Paris is one of Europe's
major centres for
gay
men. There are numerous
gay bars, clubs,
restaurants, saunas and
shops, concentrated
especially in the
Marais
. While less visible,
the
lesbian
community is strong and
well organized, with
networks of feminist
groups and a number of
publications.
The high spots of the
calendar are the annual
Gay Pride parade and
festival, and the
Bastille Day Ball. Gay
Pride is normally
held on the Saturday
closest to the summer
solstice, and is a major
carnival for both
lesbians and gays. The Bastille
Day Ball (July 13,
10pm-dawn), a wild
open-air dance on the
quai de la Tournelle, 5e
(Mº Pont Marie), is
free for all to join in.
Helplines and
information
Act Up Paris 45
rue Sedaine, 11e tel
01.48.06.13.89, Mº Bréguet-Sabin.
The Paris branch of
the international
organization against
AIDS in the homosexual
community. They hold
weekly meetings and
two-monthly
information/discussion
groups.
ARCL (Les
Archives, Recherches
et Cultures Lesbiennes)
Maison des Femmes.
ARCL publish a
biannual directory of
lesbian, gay and
feminist addresses in
France, called L'Annuaire
(10.67), and organize
frequent meetings
around campaigning,
artistic and
intellectual issues.
In addition, they
produce a regular
newsletter, and run a
feminist/lesbian
archive-library at the
Maison des Femmes
which you can consult.
Fri 7-10pm.
Association des
Médecins Gais (AMG;
gay doctors'
organization) 45
rue Sedaine, 11e tel
01.48.05.81.71, Mº Bréguet-Sabin.
Wed 6-8pm, Sat 2-4pm.
Provides help with all
health concerns
relative to the gay
community.
Centre Gai et
Lesbienne 3 rue
Keller, 11e tel
01.43.57.21.47, fax
01.43.57.27.93, Mº
Ledru-Rollin. Mon-Sat
4-8pm; gay family
afternoon Sun 2-7pm.
The main information
centre for the gay,
lesbian, bisexual and
transexual community
in Paris. It's also
the meeting place for
numerous campaigning,
identity, health, arts
and intellectual
groups.
Écoute Gaie
tel 01.44.93.01.02,
Mon, Wed & Thurs
8-10pm, Tues & Fri
6-10pm.
Helpline in French
with information on
the gay community and
advice on problems
related to being gay.
FACTS-Line
tel 01.44.93.16.69.
Wed 6-10pm.
Helpline in English
for AIDS-related
concerns.
Lesbian and Gay
Pride tel
08.36.68.11.31,
Organizes the annual
Gay Pride march in
Paris.
Maison des
Femmes 163 rue de
Charenton, 12e tel
01.43.43.41.13, fax
01.43.43.42.13. Mº
Reuilly-Diderot &
Mº Gare-de-Lyon.
A women's meeting
place, which also
organizes a range of
events and actions.
Media
FG (Fréquence Gaie)
98.2 FM 24hr gay
and lesbian radio
station with music,
news, chats and
information on groups
and events.
Gai Pied
Publishes the annual Guide
Gai/Gay Guide ,
which is the most
comprehensive gay
guide to France,
carrying a good
selection of lesbian
and gay addresses, in
both French and
English; ?12.04 from
newsagents and
bookshops.
Lesbia A
monthly lesbian
publication, available
from most newsagents,
featuring a wide range
of articles, listings,
reviews, lonely hearts
and contacts.
Minitel 3615
GAY is the Minitel
number to dial for
information on groups
and contacts.
Les Mots à la
Bouche 6 rue
Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie,
4e tel 01.42.78.88.30,
Mº Hôtel-de-Ville.
Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm,
Fri & Sat
11am-midnight, Sun
2-8pm.
The main gay and
lesbian bookshop, with
exhibition space and
meeting rooms; a
selection of
literature in English,
too. Lots of free
listings mags and club
flyers.
Magazine-style
internet site in
French with
information and
articles on all
aspects of lesbian
life.
Internet site with
all the usual
chat-rooms, shopping,
forum, etc. Good for
up-to-date news and
events and a few
links.
Bars, clubs and
discos
Lesbian clubs
in Paris are less of a
rarity than they were
ten years ago, but are
still relatively few
and far between. The
pleasures of
gay
men are far better
catered for. While the
selection of gay
male-oriented
establishments listed
in this section only
scratches the surface,
for gay women our
listings more or less
cover all that's
available. Lesbians,
however, are welcome
in some of the
predominantly male
clubs.
Gay clubs'
reputation for wild
hedonism attracts a
fair number of
heterosexuals in
search of a good time.
Many hetorosexuals are
indeed welcome in some
gay establishments if
accompanied, while
some clubs have all
but abandoned a gay
policy; the legendary
gay club Le Queen
, for example, is only
gay on a Thursday now.
Equally, some of the
more mainstream clubs
have started doing gay
nights. For a complete
rundown of events,
consult Em@le
(free in gay bars)
which has a
comprehensive weekly
listing of gay nights,
or Gai Pied's Guide
Gai (published
annually) forvenues.
Alternatively, tune
into Paris's gay radio
station RadioFG (98.2
FM), and keep an eye
out for flyers.
Accommodation and
eating
Although gays and
lesbians shouldn't
come across any
anti-social behaviour
in restaurants and
hotels, there is a
choice of gay-oriented
places to stay and
eat . You don't
need to look any
further than the
Marais; restaurants
are plentiful, and
even if they aren't
exclusively gay, the
location can guarantee
a mainly gay
clientele. Although
there's only one
hotel, Hôtel
Central Marais ,
that caters
exclusively to gays
and lesbians, there
are a few where the
majority of customers
are gay.
