Where to Meet Other Gay People

Sitting at home by yourself isn't much fun. Here are some ideas about where you can go and what you can do to increase your social circle. By getting out there and making new friends, you can find a greater understanding of gay life and probably discover things about yourself as well.

Many people meet new friends at gay venues like bars and clubs. This can be a lot of fun particularly if it involves going out with an established friend or group of friends and meeting new people. Some people find it exciting to go out on their own to a gay venue they have not been to before and just see what happens. Whether you are new in town or just going to a local place, there will usually be someone else there who is in a similar situation of not knowing others.

But bars and clubs aren't for everyone. Some people find it difficult to go to a gay venue on their own or prefer not to try to meet people in situations where alcohol can influence their decisions. And while gay bars and clubs are probably the most visible and obvious places to meet people, they are definitely not the only places.

Gay social and sports groups

Because of the publicity gay venues and dating sites receive, it might be easy for someone to assume these are the only places gay people can meet to make friends. But in cities and some larger towns, there are gay social groups and interest groups. The internet makes it easy to find these. Just try typing in "gay tennis Manchester" or "gay swimming Brisbane" for example and you can see what comes up.

Even if there is not a social group or sports club in your town, there are people who share your interests online and they may have some ideas about how you can go about meeting people with similar interests face to face.

The internet

Of course there is the Internet. The web offers limitless opportunities to meet other gay people and make new friends. For a start there are dating sites and we have listed some of these in the Dating and Relationships section. But dating and friendship are not always the same thing. There are also websites that cater to people who are seeking just friendship. Some of these are:

Gay NZ

A news and information site based in New Zealand where you can post classifieds, visit forums and find out what events and activities are available in New Zealand.

SameSame

An Australian based free online community offering news, forums and groups you can join. You can develop a profile and meet other people with the same or similar interests.

Out everywhere

A UK based members website that offers the opportunity to make friendships and lasting relationships. Chat forums, events and meeting people.

Gay People With Pets

A UK based website where you can meet other gay people... with pets!

Gay South Africa

A South African website featuring what's on, personals, information and chatrooms.

Qruiser

The largest nordic community for gay, bisexual, transgender or queer people. Based in Sweden but with members all over the world. Clubs you can join with others who share your interests.

Please let us know about any other gay online communities so that we can add them here.

Gay holidays.

There are some places in the world that are gayer than others. The gay holiday market is huge and specialist travel agencies can help you organise a holiday if you want to go somewhere else to meet other gay people. Some people prefer to go on holiday with a friend but sometimes if you go on your own it can be easier to make friends.

According to our readers, some of the best gay holiday destinations (in no particular order) are:

• Aspen Gay Ski Week, Colorado, US
  
• Fire Island, New York, US
  
• Key West, Florida, US
  
• Ibiza, Spain
• Sitges, Spain
• Gran Canaria, Canary Islands/ Spain
  
• Mykonos, Greece
• Pattaya, Thailand
• Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand
  
• Cairns, Australia
• Byron Bay, Australia
• Sydney, Australia
  

Gay cruises are also very popular. Atlantis (a US company) and All Gay Cruises (an Australian company) both specialise in gay cruises. You can find out more about gay cruises by searching for them on the internet.

Other opportunities for meeting gay people and making friends.

Use your gaydar. Other gay people are everywhere. They are in your street, your town and possibly even in your family! It gets easier with experience.

If you have any tips or suggestions about making friends and meeting people, click here to send us an email.