The Valley's lesbian and gay community is large and thriving, especially in the area of downtown Phoenix. With more than 30 gay bars - more per capita than anywhere in the United States - a growing number of gay-friendly churches, heavily gay residential neighborhoods and plenty of resources and publications that cater to the lesbian and gay demographic, the Valley offers a positive environment to live and work.
There's gay-specific bowling (International Gay Bowling Organization [igbo.org], gay square dancing (Desert Valley Squares [www.iagsdc.org/desertvalleysqs]) and gay hiking and camping (Desert Adventures [www.desertadventures.org].
Gay-borhoods and business
Most of downtown Phoenix's historic neighborhoods, especially Coronado, Encanto and Willow, have a heavy gay and lesbian presence. The Greater Phoenix Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce reported in 2004 that the ZIP code with the highest gay population is 85013, the area fanning out from Central Avenue and Camelback Road. The gay-owned Clarendon Hotel+Suites, incidentally, is in the 85013 ZIP.
Unique on Central (4700 N. Central Ave.; 602-279-9691; www.uniqueoncentral.com) sells gay and lesbian paraphernalia - videos, jewelry and adult items.
As for the arts, Stray Cat Theatre and Nearly Naked Theatre produce quite a bit of gay fare but are not specifically gay, while The Alternative Theatre Company (www.thealternativetheatreco.com) produces exclusively gay works and bills itself as the state's "only gay and lesbian theater company."
Bars and Restaurants
Nightclubs of every genre exist in the Phoenix area. Here's a sampling:
Cash Inn Country
2140 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix
(602) 244-9943
www.cashinncountry.com
Country dance bar.
Charlie's
77 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
(602) 265-0224
www.charliesphoenix.com
Twenty years old and always hoppin', filled with fresh-faced cowboy types.
Phoenix La Roca Bar
4129 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix
(602) 248-8559
www.phoenixlaroca.com
The only gay hookah bar in town.
A League of Our Own
40 E. Camelback Rd., St. 102
(602) 252-2354
Supper club with live jazz, sometimes performed by the always fabulous Margo Reed.
Club Vibe
3031 East Indian School Rd.
(602) 224-9977
www.clubvibe602.com
Lesbian bar formerly known as "Ain't Nobody's Bizness."
Amsterdam
718 N. Central Ave.
(602) 258-6122
www.amsterdambar.com
Upscale martini bar.
BS
7125 E. 5th Ave., Scottsdale
(480) 945-9028
Casual sports bar with lots of regulars and THE place to be on Halloween.
Pat O's Bunkhouse Saloon
4428 North 7th Ave., Phoenix
(602) 200-9154
www.bunkhousesaloon.com
$1 drinks on Thursday nights for men in their underwear.
Pumphouse II
4132 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix
(602) 275-3509
www.pumphouseii.com
Karaoke and drag shows, no pretension.
Roscoe's
4531 N. 7th St., Phoenix
(602) 285-0833
www.roscoeson7.com
Lively sports bar.
Wild Card
801 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler
(480) 857-3088
The east Valley's only lesbian bar.
Gay-friendly churches
Within the past decade, more and more churches are becoming "affirming," meaning that they incorporate into their mission the concept that all worshippers, regardless of xx or sexual orientation, are welcome. The United Church of Christ is, as a whole, is known for being gay-supportive, as are the Unitarian Universalists. The clergy group No Longer Silent (nolongersilent.org) is made up of representatives from two prominent "gay churches," Community Church of Hope and Gentle Shepard (www.gsmcc.org), and offers support to gays and lesbians.
Here are some welcoming churches, plus a motto or a bit about the philosophy of each:
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
100 W. Roosevelt, Phoenix
(602) 254-7126
www.trinitycathedral.com
"Radical hospitality, radical equality, radical love."
Grace Lutheran
1124 N. 3rd St., Phoenix
(602) 258-3787
www.graceinthecity.com
Known as "The Pancake Church" for its pancake-breakfast outreach to the homeless.
Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
6400 W. Del Rio St., Chandler
(480) 899-4249
www.vuu.org
"A welcoming community that honors diversity in all its forms."
Olive Tree Christian Fellowship at Palo Cristi Presbyterian
3535 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley
(602) 955-6080
www.palocristipres.org
"We welcome and encourage all people to join us in knowing Jesus Christ and learning about our faith."
Asbury United Methodist
1601 W. Indian School Rd., Phoenix
(602) 279-2369
www.aplaceforallpeople.com
"A place for all people to become disciples of Jesus Christ."
Casa de Cristo Evangelical Church
1029 E. Turney Ave., Phoenix
(602) 265-2831
www.casadecristo.org
"Christ-centered, Bible-based, spirit-filled, open and affirming."
Christ of the Desert Catholic of the Antioch at Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church
801 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix
"We welcome all to our altars regardless of race, gender, marital or economic status, sexual orientation or denominational affiliation."
Community Church of Hope
4121 N. 7th Ave., Phoenix
(602) 234-2180
www.communitychurchofhope.com
"A diverse group of people who are God-centered and Christ-driven, seeking to provide God's hope and love to all."
Scottsdale Congregational United Church of Christ
4425 North Granite Reef Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
(480) 946-2900
www.scucc.com
"An open and Affirming community of Christians who gladly welcome into our midst any person who seeks Christian fellowship regardless of race, age, gender or sexual orientation."
Via de Cristo United Methodist Church
20199 N. 78th Place, Scottsdale
(480) 515-4490
www.viadecristo.com
"Open hearts, open minds, open doors"
Healing Waters Ministries
225 West University Drive, Suite 105, Tempe
(480) 894-8681
www.hwmaz.com
"A Non-Denominational Christian church for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders and heterosexuals."
Resources and publications
• OutlookAz Magazine (www.outlook-mag.com) is the Valley's premiere gay publication. The magazine says it is "edgy, upscale" and "offers a clever mix of lifestyle elements targeted to the sophisticated reader."
• Echo Magazine (www.echomag.com) is a well-respected gay-centric news magazine that has been around since 1990 and focuses less on nightlife than issues.
• The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (www.gpglcc.org) is a non-profit that focuses on networking within the Valley.
• For entertainment and events, check out www.visitgayarizona.com, www.gayarizona.org and www.funmaps.com.
Events
The pre-eminent lesbian and gay event in the state is the Arizona Pride Festival, also known as the "Party in the Park." Held the second weekend of April each year at Phoenix's Steele Park, it has drawn close to 20,000 people in recent years. (www.azpride.org)
Other annual events include the following:
• OutFar Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, February (outfar.org)
• Road Runner Regional Rodeo and the Sierra Stampede in Sierra Vista, January.
• Rainbows Festival, October in Phoenix's Heritage Park. (rainbowsfestival.com).
• AIDS Walk Arizona, November. By Carrie Miner
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