Gay Copenhagen
Press Information
April 2008
/Gay_map.jpg)
Gay Copenhagen
The National Association for Gays and Lesbians (LBL) was founded in 1948 as its first of its kind and in 1989, Denmark was the first country in the world to recognise marriage between two persons of the same sex. In 1999, it became possible for married gays to adopt the children of their partners - a major step towards the recognition of a broader definition of the family.
Copenhagen has long been a tolerant and relaxed capital for both gay Danes and tourists. The first gay bar, Centralhjørnet, opened over 80 years ago, and is still going strong - along with a wealth of other newer cafés & bars. It even boasts its own gay radio station, Radio Rosa.
For a visitor to Copenhagen, the year offers a varied selection of gay events:
/Outgames_Montreal.jpg)
25 July to 2 August 2009 Copenhagen will host the second World Outgames, the largest sports and cultural event Denmark will have ever hosted, with a greater number of participants than the Olympics. The event is comparable to the Olympics, but for gays and lesbians. The World Outgames has 35 different sports and cultural activities and in the run up to the event Copenhagen will also host a large human rights conference. Furthermore the city will host an Out Cities Project, where 10 major cities around the world have been invited by the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen to participate in an exhibition promoting urban diversity and tolerance during the World Outgames. The cities are among others Tokyo in the east to New York in the west. At the same time there will be a Human Rights Conference with international participation.
On the last Sunday in May, the annual torch-light procession in memory of those who have died of AIDS makes its way through the city; June sees the St. Hans Midsummer Bonfire and beach party on the island of Amager, organized by LBL, The National Gay and Lesbian Organisation.
In July 2006, the Queer Festival was introduced for the first time. Internationally known performers, musicians, djs, activists, drag kings- and queens and in betweens challenged the traditional lines between the sexes. Dunst, the group that is usually known for crossing the borderlines of heterosexual norms is organizer and behind the festival.
/Parade2.jpg)
Then there's the Annual Gay Pride Parade, in 2008 16 August, known in Copenhagen as 'Copenhagen Pride', where thousands of spectators line the parade route, as around a thousand gays and lesbians strut their stuff through the capital, jamming the traffic with floats, rainbow flags "dykes on bikes, screaming queens and leather guys".
Across the Øresund bridge in Malmö, Sweden, the Rainbow Festival takes place every year in October.
/CGLFF_07.jpg)
As the evenings draw in, October every year brings the Copenhagen Gay and Lesbian film festival - nine days of contemporary gay and lesbian films from all over the world. It is in actual fact one of the oldest gay film festivals in the world. In 2008 it will be held for the 23rd time.
On December 1st - International AIDS day, various events take place throughout the city.
Throughout the year, it's also worth keeping an eye open for a performance by one of Copenhagen's gay choirs: 'Carmen Curlers', 'Schwanzen Sänger Knaben', 'The Boy's Choir', 'The Homophones' and 'The women's Choir'. With their characteristically unpredictable repertoires, you never know what you might hear - anything from medieval drinking songs to Eurovision standards!
For the gay visitor to Copenhagen there is a small 'gay section' at Museum Erotica.
A scan through Pan, a quick glimpse through the international gay guide, Spartacus, a copy of Copenhagen Gay Map or 'Out & About' magazine in your back pocket and Copenhagen is ready to be adored and explored.
Fortunately, Copenhagen is not a huge sprawling metropolis, this makes finding your way round simple and convenient. Everything is pretty much within walking distance. And this is particularly true for Copenhagen's gay life. Centred on the 'Soho' like area of the old town, the city's gay scene seems almost geographically designed to provide virtually the entire evening’s spectrum of entertainment and fun within a square kilometre.
In November, Copenhagen added another venue to its list of gay bars, clubs and restaurants: CODE. A café lunch will be served every day from 12 and music will not stop until 2am on weekdays and 5am on Fridays and Saturdays, when different DJs will ensure you are up to date on the latest sounds. Every Wednesday there will be entertainment. Music and drag shows. This means CODE will not only be a lounge bar but a dance bar as well.
Gay Club Foxy is Copenhagen's homo disco.
There are Wonk Parties at Foxy Club and Rocco once a month at Zum Biergarden with lovely open yard situated next to Pumpehuset., summer only.
/Oscars2.jpg)
An excellent place to plan your evening's fun is Jailhouse CPH, a concept bar and restaurant in a cosy atmosphere, and Oscar Bar & Café, situated by the Town Hall, is a good mix of café, bar & lounge. Every Friday evening you have DJs and the best atmosphere in town.
A brief trip to Frederiksberg to Café Intime's paino bar is well worth the effort. A mixed crowd of older theatre types and bright young things make this a particularly relaxed place to enjoy a cocktail to a typical evening's repertoire of Shirley Bassey and showtunes...
Copenhagen has always been a late starter when it comes to clubbing and bars, and it's only really worth starting the evening's tour after 11 o'clock. Back in town, CentralHjørnet's and Can Can's juke boxes are warming up to the sounds of Eurovision and Kylie - attracting an older set of drag queens, while Masken and Amigo really get going after midnight. Amigo is a lively and popular mixed bar, with the city's campest selection of karaoke favourites.
On Vester Voldgade off the City Hall Square you'll find Dunkel with toned down twilight lighting, black painted walls and stuffed owls looking down upon the guests. The list of beers is among the longest and best, especially organic beers from micro breweries.
/Nordic_Open_-_to_kvinder.jpg)
For a final drink as the dawn breaks, the perfectly named Never Mind opens its late-night doors for the dance weary crowd to chill-out. Cosy Bar is another late night option for a night well spent. Both bars are situated close to the H.C. Ørsteds Park where the presence of condom and lube packed 'bird-boxes' give a clue to the park’s after dark activities.
To discover Danish gay culture and the essence of 'hygge', you have the opportunity to visit gays or lesbians at their home through 'meetgaycopenhagen'. Your hosts will prepare a dinner for you and you will have enough time to learn more about the way Danish gays and lesbians live in Denmark.
There is no shortage of top quality luxury hotels in Copenhagen. But if you're tired of four-star service, there is also the option of a lower-key stay at one of Copenhagen's gay-only bed and breakfast places, such as the Windsor, Copenhagen Rainbow, Amagerhus B&B or Carsten's Guest House.
For further information contact the press department - see contact details in the menu.
Gay Cafés & Restaurants: |
|
|
Jailhouse - CPH Restaurant & Bar |
Oscar Bar & Café |
|
CODE |
|
Disco: |
|
|
WONK (once a month) |
Rocco (parties once a month) |
|
Gay Club Foxy |
|
Gay bars: |
|
|
Dunkel Bar (NEW) |
Café Intime (Piano music every evenig, Sun.: jazz) |
|
Centralhjørnet (Oldest gay bar) |
Can Can (Bar) |
|
Amigo Bar (Karaoke) |
Masken Bar |
Leather bar & club: |
|
|
Men's Bar |
Scandinavian Leather Men, SLM (Club) |
Late night bars: |
|
|
Never Mind |
Cosy Bar |
Bed & Breakfast: |
|
|
At Carstens Guest House |
Copenhagen Rainbow |
|
Amagerhus B&B (not far from airport ) |
|
Gay Culture & Organisations: |
|
|
LBL-National Association for |
Pan Magazine |
|
Frankly (magazine) |
Meet Gay Danes |
|
Bøssehuset, Christiania |
Gay Bikers Club |
|
Radio Rosa (FM 91,4) |
Panidraet (Sport club for Gays & Lesbians) |
|
Copenhagen Gay Life -CGL (Network) |
Blus (gay & lesbian university students) |
|
Out & About Gay Magazine |
Mermaid City Squares (Square Dance Club) |
|
Boyfriend (meet the locals online) |
|
Party Organizers |
|
|
Metamorphosis |
Dunst |
Events |
|
|
Pan Cup |
Copenhagen Pride (11-16 August 2008) |
|
Queer Festival |
Gay Baltic Cruise |
|
GLORIA GOES GAY ON Monday |
Copenhagen Gay & Lesbian Film Festival |
|
Rainbow Festival, Malmö, Sweden |
Mr. Gay |
|
World Outgames Copenhagen 2009 |
|
Travel Agencies |
|
|
Out Scandinavia |
Pink Viking |
Lesbian places of interest: |
|
|
Vela |
Kvindehuset |
|
Party organizers: |
Jeppes Klub (Frederiksberg) |
|
|
Chaca |
Gay & Lesbian choirs: |
|
|
Carmen Curlers |
Drengekoret (The Boys' Choir) |
|
De Homofone (The Homophones) |
Kvindekoret (The Women's Choir) |
|
Schwanzen Sänger Knaben |
|
Blue Movies: |
|
|
Amigo Sauna |
Men's Shop |
|
Copenhagen Gay Center |
|
HIV & AIDS: |
|
|
Stop AIDS |
HIV-Danmark |
|
AIDS Hotline |
HIV Café 'Kafe Knud' |
