Living In The Phoenix Area - Gay and Lesbian (GLBT) Information

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The Greater Phoenix area is home to a growing gay and lesbian community. More than 80,000 gays and lesbians call the "Valley of the Sun" home. Why not, where else can you drive a few hours south and be on the beaches of Mexico, drive a few hours north and enjoy the Red Rocks of Sedona, and drive another hour north and go snow skiing! Of course Greater Phoenix has some of the worlds best weather, resorts, food, and of course cowboys and cowgirls! The galleries and sightseeing cannot be beat anywhere in the west!

The roots of Phoenix's visible GLBT community are hard to trace; but make no mistake about it, activists have been stirring things up since the early 1970s, when an organization known as Citizens for Constitutional Rights (CCR) began fighting for equal protection and social acceptance. True to the fight in most metro areas, it was mostly a vocal band of leathermen and drag queens that were out front.

It was around the same time that the first version of a gay community center opened. It was called ARC — the Alternative Relations Center — and thrived in a handful of central Phoenix locales. Among the main supporters of ARC was the Phoenix Levi/Leather Club, the earliest and most visible social club for gay men. The Phoenix Levi/Leather Club traveled to other Gay Pride festivals together to show that there was unity and organization in Phoenix. When AIDS began to ravage the country and Arizona in the early 1980s, they were at the forefront of fundraising, care and creating awareness.

In 1981, a few hundred brave individuals marched west through downtown to the State capitol building in support of gay and lesbian equality. This monumental march and rally is now referred to as Phoenix's first gay pride event. Today, The Valley of the Sun traditionally hosts one of the first pride festivals of the calendar each year, usually in April. (This, of course, is due mainly to the oppressive summer heat we experience beginning in May of each year and lasting through September.)

Many visitors often are surprised by the lack of a gay business district or neighborhood. Instead they come to learn that gays and lesbians are scattered throughout all of Central Phoenix, and have begun to successfully infiltrate the suburbs. With an efficient and always-improving freeway system, the dining, the entertainment and social trappings of Central Phoenix are rarely more than a brief drive from any location in the metro area.

While efforts remain to concentrate more gay and gay-owned businesses in a single tight area, most Phoenicians prefer the spread-out environment. Indeed, many individuals and couples have come to Arizona to escape the village mentality of places like West Hollywood and the Castro. Instead, the GLBT community has decided to become woven into the overall fabric of this city, living, shopping and raising families alongside their heterosexual counterparts.

Of course, gay life in Phoenix is not all rosy. It is still legal in this state to fire someone because of his/her sexual orientation and until recently, the infamous "crimes against nature" and other archaic sex laws were still on the books. The Arizona Human Rights Fund and its mass of gay and straight supporters and volunteers are largely responsible for changing both laws and attitudes. Their clout and presence on the political scene has grown tremendously just in the last few years. Add that to the five openly gay politicians (US Rep. Jim Kolbe, Arizona Reps. Steve May, Ed Poelstra, and Ken Cheuvront, and Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano) and a record number of openly gay candidates who sought office in the primary elections this year, and the political landscape looks even brighter.
    
The social landscape continues to expand as well. On any given night, in any given part of town, a social or special interest group can be found meeting somewhere. Whether it's gay bowlers, lesbian scrabble players, outdoor enthusiasts, seniors, youth, transgender or leather fetishists — there's an organization for everyone. Many of these groups are listed in our Community Echoes section, on page 26.  

Nightclubs/Bars
Most of the nightspots in Phoenix are relatively small compared to other cities of similar size. Nonetheless, many will be bumping and jumping on weekends (and some even during the week); the intimacy simply makes it easier to meet more of the friendly Arizona gay community.

Charlie's is the headquarters for the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association, where you can spot rows of line dancers on almost any night of the week. When the taps stop flowing (at 1am in this state) on Fridays and Saturdays, the country music stops and the dance music starts. Other popular dance clubs include Harley's and Boom. Roscoes on 7th is the unofficial home of the Cactus Cities Softball League and the Saguaro Cup, the springtime softball tournament that is one of the most popular in the nation.

A little further drive, but worth it, are Amsterdam — downtown, and billing itself as the "nicest bar in Phoenix, maybe even the world" — and BS, the Scottsdale landmark that has been recently renovated.

There are fewer bars for women, but places like Cash Inn (country and western) can guarantee a crowd several nights a week. Many others, including the aforementioned Roscoes and Amsterdam, are also popular with lesbians.

In addition to these, there are nearly 20 other neighborhood lounges dotting the city.

Shopping
Phoenix is king of the indoor mega-mall: Scottsdale fashion Square, Kierland Center, Biltmore fashion Park, Desert Ridge, Metro Center, Arizona Mills, Arrowhead, Chandler Fashion Center, Paradise Valley and Fiesta Mall; all these malls boast over 1 million square feet of shops, and are adjacent to Valley freeways.
    
For GLBT gifts and paraphernalia, Unique on Central is your destination. It was expanded in 2001, nearly doubling in size, and features cards, videos, clothing, jewelry, gifts and everything gay under the sun.
    
Many stores popular with gays and lesbians, including Saks Fifth Avenue and The Galleries of Neiman-Marcus, can be found at Biltmore Fashion Park, located at Camelback Road and 24th Street.
    
Of course, bargain shoppers come in all shapes, sizes and sexual orientations. After spending a half-hour in the car, you can arrive at one of the factory outlet malls on the outskirts of town. Tanger Factory Outlet stores is south on I-10, while Outlets at Anthem is north on I-17.
    
If north is your direction, however, you might consider a 90-minute drive north to Sedona, where some of the world's finest antique shops and galleries reside, in the shadow of the world-famous red rock formations.

Arts
The downtown Arts scene began picking up steam a decade ago, and the pace hasn't slowed yet. Many local painters, sculptors, photographers and other visual artists now call downtown home, showcasing their works in any number of small spaces in the area. Artlink features a tour of many of these galleries as part of its "First Fridays" event.
    
Major arts venues also pull in the acculturated attendees. The Phoenix Art Museum consistently garners more visitors for traveling shows than most other US metropolitan areas. The Heard Museum is world-renowned for its prestigious private Indian arts collection, and is a must for anyone seeking to learn about the Southwest, its heritage, cultures and peoples. Scottsdale's Art Walk, held every Thursday night in the galleries along Main Street and Marshall Way, is a 30-year tradition.
    
More and more national acts and touring companies are descending upon downtown, especially since the recent opening of the Dodge Theater. The historic Orpheum Theater around the corner, however, is still one of the grandest places to take in a show in Phoenix, if for only to marvel at its design and splendor. Also downtown is the Herberger Theater Center, which mainly features Arizona's top theatrical productions. Of course, for shows straight from the Great White Way, it's essential to travel to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Gammage Auditorium, on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe.
    
Arizona's largest performing arts group remains the Phoenix Symphony. Many of the world's top musicians and even pop artists appear regularly with the orchestra.

Sports
The pride and joy of many Phoenicians is the world-champion Arizona Diamondbacks, who won the World Series last year in record time for an expansion team, doing so in only their fourth year. Enjoying a mid-summer classic game at the BOB (Bank One Ballpark) is a pleasure when the entire stadium is air-conditioned. The retractable roof opens on cooler nights for a view of the Phoenix skies.
    
But the D'Backs aren't the only game in town. In fact, Phoenix is one of 11 North American cities with a team in each of the four major sports — baseball, football, basketball and hockey. The Cardinals, Suns and Coyotes call the Phoenix area home. And who could forget the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, who continue to be among the leaders in league attendance?

Outdoor Activities
During the seven months when the Valley's weather is the envy of the nation, you will find throngs of people hiking up and down one of the many mountain trails in and around town. The two most popular are Camelback Mountain (for more seasoned hikers) and Squaw Peak (more options for taking it easy). The Tempe Town Lake is a major draw for that city, and is a great place for family picnics, biking, boating and exercising.
    
The nation's largest privately owned non-profit zoo occupies 125 acres on the Phoenix/Tempe/Scottsdale border. There are four trails — Africa, Arizona, Discovery and Tropics — featuring animals and wildlife from every corner of the globe. The Zoo is adjacent to the Phoenix Botanical Gardens, which highlights the Southwest's unique flora.
    
Since Arizona is one of a few states where the temperature drops 20-30 degrees and the landscape changes dramatically after just a one-hour drive, some sort of day-trip is warranted for serious vacationers. First and foremost is the Grand Canyon, about a four-hour drive from Phoenix. The Canyon is extremely busy year-round, so plans for an overnight stay near the rim must be made far in advance. Shorter trips can be made to the luscious red rock valley of Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon, or to the beaches of Lake Havasu City, located in northwest Arizona along the Colorado River — where you'll find the (real) London Bridge and a quaint English village. Also quaint, but located to the southeast of the Valley, is the charming mining town of Bisbee.

Even lavender veterans of Phoenix often haven't visited all the sites and events mentioned above. If you're visiting, or new to town, just consider this — Phoenix may not be San Francisco, or even Atlanta, but it is never, ever boring.
 

Bette Zerba
RE/MAXDesert Showcase
14155 N 83rd Ave
Ste. 120 Peoria AZ
602-791-1766
bettezerba@cox.net

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