Phoenix Serves Up Pride All Year

The Melrose District, located between Indian School and Camelback roads, is home to dining, art, shopping, and bars. It is known as the “gayborhood,” thanks to the high concentration of LGBTQ+ bars and rainbow flags outside LGBTQ+ friendly businesses. Some notable places to check out are Charlie’s Phoenix (@charliesphoenix) and Thunderbird Lounge (@thunderbirdloungephx). Charlie’s Phoenix was voted Best of Valley by Phoenix Magazine. This local favorite provides nightly entertainment with drag races, karaoke, and bingo. Thunderbird Lounge is a 70s arcade bar with a secret garden patio. It features DJs, live music, and pop-up food vendors. Here at the lounge, visitors can find themed nights like Trivia Tuesdays and Karaoke Wednesdays. 

In uptown Phoenix, you can find Lix Ice Cream (@lixuptown) shop which serves unique ice cream flavors and milkshakes in their LGBTQ+ friendly domain. In downtown Phoenix located in the Roosevelt Row Arts District, visitors are met with a Tulum-meets Scandinavian-inspired coffee shop and eatery Kähvi Coffee + Cafe (@drinkkahvi). They host monthly themed drag brunches which usually include bottomless brunch cafe, champagne, specialty brunch cocktails, and a DJ.  

The Human Right’s Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index (MEI) awarded Phoenix with a perfect score of 100 for 2023. Phoenix has maintained a perfect score since the expansion of the city's anti-discrimination ordinance in 2012. The ordinance makes it unlawful to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability in the areas of employment, public accommodations, housing, and government contracts.