New York

New York has the biggest LGBTQI+ scene in the world, according to Wikipedia: 200+ venues spread across three Manhattan neighbourhoods (Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Greenwich Village) plus the outer boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens). Each one has its own identity:

Chelsea = circuit/gym culture (the Chelsea Boy phenomenon), big bars (The Eagle, Barracuda, Gym Bar). Hell's Kitchen = the new post-Chelsea generation, casual vibe, restaurants (Industry, Hardware). Greenwich Village = the historic cradle, more touristy than residential (Stonewall, Julius', Cubbyhole). East Village = alternative queer and drag (Phoenix, Club Cumming). Williamsburg/Bushwick = Brooklyn DIY (3 Dollar Bill, House of Yes). The scene runs 7 days a week — even on Mondays and Tuesdays there are options.

The NYC Pride March is held on the last Sunday of June (Pride Month) and is the biggest Pride in the world. The all-time record: ~4 million at the march and 5 million visitors to Manhattan in 2019 (WorldPride + the 50th anniversary of Stonewall). It runs down Fifth Avenue from Midtown to Greenwich Village, past the Stonewall National Monument. Organised by Heritage of Pride since 1984.

The first march was on 28 June 1970 (Christopher Street Liberation Day) — the origin of every Pride in the world. A strong supporting calendar: Brooklyn Pride (Jun), Queens Pride (Jun, Jackson Heights), PrideFest, the Drag March the night before. The whole of June is Pride Month, with events every day. Hotel prices go up 200-400% during Pride week.

New York has more established gay neighbourhoods than any city in the world — not one but at least three in Manhattan, plus several in the outer boroughs.

Greenwich Village is the historic cradle. The Stonewall Inn (51-53 Christopher Street) was the site of the June 1969 riots that started the modern movement, and was designated a National Monument in 2016, the first LGBT one in the United States. Chelsea (around Eighth Avenue) took over in the 80s and 90s as the new core, tied to circuit and gym culture (the 'Chelsea Boy'). Hell's Kitchen (Ninth Avenue) emerged in the 2000s as the third wave, more casual and younger. Beyond Manhattan: Jackson Heights (Queens) as the Latino trans hub, and Williamsburg/Bushwick (Brooklyn) for DIY queer.

NYC has the world's densest LGBT infrastructure. The LGBT Community Center (208 West 13th Street, since 1983) is one of the largest and most comprehensive LGBT community centers in the US. GMHC (Gay Men's Health Crisis, founded in NYC in 1982) is the world's oldest HIV/AIDS organisation. GLAAD, Lambda Legal and Callen-Lorde (an LGBT-specific clinic since 1983) are all headquartered here.

LGBT health: Callen-Lorde Community Health (Chelsea, Brooklyn, Bronx) offers sliding-scale fees, PrEP, trans hormone care and treatment without insurance. NYC DOHMH hands out free condoms and PrEP for residents. Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine is a national reference. For memory: the AIDS Memorial at St. Vincent's Triangle (West Village, 2016) and the Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art (SoHo), a museum devoted to queer art, with its own collection and temporary shows.