New Orleans embraces those considered diverse by the mainstream, be it a boheme artist, effeminate Southern Gothic novelist, drag queen, or an actual pirate of the Caribbean. One of the oldest gay bars in America is located in New Orleans, and it's named after the pirate who drank there, Café Lafitte in Exile.
Like Harlem during prohibition, New Orleans has a rich history of embracing alternative lifestyles and not passing judgment. The city's reputation for tolerance dates bac...
New Orleans embraces those considered diverse by the mainstream, be it a boheme artist, effeminate Southern Gothic novelist, drag queen, or an actual pirate of the Caribbean. One of the oldest gay bars in America is located in New Orleans, and it's named after the pirate who drank there, Café Lafitte in Exile.
Like Harlem during prohibition, New Orleans has a rich history of embracing alternative lifestyles and not passing judgment. The city's reputation for tolerance dates back to the 18th century, when its permissiveness somewhat proudly earned it the moniker of Southern Babylon.
When young writers Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote sought to escape the shackles of small-town bible belt conventionality, they boarded trains heading for refuge and acceptance in the gay enclaves of New Orleans. Even back in the 30s and 40s, the city boasted an established and accepted gay social scene.
LGBTQ+ culture continues to thrive there. Fall's Southern Decadence celebration, often called 'gay Mardi Gras,' is legendary. Gay Pride and Black Gay Pride take center stage, and the city's progressive NOLA VFW proudly don rainbow utility kilts to march with local and visiting LGBTQ+ veterans on St. Patrick's Day.
Historic LGBTQ+ hot spots known to generations are still worth a visit, and the French Quarter's gay center of the universe will always be the intersection of Bourbon St. and St. Ann (Oz and the Parade Disco above the Bourbon Pub reign eternal).
However, the French Quarter adjacent Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods are home to lesbian and gay-friendly Faubourg Wines and The Friendly Bar, and the Country Club, while famed lesbian hangout Pal's Lounge is only an Uber away in Mid-City. A relaxing queer-femme atmosphere to sip wine and chat can be found at QiQis outside the Garden District, while the Poor Boys Bar, Herr Haus, and Grrl Spot popups for livelier queer-femme dance parties.
Vive la difference!
