Quite queer-friendly: Sexy San Diego from Pride to the Gayborhood

Although San Diego as a whole is known as quite a queer-friendly city – it even got a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index in 2012 and again in 2014 – the official “gayborhood” is located in Hillcrest. You’ll know it by the huge rainbow pride flag on the corner of University and Normal, and the fact that there’s a Harvey Milk Street there.

"Hillcrest Rainbow Flag" image by Flickr user Tony Webster — “Hillcrest Rainbow Flag” image by Flickr user Tony Webster

As Autostraddle’s Queer City Guide to San Diego notes, there are lots of great spots in Hillcrest to enjoy yourself as a lady who loves ladies. Hotspots honorably mentioned include the Gossip Grill and Juicy at Bourbon Street.

Check out the Hillcrest Business Association, Fabulous Hillcrest, for a long list of Hillcrest businesses with cool specials to enjoy.

Looking for a bit of entertainment? Diversionary Theatre produces LGBT-themed musicals and dramas all year long. Case in point? Tonight at 7 PM you can catch The Big Gay Improv Show, the theatre’s quarterly fundraiser. And coming up: a Hannibal Lector parody, The Silence of the Clams, plays from April 23 to May 3.

Coming up in May (29-31), you can also catch San Diego’s 17th annual LGBT film festival, FilmOut, for films embracing topics of gender and sexuality from the U.S. and around the world.

And, of course, you can’t forget about Pride. Here in San Diego, Pride is more than just a parade, it’s a huge celebration including Out at the Park (go Padres!) on May 2, the Spirit of Stonewall Rally and the Pride of Hillcrest Block Party on July 17, the Pride 5K Run/Walk on July 18, and a music festival on July 18 and 19. Not to mention all the assorted parties happening throughout Hillcrest and the rest of the city.