“There’s plenty reasons to love the queer side of the City of Angels. Today gay ground zero is the cluster of bars and businesses lining Santa Monica Boulevard and WeHo. Gay life is everywhere in this magnificent melting pot. From the bronzed bodies scattered along Ginger Rogers Beach in Santa Monica, to poolside gay soirées in the Hollywood Hills and mustachioed, queer hipsters dancing to their own East Side groove. I can name 7 reasons to love gay LA. “
We don’t just have one Pride Weekend (we have, like 10):
LA– June
Long Beach– May
Venice Pride/ OC– June
DTLA Proud– August
San Diego– July
Palm Springs– November.
We have a gay trolley (and it has the best gay name)
Sure LA public transit takes a punch from folks in NYC and Chicago, but do they have a gay trolley called the Pick Up that roams Santa Monica Boulevard every Friday and Saturday night (and Sunday Funday, of course) to pick up partygoers and deliver them from one queer bar to the next? Wait, it gets even better. Tired of waiting? The Trolley Tracker app tells you trolley times so you
can put down that beer and jump right onboard!
Climb our gay steps
The Mattachine Society is widely considered the first lasting gay rights organization in the country (the first chartered gay right org started in Chicago). LA founder Harry Hay (1912-2002) was a legendary activist, labor advocate and radical faerie who lived adjacent to the Cove Avenue Staircase in Silver Lake in 1950. In 2012 the steps were renamed the Mattachine Steps in his honor. Watch the cuties run and down! Up and down…
Our food is out and proud
Forget about the ridiculous brunch scene in WeHo and forget about your waistline. One of the most irresistible meals in the city is the all-you-can-eat brunch at DTLA’s Border Grill. The spot offers unlimited small plates like blue corn waffles, quinoa fritters and churro tots; all are madcap creations of lesbian chef Susan Feninger and business partner Mary Sue Milliken. If you’re not downtown visit outposts at LAX and the Huntington Library in San Marino.
We have gay celebrities
You see Dustin Lance Black brunching in WeHo, rub elbows with Billy Eichner (of Billy on the Street) and Ed Droste (Grizzly Bear) at queer taproom Akbar and get spanked after hours by Alan Cumming. If I had a nickel for every time I crossed RuPaul in the street I’d have, well, a nickel. The upside of living in the epicenter of the Film/TV industry allows you to rub shoulders with queer celebs.
We have the best bathhouses (no, not that kind)
The ritual of bathing is serious in these venues ( Wi Spa and Century Spa). Korean bathhouses in K-Town are great to discuss politics and current events with other gents in revealing white towels. If you want need more than steam visit Midtowne Spa, Flex or Hollywood Spa.
Our downtown is gayer and cooler
For decades, Los Angeles turned its back on the central business district. 10 years ago downtown was a dump- trust us. Downtown now has gay bars: Precinct, Redline, Bar Mattachine and the New Jalisco Bar, gay- owned businesses like vintage shop Guido in LA, a gay bowling league and even its’ own Proud weekend. Downtown is the new home for hipsters, artists and queers alike.
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