Queer-Friendly Guadalajara Makes Perfect Host for November's Gay Games
When the pandemic hampered Hong Kong's ability to host the next Gay Games, Guadalajara stepped in. Outside of Latin America, it may not be a top name among LGBTQ+-friendly cities, but it should be.
Mexico's second largest city, it's by far the gayest (yes, even more than beloved Puerto Vallarta). Packed with well-known LGBTQ+ talent, including the recent winner of "Drag Race Mexico," Cristian Peralta, it's also blessed with scores of LGBTQ+-owned businesses, dozens of LGBTQ+ bars and clubs, and one of Latin America's largest pride parades. It's also home to Andres Trevino, the state of Jalisco's Sexual Diversity Minister—the first in Mexico—who returned from a federal position in Mexico City to create this office in the forward-thinking state. But back to the games.
The eleventh Gay Games will be co-hosted with Hong Kong, including 22 sporting events hosted among six venues across Guadalajara from November 3—11. While registration is now closed for this year's games, they're accessible to anyone 18 years or older, from amateurs to professionals, including members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, all in the spirit of sport and celebration. Events are open to the public and go far beyond the sports themselves, including cultural activations, art exhibitions, seminars, dance galas, and more. Guadalajara is worth a visit for LGBTQ+ travelers anytime, but Gay Games XI present the perfect excuse for planning a fall getaway to this surprise haven now. Here are some of our top suggestions for what to see if you go for the Games, or anytime.
Stay in Colonia Americana
Colonia Americana is inarguably Guadalajara's top neighborhood for visitors. It's home to many of the city's best restaurants and bars along with plenty of nightlife, largely centered around the sprawling, fountain-decked Avenida Chapultepec. This busy, tree-lined avenue hosts weekend markets and a full calendar of special events from parades to street fairs. Ask locals how to define this neighborhood and some will say it's one of the city's gayborhoods, some will call it hipster or artsy, and some will just say this is where all are welcome and anything goes. Just off Chapultepec Avenue (a two-minute walk at most), Love It Signature Hotel is an ideal base for exploring this vibrant neighborhood. The boutique property offers comfortable rooms with pops of colorful whimsy and unusually spacious spa-style bathrooms in a quiet space steps from the sleepless city's action.
Learn your History
We're not suggesting you spend your vacation studying—you're here for celebration and community—but carve out an hour or so to visit the Museo Memoria while you're in town. This humble, three-room museum relays the LGBTQ+ history of Mexico through collections of media and memorabilia, seeking to both educate and inspire. It's a good grounding point to kick off your Guadalajara experience and is just about ten minutes from Love It by car, or even less by bike, which you can borrow from the hotel to explore here and beyond.
A Little More History
Just beyond Colonia Americana, Guadalajara's Historic Center is teeming with impressive architecture from the 16th-century Guadalajara Cathedral to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cabañas Museum, once one of the largest orphanages on the continent. Look for other architectural dazzlers like the Governor's Palace and the Teatro Degollado, but pay a quick visit to the Telmex building, too. It may not be that much of a looker, but the former telephone company headquarters was once moved 40 feet with the workers still inside to keep phone service from being interrupted in 1950.
Join a Revolution
Also in the area, Revolution Park, or Red Park, is a community gathering spot for all Guadalajarans today, but has been particularly utilized by the LGBTQ+ community as a gathering spot and demonstration point since the sexual diversity movement began in the 1970s. Earlier this year, there was even an official petition to rename the park Diversity Park in honor of its community importance and history. The rename didn't pass, but a Diversity Corner installation is coming. Regardless, you'll nearly always find plenty of people packing the park, especially during the Saturday flea market that features many queer vendors.
Find your People
There's no denying that bars and clubs remain the most common gathering point for much of the LGBTQ+ community, and it's no different in Guadalajara. While most of the bars and clubs around the city are welcoming, there are still literally dozens of LGBTQ+-specific venues citywide. Many come and go, but staples like California's Bar and Babel Club continue to draw crowds of local and visitors alike, and spots like Vaqueros Bar and Xico Antrx are no less frequented.
Find Some Magic
The Mexican government awards Magic Town (Pueblo Magico) status to impressive small towns around the country offering serious charm and/or cultural significance to Mexicans and their visitors. There are more than 170 of these gems around the country today, and one of the liveliest is found just outside Guadalajara in Tlaquepaque. In Nahuatl, Tlaquepaque means "the best of everything," and that's what the town aims to offer still today through phenomenal restaurants, art of both local and international renown, and more shopping that you can handle. A daytrip to Tlaquepaque is essential, and it's only around 15-30 minutes from the city, depending on traffic. If you don't have a car, there are plenty of guided tours available, and public transportation also reaches Tlaquepaque.