Gay bars in grand rapids
Pride month is right around the corner. Whether you&#;re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally like me, let&#;s celebrate!
Put your favorite gay anthem on the stereo and crank the volume up.
I&#;ve got Born This Way by Lady Gaga spinning. What did you pick? Vogue by Madonna? I Will Survive? Timeless.
Okay, now that we&#;ve got the music going, let&#;s be honest.
While shops now flying Pride flags are now familiar in our city, that wasn&#;t always the case. Grand Rapids, like many places in the United States, was once hostile to the gay movement. Many gay residents fled Grand Rapids for bigger, more amenable cities like Detroit and Chicago the day they turned
And while the movement, and the town, have come a long way, there&#;s still work to act. A disproportionate number of unhoused youth in Grand Rapids determine as LGBTQ+. Let&#;s do better.
Onward! Let&#;s look at some spots in Grand Rapids that fully embrace the gay community.
Contents
Map of the Best Gay Bars in Grand Rapids
The best gay sway club in downtown Grand Rapids: Rumors
If you&#;re headed do
Locally Owned & Operated LGBTQIA+ Businesses to Check Out
Drinks & Entertainment
Back to Top of ListThe Apartment Lounge is the oldest gay bar in Michigan. Enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and then step outside to admire the Rainbow Road mural.
Photo by Brian Craig for Experience GR
The Apartment Lounge
As Michigan&#x;s oldest gay bar, The Apartment Lounge has a long history of making community members feel welcome and adj. The Apartment serves up a chill vibe along with rotating drink specials throughout the week. You are always met with a smiling face and served hot, fresh popcorn to accompany your beverage of choice. It&#x;s commonly referred to as the place where friends meet, and this bar will not disappoint if you&#x;re looking to mix and mingle.
The Apartment also has an outdoor covered patio overlooking Joey Salamon&#x;s Rainbow Road street mural and Veteran&#x;s Memorial Park in downtown Grand Rapids. Food trucks often visit the bar, offering patrons an opportunity to dine alfresco or take their food inside to accompany a drink. There i
When you're looking for a secure space to hang out with likeminded people, gay bars are the place to be.
While West Michigan could certainly use more dedicated LGBTQ+ spaces, the spots we do have are excellent institutions that have persisted for a reason. Also, as judgment begins to fade and previous barriers erode, gay bars own become increasingly frequented by people of all sexualities—as long, of course, as you're respectful. As the TikTokers say, be mindful of why you were invited to the section.
That said, here's a quick rundown of the gay bars in the region!
Rumors Nightclub
69 S. Division Ave., Grand Rapids
An absolute cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ nightlife in Grand Rapids, Rumors Nightclub has been a staple since Located on South Division, Rumors is known for an energetic atmosphere and diverse crowd, providing one of the only true club experiences in the city. There's an event going on every night of the week (except for a well-earned day off on Mondays) at this hotspot, including themed nights, big drag shows, adj drink deals, karaoke and boogie parties, making it a
LGBTQIA+ in GR
The Advocate magazine named Grand Rapids one of the Gayest Cities in America more than a decade ago, in a feature exploring the peer capita queerness of some less expected locales.
Grand Rapids has become even gayer in the years since. The city has been recognized as one of the safest in the U.S for LGBTQIA+ singles and we earned a perfect score in the Municipal Equality Index, which examines how inclusive cities are of LGBTQIA+ people.
New community gathering spaces like LGBTQIA+ bar General Wood Shop and sober-minded Lotus Brew Coffee/Dry Bar have joined such iconic destinations as the Apartment Lounge, Michigan&#x;s oldest LGBTQIA+ bar, and Rumors Night Club, serving a diverse clientele since Other locally owned and operated LGBTQIA+ businesses have also flourished.
World-class art, food, beer and craft beverage scenes are attracting discerning LGBTQIA+ travelers to the region, while abundant outdoor recreation opportunities appeal to an active crowd. Visits often start in downtown Grand Rapids, where + restaurants, breweries, museums and entertain