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The Falcon is not the biggest space on Broadway, which means the bar sometimes has short lines to get in on busy weekends. While there are many other notable establishments like The Crest, Flux Bar, and Hamburger Mary’s, these five spots in Long Beach are good places to start for those looking to visit the area, mingle with locals, and build a new family of fellow queers. That lowered threshold of pretense means less Hollywood gloss, and that’s a good thing for Southern California’s varied queer nightlife. It makes sense given the smaller city’s ties to things like the port and other blue collar economies. These Long Beach establishments speak to an overlapping but unique audience that’s less concerned with vibes and fashion and more interested in offering a relaxed atmosphere and lower prices. Long Beach’s queer bars may feel less polished and cosmopolitan than those in West Hollywood, and many of the locals prefer it this way. Even the mayor of Long Beach is an out and proud gay man, so it’s no wonder that the city would have its own bar scene catering to the community. There’s also an LGBTQ swim team, other gay sports leagues, and even the city hosts its own Pride Parade and Festival.
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Make no mistake: While Long Beach may be primarily known for its tourist attractions, art scene, bustling downtown, and its port - the largest in the nation - the city has a vibrant queer scene, built by local residents, is as open-minded and inclusive as anywhere in the state.įor starters, Long Beach has its own LGBTQ Center offering a library and health services tailored to the LGBTQ community. But just 25 miles south there’s another thriving queer community in the waterside city of Long Beach, and some feel that the smaller sister city’s scene is not only more approachable and affordable, it offer much of the same history and depth as West Hollywood. The thriving and historic Santa Monica Boulevard stretch known as Boys Town has long been a gathering hub for California queer culture and is filled with bars, restaurants, shopping, and other options for the LGBTQ community. West Hollywood is generally considered to be the de facto queer capital of Southern California.