There’s nothing quite like losing one’s self in a megaclub amid a blast of pop/EDM, singing and spinning the night away. On the other hand, many queer travellers like to season their vacation with cultural activities: galleries, theatres, museums. Maybe even museums that have exhibits about pop/EDM and megaclubs.
Though many queers love to party hard when they travel, some want a more diverse range of experiences. Some don’t mind getting to bed early every night of their vacation. When the dating apps aren’t app-ing and the daily party routine loses its sheen, it’s time to look for LGBTQ2S+ venues where drinking and loud music is not the main attraction. Here are eight non-bar spaces travellers can find queers abroad.
Category is: Bookstore
Best example: Glad Day Bookshop
32 Lisgar St., Toronto, Canada
Glad Day Bookshop is almost as old as the Stonewall Uprising. Serving customers (and just serving in general) since 1970, the store remains a mainstay of Toronto queer life, even as it has changed locations several times throughout its history. Its new space, a temporary location they’re calling Glad Day Lit, is just off West Queen Street West, a hip area that has a long queer history. The not-for-profit collective offers a wide selection of LGBTQ2S+ titles. It also hosts book launches, readings and panels that bring together literati of every generation. Their drag brunch, the longest-running one in Canada, is now at Smith Social House (171 College St., Toronto).
Category is: Museum
Best example: Schwules Museum
Lützowstraße 73, Berlin Germany
For a deep dive into German and greater European queer history, there’s no better source than Schwules. Its permanent collection ranges from historical archives to contemporary art, while its special exhibitions touch upon iconic queer artists and inspirational social movements. The museum’s archive alone contains more than 25,000 books about LGBTQ+ life. Having continually operated since 1984, it’s also one of the first museums of its kind. Perhaps only the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art in New York City and the Queer Britain museum in London can match it in prestige.
Category is: Sapphic Space
Best example: The Charlotte Museum
1A Howe St., Auckland, New Zealand
How is there only one museum in the world dedicated to queer women? The Charlotte is holding down the fort, spinning sapphic herstories from its unassuming purple building in the hip Freemans Bay neighbourhood of New Zealand’s biggest city. The space is equal parts museum, gallery and research library, and celebrates women far and wide but with a special focus on New Zealand.
Category is: Trans Community Centre
Best example: The T-Huis
Amsterdam, Netherlands
This place has everything that a trans traveller might need during a visit to the Netherlands or the greater Benelux region: regular meetups, community connections, mental health support and even trans swimming sessions. The T-House rises above other LGBTQ2S+ community centres around the world as a place that is set up to welcome tourists, as well as serving locals. The address is only available on request by emailing info@transhuis.nl.
Category is: Outdoor Society
Best example: Wet and Wild Sports & Social Club
Dublin, Ireland
Many cities around the world have sports and activity clubs that help local queers get together for things like bike rides, hikes, playing cards or seeing movies together. Some are easier than others for outsiders to drop in on. Ireland’s largest sports club offers plenty of outdoor activities including hiking, kayaking, surfing and camping for those at all skill levels and identities. It might be the best way to explore the country’s marvelous natural environments. Outings frequently include post-event hangouts. To find out what they have planned and to join events, sign up on their Meetup page, uploading a face photo and full name for verification.
Category is: Experimental Art Space
Best example: Queer Art Lab (QAL)
Lisbon, Portugal
Coordinating with Lisbon’s popular Trumps club (R. da Imprensa Nacional 104B, 1250-127 Lisbon), this artist initiative organizes performances, installations, workshops, readings and assorted artsy community projects around Lisbon and beyond. In addition to fostering community among both locals and queer visitors, the organization promotes artists at radically different phases of their careers. Check out their schedule before visiting Lisbon.
Category is: Theatre
Best example: Queer Theatre
London, England
This award-winning production company proudly presents queer stories that are created by queer talent across the United Kingdom. If they aren’t presenting a play or musical at a theatre somewhere in London, then the company is offering acting classes, playwriting workshops, networking events or panels. Queer Theatre is a way to meet the community as much as it is a high-quality artist’s collective.
Category is: Historical Society
Best example: GLBT Historical Society
4127 18th St., San Francisco, California
This tiny Castro treasure is referred to as the “queer Smithsonian of San Francisco” thanks to its vast archive of photographs, artifacts and recordings of oral histories. It might soon be an even better source of queer history than the actual Smithsonian, considering how things are going over there. That said, the GLBT Historical Society is not just an archive but an exhibition space, with regular panels and social events; it’s also a time capsule for its iconic neighbourhood.
