# What is the Most "Gay" City in the World? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733 "2003-01-20T03:46:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/1 "2003-01-20T03:46:28Z")
San Francisco immediately comes to mind, of course. So, consider these factors: [ul] [li]Size of gay population.[/li][li]Percentage of population that’s gay.[/li][li]Attitude of locals toward gays.[/li][li]Popularity with gay tourists.[/li][li]Availability of gay entertainment (gay bars, etc.).[/li][/ul] So what truly is the most “gay” city in the world? My money is on one of three places: [ul] [li] **San Francisco**. Because it’s San Francisco.[/li][li] **New Orleans**. Don’t know what it’s like when it’s not Carnival season, but Mardi Gras seems to attract gays by the busload. There’s a whole section of the French Quarter that’s one gay bar/gay porn shop after the other. I’m not gay, but what I’ve gotten from NO on my three trips there is that the gay scene must be pretty big down there.[/li][li] **Paris**. Maybe that’s why they call it “Gay Paree.” 😛 I’ve been there a couple of times, too, and it seems that there was a pretty active gay scene. [This site](http://www.glbtevents.com/travel/paris.html) claims that Paris is **the** place to be if you’re a gay tourist.[/li][/ul] So, gays of the SDMB: what’s the scoop? Paris? New Orleans? Somewhere else? Amsterdam, perhaps? Rio? London?.. ---
**Author:** ![Caught\_Work](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/919ad9/32.png) [@Caught\_Work](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caught_Work)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/2 "2003-01-20T03:50:42Z")
Sydney, Australia, without a doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/3 "2003-01-20T04:16:26Z")
I think it’s [this one.](http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?location=z9K5jZ3THnq0pRIBkGSiCtMiWoKZ7uhwSnwAkFlb3fbGHuTKrA51V24umPa96IJh&address=&city=Gay&state=&zipcode=&country=US&addtohistory=)😛 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/4 "2003-01-20T04:20:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Duke \* > \*\*I think it’s [this one.](http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?location=z9K5jZ3THnq0pRIBkGSiCtMiWoKZ7uhwSnwAkFlb3fbGHuTKrA51V24umPa96IJh&address=&city=Gay&state=&zipcode=&country=US&addtohistory=)😛 \*\* And it’s just east of Leatherman, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/5 "2003-01-20T05:07:54Z")
And just west of Speedwell. ---
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/6 "2003-01-20T06:36:18Z")
Snort, it’s in North Carolina. I think Montreal deserves a mention, just going on the stories I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![Maxxxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/7 "2003-01-20T09:06:59Z")
I’m with **Caught@Work** on this one. I don’t have an official cite, but I hear it regularly said that Sydney is the gayest city in the world, after San Francisco. And to think, it’s just an hour’s flight away! Yippee! Max 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/8 "2003-01-20T10:55:39Z")
Wihout a doubt: West Hollywood, California. It really doesn’t get any Gayer than a very Gay friendly city council that wants to take over the Gay Pride Festival because they think the local grass roots organization isn’t doing it justice (and they are right.) Plus they have had a Domestic Partners registration that is considered legal by every business requiring it for insurance purposes. Add to that a main street (Santa Monica Boulevard) running through the entire city that has predominantly gay bars and businesses. In Europe, Berlin would rank way up there. So would Amstedam. London, Munich, Paris, and Frankfurt have a few pocket areas, but I wouldn’t consider those cities in the same catagory as West Hollywood or San Francisco or New York. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/9 "2003-01-20T11:07:49Z")
Everyone I know who’s been there says it’s Sydney, hands-down. ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/10 "2003-01-20T11:11:13Z")
Cape Town, is the gay capital of Africa. Observe the [Mother City Queer Project](http://www.mcqp.co.za) which is officially endorsed by Cape Town Tourism (which hopes to attract the so-called ‘Pink’ tourist dollar). We have a decent sized gay district and the city is very gay friendly. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/11 "2003-01-20T11:57:30Z")
Isn’t Sydney just really gay during Mardi Gras? Maybe it’s cause I’ve got quite a few good gay friends in Brisbane and not in Sydney but it’s never seemed to have a bigger (proportionally) gay scene. ---
**Author:** ![j\_kat\_251](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@j\_kat\_251](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_kat_251)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/12 "2003-01-20T11:59:02Z")
There was some article in a Melbourne newspaper (The Age)a short time back about how Melbourne was actually gayer and BONUS more bohemian than Sydney. Not sure why you’d tout that as some huge advantage, but what can you do? ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/13 "2003-01-20T12:08:13Z")
I didn’t know Sydney was considered so gay. I mean, sure, there’s Mardi Gras and Oxford St, but I never really thought that it had much more than your average big city. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/14 "2003-01-20T12:10:13Z")
\*\* j\_kat\_251\*\* is correct. Here’s the [article](http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/29/1035683411792.html). Melbourne has more same-sex couples per capita than both Sydney and San Francisco. > [@](#): > > \*\*Using Australia’s 2001 census data, the report found that 8.8 per cent of inner Melbourne couples were same-sex, higher than Sydney on 5.9 per cent and San Francisco on 5.4 per cent. \*\*Which leads me to say: Melbourne is _soooo_ gay! 😉 (Incidentally, this is the second time in two days that I’ve posted info on Melbourne in response to an IMHO question. They’re gonna take back my magic Perth decoder ring if I keep this up. :)) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/15 "2003-01-20T13:16:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Skip \* > \*\*Cape Town, is the gay capital of Africa. Observe the [Mother City Queer Project](http://www.mcqp.co.za) which is officially endorsed by Cape Town Tourism (which hopes to attract the so-called ‘Pink’ tourist dollar). We have a decent sized gay district and the city is very gay friendly. \*\* Looks like it just got a bit [less friendly](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/2676323.stm). ☹ ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/16 "2003-01-20T14:56:08Z")
Australia - Sydney United States - San Francisco Canada - Toronto New Zealand- entire country England - Bristol Scotland - Edinburgh Ireland - Dublin ---
**Author:** ![Skip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Skip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skip)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/17 "2003-01-20T14:58:37Z")
jjimm: Yes that’s causing quite a stir at the moment here though. But it definitely reeks of organised crime. There are two survivors though so hopefully once they recover the full story (organised crime or hate crime) will come out. ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/18 "2003-01-20T14:59:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by astro \* > \*\*Australia - Sydney > United States - San Francisco > Canada - Toronto > New Zealand- entire country > England - Bristol > Scotland - Edinburgh > Ireland - Dublin \*\* Caribbean - San Juan, PR ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/19 "2003-01-20T15:02:10Z")
The data is going to skew small. I know some fairly small towns in Iowa with fewer than 100 people with three or four gay couples. That would bring the percentage up towards 10+%. And they’d be pretty accepting too, in my experience. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733/20 "2003-01-20T15:08:19Z")
All the gay people I know in Omaha claim it has the highest gay people per-capita in the US. I don’t believe them and neither should you. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-most-gay-city-in-the-world/149733.md?page=2)