Pride Guide

With a diverse and thriving LGBT community, Seattle is one of the top LGBT-friendly cities in the nation.

A perfect time to visit is June, when rainbow flags fly during a bevy of pride festivals. Seattle Pride Parade (June 25, 2017; seattlepride.org) and concert-laden PrideFest (June 24–25, 2017; seattlepridefest.org) are two of the biggest events each year. Join activism and awareness rallies like Seattle Women’s Pride (June 17, 2017; seattlewomenspride.com), Trans* Pride (June 24, 2017; transprideseattle.org), and Seattle Dyke March (June 24, 2017; seattledykemarch.com), plus the two-day Capitol Hill Pride Festival March & Rally (June 10-11, 2017; capitolhillpridefestival.info).

Capitol Hill is the city’s lesbian and gay community hub, with many LGBT-focused sites including the Seattle LGBT Visitors Center (*614 Broadway E, thegsba.org), a terrific resource for travelers. Julia’s on Broadway (300 Broadway E; juliasrestaurantseattle.com) is another favorite for its high-camp Le Faux evenings and Sunday brunch drag shows. Stop by hangouts like music club Chop Suey (1325 E Madison St; chopsuey.com), bar-restaurant Capitol Cider (*818 E Pike St, capitolcider.com), and cafe Kaladi Brothers Coffee (517 E Pike St, kaladi.com) for colorful crowds.

During the day, you’ll find LGBT folks lazing on the sand at Madison Park Beach (43rd Ave and E Madison St), overlooking beautiful Lake Washington, and on the verdant lawn at Volunteer Park (1247 15th Ave E). The Cuff (1533 13th Ave; cuff.com) and Wildrose (1021 E Pike St; thewildrosebar.com) are popular nightlife establishments that cater to gay and lesbian guests, respectively. And after the bars and clubs close, revelers venture out to some of Capitol Hill’s LGBT-favored late-night eateries, such as the 24/7 diner Lost Lake Cafe & Lounge (1505 10th Ave, lostlakecafe.com) and the down-home neighborhood joint Glo’s (1621 E Olive Way, gloscafe.com), which starts doling out buttermilk pancakes and benedicts at midnight on Friday and Saturday.

*Visit Seattle Partner