In 1967, the Black Cat was the site of a demonstration against police brutality targeting gay patrons that predated the historic Stonewall riots by two years. Los Angeles’s local queer community has continued to flourish in the years since.
From Santa Monica to East Los Angeles and down to Long Beach, queer bars are just as expansive as the diversity among LGBTQ people. The city’s queer bars have always been beacons for unapologetic self-expression of sexuality and gender, including vaquero-themed bars, bars with glittery go-go dancers, and ones that serve non-alcoholic drinks. Still, among the ever-growing options in Los Angeles, most bars cater to gay men while women, nonbinary people, and other members of the LGBTQ community find spaces carved
out for them through pop-ups and parties.
Each of these bars holds space for different types of connections. For those looking to find a cutie, grab brunch, read a new verse of poetry, or dance on Santa Monica Boulevard until sunrise, here are iconic queer bars to check out in Los Angeles.
New this update: The Bayou joins the list.
Mona Holmes takes her queer-friendly auntie role seriously. Her favorite Pride outfit is a two-piece rainbow top and floor-length skirt that turns heads no matter the venue.
Rebecca Roland believes that any bar playing music too loud to be able to talk over should have a dance floor, which is something queer bars tend to understand more than others.
