Gay neighborhoods dc
Essential LGBTQ+ Experiences in Washington, DC
From iconic neighborhoods and historic landmarks to under-the-radar hangouts, discover 12+ ways to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture in the nation&#;s capital.
Washington, DC has not only been the backdrop of historic milestones in homosexual history – it's home to an LGBTQ+ community that fuels the metropolis with its creativity, innovation and resilience.
With the highest percentage of locals identifying as LGBTQ+ of any city in the U.S. (%), DC is one of the most welcoming destinations in the country, offering countless ways to engage with people, places and stories that define the District.
Don't miss our LGBTQ+ arts and history itineraries.
For over 50 years, Pride has brought love, joy and a whole lot of color to the District, featuring a packed month of events created to encourage, empower and connect the Diverse community and their allies. Schedule your trip.
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Does DC Have a Gay Neighborhood?
This weekend, the Capital Celebration Parade will parade down 14th Highway Northwest and through Dupont Circle, the historic queer center of the metropolis. But a lot has changed since the first Movement in ‘ Does Dupont still attend as the city’s “gayborhood”? And if not, where does?
Logan Circle: Number 9, Trade, and Verdant Lantern are dense hitters in the city’s queer club scene. Ed Bailey, the owner of the famous lgbtq+ nightclub The Town, told City Cast DC, “Logan circle certainly is a hub for male lover activities. A number of the restaurants and pubs in Logan circle are queer-friendly.”
Barracks Row: Eighth Street Southeast used to be recognizable as “Gay Way” because of the many LGBTQ establishments there in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Many of these were closed due to the AIDS crisis and then gentrification. Now, spots like As You Are and Mad Aunt Helen’s are working to construct it a LGBTQ neighborhood once again.
U Street Corridor: While not historically lgbtq+, U Street Northwest now holds the majority of queer nightlife in the city. Bailey says “U Street has become a re
20 LGBTQ+ Bars to Check Out in Washington, DC
The nation&#;s capital is home to a lively LGBTQ+ nightlife scene with plenty of gay and lesbian bars just waiting for you to join in on the fun.
The diversity of DC’s LGBTQ+ group is growing by the day, resulting in a dynamic, exciting community with plenty of bars and clubs to choose from when it’s time to drink, dance and perform. Read up on some of our favorite LGBTQ+-friendly spots below.
Let’s have a … you get it. Gather all your girls, gays and theys to kiki all night on U Lane. With four rooms of varied vibes, outdoor spaces and DJs that never miss, Kiki lives up to its name. Approach for the happy hour, stay for the weekly events.
At 14th and U, DC’s first booze-free Queer bar is lighting up the sober scene with mocktails, music and plenty of main-character energy. Spark kickstarts the day with coffee, pastries and cafe charm, then turns it up at sundown with DJs, drag trivia and zero-proof cocktails that pack a punch.
Next door to Spark Social House is Crush, a retro-inspired cocktail lounge and
The value that places like Pitchers possess cannot be overstated. Although LGBTQ Washingtonians are often content living anywhere in the city, there are only a handful of locations in which people can truly, and openly, declare their queer identity. Indiana Bones is a performative queen based in D.C. Originally from Virginia, Bones was raised in Maryland and has performed in the city for almost four years. For Bones, reflecting on her control experience coming out in a conservative, Catholic, Latino household, gay bars provide queer people with an inclusive environment that they often lack during their coming out process. “Being here, you get a sigh of relief, you can actually breathe in and be like, ‘Oh my God, I am being myself. I am being happy. I am loving who I am,’” Bones said. The social scene, particularly among homosexual bars, is heavily diverse. Most establishments, Pitchers included, are not LGBTQ exclusive, and accept straight patronage. KC B. Yoncé, another drag performer and native Washingtonian, recognized the commercialization of the queer nightlife. Although gay bars