Los Angeles is packed with fantastic gayborhoods, rich in LGBTQ+ history and bursting with a wide array of Pride events and queer-friendly lifestyle options. Here are some of the standout spots for inclusive living.
West Hollywood
Where else to begin than West Hollywood, with over a third of its residents identifying as LGBTQ+. The city of West Hollywood sits at the base of the Hollywood Hills, and is the epicenter of LA LGBTQ+ living. The city became America’s very first majority-gay municipality in 1984, and its attitude of acceptance and pride is still in abundance.
Every corner of West Hollywood is LGBTQ-friendly, with plenty of shops, hotels, and restaurants to choose from. Plenty of nightlife options, too, with The Abbey being one of the most famous gay nightclubs in the world. There are actually more than twenty gay bars, all within walking distance from one another in West Hollywood. So it’s also no surprise that it consistently scores perfectly on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI), which examines how inclusive a municipality’s laws and policies are of its LGBTQ+ residents.
Every June, West Hollywood hosts the LA Pride Festival and Parade. The festival was first held in West Hollywood in 1970, becoming the world’s first permitted Pride parade. This event runs for a month, celebrating various festivals held all around the city, with the main two-day festival happening in West Hollywood Park. This event attracts over 400,000 people annually. As if this wasn’t enough, the One City One Pride precedes it in late May, showcasing LGBTQ+ performing arts and hosting a variety of free events around the city.
The median sale price of properties in West Hollywood is currently $1,695,000, while the average rent is $3,354 p/m, although a few can be found nearer the $1,500-$2,000 p/m range.
Long Beach
At the southern end of LA County, Long Beach is home to a considerable gay community and a variety of LGBTQ+ friendly restaurants, bars, and other activities. It also hosts another of America’s largest pride celebrations each May.
Named one of the best US cities for LGBTQ+ inclusion regarding municipal law and policy, Long Beach achieves a consistently perfect score in the MEI.
LGBTQ+ nightclubs like the Silver Fox and the Executive Suite offer thriving diversity. If clubs aren’t your scene, you can chow down on what are arguably the best burgers in town at Hamburger Mary’s while taking in a fabulous drag show.
The LGBTQ+ Center Long Beach has been the area’s cornerstone for LGBTQ+ community support for over three decades. The center offers a variety of resources and services around health, social, legal, advocacy, and educational programs to Long Beach LGBTQ+ residents.
The median price of a home in Long Beach is currently $799,000, while the average cost to rent an apartment is $2,530 p/m. The most affordable rentals in Long Beach can be found in Addams, Cherry Manor, and College Square, where the average rent is around $1,780 p/m.
Silver Lake
The trendy, walkable Silver Lake neighborhood is the ultimate spot for gays and hipsters. Silver Lake is one of LA’s original LGBTQ+ neighborhoods and was once home to a famous historical LGBTQ+ landmark, The Black Cat Tavern, where a plaque still remains in commemoration. The neighborhood was also home to Julian Eltinge in the 1910s and 1920s, the country’s first-ever celebrated drag performer.
Silver Lake is also home to the largest urban park in America: Griffith Park. In Griffith Park, you can enjoy some fantastic hiking and take in the stunning views of Los Angeles. However, Silver Lake properties aren’t the cheapest around, with the most affordable one costing $725,000.
Downtown LA
The city of LA itself is proud to offer a rich diversity and an abundance of support for its LGBTQ+ residents. Equality California calls it home, and the city is the perfect hub for accessing the many pride events and gayborhoods that surround it. The Los Angeles Varsity Gay League is also the country’s largest LGBTQ+ sports league.
Downtown LA (DTLA) has recently been rejuvenated, with many trendy bars, eateries, and shops popping up and many people moving into the area to enjoy the lifestyle. A good number of these new establishments are queer-owned businesses, helping to position DTLA as an up-and-coming LGBTQ+ neighborhood.
Of course, DTLA’s queer history is iconic, including some of the country’s first LGBTQ+ riots in 1959. These days, the city puts on its own Pride festival every August – DTLA Proud.
Properties in the DTLA area go for more affordable prices; there are even homes below $350,000.
Final thoughts
Los Angeles offers up a broad variety of Gayborhoods that feature thriving LGBTQ+ communities and related events. These and other LA neighborhoods are fantastic options for discovering a lifestyle in which you can experience the inclusiveness and security you deserve.
