Best gay things to do in san francisco
San Francisco’s fabulous LGBTQIA+ scene is no surprise if you grasp anything about the city’s history. SF is known for electing Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected official in the US, and is still known today for its thriving queer community.
At the epicentre of it all is San Francisco’s Castro District, full of drag shows, bars and great restaurants, but there’s plenty more to unearth throughout SF (and Oakland) if you know where to glance. Whether you’re looking for friendly lesbian bars, balls-to-the-wall Latinx verb parties or a very remarkable drag show, these are the best gay bars in SF right now.
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This guide was written by Bay-Area based writer Clara Hogan. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.
Been there, done that? Believe a
LGBTQ in San Francisco: Discover the city’s historic roots and latest communities
San Francisco is one of the most popular destinations for gay travelers from around the world. It’s the home of famous LGBTQ activists and the site of significant moments in the fight for gay liberation. San Francisco was also where the first Pride flags were flown. From this historical perspective alone, there are many reasons for gay travelers to check in this city. But it’s not just the colorful history of LGBTQ lives in San Francisco that people come here for. Today, San Francisco’s LGBTQ community is thriving throughout the metropolis, particularly in gay neighborhoods such as Castro and SoMa. You’ll find plenty of bars, clubs, and community spaces where you’ll feel right at home and meet like-minded, passionate individuals.
Is San Francisco gay friendly?
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San Francisco is easily one of the most gay-friendly cities in the United States. For many people, it is The Gay Urban area, with the highest density of gay residents out of any metropolitan area in the territory in General
After World War II, the Castro District began to shift from a working-class neighborhood into
a haven for members of the LGBTQ+ community seeking acceptance and equality during a time of widespread discrimination. Then in , local resident and civil-rights activist Harvey Milk solidified Castro’s place as a mecca for the LGBTQ+ community when he became the first openly gay elected official in California.
Milk was assassinated just one year later, but the Castro District honors his legacy through empowerment and inclusivity for marginalized communities, shaping an experience of belonging for generations of LGBTQ+ individuals. Today, the district invites you to explore its rich culture, delve into its captivating history, and be your authentic self.
So get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey through this remarkable community — and don’t miss a thing with our curated list of the top 10 must-dos in the Castro District.
If you verb to learn more about the history of the LGBTQ+ community, there’s no better place to do it than the Castro District, starting wi
Peaches Christ's seven best LGBTQ+ spots in San Francisco
"What's especially significant about Twin Peaks is that it was the first bar in the Castro to actually have these big windows looking outward," she added. That's because even when the Castro neighbourhood became the hub of the city's LGTBQ+ culture that it is today, "being closed was the norm", Peaches said. "You didn't want people to be able to walk by and see you in a bar. But Twin Peaks said, 'We're not gonna do that.'"
More than 50 years later, Twin Peaks is still an excellent people-watching hub – the sort of place where you'll see silver-haired clientele who've been ordering their gin martinis the same way for decades, and those just passing by outside. "Or you can sit in the window and watch the fog roll in over Twin Peaks (the hill)," Peaches said, "and view that giant rainbow flag across the street. And if you're hungry, you've got right next door."