Gay Copenhagen
Gay Copenhagen
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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 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.
From the 25 of July to the 2 of August 2009, Copenhagen will host the second World Outgames. The largest sports and cultural event Denmark has ever hosted with up to 8.000 participants, which is 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 preceding the event. Denmark's oldest confectioner, La Glace, has created a commemorative cake especially for World Outgames. Copenhagen will host a major human rights conference. Furthermore the city will host an Out Cities Project . A project where 5 major cities from 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 Out games. The cities span from, among others, Rio in the west to Melbourne in south. 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 from 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.
The Queer Festival was introduced for the first time In 2006. Internationally known performers, musicians, DJs, activists, drag kings - queens and in betweens challenge the traditional lines between sexes. The festival will mainly take place around the City Hall Square and Halmtorvet. Dunst, the group that is usually known for crossing borderlines of heterosexual norms is the organizer.
Then there's the Annual Gay Pride Parade - known in Copenhagen as "Copenhagen Pride", I where thousands of spectators line the parade route, as about 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". This year Copenhagen Pride begins with a new special day in Tivoli. On Saturday, 9 August, Tivoli kick starts Copenhagen Pride Week under the headline of Tivoli Goes Gay.
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Tivoli Goes Gay offers entertainment galore. Same sex dancing on the Open Air Stage and in the pavilions,a concert with cult vocalists Schwanzen Sänger Knaben in the Glass Hall and a huge fireworks show to end it all. Throughout the day you can also visit the stalls set up by many organisations along the Open Air Stage, and you will be able to watch a couple get married by the Tivoli Lake.
Across the Øresund bridge in Malmö, Sweden is the Rainbow Festival, which takes place every year in October.
October brings on the Copenhagen Gay and Lesbian film festival - nine days of contemporary gay and lesbian films from all over the world. This is in actual fact one of the oldest gay film festivals in the world.
On 1 December - International AIDS day, various events take place throughout the city.
Throughout the year, it's also worth keeping an eye out for performances 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!
In 2007 Celebrity Cruises sent off the first gay cruise ship on a cruise of Scandinavia and the Baltic and it has now become an annual event.
For a visitor to Copenhagen, each year offers a varied selection of gay events:
Check out www.visitcopenhagen.com/gayevents
The gay visitor to Copenhagen can find a small ‘gay section' at Museum Erotica, up one flight of stairs on Købmagergade.
A scan through the international gay guide, Spartacus and 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 2007, Copenhagen added another venue to its list of gay bars, clubs and restaurants, CODE a gay lounge bar/nightclub. CODE is not only 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.
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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 is situated by the Town Hall and is a good mix of café, bar & Lounge. Friday evenings you get DJs and the town's best atmosphere.
A brief trip to out to Frederiksberg to Café Intime's piano 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 23:00. 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 at SLM they really get going after midnight! SLM Copenhagen's new premises cover 450 sq. meters, making it twice the size of the old location. That means that the club is Scandinavia's and probably northern Europe's biggest gay leather club. If you're looking for another "men only" bar and not a club, then MEN's BAR is the place for you! It's almost an institution!
On Vester Voldgade off the City Hall Square you'll find Dunkel Bar (mixed) 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 regarding organic beers from micro breweries.
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.
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, Carsten's Guest House and Amagerhus B&B.
Further information:
Wonderful Copenhagen®, Tel: +45 3325 7400
International Press Officer, Mr. Henrik Thierlein, hth@woco.dk
Project Manager, Susanne Bendsen, sub@woco.dk
For the latest update and photos please visit
www.visitcopenhagen.com/press
www.visitcopenhagen.com/photos
Gay Cafés & Restaurants: |
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Jailhouse - CPH Restaurant & Bar |
Oscar Bar & Café |
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CODE |
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Disco: |
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WONK (once a month) |
Rocco (parties once a month) |
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Gay Club Foxy |
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Gay bars: |
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Dunkel Bar (NEW) |
Café Intime (Piano music every evenig, Sun.: jazz) |
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Centralhjørnet (Oldest gay bar) |
Can Can (Bar) |
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Masken Bar |
Leather bar & club: |
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Men's Bar |
Scandinavian Leather Men, SLM (Club) |
Late night bars: |
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Never Mind |
Cosy Bar |
Bed & Breakfast: |
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At Carstens Guest House |
Copenhagen Rainbow |
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Amagerhus B&B (not far from airport ) |
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Gay Culture & Organisations: |
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LBL-National Association for |
Boyfriend (meet the locals online) |
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Frankly (magazine) |
Pan Cup |
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Bøssehuset, Christiania |
Gay Bikers Club |
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Radio Rosa (FM 98,9) |
Pride Radio |
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Copenhagen Gay Life -CGL (Network) |
Blus (gay & lesbian university students) |
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Out & About Gay Magazine |
Mermaid City Squares (Square Dance Club) |
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Panidraet (Sport club for Gays & Lesbians) |
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Events |
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Tivoli Goes Gay |
Copenhagen Pride |
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Queer Festival |
Gay Baltic Cruise |
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Rainbow Festival, Malmö, Sweden |
Copenhagen Gay & Lesbian Film Festival |
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World Outgames Copenhagen 2009
(25 July-2 August) |
MrGay-Oresund |
Travel Agencies |
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Out Scandinavia |
Pink Viking |
Lesbian places of interest: |
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Vela |
Kvindehuset |
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Party organizers: |
Jeppes Klub (Frederiksberg) |
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Chaca |
Gay & Lesbian choirs: |
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Carmen Curlers |
Drengekoret (The Boys' Choir) |
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De Homofone (The Homophones) |
Kvindekoret (The Women's Choir) |
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Schwanzen Sänger Knaben |
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Blue Movies: |
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Amigo Sauna |
Men's Shop |
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Copenhagen Gay Center |
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HIV & AIDS: |
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Stop AIDS |
HIV-Danmark |
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AIDS Hotline |
HIV Café 'Kafe Knud' |
