Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
GAY & LESBIAN ROME
Rome has a thriving, if low-key, gay scene. By nature the city is conservative and with the Vatican
breathing down the neck of local legislators, it's unlikely to become a Mediterranean San Fran any
time soon. That said, the gay community has taken steps out of the closet and while discretion is still
wise - there have been episodes of homophobic violence in recent years - tolerance is widespread.
The highlights of the city's LGBT calendar are
Gay Pride
, a colourful annual parade held in mid-
June, and
Gay Village
, a temporary complex of bars, clubs, cinema and fitness areas that hosts a
10-week season of gigs and club nights, usually in EUR.
There are relatively few queer-only venues but many of the city's top clubs host regular gay and
lesbian nights, including Goa (
Click here
) which hosts Venus Rising (
www.venusrising.it
)
a popular
lesbian-only night, and Qube (Via di Portonaccio 212), home of the Friday-night Muccassassina
(
www.muccassassina.com
)
extravaganza. Close to the Colosseum and dubbed 'gay street',
Via di San
Giovanni in Laterano
is a favourite hang-out with a cluster of popular gay bars. There's also a gay
beach,
Settimo Cielo
, outside town at Capocotta, accessible via bus 61 from Ostia Lido or 70 from
EUR.
For local information, pick up the monthly magazine
AUT
published by
Circolo Mario Mieli
(
800 110611;
www.mariomieli.org
;
Via Efeso 2a) , Rome's main cultural and political gay organisa-
tion. AZ Gay (
www.azgay.it
)
also produces an annual gay guide to Rome, available at tourist kiosks.
Lesbians can find out about the local scene at
Coordinamento Lesbiche Italiano
(
www.clrbp.it
;
Via San Francesco di Sales 1b) , which runs a women-only restaurant,
Luna e L'Altra
(men are al-
lowed at lunchtime), and hostel La Foresteria Orsa Maggiore (
Click here
)
.
Other useful sources of information include the international gay guide
Spartacus
(
www.spartacusworld.com
)
, available in app or book form,
Gay Rome
(
www.gayrome.com
) and
GayFriendlyItaly
(
www.gayfriendlyitaly.com
).
Most gay venues (bars, clubs and saunas) require an
Arcigay
( 06 6450 1102;
www.arcigayroma.it
;
Via Nicola Zabaglia 14) membership card. These cost €15/8 per year/three
months and are available from any venue that requires one.
Popular gay venues include:
10.30am-2am; Colosseo) An easygoing bar in the shadow of the Colosseum recognisable by
its rainbow sign and the mixed, convivial crowds that spill out into the street.
Wed-Mon, closed 3 weeks Aug; Cavour) Veteran men-only club with a cruisy vibe. Porn-night
Mondays and striptease Thursdays are popular.
Thu-Sun; Via Marmorata) Sultry, cavernous gay club playing soulful house. Thursday's Gloss
party is the big one.
Sleeping
