Gay bars in rochester minnesota

LGBTQ+

Everyone is welcome in Rochester, NY! Considering its rich history of civil rights, it should come as no surprise that Rochester is among the most accepting and LGBTQ-friendly metropolitan areas in the U.S., previously rated eleventh on Advocate's Gayest Cities in America list. It is also one of the most culturally rich. Rochester has additionally been awarded a perfect score of one hundred from the Human Rights Campaign.

Tucked between Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes wine region, the legacy of dignity for all runs exceptionally deep here. Susan B. Anthony's dwelling, a National Historic Landmark, is still standing in Rochester and is available to the public. Frederick Douglass established his abolitionist newspaper, The North Star, here. The initial statue in the country honoring an African-American still stands in Highland Park.

From independently-owned coffee shops and eateries to nightlife, art, culture, shopping, and more, explore all that Rochester's lively and diverse LGBTQ+ community has to offer.

Festivals & Events

Rochester Pride: Held annually in July, hallmark Pride events encompassing the Pride Parade, Pride Festival, and the Pride Picnic. Several other events coincide with Rochester Pride, a celebration that draws approximately ten thousand individuals, rendering it New York State's second-largest Pride celebration.
Rochester Black Pride: A week-long cultural and arts festival aiming to celebrate, empower, and inspire the Black Queer/LGBT+ community.
ImageOut: The Rochester LGBTQ Film Festival: This ten-day Festival screens coveted new material from around the globe, encompassing foreign films, short programs, documentaries, and classics. (October)
Rochester Lilac Festival:Showcases over five hundred varieties of Lilacs, with art, music, and food. (May)
Rochester International Jazz Festival:All genres of creative improvised music from all over the world converge, with over fifteen hundred musicians and over three hundred concerts. (June)
Corn Hill Arts Festival: Features hundreds of artists and continuous live music. (July)
Clothesline Festival: The Memorial Art Gallery's annual event that presents works from local and area artists. (September)
Rochester Fringe Festival: Anticipate the unexpected during this unique multi-arts festival that both showcases and stimulates creativity. (September)

Nightlife

Rochester is a welcoming community, possessing a wide array of amiable bars and nightclubs. Nevertheless, a few LGBTQ+-owned establishments and conventional gay bars are essential.

The Bachelor Forum is centrally located in Rochester's Neighborhood of the Arts, home to ART Walk on University cafes, galleries, museums, and fantastic restaurants.
Roar Rochester hosts Drag shows, live bands, and more. But the primary objective is to create a distinctive safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Avenue Pub is an institution in Rochester; this bar provides a place to unwind, visit, and socialize with locals in the heart of Rochester's eclectic Monroe neighborhood.

Support LGBTQ+ Owned Businesses

Include the following LGBTQ+-owned businesses in your itinerary, as they contribute to making Rochester the vibrant city that it is.

Equal=Grounds is the quintessential neighborhood coffeehouse; this spacious cafe is furnished with comfy chairs, art, and the whirl of the espresso machine. It's situated in the center of another one of Rochester's most popular urban neighborhoods, the South Wedge, which is home to galleries, shops, and foodie-magnet attractions.
Hedonist Artisan Chocolates & Ice Cream creates locally-sourced, handcrafted chocolates and ice cream. Their delightful shop is located in the South Wedge neighborhood, and their chocolates are available for shipping.
Crisp Rochester is an American food restaurant serving seasonally-inspired, modern comfort food with a southern influence. They serve lunch, brunch, and dinner in their old-school chic, cozy environment. You can find their restaurant in the South Wedge.
Laughing Gull Chocolates crafts high-quality chocolates made with locally and transparently sourced ingredients. They also feature a Pride collection including a Pride box of chocolates, rainbow hearts, and rainbow Pride bark.
OFC Creations Theatre Center is a professional regional performing arts center that produces high-quality, entertaining musical productions.

Family-Friendly

For LGBTQ+ families, Greater Rochester is a dream trip. Innumerable festivals and attractions offer family fun all year round. Explore our family-friendly itineraries for further inspiration on family-friendly activities, including: