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LAS
VEGAS - GAY LAS VEGAS |
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| Vacation
Rentals in Las Vegas |
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While Las Vegas has long been a gay-friendly
city, and has become even more so since the
election of liberal-minded mayor Oscar
Goodman in 1999, its tourist industry makes
little provision for gays and lesbians.
There are no specifically gay hotels, and
none of the casinos makes any especial
efforts toward attracting gay visitors.
As far as specifically gay nightlife
is concerned, it's largely a question of
joining in with the local scene. There's a
scattering of gay bars and clubs throughout
the city, but the main concentrations are in
what's known as the " Fruit Loop
", around the intersection of Paradise
Road and Naples Drive , a mile
east of the Strip and just south of the Hard
Rock Casino , and in the Commercial
Center on Sahara Avenue , not far
east of the Strip. None of the bars are
exclusively devoted to women. In addition,
of course, most gay and lesbian travelers
are likely to find something to suit their
tastes amid the bustle, glamour, and kitsch
of the Strip, and there's certainly plenty
to enjoy in the shows and spectaculars
reviewed in the Entertainment section.
Information
For up-to-date information on events and
happenings in Las Vegas's gay community,
be sure to get hold of the two free newspapers
, the weekly Las Vegas Bugle ( )
and the monthly Out Las Vegas ( ).
Both are available at the gay and lesbian bookstore
Get Booked, 4640 Paradise Rd (daily
10am-midnight; tel 737-7780), one block
north of Tropicana Avenue, and also at the
lively Mariposa Caf้ , across the
street at 4643 Paradise Rd (daily 24hr;
tel 650-9009).
The Gay and Lesbian Center of Las
Vegas , 912 E Sahara Ave (Mon-Fri
10am-7.30pm; tel 733-9800), is a drop-in
center that provides information on
community resources, social clubs, and
health-related issues.
The best single source of information on
Las Vegas's gay scene is the website .
Although Nevada state law does not
recognize gay or lesbian weddings ,
many of Las Vegas's wedding chapels, both
independent and in the major casinos,
offer commitment ceremonies. Few publicize
such services, but by way of example the
chapels at Paris, Bellagio , and Mandalay
Bay are all known to have hosted them,
while the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel,
1205 Las Vegas Blvd S (tel 384-0771 or
1-800/574-4450), is sympathetic and
gay-owned.
Gay bars and clubs
Angles/Club Lace 4633 Paradise Rd
tel 791-0100. Daily 24hr.
Two distinct bars - Angles is
predominantly for men, Club Lace is
more mixed but has women-only nights on
Thurs and Fri - devoted more to drinking
and cruising than dancing. Between 10.30pm
and 2am on several nights of the week, $5
buys all the beer you can drink.
Back Door Lounge 1415 E
Charleston Blvd tel 385-2018. Daily 24hr.
Neighborhood bar, on the fringes of
downtown, that's popular with older gay
men. Free barbecue on Sat nights and
holidays, and nightly early-evening happy
hours.
Backstreet Saloon & Dancehall
5012 S Arville St tel 876-1844. Daily
24hr.
Very friendly country bar, catering to
both men and women, a mile west of the
Strip between Flamingo and Tropicana.
Square dancing on Tues evenings, line
dancing on Thurs (beginners welcome),
country dancing on Fri and Sat, and an
almighty beer bust on Sun afternoons.
The Buffalo 4640 Paradise Rd tel
733-8355. Daily 24hr.
Lively Levi's-and-leathers club in the
heart of the main gay district that's the
base for the Satyricons and Desert
Brotherhood motorcycle clubs. Beer busts
(especially on Fri evenings and Sun
afternoons) are a bigger deal than music
or dancing.
Flex 4371 W Charleston Blvd tel
385-3539. Daily 24hr. Cover varies.
Flamboyant gay club, several miles west of
the Strip toward Red Rocks, with an
emphasis on music and dancing, and
occasional strip shows. Beer flows freely
all week, and the whole place goes Latin
on Sun nights.
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