For many years, queer people have flocked to New York City in search of acceptance and an environment they could thrive in. The modern LGBTIQ+ rights movement was born here, and NYC continues to be a safe haven for people from all walks of life.
In the musical Rent, Angel famously starts off the song "Santa Fe" by saying, "New York City… center of the universe," while riding in a dirty subway car. That singular moment seems to capture NYC so well. It's gritty, dirty and wild…while also being one of the most powerful cities in the world, holding a staggering array of influence in the worlds of commerce, fashion, theater and food.
It's been home to many of the most important queer figures in LGBTIQ+ history, from activist Marsha P. Johnson to author Larry Kramer. The city has also served as the launching point for many of the world's most famous drag stars, like Lady Bunny and Bob the Drag Queen. Simply put, New York has been at the center of queer culture for over half a century.
Nowadays, LGBTIQ+ locals and visitors can experience the excitement of this rich history by enjoying a wealth of queer spaces, art installations, performances, and more. Here's what you need to know about being LGBTIQ+ in NYC.
There are four main areas for LGBTIQ+ nightlife in New York City – Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea, the West Village and Brooklyn. Each has a discerning and unique vibe that will attract different communities.
Hell's Kitchen and Chelsea offer the most "traditional" gay bars and clubs, where visitors can check out venues with hunky shirtless bartenders, a mostly gay-male clientele, and thumping hits going late into the night. Highlights of these neighborhoods include Industry, which many claim is New York's best gay bar. A stained-glass display behind the bar shimmers underneath disco bars and neon lighting, creating the perfect club vibe. Nightly drag shows are the main event from Sunday to Thursday, and DJs pump out music until 4am on both Friday and Saturday.
For a more campy and kitsch vibe, check out Flaming Saddles. Dance-pop hits are mixed in with country classics as shirtless waiters in cowboy hats dance on the bar. It's a fun and totally ridiculous experience that's like a gay Coyote Ugly collided with a down-home honky-tonk, and the fact it doesn't take itself seriously is exactly why it's such a fun bar to go to – get ready for an unpretentious experience that's especially good for anyone visiting a gay bar for the first time. Other highlights in Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen include Barracuda Lounge and Rise.
A little further south is the West Village. It's here where the modern LGBTIQ+ rights movement kicked off in the summer of 1969 when police raided the Stonewall Inn. The patrons fought back and stood
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