LGBTQ

The Ultimate Las Vegas Travel Guide for an LGBTQI Tourist

Sin City isn’t an entertainment hub for straight people only; it’s a gay paradise. Gay Vegas offers entertainment and a fun, thrilling experience that even the straight crowd can’t help but join. There’s a reason why the US Rupaul’s Drag Race finals are held in Las Vegas every year.

Being an LGBTQI traveler can be challenging, especially when looking for accommodative entertainment spots. Sin City welcomes everyone, from the leather daddies and twink drag queens to butch lesbian, transgender, and DL guys. Everyone can be themselves in Sin City. Gay events in the city are always up and blazing with the rainbow, be it a gay rodeo, pool or fetish parties. The Las Vegas gay pride parade held every October is one of the most significant gay support activities in the country. Unlike the regular pride parade, which is held in June, the Las Vegas parade takes place in October cause of the weather.

In this detailed Las Vegas LGBTQI Travel Guide, we go deep on how you can enjoy a mind-blowing and memorable experience.

Where to Stay

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Las Vegas is home to some of the most legendary hotels in the world. Gay travelers have more than 150,000 hotel rooms to choose from, depending on one’s preferences and budgets. If you are looking for gay-friendly hotels and resorts, you should consider the following options.

Luxor Hotel & Casino

Address: 3900 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119, United States

Phone: +1 877-386-4658

Website: https://luxor.mgmresorts.com/en.html?ecid=GMB_LX_HO

The Luxor Hotel & Casino is one of the gayest friendly hotels on the Las Vegas strip. Gay travelers staying at the hotel will enjoy more than world-class accommodation. The hotel hosts regular events for the versatile community and renowned DJs to keep the gay crowd entertained all night. One of the popular gay events of the hotel is the Temptations Pool Party, which welcomes both gay and straight crowds. The Luxor Hotel & Casino sponsors major gay events in Sin City like the Las Vegas Pride, Pride 48 and Vegas Gay Days. Enjoy your gay trip in Las Vegas by spending the night in the 30-story pyramid as you gamble in a vibrant Egypt-themed gambling resort.

The Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino

Address: 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States

Phone: +1 702-698-7000

Website: https://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/

Located at the very heart of the Las Vegas Strip, the Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino is another popular hotel that welcomes gay travelers with beaming smiles and open arms. If you’re looking for a hotel where you will get fantastic service and treatment as a gay traveler, the Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino is the best place to consider. The Human Rights Campaign voted the Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino the Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality. Glamour and glitz are the other critical definitions of the hotel, housing the legendary high-end entertainment club, Marquee Nightclub. Tour the global culinary culture by exploring the extensive collection of restaurants at the Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino. Dive into the Italian culinary experience by visiting the Scarpetta, or take a trip to Japan by exploring your tastebuds at Zuma.

Where to Party

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The Las Vegas nightlife will give you an adrenaline rush. It features everything from gambling arenas, pool parties, strip clubs, night clubs to cocktail lounges and amazing live concerts. The LGBTQI community has even more colorful nightlife featuring some legendary performances and icons in gay history. You can pick your poison from go-go dancers, gay parades, and music concerts to outstanding performances by drag queens. If you want to enjoy a night of partying and signature cocktails in Las Vegas, pick one or two of the following bars and lounges.

The Garden Las Vegas

Address: 1017 S 1st St #180, Las Vegas, NV 89101, United States

Phone: +1 702-202-0900

Website: https://www.thegardenlasvegas.com/

The Garden Las Vegas is a hidden gem for Gay Vegas found in the DTLV Arts District. Join the Las Vegas gay community every weekend for a Bottomless Drag Brunch. The place has been uniquely decorated to provide the gay community with exceptional and Instagram-able spots, like the cauliflower wings and Garden’s Angus sliders. Every Thursday, you meet uniqueness, charisma, nerve and talent at the Garden Las Vegas during the weekly Drag Superstar competition. You get to vote for your favorite drag queen to be part of the prestigious Garden’s residency line-up. The Garden Las Vegas operates from 11 am to 2 am (Saturday and Sunday) and 6 pm to 2 am (Thursday and Friday). You can also enjoy casual fast foods on the garden seating as you watch other patrons dance the night away.

FreeZone

Address: 610 E Naples Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89119, United States

Phone: +1 702-794-2300

Website: http://www.freezonelv.com/

FreeZone has kept the queer community in Las Vegas entertained since 1996. The entertainment joint has become one of the most popular spots in Gay Las Vegas and has been featured on countless websites and magazines. The club is easily accessible from the Las Vegas Strip. Opened every day of the week, FreeZone operates 24/7, giving the vibrant queer community and interested straight community an unlimited entertainment scene. You can enjoy karaoke, gaming, fantastic food and dancing at FreeZone. Some popular weekly events at the club are T-Time Sundays, Savage Saturdays, and Fierce Fridays. If you love cocktails, grab a seat at FreeZone from 8 pm to 2 am (Thursday to Sunday) during the happy hour.

Badlands Las Vegas

Address: 953 E Sahara Ave #22B, Las Vegas, NV 89104, United States

Phone: +1 702-792-9262

Website: https://badlandsbarlv.com/

The Badlands Las Vegas prides itself as the veteran entertainment source for gay Vegas. It’s the oldest gay bar in Las Vegas and has featured on Bar Rescue (Season 8), a reality TV show. Badlands Las Vegas fits the description perfectly if you are looking for a more laid-back gay bar with a country theme. You can book a seat during the Trivia Tuesdays hosted by drag queen Natch to test and refresh your LGBTQ knowledge. Lovers of drag performances will be entertained during the performances at Badlands Las Vegas held every Friday. You can try to be a legendary singer by joining the Humpday Karaoke Wednesdays! The bar is open every day and operates 24/7.

Piranha Nightclub

Address: 4633 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169, United States

Phone: +1 702-791-0100

Website: https://www.piranhavegas.com/

The Piranha Nightclub is one of the top gay bars in Sin City, featuring uniquely themed events every week. Some popular events include We Love the Weekend, Wednesdays We Wear Pink and Latin Tuesdays. Apart from hosting unique and legendary drag shows in Vegas, the Piranha Nightclub has a cosy outdoor patio and VIP skyboxes for a more upscale entertainment option. Patrons enjoy happy hour every day from 10 pm to 12 am. The gay bar operates from 10 pm to 5 am (Sunday to Thursday) and 10 pm to 6 am (Friday and Saturday).

 

Where to Shop

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Every trip needs to be completed with a fantastic souvenir. Apart from leaving Las Vegas with city-themed souvenirs, you can get gay-themed gifts to take back home. Las Vegas has many souvenirs for gay travelers, ranging from gift cards and books to music records. Explore the following shops and grab something interesting to take home as a Vegas souvenir.

Get Booked

Address: 4640 Paradise Rd #15, Las Vegas, NV 89169, United States

Phone: +1 702-737-7780

Website: https://www.getbooked.com/

Get Booked was previously referred to as Bright Pink Literature and is a hub for gay literature fans and lovers. Apart from featuring an extensive collection of books about the LGBTQI community, it has many goodies used by the gay community, like harnesses and hoods, and even fetish products like restraints and pumps. Their personal care section has been curated to cater to gay couples and even offers professional consultations for gay couples. You can get plenty of goodies during the Get Booked clearance sale.

Deja Vu Love Boutique Las Vegas

Address: 3247 S Sammy Davis Jr Dr STE A, Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States

Phone: +1 702-731-5655

Website: https://loveboutique.com/

Take a stroll into the Deja Vu Love Boutique in Paradise, Nevada. The adult store features various products suitable for any person. You will find the helpful staff knowledgeable and ready to assist you with anything as you shop for your favorite toy or souvenir. You can opt for VIP access and enjoy amazing discounts and offers on selected items. The boutique hosts various events for the gay community, where clients get to enjoy discounts and offers.

LBGTQI Events

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The Vegas LGBTQI entertainment scene is one of the most famous and attractive entertainment scenes in the world. Las Vegas continues to attract top gay performers worldwide, ranging from singers, dancers, and even drag queens and comedians. The Las Vegas Strip always hosts fun-filled gay events painted and decorated in rainbow colors attracting the crowd to join in the fun. Below are some of the famous Las Vegas gay events that you can miss if you want to dive deeper into the Gay Vegas entertainment scene:

Las Vegas Pride

Website: https://lasvegaspride.org/

Address: 4001 S. Decatur Blvd. #37-540 Las Vegas, NV 89103-5800

Phone: (866) 930-3336

The organization was founded in 1992 and provided a safe place for members of the LGBTQ community. It is famously known for hosting the main events for the Vegas LGBTQI community. The annual Las Vegas Pride parade held in October is just one of the many events hosted by the organization. The organization also gives members of the public, organizations and businesses to contribute to the various Gay Vegas events organized by the organization. Contributions from well-wishers are used in running a hub for LGBTQI community sessions and resources.

Hustlaball

Website: https://www.hustlaball.com/ 

If you are a dancing enthusiast, you can’t miss the Vegas Hustlaball event. The dancing vent features sex-positive erotic dance choreographies from various performers. If you want more extreme performances, you can opt for the XXL Playroom, which entails gritty live sex acts performed by legendary Vegas porn stars. The next party is January 2023.

Nevada Gay Rodeo

Website: https://www.ngra.com/

Address: 94983, Las Vegas, NV 89193

Phone: +1 702-909-0811

The Las Vegas Gay rodeo is one of the unique rodeo events in the US. Apart from enjoying the various entertainment options, proceeds from the events are given to gay organizations from Las Vegas that support the event and the LGBTQI community. The Nevada Gay Rodeo is the largest gay rodeo event in the US, and its primary goal is to preserve western communities and lifestyles.

Other popular Vegas Gay events include:

  • Drag Brunch By Voss Events
  • Chippendales
  • Aussie Heat
  • Magic Mike Live
  • Fantasy
  • RuPaul’s Drag Race LIVE!

Getting Married

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Las Vegas is known to be a popular spot for couples who want to get married. Sin City doesn’t only welcome straight couples. It’s a hub for gay weddings giving gay couples a chance to have their glamorous dream wedding. There are various options for a gay couple, whether you want a drag-themed wedding, an Elvis-themed wedding or a simple, intimate function. The experienced wedding planners in Las Vegas organize more than 150 weddings daily and will have something special for you and your spouse.

 

Conclusion

The LGBTQI community enjoys a lot of love from Sin City and its residents. Many celebrated entertainers in Vegas are members or activists of the gay community. Apart from gambling and enjoying the nightlife of Sin City, you can be part of Gay Vegas, which is even more entertaining.

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