Gay Guide to New Orleans
New Orleans concentrates its LGBTQ+ nightlife at the quieter, downriver end of the French Quarter, around the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann, an area long nicknamed the Lavender Line. The city is known for round-the-clock bars, a deep drag and cabaret tradition, and a come-as-you-are spirit. Its signature LGBTQ+ event is Southern Decadence over Labor Day weekend, often called the gay Mardi Gras, alongside a strong queer presence at Carnival itself. Music, food, and a famously late nightlife define the scene year-round.