Paris is one of the world's most tolerant cities toward gays and lesbians, and no special laws discriminate against them. "Gay Paree" has a large gay population, with dozens of gay clubs, restaurants, organizations, and services. The Marais has become a favorite area for gays to live and socialize in Paris.
Ecoute Gay, 7 place du Commerce, 15e (tel. 01-44-93-01-02), is a hotline designed for the counseling of persons with gay-related problems and issues. The phone is staffed every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 6 to 10pm by volunteers, some not as helpful as others. Also helpful is La Maison des Femmes, 163 rue de Charenton, 12e (tel. 01-43-43-41-13; http://maisondesfemmes.free.fr; Métro: Charonne), offering information about Paris for lesbians and bisexual women, and sometimes sponsoring informal dinners and get-togethers. Call anytime for a recorded announcement about the hours when someone will be available in that particular week.
Lesbian or bisexual women may also pick up a copy of Lesbia, if only to check out the ads. These and other publications are available at Paris's largest gay bookstore, Les Mots à la Bouche, 6 rue Ste-Croix-de-la-Bretonnerie, 4e (tel. 01-42-78-88-30; www.motsbouche.com). Hours are Monday to Saturday from 11am to 11pm and Sunday from 2 to 8pm. Both French- and English-language publications are available.
The International Gay & 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; go to its website and click on "Members."
Many agencies offer tours and travel itineraries specifically for gay and lesbian travelers, among them Above and Beyond Tours (tel. 800/397-2681; www.abovebeyondtours.com).
Gay.com Travel (tel. 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.
The following travel guides are available at many bookstores, or you can order them from any online bookseller: Frommer's Gay & Lesbian Europe (www.frommers.com), an excellent travel resource to the top European cities and resorts; Spartacus International Gay Guide (Bruno Gmünder Verlag; www.spartacusworld.com/gayguide) and Odysseus: The International Gay Travel Planner (Odysseus Enterprises Ltd.); and the Damron guides (www.damron.com), with separate, annual books for gay men and lesbians.
