12 terrific GAY HOTSPOTS around THE world

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 Aberto e aceitação da atmosfera de fetiche.

Quando visitar: Confira Berlim durante o verão, quando a cidade ganha vida com muitos festivais, festas ao ar livre e eventos queer. O desfile anual do Dia da Rua Christopher (orgulho gay) é comemorado por centenas de milhares de moradores e turistas a cada julho.

3. Manchester

Enquanto Londres ainda ocupa um lugar crucial na cena LGBTQ do Reino Unido, Manchester recebe vários dos melhores e melhores eventos queer do país. Uma vez o lar do famoso herói gay Alan Turing, Manchester tornou -se internacionalmente popular graças à série de TV dos anos 90 Queer, enquanto o folk se encontrava dentro e ao redor do bairro gay da cidade, Canal Street.

Hoje, a Canal Street ainda está cheia de bares, clubes e outros serviços de propriedade gay-desde as lindas e chamadas salas de chá de Richmond a boates populares como G-a-y e por meio de Manchester. O trimestre norte da cidade, com seus bares modernos, clubes de rock underground e pequenas galerias de arte indie, também se tornou um hot spot amigável para o queer um pouco mais removido da rua de canal cheia de tanques e tanques.

Quando visitar: o Manchester Pride todo setembro é o maior, mas outros eventos queer acontecem o ano todo, como o Sparkle Festival focado em trans em julho e o festival de artes e teatro queer de contato a cada fevereiro.

4. Dallas

Talvez não seja o primeiro lugar que você pensa nos Estados Unidos, mas Dallas, Texas, se tornou um ponto quente na última década. O bairro de Oak Lawn é o epicentro da cultura queer lá, com muitos bares gays e serviços de propriedade da LGBTQ na Cedar Springs Road, bem como no distrito de Bishop Arts.

Locais lendários da vida noturna como a Station 4 e o Round-Up Saloon atraem grandes multidões todo fim de semana com seus shows de arrasto, dança quadrada e outros eventos especiais. E para aqueles que tentam encontrar um pouco mais de aventuras de viagem fora de idade, o Rancho Wildcatter, próximo, é um resort de cowboy gay.

A cidade de Fort Worth (a apenas 35 minutos de carro de Dallas se você tiver muita sorte com o tráfego) também abriga um punhado de bares e locais LGBTQ, embora sem o distinto “Gayborhood” que você encontrará em Dallas.

Quando visitar: o Dallas Pride acontece a cada setembro, mas o bairro de Oak Lawn também ganha vida, cheio de cores e fantasias, cada Halloween para a festa anual de Halloween Block Block.

5. Los Angeles

Com seu clima quente aparentemente ilimitado, sol e população completamente bem cuidada, Los Angeles tem sido uma das muitas cidades dos Estados Unidos há muito tempo. Tanto é assim que, considerando que 1969 tem havido um centro LGBT na cidade que agora possui pessoas que serve muito mais pessoas queer do que qualquer outra organização do mundo. Você também encontrará a One Archives Foundation aqui, encarregada de gravar a história do LGBTQ, preservando artefatos, publicações e testemunhos históricos.

Depois, há a vida noturna, incluindo clubes e bares gays de West Hollywood, como os favoritos da multidão The Abbey e Rocco’s. Além do “gueto gay” de “Weho”, Silver Lake também é um hot spot popular. Lá você encontrará o gato preto, site da primeira demonstração de direitos civis LGBTQ documentada nos EUA e agora um ponto de encontro popular de brunch. Para a vida noturna em Silver Lake, Akbar atrai a multidão moderna com suas pequenas festas de dança.

Quando visitar: O Festival de Música e Parade de Los Angeles acontece todo junho em West Hollywood, com centenas de milhares de espectadores. Mas se o verão é muito quente, a maior festa gay do ano é o carnaval de Halloween de cortesia, uma festa de rua no Santa Monica Boulevard.

6. Tel Aviv

Uma das muitas cidades animadas e acolhedoras do Oriente Médio, Tel Aviv se transformou em um popular destino de viagem LGBTQ, especialmente durante o verão. Tel Aviv Pride é popular para europeus e americanos, atraindo centenas de milhares de visitantes a cada junho com festas de praia, feiras de rua e um desfile inclusivo com participantes de celebridades. O Centro LGBTQ municipal de Tel Aviv, localizado em Meir Park, abriga pequenos eventos comunitários para os habitantes locais (ocasionalmente em idiomas internacionais).

Hilton Beach é a praia gay principal da cidade, com homens (e ocasionalmente mulheres) passando seus dias jogando vôlei de praia ou o esporte favorito local (uma versão de praia do tênis ou pingue -pongue). nearby Frishman beach and all the beachside restaurants, bars, and cafés are very welcoming.

No final da rua da maior atração de turistas de Tel Aviv, o Carmel Market (Shuk Hacarmel), é o popular LGBTQ Bar e o Café Shpagat. operating as a café and small restaurant by day, it turns into a lively bar terrific for dates or occasional dancing (often spilling out onto the sidewalk in front) at night. other bar and nightlife venues include Lima Lima Bar (with a great outdoor space), the hipster Kuli Alma art and club space, and Uganda Bar (which used to be located in Jerusalem).

When to visit: With its party beaches, excellent culinary 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