Gay orange county california
In California’s conservative Orange County, a vibrant Queer community thrives.
Palm trees. Golden Coast. The anchor of the Blue Wall of the West. Southern California has one of the most iconic reputations in the travel industry and is widely considered a welcoming place for LGBTQ+ travelers. But then there’s Orange County, a.k.a. the place President Ronald Reagan said, “Good Republicans go to die.” It’s a land of Trump luncheons, decades of John Birch Society influence, and the Orange Curtain–a Cold War nickname for the border between L.A. County and Orange County. To quote the fictional Luke Ward of Newport Beach, “Welcome to The O.C., bitch!”
It’s not all communist conspiracy theories and alt-right evangelicals. This is the county of America’s first major theme park, Knott’s Berry Farm, and America’s most famous theme park, Disneyland. And in , Orange County voted for Hillary Clinton–the first time the county had voted blue in nearly a century. Then, in , all county congressional seats were flipped by Democrats. However, some of those seats are now support to red, and at most o
The City eventually made Main Beach a public park, also known as the ‘Window to the Sea.&#; The gay culture eventually migrated to the block of South Coast Highway, which was home to The Coast Inn, Boom Boom Room and a same-sex attracted dinner house. This became the hub and heart of gay culture for the next several decades.
It was in , that Laguna Beach made national news by electing the first openly gay mayor in Orange County, Bob Gentry. The city continued to be a haven and warm place for the local LGBTQ community
During the day crowds flock to WEST STREET, the unofficial same-sex attracted beach.
On May 9, , the City of Laguna Beach presented the LGBT Heritage and Culture Committee with a proclamation noticing the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Pansexual & Transgender Heritage and Culture Month in Laguna Beach. Be sure to celebrate Gay Pride month with us every tardy May/early June.
PRIDE MONTH:
Celebrate Self-acceptance in Laguna Beach by enjoying events:
LAGUNA BEACH PRIDE
While the town has settled down some in recent years from its heyday in the 60s, Laguna Beach remains to be a vibrant draw for
THE GAY & Queer woman COMMUNITY SERVICES CENTER OF ORANGE COUNTY
Mission
The LGBTQ Center OC was established as a volunteer organization in and incorporated in as a (c)(3) non-profit community-based organization. We are one of the oldest lgbtq+ and lesbian society centers in the United States.
At the LGBTQ Center OC, all members and allies of the Lesbian, Gay, Multi-attracted , and Transgender people of Orange County join together in a network of support and cohesion. Our life-affirming programs focus on empowerment, and our activism efforts focus on speaking out against hate and discrimination. We exist so that every segment of the LGBTQ population of Orange County has the resources needed to thrive in their own lives and communities.
The LGBTQ Center Orange County provides services to more than 14, individuals annually across a broad spectrum of culture, ethnicity, age, and economic background. Programming is especially designed for queer men, lesbians, youth, the transgender group, the Spanish-speaking LGBTQ community, the attracted to both genders community, and LGBTQ families
History&#; In the s, Main Beach in Laguna Beach was not only a major tourist destination, but also known as the epicenter of the city&#;s gay culture, which was home to two beach-front gay bars, Dante&#;s and Barefoot. Scroll down the page to find a list of local homosexual events in Laguna Beach.
The City eventually made Main Beach a public park, also established as the ‘window to the sea.&#; The queer culture naturally moved to the block of South Coast Highway, which was home to The Coast Inn, Boom Boom Room and a gay dinner house, which has changed hands several times over the years. Bob Gentry was the first openly homosexual elected official in Orange County when he became mayor of Laguna Beach in , further welcoming the gay community to town. He served during the height of the AIDS crisis.
Then on May 9th , the Municipality of Laguna Beach presented the LGBT Heritage and Culture Committee with a proclamation recognizing the month of June as Female homosexual, Gay, Bisexual & Trans person Heritage and Culture Month in Laguna Beach.
LAGUNA BEACH PRIDE FESTIVAL: August 12
Laguna Beach Pride F