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San Francisco

Known as the gay capital of the US, San Francisco welcomes the alternative, creative and ambitious that flock into the city in millions every year. The transgender community have a special place in San Francisco and to be different is admired here.

The Castro is the LGBT centre where art and nightlife thrive and it is one of the most ethnically diverse neighbourhoods in San Francisco. Harvey Milk had his Castro Camera shop there and became the most famous resident of the neighbourhood. The area also contributed to man’s fashion of the 70s called “the Castro clone” where men wore tight, light-blue jeans, tight T-shirts and black or sand combat shoes that would make them look as if they were construction workers. The look often came with a thick moustache or beard which now has again become the hip thing. The nightlife in the Castro ends moderately early, so if you want to party all night, head to the SoMa district with warehouse parties. The area has a lot to offer, like the Folsom Street Fair on Folsom St between 7th and 12th streets or the Up Your Alley Fair (Dore Alley Fair) in late July around Folsom St. which is a smaller, less-commercialized and leather-oriented event. How Weird Street Faire includes dancing and costumes in early May. Polk Street used to be a big gay village before 1970s when many gays moved to the Castro and SoMa and now it only concentrates a small number of gay venues.

Noe Valley, Bernal Heights, the Mission are places where many gay men live.

Harvey Milk was gay activist who became San Francisco’s first openly gay elected official in 1977 before being assassinated the following year. There are many areas commemorating his memory, such as Harvey Milk Plaza, Library and a Centre for the Arts bearing his name.

Another place of interest is the GLBT History Museum of San Francisco.

Dolores Park is San Francisco's cruising area where every Sunday morning gays lesbians and all sorts of people come together and sunbathe in the South-Western corner of the park.