Just as Massachusetts was the first state in the country to recognize same-sex unions, Boston is proud to welcome people of any orientation. The city boasts one of the largest LGBT populations on the East Coast, and
Provincetown has long been a top LGBT tourist destination.
The hub for gay men is the
South End with its trendy shops, restaurants and clubs. The lesbian community is comfortably ensconced in
Jamaica Plain, a neighborhood southwest of downtown, and
Cambridge, Boston’s neighboring city. Gay-only clubs can be found throughout the
Theatre District, South End and the
Fenway. Other clubs and bars have specific "gay" nights.
The Estate has GLAMLIFE on Thursdays with hip-hop and top 40 for gay, bi or just very cool people. On Saturdays,
The Roxy hosts New England’s largest weekly gay dance.
STIX hosts SHE Sundays and at least three out of seven nights at 25 year-old
Club Café is dedicated to the LGBTcrowd, with Manhunt Thursdays, EdgeFridays and Mayhem Saturdays.
The arts are well represented in the gay community. The New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall is home to the
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus which performs a wide spectrum of classical and popular music. Two Resident Theater Companies of the
Boston Center for the Arts present groundbreaking LGBT programming. The
Huntington Theatre Company offers
Out & About Club events and invites audience members to a post-show party at the theatre for a backstage look at the production on the 1st and 2nd Thursday of every production. The Theatre Offensive's Out & About mixers are held the second Friday of every show and the annual Out on the Edge Festival is considered to be among the world’s premiere LGBT theater series. The yearly
Gay & Lesbian Film Festival is hosted by the
Museum of Fine Arts, which also has impressive and diverse collections spanning time and sexual orientations.
Boston is proud to host the week-long
Gay Pride Parade and Festival every June which includes the Flag raising, harbor cruises, block parties and dances, culminating with a parade that grows larger and better with each passing year.
All Walks of Life also held in June and the
Boston-New York AIDS Ride in September, are both major AIDS fundraisers.
Throughout the city there are numerous groups, organizations and clubs that cater to gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals indicative of Boston being an open and welcoming destination for all – where residents and travelers are free to be who you are.