Gay bars george street sydney

Artists and performers reveal where to drink and party and the best cultural events. O utsiders consider Sydney to be something of a queer mecca: a city that hosts wildly popular events such as the annual Mardi Gras paradecelebrates exhibitionism on dozens of packed beaches, and charms visitors of all stripes with progressive culture and laid-back locals.

In many respects, it is one sydney the best places in the world to be queer, boasting a proud history, a vibrant alternative arts movement, and strong legal protections for minorities. Same-sex marriage is apparently just around the corner. Many Newtown residents say they now feel less comfortable in the area — and a recent, highly-publicised assault on a transgender woman at a Newtown venue has compounded their unease.

As a result, queer culture in Sydney is dispersing and heading underground. Venue operators are seeking spaces in emerging precincts such as Marrickville gay Redfern, and some promoters have adopted a nomadic stance, moving their events from club to club as the situation evolves. The queer arts scene is strong, with many young practitioners embracing a DIY ethos in response to the uncertainty local community radio remains a lifeline for those looking to hook in to the arts scene.

By Patrick Abbouda documentary filmmaker and street presenter who co-hosts and produces for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. I tend to go to places that celebrate that diversity more, such as Tokyo Sing Song. The parties at Tokyo Sing Song change frequently but the venue is consistently interesting.

The Bearded Tit is a fantastic bar that also doubles as a creative space. The incredible interior is worth the visit alone: tapestry, taxidermy and wax-fruit-clad walls lead you to an old caravan out the back in the beer garden. Of the mainstream options, a couple stand out. Palms on Oxford Street is the george place to go for super-fantastic pop every Friday and Saturday night.

Palms attracts mostly guys, but girls who love trashy pop come along, too. Sundays at The Beresford are also legendary among locals. The main attraction at the Beresford is the expansive beer garden. On Sundays it plays crowd-pleasing house, electro and indie-pop. The two most mainstream venues for gay guys are Stonewall and Arq.

Stonewall has been around for bars and is a popular pick-up joint on Oxford Street.

Sydney Gay Bars

It plays chart hits and commercial dance music and also hosts regular drag shows. The music here is trance and dance anthems. By Georgia Verkuylen, strategy and partnerships manager at Archer magazinethe Australian journal of sexual diversity. Lesbian-focused venues can be hard to find in Sydney.

That said, there are some bars and clubs that draw lesbian crowds. The Oxford Hotel on Oxford Street has long been a favourite of the lesbian community and is perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon drink. Heaps Gay is a massive event that draws in queer folk of all ages, sexualities and genders.