In Europe, something similar is happening in Paris’ Marais, Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg and Munich’s Glockenbachviertel. Americans have been debating the rapid departure of gay businesses and homes in areas in New York, Boston, Seattle and San Francisco, among many other cities. While in Britain the waning of gay-identified neighbourhoods is largely confined to London, outside the UK it is a phenomenon that is being played out across many western cities. People are starting to wonder: is gentrification destined to make so-called gay villages a thing of the past?Ī man in drag heads a carnival procession down Old Compton Street, London during the Soho Fair in 1965. Nonetheless, displacements and closures are sending a ripple of disquiet through non-straight communities. LGBT people (or at least those who don’t stand out) can now drink in straight venues with less risk of harassment, while the internet means they no longer need to cluster physically to meet. Not all reasons for these closures are entirely bad. This is a phenomenon that has also struck straight pubs and clubs, of course it’s just that, unlike gay venues, they don’t yet risk becoming an endangered species.
In London, more than 10 have pulled down their shutters permanently since 2010. Many western cities have nonetheless been faced recently with an epidemic of LGBT business closures.
Despite the myth of gay affluence, LGBT households are actually more likely to be poor Amin Ghaziani LGBT bars and clubs have been said to have had a catalytic effect in encouraging a wealthier public back to areas such as London’s Soho or New York’s East Village. There is often a corresponding wave among businesses. This LGBT long march through the inner cities is not about housing alone, of course. Their very presence in these areas, however, has allegedly transformed them, accelerating gentrification – and in turn pricing them out. Seeking both an accepting community and affordable rent, they have often flocked together in cheaper areas of inner cities, such as gay-friendly Williamsburg. In many ways, the 29-year-old’s experience is typical of a host of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender city-dwellers. For more on the growing vaccination-only trend at NYC bars and restaurants, read this feature. Most of the bars on this list require that you show proof of a COVID-19 vaccination at the door. Here are 25 of our favorite LGBTQ spots across NYC.
In other words, it’s a refresher on all the places you can find your people in this big, newly reopened, queer city. Which is why you won’t just find LGBTQ bars on this guide, but also spots that host LGBTQ nights and events.Īfter a challenging year for this city’s LGBTQ spots, we’re highlighting everything from neighborhood hangs and bars that are great on weeknights to spots for the best local drag in the world and clubs for a big night out.
#APARTMENT GAY BAR GRAND RAPIDS FULL#
No matter where in the city you find yourself, you’re never too far from people in full mesh, studs in suits, drag queens and kings, club kids, and leather daddies. New York City doesn’t just have one “gay neighborhood.” Sure, there’s Hell’s Kitchen and Chelsea - but this city is all just kind of gay everywhere.