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Washington DC Gay Travel Guide
Our government may not like gays, but our capitol is full of them! Yes, friends, Washington DC is one of the gayest cities in the United States of America, and certainly one of the most liberal. The gay community here is also politically charged, and fiercely patriotic. How could it not be? They’re surrounded by potent symbols of our great country, like the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, and the Arlington National Cemetery. The government buildings, themselves, are attractions (especially if you’d like to do a little protesting while you’re in town), like the Capitol, the Library of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the White House. If you plan on visiting any of these sights, be prepared for intensive security checks. DC also is home to some of the finest museums in the world, including the National Air and Space Museum, usually nicknamed The Smithsonian (though that institute operates all the following facilities), the Museum of Natural History, the American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery, and the Museum of American History. The Smithsonian also administers the fabulous National Zoo. Of special interest to many gay travelers are the National Women’s Museum and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. The Washington National Cathedral is a breathtaking church of massive proportions (not supported by a dime of government money!) open to worshippers of all faiths. If you need to get your shop on, there’s no better place than Union Station, located in what was once the largest train station on earth. It’s now full of shops, galleries, and cafes. The DC Metro is one of the nation’s cleanest and most efficient, and gets you to and from all these attractions quickly and cheaply. When you’ve had enough of metal detectors and friskings in government buildings, and being shushed by museum volunteers for thinking too loudly, head to Dupont Circle, the center of Gay Washington. Some people call it the Fruit Loop. At the end of a long day, politicians, diplomats, lobbyists, activists, retail workers, office drones, and students alike hang up their “titles” and come together in the Dupont area to relax. DC gay folk work hard and party hard. And though socializing here may feel a bit more like political schmoozing than a friendly conversation, you certainly can’t blame them. It’s their way of life!
Gay Washington DC Bars, Restaurants and Clubs
From the Metro stop at Dupont Circle, gay bars are spread out like spokes, with a significant concentration both east and west along P Street, north along Connecticut, and east out toward Logan Circle. JR’s is a great place to start your tour of Gay DC. It’s one of the most popular watering holes in town. The Green Lantern is also busy these days. It once had a reputation for debauchery, but is now cleaned up and very mainstream. Titan is the popular bar just above Hamburger Mary’s. The Fireplace serves strong drinks to a racially diverse crowd in a fun atmosphere. Mr. P’s is the oldest bar in the city, and still caters to a faithful following. The two-story bar supposedly predates the Stonewall Riots in New York. Club Chaos can’t make up its mind whether it’s a bar or a club. Some nights there’s a cover and the place seems more like a club. But most nights it’s a crowded, friendly bar with fun events. The same holds true with Omega DC. On weekends it’s more club, during the week it’s more bar. But it’s always popular. Remington’s is DC’s country-western bar. It’s huge, and attracts folks of all genres for a variety of activities from watching ball games and Queer Eye, to free two-stepping and line-dancing lessons, pool tournaments, and karaoke. Wet is one of the last bastions of the clothing-free go-go dancers that DC was once so famous for. DIK Bar is a piano bar which draws an older, friendly crowd. Lesbians don’t have as rich a bar scene as gay men do, and the only girlie bar that has managed to hang around for more than a few years is The Phase. Leather fanatics gather at The DC Eagle.
If there’s one thing DC does well, or, rather, does a lot of, it’s micromanagement. There are an infinite number of regulations which control every aspect of every type of business. And this has taken its toll on the once-legendary decadence of the DC club scene. Even the most popular clubs manage to be litigated into closing their doors, at least for awhile, because of some neighborhood regulation or other which prevents dancing to music after 3am, or which prevents dancing in the same facility where alcohol is being served. Still, every Saturday night, the crowds head to Velvet Nation, “the most powerful party in the most powerful city in the world.” The music thumps until 7am. Apex has become one of the most popular places to dance in the city, since its renovation and renaming (it used to be called Badlands). The Bachelor’s Mill is extremely popular with the African American crowd. Ziegfield’s/Secrets is a popular dance venue, with the Ziegfield’s half presided over by DC drag legend Ella Fitzgerald, and the Secrets half chock full of those famous DC go-go boys who seem to think the thermostat is set way too high. Cobalt is another packed dance venue. Sunday nights used to be supremely ruled by Sunday Mass, a creepily-irreverent dance party. However, it is currently serving its term as the “piñata du jour” and has been closed down by an overabundance of unobserved regulations. The event has been so popular for so long, you can rest assured it will be back up and running soon. The current dance venue on Sunday is Lizard Lounge. The Edge comes and goes in popularity, and is usually very racially homogenous, though it flipflops between such groups at random.
Washington is a city that “does lunch” like no other, so the restaurants can be impossible to get into from noon to 2pm. Dinner is much more relaxed, and tends to happen late. Most of the restaurants in the Dupont Circle area are heavily, if not primarily, patronized by gays. The Dupont Italian Kitchen is legendary for its cheap and delicious pastas. The 1409 Playbill Café serves American cuisine in a kitschy, Broadway-tinged atmosphere. Café Berlin serves up German and European favorites. In the same complex, Skewers and Café Luna are cornerstones of Dupont circle gastronomy, with Skewers featuring Middle Eastern and North African cuisine (and belly dancing!), and Café Luna serving traditional café favorites and a popular Sunday brunch. And we certainly can’t forget the generous platters of camp (with a gossipé sundae for dessert!) at Hamburger Mary’s.
Gay Friendly and Gay Washington DC Hotels
In the middle of the gay community, the Hotel Palomar DC, a Kimpton Hotel formerly the Radisson Barcelo is an excellent, centrally located option. Kimpton is the leader in gay-friendly boutique hotels in over 15 gay-friendly destinations in North America. If a gay-owned guesthouse is more your style, check out Riggsplace in the heart of Dupont Circle. It’s more private apartment than B&B. Other gay-friendly guesthouses in the area include the Inn at Dupont Circle, DC Digs, and The Dupont at the Circle. Beyond the gay area, two gay-owned B&Bs beckon, the gracious Victorian style of the DC Guesthouse, and the elegance of the Capitol Hill Victorian.
Call an edirp.com gay travel specialist at 1-888-EDIRP-EZ (1-888-334-7739) or (214) 520-0345 (U.S.) to book any of the hotels mentioned above. Any hotels with links may be booked via our secure online booking system.
Washington DC Gay Pride and other Gay Events
Capital Pride may be the most politically charged Pride celebration in the country. It takes place in early June, and usually runs a full 10 days. Black Pride is held here in “Chocolate City” on Memorial Day weekend. It’s the longest-running Black Pride event in the world. Cherry Weekend is a large and popular circuit party that benefits AIDS organizations, held in the spring. Reel Affirmations is the lesbian and gay film festival held each October.
Travel guide by Benjamin Starr, a travel writer who claims the entire world as his home. When he's not at home, he can sometimes be found at a residence in Dallas, Texas. To contact Ben, email him at benjaminstarr@sbcglobal.net. |
