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 Open en accepteert fetisjatmosfeer.
Wanneer te bezoeken: bekijk Berlijn tijdens de zomer, wanneer de stad tot leven komt met veel festivals, openluchtfeesten en queer-evenementen. De jaarlijkse Christopher Street Day Parade (Gay Pride) wordt gevierd door honderdduizenden lokale bevolking en toeristen per juli.
3. Manchester
Terwijl London nog steeds een cruciale plek in de LGBTQ -scene van het VK heeft, speelt Manchester een aantal van de grootste en beste queer -evenementen in het land. Ooit de thuisbasis van de beroemde homo -held Alan Turing, werd Manchester internationaal populair dankzij de tv -serie Queer uit de jaren 1990 als folk in en rond de homo -wijk van de stad, Canal Street.
Tegenwoordig is Canal Street nog steeds gevuld met bars, clubs en andere homo-eigendom-van de mooie en blitse Richmond-theekamers tot populaire nachtclubs zoals G-a-y en door middel van Manchester. De noordelijke wijk van de stad, met zijn trendy bars, ondergrondse rockclubs en kleine indie-kunstgalerijen, is ook een queer-vriendelijke hotspot geworden, een beetje verwijderd van de twinky, tanktop met tanktop gevulde Canal Street.
Wanneer te bezoeken: Manchester Pride is elk jaar september de grootste van het VK, maar andere queer-evenementen gebeuren het hele jaar door, zoals het trans-gerichte Sparkle Festival in juli en het Queer Contact Arts and Theatre Festival in februari.
4. Dallas
Misschien is het niet de eerste LGBTQ-vriendelijke plek waar je aan denkt in de Verenigde Staten, maar Dallas, Texas, is het afgelopen decennium een hotspot geworden. De wijk Oak Lawn is daar het epicentrum van de queer-cultuur, met veel homo-bars en LGBTQ-diensten op Cedar Springs Road, evenals in het nabijgelegen Bishop Arts District.
Legendarische nachtleven locaties zoals Station 4 en de Round-Up Saloon trekken elk weekend grote menigten aan met hun sleepshows, vierkante dansen en andere speciale evenementen. En voor degenen die proberen iets veel meer ongebruikelijke reisavonturen te vinden, is de nabijgelegen Wildcatter Ranch een homovriendelijk cowboy-resort.
De stad Fort Worth (op slechts 35 minuten rijden van Dallas als je echt geluk hebt met verkeer) is ook de thuisbasis van een handvol LGBTQ-bars en locaties, hoewel zonder het duidelijke “Gayborhood” dat je in Dallas zult vinden.
Wanneer te bezoeken: Dallas Pride vindt elk jaar september plaats, maar de wijk Oak Lawn komt ook tot leven, vol kleur en kostuums, elk Halloween voor het jaarlijkse Oak Lawn Halloween Block Party.
5. Los Angeles
Met zijn schijnbaar onbeperkte warme weer, zonneschijn en grondig verzorgde bevolking, is Los Angeles al lang een van de Verenigde Staten van de Verenigde Staten. Zozeer zelfs dat, gezien dat 1969 een LGBT -centrum in de stad is dat nu beschikt over het veel meer vreemde mensen dient dan elke andere organisatie ter wereld. U vindt hier ook de One Archives Foundation, belast met het opnemen van LGBTQ -geschiedenis door historische artefacten, publicaties en getuigenissen te behouden.
Dan is er het nachtleven, waaronder de homoclubs en bars van West Hollywood, zoals menigte favorieten The Abbey en Rocco’s. Naast het ‘gay -getto’ van ‘Weho’ is Silver Lake ook een populaire hotspot. Daar vindt u de zwarte kat, site van de eerste gedocumenteerde LGBTQ -demonstratie van burgerrechten in de VS en nu een populaire brunch -hangout. Voor het nachtleven in Silver Lake trekt Akbar de bebaarde hipster -menigte met zijn kleine dansfeesten.
Wanneer te bezoeken: het LA Pride Music Festival en Parade vindt elk jaar in juni in West Hollywood plaats, met honderdduizenden toeschouwers. Maar als de zomer te heet is, is de grootste homoseksuele partij van het jaar het gratis Halloween -carnaval, een straatfeest op Santa Monica Boulevard.
6. Tel Aviv
Een van de veel levendige en gastvrije steden van het Midden -Oosten heeft Tel Aviv zich gevormd tot een populaire LGBTQ -reisbestemming, vooral tijdens de zomer. Tel Aviv Pride is populair voor Europeanen en Amerikanen, die honderdduizenden bezoekers per juni trekt met strandfeesten, straatbeurzen en een inclusieve parade met deelnemers aan beroemdheden. Het Tel Aviv Municipal LGBTQ Center, gevestigd in Meir Park, organiseert kleine gemeenschapsevenementen voor de lokale bevolking (af en toe ook in internationale talen).
Hilton Beach is het belangrijkste homo -strand van de stad, met mannen (en af en toe vrouwen) die hun dagen doorbrengen met het spelen van strandvolleybal of de lokale favoriete sport Maktot (een strandversie van tennis of pingpong). In de buurt Frishman Beach en alle restaurants, bars en cafés van het strand zijn erg gastvrij.
Net in de straat van de grootste vakantieverettingsattractie van Tel Aviv, de Carmel Market (Shuk Hacarmel), is de populaire LGBTQ -bar en Café Shpagat. Overdag opererend als een café en een klein restaurant, wordt het ‘s nachts een levendige bar die geweldig is voor datums of af en toe dansen (vaak op het trottoir op het trottoir). Andere locaties in de bar en het nachtleven zijn Lima Lima Bar (met een geweldige buitenruimte), de hipster Kuli Alma Art and Club Space en Oeganda Bar (die vroeger in Jeruzalem was gevestigd).
Wanneer te bezoeken: met zijn feeststranden, uitstekende culinaire 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