Gay-Friendly Plans for a Vegas Vacation

While Las Vegas is called Sin City, those sins are usually reserved for those who follow the mainstream. Over the past several years, more and more of the resorts have begun offering an experience more suited to the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transexual) crowd. If you’re gay and you’re planning a trip to Las Vegas and you want to enjoy the full excitement that Las Vegas has to offer, it’s good to research the best gay-friendly spots and activities before you get to Vegas. The Mirage and its group, including the Mandalay Bay (sometimes called Mandalay Gay), the Luxor, and Excalibur, with a total of ten resort casino hotels will be hosting a LGBT weekend Aug 12-15 this summer. They’re calling the event Fabulous: A City Without Limits. The event organizers say it will be a long weekend of “dancing, dining, sunbathing, shopping, and debauchery.”

The Luxor is the first hotel in the city to host a LGBT pool party. If you’re into real debauchery without fear of disturbing the family crowd, the clothing-optional status of the Blue Moon Resort probably keeps them at bay. It is far from the Strip, but you can strip there.

If you thought pool parties were only for teens, that’s just not true in Las Vegas. Each Sunday at the Luxor is Temptation Sunday, Jay. Son (you pronounce the dot) hosts the pool party. There is a new theme each week. Some previous themes have been I (Heart) the Eighties, Summer of 69, and Wild Wild West. Over at the Venetian, at the same time, 1-7pm on Sundays, the lesbian pool party is called the Kitty Dip. Tao Beach provides loungers, cabanas, and bamboo trees. There’s no need for themes when there are mojitos and sushi at the bar. DJ Lisa Pittman provides the music, an eclectic mix including everything from hip hop to indie pop.

For drinks, ladies can go to Down at Ghostbar at the Palms Hotel or BootyBar behind the Bootlegger Bistro. Gentlemen can try Krave, which is a gay disco with all the trimmings. You’ll find a great sound system, bright lights, and fantastic drinks.

For a gay-friendly day tour, try the Las Vegas Historical City Tour organized by Pink Jeep Tours. You can hear all about the city’s gay history. There are stops on Freemont Street and the Strip. The tour devotes a big chunk of time to Liberace, a famous entertainer and piano player who was known for his flamoyant costumes and personal style.