A Few of the Many LGBTQ+ Friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle
First off, Seattle is super friendly to our LGBTQ+ community. EVERY neighborhood in Seattle has our Framily (aka LGBTQ+ folks) living happily in each and every one of our many neighborhoods. Seattle is in fact one of the most Gay friendly cities in the nation. And in this post, I am eager to share some of the top neighborhoods that our Diva Dwellers love!
Luckily for you, the majority of us who work at Team Star are LGBTQ+, including me. I’m your resident concrete estate diva and happily married lesbian to the other Diva on this team, Kim. Kim and I have lived all over this city. And not once have we felt unsafe being blaring and proud living in Seattle. In fact, it is hard to retain up with all of the neighborhood Pride events that happen every year.
For this post we asked the community which neighborhoods were their favorites for going out, living in, and of course, be out and proud in.
SUPER LGBTQ+ Friendly Neighborhoods in Seattle
Capitol Hill – the Gayborhood
West Seattle
Madison Valley/Madrona
Central District
Ballard
Columbia City
White Center
Greenwood
Burien
And More >
A Local’s Guide to the Perfect Sunlight in Capitol Hill, Seattle
The rainbow-painted crosswalks are the first sign that you’ve arrived in Seattle’s gay neighborhood. The pride flags in the windows of nearly every business and the huge, visible LGBT population make it even more obvious. Welcome to Capitol Hill!
Capitol Hill might be the most trendy area of Seattle for dining and nightlife. The truth that it’s also a gay epicenter, with a dozen gay bars, makes the neighborhood that much better.
Beyond the gay nightlife, there are so many things to complete in Capitol Hill, including shopping for hidden treasures, attending shows at harmony and theater venues, and (of course) eating at some of the city’s best restaurants. The large neighborhood on a hill just east of downtown is easy to explore by foot, bus, streetcar, or light rail.
The Hill is one of the most entertaining gay neighborhoods in the country, and as a Seattle resident, I’m fortunate that I receive to spend moment here every week. If you hold one day to experience the top things to perform in Capitol Hill, from nature to dining to nightlife, read on for a suggested itinerary, including some of my favorite insider spots.
Morning
Coffee & o
LGBTQ+ Seattle Guide: Observe Pride & Assist Community Year-Round
Seattle has a long-standing history of being an LGBTQ+ friendly urban area, with 2024 marking 50 years of Seattle Pride. With one of the largest LGBTQ+ communities in the nation, there’s no shortage of fantastic queer-owned businesses, spaces, and events to experience.
Shop small at local businesses, attend a live performance, search the vibrant Capitol Hill neighborhood, delight in Seattle’s many leafy spaces, and so much more. There’s something for art and music lovers, outdoorsy folks, and foodies alike, and many of these activities can be enjoyed year-round.
Whether you’re planning a check in for Pride Month in June or just looking for a weekend abscond , there’s so much to see and do in this welcoming city.
LGBTQ+ Seattle Guide
Explore Capitol Hill
If you’re new to Seattle, consider starting your visit in Capitol Hill. This diverse and inclusive neighborhood has prolonged been an epicenter for the Homosexual community in Seattle, with a number of bars, boutiques, live music venues, public parks, and activities to explore.
For breakfast, grab plant-based specialty donuts from Dough Joy
More recent LGBTQIA+ history is rooted in 1969’s Stonewall uprising which sparked a movement, but what’s known about Seattle’s queer history dates back to the tardy 1800s when downtown Seattle’s Pioneer Square neighborhood – known also as “TheTenderloin,” “Skid Row,” and “Fairyville” – was more welcoming to the burgeoning gay society than the surrounding area, and it saw establishments catering to them flourish.
Here is a historical timeline of some important LGBTQIA+ milestones in Seattle, as the march for equal rights continues.
NOTE: In several instances, the historical timeline includes verbiage from origin material reflecting the era and which may imply bias, rather than the more appropriate verbiage which used to today.
Jackie Starr, Hotcha Hinton, an unidentified dude, and Tonya Del Raye sitting at a table at the Garden of Allah circa 1950s.
Photo courtesy of University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, SOC7421.
Early 1900s: “Fairyville” Flourishes in Pioneer Square
Gay bars flourish in Pioneer Square despite becoming victims to a police payoff system in which establishments owned by gay people and people of color are forced to pay mon