Gay Guide to Phoenix
Phoenix concentrates its gay nightlife in the Melrose District, a stretch of Seventh Avenue known as "The Curve," lined with rainbow flags, antique shops, and bars. Charlie's, a country bar and Phoenix institution since 1984, anchors the scene, with drag at Stacy's at Melrose and the Latina-owned Boycott Bar nearby. Phoenix Pride lands in October, timed to dodge the summer heat, and is the Southwest's largest LGBTQ+ celebration, alongside the long-running Arizona Gay Rodeo in winter. The desert city pairs its scene with warm winters and an easygoing pace.