A.T. Dixon

When it comes to queer nightlife options in Los Angeles, there’s lots to choose from—and not just in rainbow-dipped West Hollywood, home to countless gay bars. To help you pick the best spots for dancing, boozing, flirting and cruising in Hollywood, Silver Lake and beyond, check out this list of our favorite queer bars and clubs in L.A.—there are even Pasadena, Venice and Valley options, for those sick of the party-hearty WeHo scene. Now get out there, tiger.  

Chances are you or someone you know has found sex, love or friendship online, and so it goes with LA’s queer women social scene. As theme nights and dedicated gay bars for queer women become an increasing rarity, LA ladies are taking the queer social scene into their own hands. Using social media as their platform, DIY event organizers have become the norm for queer women branching out from the West Hollywood scene. From friendly mixers and networking events to riot grrrl shows and raucous parties, here's a list of organizers and events for LA’s modern day queer lady.

L.A. has always been at the forefront of LGBT culture, from the activists who staged some of the country's first gay-rights protests to artists who today imbue their work with the politics of their sexual and gender identities. As far as we've progressed, though, there is still work to be done, and L.A.'s queer community has been putting in the effort. To celebrate their efforts and achievements, we're highlighting six local heroes who work to create a more inclusive future for all of us and, in doing so, are making the whole city proud.    Photograph: Rozette Rago   Madin Lopez, hairstylist and founder of ProjectQ Madin Lopez began styling hair at age 16 as a way to become self-sufficient after an adolescence in the foster care system. Through the work, Lopez, now 30, found a path to forge an identity—and a way to help others. ProjectQ, Lopez's nonprofit organization serving homeless LGBTQIA youth, provides identity-affirming makeovers, mentorship and a safe space for vulnerable people often at war with the version of themselves they see in the mirror.  Lopez works intensely with many trans and gender-nonconforming individuals, particularly people of color, guiding them in finding an outward presentation more in line with how they self-identify, making them feel more comfortable and validated.  "At the end of the day, what we do isn't just about haircuts or building worthiness in the youth or people in the streets," explains Lopez. "It's also about trust-building as a form

Two new gay bars opening Downtown this summer are poised to fill a major void in the Eastside’s LGBT entertainment offerings. Both boast high design, thousands of square feet and prime locations in the hippest of DTLA enclaves. Old standards like the New Jalisco Bar have been catering to LGBT locals for years, but newcomers Precinct and REDLINE may provide the additional space and entertainment necessary to turn Downtown into a new center for gay nightlife in LA (a title long held by West Hollywood and its world famous Abbey flagship). While it may be a long while before DTLA can compete with WeHo’s bar and club scene, Downtown’s speedy resurgence makes one thing clear: when one hip bar pops up, many more are guaranteed to follow. The details: Precinct (357 S Broadway) opened on May 30 and is owned by seasoned party professionals Brian McIntire and Thor Stephens. Precinct is a self-described "Rock N Roll Gay Bar" in a massive space formerly occupied by a Department of Corrections office—hence the tongue-in-cheek name. Precinct offers an array of entertainment, from happy hour specials and an outdoor patio to promoter’s nights and featured local talent.  REDLINE (131 E 6th St) is a bar and lounge situated in Downtown’s Historic Core, helmed by Oliver Alpuche and Zachary Beus. With a prime location and nearly 2,000 square feet for patrons to flock to for brunch, drinks and dancing, REDLINE is set to be a game changer not just for DTLA’s gay scene, but also for Downtown nightlif