -hangout. För nattlivet i Silver Lake drar Akbar den skäggiga hipstermassan med sina små danspartier.
När man ska besöka: La Pride Music Festival och Parade äger rum varje juni i West Hollywood, med hundratusentals åskådare. Men om sommartiden är för varm, är årets största homosexuella parti den gratis Halloween -karnevalet, ett gataparti på Santa Monica Boulevard.
6. Tel Aviv
En av Mellanösterns mycket livliga och välkomnande städer, Tel Aviv har utformat sig till en populär LGBTQ -resedestination, särskilt under sommaren. Tel Aviv Pride är populärt för européer och amerikaner och lockar hundratusentals besökare varje juni med strandfester, gatamässor och en inkluderande parad med kändisdeltagare. Tel Aviv Municipal LGBTQ Center, som ligger i Meir Park, är värd för små samhällsevenemang för lokalbefolkningen (ibland på internationella språk).
Hilton Beach är stadens primära homosexuella strand, med män (och ibland kvinnor) som tillbringar sina dagar på att spela strandvolleyboll eller den lokala favoritsporten Maktot (en strandversion av tennis eller ping pong). I närheten av Frishman Beach och alla strandrestauranger, barer och kaféer är mycket välkomnande.
Precis ner på gatan från Tel Avivs största semesterattraktion är Carmel Market (Shuk Hacarmel) den populära LGBTQ -baren och Café Shpagat. Det fungerar som ett kafé och en liten restaurang om dagen och förvandlas till en livlig bar fantastisk för datum eller enstaka dans (ofta spill ut på trottoaren framför) på natten. Andra bar- och nattlivsplatser inkluderar Lima Lima Bar (med ett fantastiskt utomhusutrymme), hipster Kuli Alma Art and Club Space och Uganda Bar (som brukade ligga i Jerusalem).
När man ska besöka: med sina feststränder, utmärkta kulinariska SCEne, and rich history, Tel Aviv is one of the hottest cities in the middle East, and as a result it’s often a summer destination. Tel Aviv pride takes place in mid-June annually and is without question the gayest time of year to visit, but the city’s lots of other attractions, temperate climate, and occasional LGBTQ events make it worthwhile checking out in the spring and autumn as well. be mindful of the Jewish high holidays (in September) and spring holidays, which affect opening hours and access to transportation.
7. Buenos Aires
Argentina was the first South American country to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption rights, putting the country at the forefront of LGBTQ equality considering that 2010. The capital Buenos Aires has benefited, with a large and lively queer culture.
The areas of Recoleta, Palermo, and San Telmo are where you’ll find the largest concentration of gay bars and nightlife. Palermo, with trendy bars, cafés, shops, and restaurants in its Soho district, uses a lot of amazing things to see and do — from the Latin pop and drag at Jolie Club (Fiesta Jolie) every Wednesday to the video bar Peuteo Palermo in Soho.
The gay community in Buenos Aires is relatively out and open, but the culture is a lot more suppressed than other over-the-top gay destinations. but you’ll still find LGBTQ life fairly well integrated in society, with lots of tango bars and clubs even using queer tango lessons and dance nights.
When to visit: Buenos Aires pride takes place in November, at the beginning of the southern hemisphere’s summer season.
8. Bangkok
A longtime favorite for LGBTQ tourists, Bangkok has a lot to offer, making it one of Asia’s a lot of popular gay destinations. The fun and friendly gay scene is centered around the Silom neighborhood, specifically the streets known as Soi 2 and Soi 4.
Bangkok’s best gay nightlife is at DJ station every weekend, specifically the midnight drag shows each Friday. Telephone Pub on Soi 4 serves as an early evening hangout with drag shows and pub food, while G.O.D. (Guys on Display) draws the after-hour crowds when all the other gay bars close down for the night (so it’s best after 2 a.m.). Also, look out for gay events at Bangkok’s luxury hotels such as the Sofitel So, which runs regular gay parties on its rooftop bar and pool lounge.
While Thailand hasn’t recognized lots of LGBTQ rights, lots of tourists will find the city surprisingly open-minded. (In summer 2020, though, a bill was introduced to legalize same-sex marriage.) and while you’ll find some seedy sex clubs throughout the city, Bangkok’s legendary shopping and culinary scenes make it equally interesting for travelers with a lot more discerning tastes.
When to visit: one of the greatest and best events in Bangkok is the annual Songkran water festival in April, with the largest circuit party, called gCircuit, in Silom — with all the trappings of every other international circuit party (think: hunky shirtless people and lots of electronic music raging day and night).
9. Stockholm
Famous for cold winters, sunny summers, and trendsetting Swedes all year long, Stockholm has an eclectic mix of art, fashion, culture, and design — and one of Scandinavia’s best queer scenes. Sweden is also one of the most progressive countries in the world when it pertains to queer and women’s rights.
The gay scene is spread throughout the city. From the relaxing Chokladkoppen café (with rainbow flags out front) to the kitschy ABBA Museum, there’s something for everyone. open only during the summer months, the Mälarpaviljongen restaurant (located on a set of floating docks) hosts a number of LGBTQ events, fundraisers, and parties.
When to visit: Stockholm pride each August is the greatest gay event of the year, with big music acts, parties, and public seminars on everything from fetish training to human rights.
10. Madrid
Spain has a long history as an accepting country and is typically considered one of the most gay-friendly in the world. much of Spanish literature, film, and culture includes references to queer life d