Gay Guide to Salvador
Brazil legalized same-sex marriage in 2013 and made homophobia and transphobia crimes in 2019. Salvador, the vibrant Afro-Brazilian capital of Bahia, is also a cradle of the country's gay-rights movement: the Grupo Gay da Bahia, founded here in 1980, is the oldest LGBTQ+ organization in Brazil.
The city's queer nightlife concentrates in Rio Vermelho and Barra, two lively coastal neighborhoods known for their bars, beach energy, and inclusive crowds.
The colonial Pelourinho, a UNESCO-listed historic center of baroque churches and colorful mansions, anchors Salvador's world-famous Carnival, widely considered the most LGBTQ+ of Brazil's Carnivals.
Salvador holds dozens of neighborhood Pride parades through the year, with its largest official celebration typically in September.