Paris is
one of
Europe's
major
centres
for
gay
men.
There
are
numerous
gay bars,
clubs,
restaurants,
saunas
and
shops,
concentrated
especially
in the
Marais
. While
less
visible,
the
lesbian
community
is
strong
and well
organized,
with
networks
of
feminist
groups
and a
number
of
publications.
The
high
spots of
the
calendar
are the
annual
Gay
Pride
parade
and
festival,
and the
Bastille
Day Ball.
Gay
Pride
is
normally
held on
the
Saturday
closest
to the
summer
solstice,
and is a
major
carnival
for both
lesbians
and gays.
The
Bastille
Day Ball
(July
13,
10pm-dawn),
a wild
open-air
dance on
the quai
de la
Tournelle,
5e (Mº
Pont
Marie),
is free
for all
to join
in.
Helplines
and
information
Act Up Paris 45 rue Sedaine, 11e tel 01.48.06.13.89, Mº Bréguet-Sabin.
The Paris branch of the international organization against AIDS in the homosexual community. They hold weekly meetings and two-monthly information/discussion groups.
ARCL (Les Archives, Recherches et Cultures Lesbiennes) Maison des Femmes.
ARCL publish a biannual directory of lesbian, gay and feminist addresses in France, called L'Annuaire (10.67), and organize frequent meetings around campaigning, artistic and intellectual issues. In addition, they produce a regular newsletter, and run a feminist/lesbian archive-library at the Maison des Femmes which you can consult. Fri 7-10pm.
Association des Médecins Gais (AMG; gay doctors' organization) 45 rue Sedaine, 11e tel 01.48.05.81.71, Mº Bréguet-Sabin. Wed 6-8pm, Sat 2-4pm.
Provides help with all health concerns relative to the gay community.
Centre Gai et Lesbienne 3 rue Keller, 11e tel 01.43.57.21.47, fax 01.43.57.27.93, Mº Ledru-Rollin. Mon-Sat 4-8pm; gay family afternoon Sun 2-7pm.
The main information centre for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transexual community in Paris. It's also the meeting place for numerous campaigning, identity, health, arts and intellectual groups.
Écoute Gaie tel 01.44.93.01.02, Mon, Wed & Thurs 8-10pm, Tues & Fri 6-10pm.
Helpline in French with information on the gay community and advice on problems related to being gay.
FACTS-Line tel 01.44.93.16.69. Wed 6-10pm.
Helpline in English for AIDS-related concerns.
Lesbian and Gay Pride tel 08.36.68.11.31,
Organizes the annual Gay Pride march in Paris.
Maison des Femmes 163 rue de Charenton, 12e tel 01.43.43.41.13, fax 01.43.43.42.13. Mº Reuilly-Diderot & Mº Gare-de-Lyon.
A women's meeting place, which also organizes a range of events and actions.
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Media
FG (Fréquence Gaie) 98.2 FM 24hr gay and lesbian radio station with music, news, chats and information on groups and events.
Gai Pied Publishes the annual Guide Gai/Gay Guide , which is the most comprehensive gay guide to France, carrying a good selection of lesbian and gay addresses, in both French and English; ¬12.04 from newsagents and bookshops.
Lesbia A monthly lesbian publication, available from most newsagents, featuring a wide range of articles, listings, reviews, lonely hearts and contacts.
Minitel 3615 GAY is the Minitel number to dial for information on groups and contacts.
Les Mots à la Bouche 6 rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 4e tel 01.42.78.88.30, Mº Hôtel-de-Ville. Mon-Thurs 11am-11pm, Fri & Sat 11am-midnight, Sun 2-8pm.
The main gay and lesbian bookshop, with exhibition space and meeting rooms; a selection of literature in English, too. Lots of free listings mags and club flyers.
Magazine-style internet site in French with information and articles on all aspects of lesbian life.
Internet site with all the usual chat-rooms, shopping, forum, etc. Good for up-to-date news and events and a few links.
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Bars,
clubs
and
discos
Lesbian clubs in Paris are less of a rarity than they were ten years ago, but are still relatively few and far between. The pleasures of gay men are far better catered for. While the selection of gay male-oriented establishments listed in this section only scratches the surface, for gay women our listings more or less cover all that's available. Lesbians, however, are welcome in some of the predominantly male clubs.
Gay clubs' reputation for wild hedonism attracts a fair number of heterosexuals in search of a good time. Many hetorosexuals are indeed welcome in some gay establishments if accompanied, while some clubs have all but abandoned a gay policy; the legendary gay club Le Queen , for example, is only gay on a Thursday now. Equally, some of the more mainstream clubs have started doing gay nights. For a complete rundown of events, consult Em@le (free in gay bars) which has a comprehensive weekly listing of gay nights, or Gai Pied's Guide Gai (published annually) forvenues. Alternatively, tune into Paris's gay radio station RadioFG (98.2 FM), and keep an eye out for flyers.
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Accommodation
and
eating
Although
gays and
lesbians
shouldn't
come
across
any anti-social
behaviour
in
restaurants
and
hotels,
there is
a choice
of gay-oriented
places
to stay
and eat
. You
don't
need to
look any
further
than the
Marais;
restaurants
are
plentiful,
and even
if they
aren't
exclusively
gay, the
location
can
guarantee
a mainly
gay
clientele.
Although
there's
only one
hotel,
Hôtel
Central
Marais
, that
caters
exclusively
to gays
and
lesbians,
there
are a
few
where
the
majority
of
customers
are gay.
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