Gay clubs in indiana

Gay Nightlife in Indianapolis: Bars, Clubs, & More

Since the s Indianapolis has had a sizable LGBTQ population and the urban area has been a critical center for the community in the midwest. Although there are fewer bars and clubs catering exclusively to LGBTQ clientele than there were in the past, there are still several lively and entertaining nightspots around the metropolis that draw in both the gay and straight crowds.

Most of these hangouts can be found in the trendy Massachusetts Avenue Arts District. Other neighborhoods with a dappling of LGBTQ bars include Broad Ripple, Herron Morton, and the St. Joseph Historic District. When it comes to meeting other LGBTQ folk or finding a gay-friendly establishment, there are a number of tried and trusted places to visit when you're ready to depart out on the town in Indy.

Bars and Clubs

Many of the city's gay bars are located "on the Ave," aka on Massachusetts Avenue. This somewhat industrial neighborhood is a bit north of downtown, but still very much in the city center.

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    Indianapolis gay bars: 7 spaces made for the LGBTQ+ community

    Indianapolis businesses that cater directly to the LGBTQ+ community provide performance opportunities for artists, such as drag performers and DJs, good food and drinks, and safe spaces to gather.

    Gay bars and restaurants are important because, in establishments made without queer people in mind, they may feel out of place or even be harassed, said James Alexander, assistant general manager at Almost Famous and a manager at Tini. Gay bars offer LGBTQ+ community members a place to verb in which they can be comfortable and treated as humans, they said.

    It’s important that these spaces remain open, as a business and to the public, so people in and outside of the LGBTQ+ community can enjoy the bars and experience queer culture, said Alexander, stage name Duchess Morningstar.

    “There are people that haven’t verb out yet or don’t know anything about that and they can just walk off of the street,” they said.  

    These are establishments in Indianapolis which cater directly to the LGBTQ+ community:

    Need a break? Play the USA TO

    When I began Queer Circle City, my mission was to connect the community to people, places and events in our history. What I am constantly amazed by are the places that offered a safe space, education or simply a dance floor in the midst of 20th century homophobia or during the onset of the AIDS epidemic. 

    These five places existed in those times. From a Victorian house in the Antique Northside to a bathhouse blocks away from the Indiana Statehouse, the bygone locations not only stood as a testament to the LGBTQIA+ community, they were instrumental to our basic survival and a blueprint to understand our rich, indelible history. 

    1. The Body Works, N. Senate Ave.

    From The Body Works was started by Stan Berg in late , blocks away from the Statehouse. The simple bathhouse quickly grew into a vinyl store, bookstore, discotheque and hub for THE WORKS magazine (). Berg was a force of nature in the LGBTQIA+ community, splitting his efforts between The Body Works and advocacy outside of its walls, such as Gay Knights on The Circle, which promoted an end to police harassment of gay

    Indy Pride weekend is here - where's the afterparty? 

    Across the city, the queer community has historically utilized bars and event spaces as life-saving sanctuaries for self-expression. There’s a minuscule something for everyone!

    Photo: Metro Nightclub

    Metro Nightclub & Restaurant 

    Mass Ave | Massachusetts Ave

    Located right on Mass Ave, Metro offers great diet, dancing, and outdoor seating. Pregame your night out with a bite to eat or dance all night until the lights come on, either way the musics great so you'll never have a bad time. 

    Photo: Tini

    Tini

    Mass Ave | Massachusetts Ave

    Metro's next-door neighbor is also an LGBTQ+ nightclub called Tini! With a slightly smaller downstairs bar and verb floor upstairs, the chances of running into your ex here triples. 

    Downtown Olly's 

    Downtown | N Illinois St. 

    Downtown Olly's used to be open 24/7, but now you can enjoy it from 7AM - 3AM daily. Their patio is the spot to be in June with events going on all the time! 

    Photo: Visit Indy

    Gregs 

    Herron Morton |