Although proportionately not as big as that of San Francisco, the
gay scene in LA is no less prominent. While West Hollywood is synonymous
with the (affluent white) gay lifestyle, not just in LA but all over
California, there are many other spots where intolerance is kept at bay.
The other major gay community is Silver Lake, most evidently along
Hyperion Boulevard, home to working-class blacks, whites and Hispanics,
while other places like Venice, Los Feliz, Studio City and even Laguna
Beach in Orange County are comfortable gay and lesbian locales. We've
listed gay-friendly accommodations, restaurants, bars and clubs in the
relevant listings sections.
The city's best known gay and lesbian bookshop is A Different Light ,
8853 Santa Monica Blvd (tel 310/854-6601, ), with monthly art shows,
readings and musical events. Magazines with good listings sections
include Nightlife, Edge and Frontiers . The Gay Community Yellow Pages (tel
323/469-4454) is a comprehensive annual directory ($5) of gay businesses,
publications, services and gathering places; it also publishes a gay
restaurant guide. The Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center , 1625 N
Schrader Blvd (tel 323/993-7400), is the community's prime resource for
counseling, health testing and information.
Gay and lesbian bars and clubs
Arena 6655 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood tel 323/462-0714. Many clubs
under one huge roof, large dance floors throbbing to funk, Latin and hi-NRG
grooves. At the same address, Circus is mostly men at Pink Feather night
on Tuesdays; gay men and women on Fridays.
Detour 1087 Manzanita St, Silver Lake tel 323/664-1189. A friendly and
quite inexpensive denim and leather bar in a bleak stretch of town.
Jewel's Catch One 4067 W Pico Blvd, Mid-Wilshire tel 323/734-8849.
Sweaty dance barn covering two floors, with gay men on Wednesdays,
lesbians on Thursdays.
The Palms 8572 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood tel 310/652-6188. Mostly
house and dance nights at West Hollywood's longest-established lesbian
bar.
Queen Mary 12449 Ventura Blvd, Studio City tel 818/506-5619. A regular
gay crowd at the back and straight visitors at the front at this well-established
drag club in the San Fernando Valley.
Rage 8911 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood tel 310/652-7055. Very
flashy gay men's club playing the latest hi-NRG hits. Drinks are
inexpensive. Great Forties tea dance on Sundays.
Revolver 8851 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood tel 310/659-8851. Sleek
bar, intimate lounge, and regular karaoke and drag shows. Oriented
toward gay men.
Rudolpho's 2500 Riverside Drive, Silver Lake tel 323/669-1226. Every
second Saturday of the month the "dress up, drag down" dance club, Drag
Strip 66 , has a different theme. Otherwise a gay-friendly Mexican
restaurant.
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