Your guide to the best Minneapolis gay bars, LGBT venues and events
Minnesota, United States
Minneapolis is the big brother of the Twin Cities (the other being Saint Paul, Minnesota’s state capital), and it boasts a large LGBTQ+ scene.
Explore the progress of LGBTQ+ rights across the world all in an easy to read charts, graphs, and tables. From public sentiment to protections find it all here so you know when holding hands gets you a look or a sentence.
Visit EqualdexHere, you won’t find a monolithic or drab gayborhood but an integrated community. Downtown buildings are connected by a series of indoor tunnels called Skyways—in the winter, you’ll be grateful for these heated tunnels if you’re dressed to impress and not for the weather! Minneapolis comes alive at night along Hennepin Avenue, where you can delight in bars and clubs with dancefloors aplenty and long community histories. The avenue is lined with vaudeville theaters offering variety shows blending high and low comedy (and tending toward the burlesque!), as well as artsy cinemas. Minneapolis takes second billing only to New York City when it comes to theater companies!
Begin your Minneapolis odyssey at the vibrant heart of its LGBTQ+ scene, Loring Park. This is where you will find some of the best gay bars in Minneapolis and other popular LGBTQ+ venues. There is also a fabulous park in the gayborhood called Loring Park, one of the popular spots for hiking and biking. The annual Twin Cities Pride, one of the largest in the nation, transforms this space into a dazzling spectacle of joy, color, and solidarity.
Close to Loring Park, the Walker Art Center stands as a sentinel of contemporary art. This architectural marvel, with its sleek lines and avant-garde design, is a stunning artistic innovation. Inside, you'll find collections that challenge norms, stir emotions, and celebrate the queer narrative through bold installations and provocative exhibitions.
Another upcoming LGBTQ+ area in Minneapolis to check out is the vibrant district of Northeast, with its historic warehouses turned into lively breweries and art studios, which is where the city's creative soul comes alive. It's a place to sip on craft beers, rub shoulders with local artists, and dance the night away in LGBTQ+-friendly venues that pulsate with energy and acceptance.
There’s plenty to do as a tourist in the City of Lakes. The superb, nationally-recognized Park & Rec Board has revitalized the 22 lakes—each shore a gorgeous place for strolling or cycling—that gives the city its sobriquet. The Chain of Lakes in Minneapolis’s Southwest district are local faves for swimming and boating during the short and sweet summer, and for skating during the frosty Midwestern winter. The Minnesota Streetcar Museum has restored the 20th-century heritage streetcar trolley that runs from May to November between Lake Harriet and Lake Calhoun. Check out the Minneapolis Institute of Art, (or just MIA), with its international indoor and outdoor exhibits, including a pair of replica Shanghainese stone lions. The Weisman Art Museum, meanwhile, is one of Frank Gehry’s iconic modernist architectural designs. Hey, sometimes what’s on the outside counts, too! One of our favorites is the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which is a must-visit if you love art and nature. Here, amidst the greenery, iconic sculptures like the whimsical Spoonbridge and Cherry beckon. It's a spot where art, nature, and playful spirits meet, making for perfect Instagram-worthy moments against the backdrop of Minneapolis's skyline.
Some notable history about Minneapolis to take in as you explore the town. This city has always been progressive. Minneapolis was the third city in the United States to pass anti-discrimination legislation for housing and employment protection in the early ’70s. This legislation brought out (if you’ll forgive the play on words!) the LGBTQ+ population, which has been growing ever since. In 1980, Rep. Karen Clark was elected into the United States House of Representatives, and she remains the longest-serving out lesbian representative.
Twin Cities Pride is dedicated to supporting all members of the community by partnering with minority-led organizations to help gain awareness and visibility. Minneapolis is in the Midwest, but it’s anything but middling!
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