Gay Guide to Minneapolis
Minneapolis's gay scene has centered on the Hennepin Avenue and Loring Park corridor downtown since the 1970s, with a newer queer-owned cluster in the Northeast Arts District. The Gay 90's, open since the 1940s, is the iconic megaclub, alongside The Saloon, the Midwest's largest gay bar, and the historic 19 Bar. Twin Cities Pride fills Loring Park the last weekend of June, one of the largest free Pride festivals in the country, drawing crowds near 400,000 with a parade and fireworks. Minnesota passed marriage equality in 2013, among the first Midwestern states, and the Twin Cities pair a strong arts and bar scene with a festival that rivals much bigger metros.