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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers
introEvery June, the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots signified Pride Month in nearly every city in America – and beyond. Rainbow flags decorate main thoroughfares, parades shut down entire neighbourhoods and a flurry of LGBTQ+ themed events pack into various venues across town. But whether its Pride Month or not, dozens of cities across America have LGBTQ attractions, both historical and cultural, all worth a special visit for LGBTQ travellers and allies. Here are a few of the best to visit.
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
NYCNew York City, New York – The birthplace of the modern gay rights movement, New York may be the best place for LGBTQ travellers in America, if not the entire world. Greenwich Village is still teeming with gay bars, ranging from dives to flashy clubs, and northern neighbours Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen are still rife with gay culture. A new Brooklyn diner, Meme’s, brings even more queer culture to Brooklyn, which is beloved for its laid-back gays bars, like Williamsburg’s Metropolitan Bar. In SoHo, the Leslie Lohman Gallery is dedicated to LGBTQ art. Those visiting the city in June can take advantage of a wide range of Pride Month events, culminating in the march and rally on the last Sunday of the month. [Photo: Noah Fecks]
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
LALos Angeles, California – Packed with LGBTQ people of all backgrounds, ethnicities and ages, LA’s queer scene is notably diverse. West Hollywood is still known as the “gayborhood”, home to legendary club The Abbey, where people of all sexual orientations and gender identities congregate nightly to party or just relax with friends. To caffeinate for all the nights out, stop into Cuties Cafe, a new-ish LGBTQ coffeeshop equated with The Planet from hit TV show The L Word. The city’s conservancy has also curated a list of sites crucial to LGBTQ history for visitors to check out.
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
New OrleansNew Orleans, Louisiana – Home to the oldest gay bar in America, Café Lafitte in Exile, NOLA is worth visiting just to drink in this landmark alone. But should you need a reprieve from this pub dating back to the early 19th century, the LGBTQ-friendly city has plenty to see and do, including long walks through the French Quarter and a booze-fuelled hike down Bourbon Street, eventually leading to the famous beignets at Café Du Monde. Every Labor Day Weekend, Southern Decadence, known as the “Gay Mardi Gras” envelops the city in glittery, rainbow-hued festivities. [Photo: Paul Broussard, New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau]
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
AustinAustin, Texas – Known as a “blue” liberal bubble in Texas’ overwhelming sea of conservative red, Austin is certainly the premier LGBTQ destination in the Lone Star State – if not the entire southern US. One of Austin’s most famous shopping and dining streets, South Congress, was in fact revitalised by out hotelier Liz Lambert, who owns Bunkhouse Hotel Group. LGBTQ-friendly and dedicated spaces, like the outdoor-indoor bar Cheer Up Charlies, exist throughout the city, but major events such as August’s Pride Festival and November’s International Drag Festival are worth a special visit. For a queer and/or feminist read to page through while relaxing on the grass in Zilker Park, stop by BookWoman.
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
SFSan Francisco, California – One of the most obvious LGBTQ tourist destinations (the city is officially promoted as an “LGBTQ Haven”) is indeed one of the best; a terminal at SFO is even being renamed after gay rights champion Harvey Milk. The Castro, which is perhaps the world’s most famous gay neighbourhood, has indeed gentrified, but still has plenty of queer character. The Tenderloin is another gay area, known for popular bars like Aunt Charlie’s Lounge which is iconic for its drag crew, the Hot Boxxx Girls. Surrounding Bay Area cities, such as Oakland and Berkeley, are also teeming with their own distinct queer cultures worth exploring. [Photo: San Francisco Travel Association]
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
ChicagoChicago, Illinois – The unofficial LGBTQ capital of the midwest, Chicago is one of those cities you just keep coming back to. An overwhelming number of trendy cocktail bars and restaurants have opened in recent years, with restaurants run by celebrity chefs like Stephanie Izard and Rick Bayless being some of the city’s mainstays. On the northside, Boystown is Chicago’s gay neighbourhood, with nearby Andersonville echoing some of its lesbian roots. Drag restaurants like the Kit Kat Lounge and Hamburger Mary’s offer queer entertainment nightly, but for a more laid-back evening, Big Chicks with its spacious patio and chili cheese fries is the LGBTQ bar of choice.
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
DenverDenver, Colorado – The LGBTQ hub of the Rocky Mountains is a destination for LGBTQ travellers from near and far, especially during Denver Pride each June. A weekend of festivities – including a 5K, a parade, live performances and more – is enough to fill an itinerary, but being in Denver offers a unique opportunity to also enjoy the nature spots strewn throughout the city, as well as Rocky Mountain National Park, about 90 minutes outside of the city limits. The legalisation of marijuana has also recently added another element to Denver’s tourism, with cannabis-friendly spots like the Bud + Breakfast capitalising on weed tourism.
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
DCWashington, DC – The nation’s capital may be under some serious tumult, but that doesn’t detract from DC’s status as a top-notch LGBTQ destination – whether your vacation activity of choice is protesting or partying. The Supreme Court building is the very spot where same-sex marriage was nationally legalised in 2015, and, though not quite as historic, Nellie’s is a legendary LGBTQ sports bar to spend a string of nights at. Though gentrified, DuPont Circle still has a hint of queer culture, like at the independent bookstore Kramerbooks & Afterwords Café. Check out the city’s LGBTQ magazine, Metro Weekly, for up-to-date event listings.
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America’s Top 10 Cities For LGBTQ Travellers.
PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania – The City of Brotherly Love (and Sisterly Affection, as it’s said) is packed with LGBTQ-friendly and LGBTQ-dedicated businesses and attractions. Center City, boasting rainbow crosswalks and a plethora of gay bars, is unequivocally the “gayborhood” in this historic town. In addition to June Pride Month events, QFlix (a queer film festival in March) and Outfest (a giant Coming Out Day event in October) help round out a calendar with gay festivities. Countless other historic attractions are strewn throughout the city, including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Betsy Ross’ house, where the creator of the American flag once lived. [Photo: Kaitlin/Flickr]
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