With the holidays approaching and millions of LGBT Americans donning their gay apparel, the time has come to give thought to ringing in the New Year. With Donald Trump poised to take the White House as the most anti-LGBT president ever, our queer brothers and sisters could use a party! For that, they can check out any of these hotspots for a gay old time!
1. New York City
The city so nice they named it twice has long had a thriving LGBT community, so what better place to ring in 2017? Check out the New Year’s Eve party at the historic Stonewall Inn, or Howl at the Moon with the eponymous party in Time’s Square! Visit the Chelsea Hotel for their rooftop party, or hit up the Stitch Bar & Lounge for one hot single’s mingle! Any offer plenty of options to meet someone beautiful for New Year’s Day brunch!
2. Los Angeles
For the west coast inclined, Los Angeles hosts its own share of New Year’s gaiety. Precinct, the city’s new, downtown gay venue, throws a wild bash, thrown together by notorious party aficionados the Boulet Brothers. Complete with champagne facials and live performances, the so-dubbed “Queen Kong” party promises lots of queer craziness. Party staple Masterbeat also presents Onelove, the hottest underground queer music music party in town. Presented at the historic Belasco theatre, multiple rooms featuring laser lights, 3-D video and live performances countdown to midnight with some of the world’s hottest men.
3. Miami
South Florida has always loved LGBT folk, so naturally gay Mecca Miami has one of the hottest parties on the globe. Former boy bander Lance Bass hosts the New Years party at Score, one of South Beach’s sexiest venues. Special DJ guests, champagne toasts and plenty of gorgeous locals make this party a must-visit.
4. London
To celebrate New Year’s, British style, London’s historic Clapham Grand hosts “Sink the Pink,” the city’s most outrageous New Years gathering. Also known as the Best/Worst ball, visitors are encouraged to dress in either their best or worst 2016 looks in genderfuck style! For a slightly less outrageous time, hit up East Bloc, the trendy/alt/hipster club for Blocheads, the all-night gay rave! Join a special guest DJ lineup for the hottest mix of R&B and Pop in the U.K.
5. Chicago
The Windy city hosts New Years Eve at the popular video bar Sidetrack. A special Kettle-One drink station, dancing, and complimentary party favors make the bash a charming, if subdued, event for the queer crowd. Enjoy a complimentary champagne toast at midnight, along with a special live light show to ring in the New Year. Boystown’s own Progress Bar also offers a special “Year of the Cock” shindig, welcoming in the Chinese New Year a bit early with a hosted Absolut vodka bar. Visitors can enjoy a champagne toast at midnight and can pick up a special goodie bag just for attending.
6. Amsterdam
Paradiso offers the best LGBT party in Amsterdam, a city known for its wild side. The club invites visitor to FXQPL, a theme party that takes patrons back to Berlin in the 1920s. Hot cross-dressing dancers, live DJs and a mix of electronic and pop music accompany performances from queer cabaret acts. Fancy dress is encouraged but optional for this hedonistic extravaganza.
7. Las Vegas
Party into 2017 cat Las Vegas’ own Club FLAIR for a flamboyant New Year’s Eve. Join Vegas’ hottest dancers and live DJs for an eclectic mix of pop, hip-hop and EDM culminating in a Don Perignon midnight toast. Expect this exclusive queer party to go all night long until 4am.
8. San Francisco
Visiting the west coast’s most famous queer city? Stop into the Folsom Street Foundry for Bearracuda, the craziest, hairiest party on the Pacific. Join live DJs for some all-night dancing under a dazzling laser light show along with 500 of San Francisco’s hunkiest bears. It’s almost too much man to handle!
9. Dubai
For the trendiest LGBT New Year’s party, head to the island nation of Dubai, for some middle-eastern action. Club Noir invites visitors to attend this very posh party–strict dress code enforced–for some live performances, EDM and midnight fireworks on an outdoor terrace.
10. Melbourne
Ring in the New Year down under at Melbourne’s best gay bash, Block Party at Secret Garden. Join some of Australia’s most popular performers for this 1,000-visitor fiesta, featuring some of Oz’s hottest dancers, live music, and fire eaters for one of the world’s hottest dance parties! The venue also offers bottle service and delicious tapas to visitors wishing to party into 2017.
11. Rio de Janeiro
For a queer crowd with a taste for Latin events, South America’s most notorious party city plays host to the Copacabana Beach party, which features a full fireworks display on New Year’s Eve. Four stages around the beach feature live DJs with plenty of hot tunes, and nearly half a million people show up to party on the sand!
12. Hong Kong
Southeast Asia has its own share of gay New Year’s parties, though leave it to one of the continent’s most sophisticated cities to party the hardest. Visitors to Hong Kong can check out the popular club Potato Head, which will feature a rare live performance from DJ Danielle Baldellli. Patrons can enjoy an open bar all night, and plenty of special effects to make the night even more magical.
See the complete GayCities guide to New Year’s Celebrations
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