Gay Guide to Richmond
Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage was struck down in 2014, and Richmond, the state capital, has become one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the American South. The former Confederate capital has reinvented itself as an artsy, progressive river city.
Queer life concentrates in The Fan, a handsome, walkable district of tree-lined streets and sidewalk cafes near downtown, spilling into the brewery-filled Scott's Addition. Godfrey's is the city's best-known LGBTQ+ club, famous for its drag brunch, while Babes of Carytown, founded in 1979, endures as one of the last lesbian bars in the country.
Richmond wears its creativity openly, from murals and galleries to an independent food and coffee scene, and the queer community is a visible part of that revival.
Richmond PrideFest draws thousands each September for a parade and festival, one of the largest LGBTQ+ gatherings in Virginia.