In the 18th century, molly houses were clandestine clubs where gay men could meet, drink, dance and have sex with each other. Since the 1980s, the Le Marais district is the center of the gay scene in Paris. Chez Moune, opened in 1936, and New Moon were 20th-century lesbian cabarets located in Place Pigalle, which converted to mixed music clubs in the 21st century. Lesbians who did go to bars often originated from the working class. Lesbians rarely visited gay bars and instead socialized in circles of friends. In the 1950s and 1960s the police and authorities tolerated homosexuals as long as the conduct was private and out of view, but gay bar raids occurred and there were occasions when the owners of the bars were involved in facilitating the raids. Paris retained the LGBT capital image after the end of World War II, but the center of the meeting place shifted to Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Although Amsterdam, Berlin, and London had more meeting places and organizations than Paris, the latter was known for the "flamboyance" of LGBT quarters and "visibility" of LGBT celebrities. Paris became known as a centre for gay culture in the 19th century, making the city a queer capital during the early 20th century, when the Montmartre and Pigalle districts were meeting places of the LGBT community. Among its visitors were many artists, like actor Jean Marais and comedians Thierry Le Luron and Coluche. The Zanzibar was opened in 1885 and existed for 125 years, before it was closed in December 2010. The very first gay bar in Europe and probably in the world was the Zanzibar in Cannes on the French Riviera. In the United Kingdom and the Netherlands gay bars were established throughout the first quarter of the 20th century.
In Cannes, France, such a bar had already opened in 1885, and there were many more in Berlin around 1900. It is not clear which place is the first gay bar in the modern sense. The site was the scene of alleged gay marriages carried out by the Reverend John Church. The raid led to the executions of John Hepburn and Thomas White for sodomy.
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The White Swan (created by James Cook and Yardley, full name unknown), on Vere Street, in London, England, was raided in 1810 during the so-called Vere Street Coterie. Reports from as early as the 17th century record the existence of bars and clubs that catered to, or at least tolerated, openly gay clientele in several major European cities. Gathering places favoured by homosexuals have operated for centuries. You can check out the best drag shows or cabaret performances, but these queer spaces all offer something unique, from cozy vibes and cheap drinks to high energy dancing and brunch parties - sometimes in the same place on different days! Maybe your interests skew more trendy and urbane, or perhaps you're more of the down-and-dirty, "what happens on the weekends, stays on the weekends" type - we're not here to judge! There are plenty of LGBTQ+ things to do in New York, but if it’s a bar you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered.The Mixei nightclub in Tammela, Tampere, is the oldest, still operating gay bar in Finland, having first opened its doors in 1990. The West Village is a classic destination for queer nightlife, but you’ll find something exciting and welcoming in pretty much any part of the city. The best queer bars in NYC range from dive bars to dance clubs, with historic spots like the Stonewall Inn anchoring them all. New York has played a major role in LGBTQ+ history, and it’s no wonder there are a slew of bars that have been beacons for the community (and prime party spots) for decades.