New Orleans is a very gay-friendly town with a high-profile homosexual population that contributes much to the color and flavor of the city. You'll find an abundance of establishments serving gay and lesbian interests, from bars to restaurants to community services to certain businesses.
Ambush Magazine, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116 (tel. 504/522-8047; www.ambushmag.com), is a weekly entertainment and news publication for the Gulf South's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities. The website offers plenty of links to other interesting sites. Grace Fellowship, 3151 Dauphine St. (tel. 504/944-9836), and the Vieux Carré Metropolitan Community Church, 1128 St. Roch Ave. (tel. 504/945-5390), are religious organizations that serve primarily gay and lesbian congregations. Both invite visitors to attend services.
One useful website is www.gayneworleans.com, which provides information on lodging, dining, arts, and nightlife as well as links to other information on New Orleans gay life.
The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA; tel. 800/448-8550 or 954/776-2626; www.iglta.org) is the trade association for the gay and lesbian travel industry, and offers an online directory of gay- and lesbian-friendly travel businesses and tour operators.
Gay.com Travel (tel. 800/929-2268 or 415/644-8044; www.gay.com/travel or www.outandabout.com) is an excellent online successor to the popular Out & About print magazine. It provides regularly updated information about gay-owned, gay-oriented, and gay-friendly lodging, dining, sightseeing, nightlife, and shopping establishments in every important destination worldwide. British travelers should click on the "Travel" link at www.uk.gay.com for advice and gay-friendly trip ideas.
The Canadian website GayTraveler (http://gaytraveler.ca) offers ideas and advice for gay travel all over the world.
