Going where we feel welcome is important. That’s why we are highlighting the best destinations in North America where LGBTQ members will find strength in numbers and be welcomed with open arms. These are places that you can enjoy and be yourself, whoever that might be.
New York City
With New York City (NYC) being so culturally diverse and full of so many people it shouldn’t surprise you that it is a great destination for a gay vacation. New York is known for its Pride rallies and is a very open-minded city in general. In 2019, NYC hosted World Pride, known as the international Pride celebration rally that brought people from all over the world together. New York legalized gay marriage in 2011 and had the Stonewall riots in 1969 (a historic site you can now visit and learn about the history). The great thing about NYC is there are many areas & villages that have been taken over by gays such as Greenwich Village and Chelsea. Some places to visit include Hell’s Kitchen, Bum Bum Bar, Mickeys (be sure to get a frozen margarita), the Le Bain rooftop bar or check out the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art. Personally, NYC is one of my favourite gay destinations in North America. It offers a wide range of gay activities. You can watch a drag show at the Industry Bar in the Theater District or attend a drag brunch at La Pulperia in the Upper East Side. In the mood for a beach day? Take a trip to Fire Island. The strip to the south of Long Island offers white beaches, a friendly atmosphere, and a historic LGBTQ hideaway, now out and proud.
Miami
Miami is one of the world’’s trendiest and flashiest hot spots for gay travel. The beautiful beaches, lively arts scene, outdoor beach gym, sizzling cuisine and blazing nightlife are just some of Miami’s charms. Miami’s South Beach, Wynwood and Design districts are growing areas home to hipster, fashionista and even gay movements. South Beach hosts annual gay parties including Circuit Miami Festival over the American thanksgiving long weekend and Winter Party Festival which helps raise money for the LGBTQ community. Art Basel is also a popular gay attraction luring in designers, artists and performers from around the world. If you just happen to be in Miami on another other given time of year there are still plenty of gay-friendly venues, entertainment and fun to be had. The opening of the Soho Beach House and the Faena District attracts the lavish gays. Twist is the longest running gay club in Miami and doesn’t charge an entry cover fee. It is a two-story club that offers multiple dance floors and an outside area each offering a different vibe and atmosphere. You certainly feel like you can bar-hop without ever having to step outside the venue. Here, you can experience the impressive, Adonis-like, go-go boys, who are also for hire for a dance. Another, go-to location is Palace, located in the heart of the Art Deco district. Palace is known to be the place to go for brunch and watch legendary drag shows.
Los Angeles
Next we have Los Angeles (LA), also known as the City of Angels, but i’ll let you decide if that holds true. Many gays go to LA to make it big in music, dance, modeling, TV, film and much more. Aside from the horrible traffic and the time to get around, LA is home to Hollywood stars, face-lifts and a legendary gay nightlife. Santa Monica Boulevard, the center of West Hollywood’s LGBTQ community, is packed with bars, clubs, magnificent food and world-class art. Dance your heart out at Rocco’s Tavern (co-owned by Lance Bass), Revolver Video Bar or get a fancy cocktail and watch the go-go boys at the Abbey. LA is known to attract chiseled bodies (real and fake), models, celebrities, actors and many more. The fitness and beauty industries are enormous in LA as residents care very much about their image. LA offers many outdoor activities including beaches, hiking and cycling or patios with all-day happy hours. Similar to Miami, Adonis-like boys can be found at Venice Beach where they can be seen flexing and pumping iron at the outdoor gym. Feeling adventurous? Take a hike at Runyon Canyon Park where celebrity sightings are common and Instagram images with shirtless posts are popular. Need new underwear? Head to the Andrew Christian Factory Store and grab some of this world-famous designer underwear, beloved by gays. If you’re looking for something a little more entertaining, Universal Studios Hollywood is an option, where gays love sharing their location at Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives. On an annual basis, the West Hollywood Halloween Carnaval (October) hosts its Halloween Carnaval. LA is not for everyone, it can be a very posh, superficial city, but it is a popular gay-friendly destination in North America.
Chicago
You just have to have a special heart for this mid-west town. Chicago is full of friendly people and great cuisine (especially deep dish pizza). Chicago’s Edgewater beach is considered the “gay beach” and a hot-spot during the summer months. On an annual basis, Chicago hosts Market Days which is a two-day street festival for a LGBTQ summer celebration. Chicago also offers other gay attractions such as Berlin, Scarlet, and Jeffery Pub. If you’re a theater or comedy gay, head to the Playground Theater. Following the show, you can keep the evening going with dinner and a drag show at Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club. For my night owls, there’s a dance floor calling your name in Boystown (consider Chicago’s Gay Village). Check out Roscoe’s Tavern, a long-standing gay bar and club with regular DJs or Sidetrack, which is a popular, multi-level spot with frozen drinks, a packed dance floor, and a rooftop deck.
Toronto
Toronto is Canada’s most populated city. You’ll often hear a claim that Toronto is the NYC of Canada or the rapper Drake’s city (The Six which derives from the area code 416). The gay neighbourhood in Toronto is often referred to the “Gay Village,” or “The Village” within Toronto’s downtown core. Ironically the Gay Village itself runs along Church Street. The Village is filled with cafés, restaurants, gay-oriented shops and a vast array of bars and clubs. A few bars in the village include Woody’s, Crews and Tangos and Black Eagle. Woody’s draws in an older crowd and is more of a bar setting while Crews and Tangos is for the younger gays with options of different music genres to dance to. Queen Street West is another location known to be gay-friendly. It is often referred to “Queer West” for it’s more hip and funky vibe. You won’t find any exclusively “gay bars” here, but you will find several venues and events that attract a mixed crowd of open-minded gays, straights and everyone in between. In Queen West, you’re more likely to insult someone with your taste in music than with who you sleep with. The summer pride celebration in Toronto is always a great time. There are events hosted around the city including the Toronto Islands, which provide great views of Toronto’s cityscape.
Montreal
Montreal is another amazing destination that needs to be on the radar. St. Catherine East is where you will find this amazing display of love and pride located in a neighborhood home to many gays. This electric neighborhood has amazing street art to take in and delicious food to indulge. This area is not limited to just the street, but to the side streets as well. There are fun shops, bars and restaurants to enjoy. When in Montreal, grab a drink at Bar Renard, watch a drag show at Cabaret Mado or hit the dance floor at Club Unity. There is something for everyone! French is the mother tongue of the city, which is known to be the language of love. That being said, English is well understood and spoken by many Montrealers as well.
Vancouver
Two areas of Vancouver that has been taken over by the gay community are Davie Village and Commercial Drive. On the West end of Vancouver, you will find the rainbow tones painted over the streets. There is an amazing bookstore called Little Sisters that is not only a bookstore but offers some adult toys as well as tee shirts and other things that are geared toward LGBTQ. If you plan to stay in Vancouver, why not stay in a gay hotel? The Blue Horizon Hotel is one the lends itself to the gay community very well. If going to the bar is your thing, then head on over to the Numbers Gay Cabaret or Celebrities for a nice drink and to mingle with other gays. With Vancouver equipped with its sky train light rail, it is easy to move about the city and take it all in.
Puerto Vallarta
This is an award-winning destination and most popular location for gay travel in Mexico. Puerto Vallarta (PV) offers sunshine when it is cold during the winter months further up north. PV provides the perfect destination for gays who love to show off in their speedos or bikinis year round. A few activities in PV include the Beef Dip, PV Carnival, PV Pride and the White Party. There are many things to do in this city such as New Year’s Bash for the LGBTQ, adventurous activities and more. Looking to plan some gay travel Puerto Vallarta? I suggest giving yourself a week to explore all Puerto Vallarta has to offer. You can spend your cooler mornings sightseeing or discovering authentic food and in the afternoon, you can relax by your hotel pool or visit one the popular gay beach clubs. At night time, enjoy the city’s lively gay bar scene. The nightlife that is filled with gay pride will be found in the area of Old Town. When visiting you must take time to see the street of Lazaro Cardenas which is very close to the gay beach as well. Finally, if possible, I would recommend avoiding all-inclusive resorts as the food quality and drinks tend to be of low quality.
