Nowadays, if you live in a city, chances are there is an established LGBTQ+ scene for you to explore, allowing you to meet other lesbians. And if not, there are still multiple ways of connecting with your community online. Continue reading for tips on where to meet queer people in real life and on the internet.

Queer Nightlife
Rising costs of running a business, coupled with the damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an increase in LGBTQ+ venue closures. The number of lesbian bars and clubs around the world was already limited, with London (UK) having just one lesbian bar: SHE Soho.

Mixed queer venues tend to cater towards a male audience, leading women and non-binary people to feel unwelcome. In response to this, club nights have been created.

Considering the above, recurring club nights and events have gained popularity for being more selective with admission and more specifically catering towards subgroups of the LGBTQ+ community who need safe spaces to connect. Such nights include Papi Juice in Brooklyn (NY), created to “celebrate the lives of queer and trans people of color”. In London (UK), LICK hosts events by women for women. Recurring parties do pose one problem, though – they’re not exactly suitable for a spontaneous night out.

While nightlife events are great for gathering with friends and meeting new people, there is an important need for sober spaces and activities.

Sober Queer Spaces
Queer-owned cafès, libraries, and stores facilitate connections in a more relaxed and quiet environment. It’s worth mentioning that some of these may serve alcohol, but as one of many options, and in a context that doesn’t center around drinking.

Examples include Glass House, a multidisciplinary venue in London (UK) featuring a cafè, book store, and bar; hosting a variety of social events. In Los Angeles (CA), Cuties exists as an alcohol-free queer-owned cafè. London (UK) is also home to Gay’s The Word, a pioneering LGBTQ+ bookshop established in 1979. Moments of its fascinating history are referenced in the 2014 film “Pride”.

Cultural Events
From stage plays to drag king nights at the local bar, queer cultural events tend to attract a mixed audience, including queer women. Depending on the theme and content, some of those will be more aimed towards a lesbian audience.

Soho Theatre in London (UK) is one such location, hosting theatre, comedy, cabaret shows and more. Earlier this year at Soho Theatre, The LOL Word (a collective of queer women, trans and non-binary people) ran a series of “epically-gay” stand-up shows.

Social & Sporting Clubs
After a quick internet search, chances are you will find local social & sporting groups that you can join. Some groups act as LGBTQ+ networks. A few examples are Queer Culture Club, a collective for queer women, trans and non-binary people, and Queer the Table, a supper club for “girls, gays and theys”.

Some are created based on shared hobbies or interests. MISERY is a mental health collective and sober night club in London (UK), hosting a variety of socials. Queerspace FC is a London-based (UK) sports club, described as “your local friendly queer kickabout”.

Online
Most connections begin online, from friendships to romantic relationships.

There are several ways of meeting people online (regardless of your intentions), from social media to lesbian chat websites and dating apps for queer women.

Dating apps aren’t just for dating — many people join to make new friends, network, or just have a chat when they feel like it. Build out your profile, make your intentions clear and add your personality to be matched with the right people.

On social networks, communities exist in the shape of groups and pages, for various purposes; from housing to clothes swapping and meeting new people.

Start Finding Your People
Begin your search online. Find queer events on websites like Eventbrite and OutSavvy, and apps like DICE. Social media pages such as the Hey Queer London Instagram showcase events taking place in the capital.

Facebook is a great tool for finding event listings, as well as LGBTQ+ groups you can join. Have a look on Meetup as well for groups like Queers Without Beers, who host socials for people who wish to moderate their drinking or are alcohol-free.

The post Let’s Go, Lesbians: Where to Find Your People first appeared on Lesbian.com.

When Jenni and Lisa first fell in love, they vowed to follow a life of adventure. However, this eBay Business Manager and HIV Social Worker had no idea that their promise would lead them on a yearlong adventure across 15 countries, spanning Asia, Africa, Australia and South America in search of the people who are leading the international movement for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality.

Though neither had any experience with filmmaking, Jenni and Lisa decided to pick up a camera and document nearly 120 hours of video footage. The result is a universal story of hope that combines video-journal footage and unprecedented interviews with the LGBT leaders pioneering the movement for social justice across the developing world.

OUT & AROUND documents the momentous changes occurring in the status of queer people around the world today while simultaneously shedding light on the themes that connect us all. The film is helmed by a directing duo that represents the balanced tone and universal accessibility of the film: lesbian narrative filmmaker Lauren Fash and heterosexual documentary filmmaker Ryan Suffern.

Proud to be partnered with the It Gets Better Foundation, OUT & AROUND is set to a soundtrack featuring Macklemore & Mary Lambert; Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Tegan & Sara and Moby (to name just a few), with Abbie Cornish lending her voice as narrator. The support of these collaborations represent the magnetism encapsulated by the story of Jenni & Lisa’s inspiring journey.

Out & Around Trailer from Lauren Fash on Vimeo.

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BY TRACI DINWIDDIE
TraciDinwiddie.com

Looking for something extra special with which to woo her this holiday season? A trip to “Tahiti” should do the trick! (Bora Bora, to be exact.) If you love Hawaii, imagine all of its exotic romance and adventure minus the overwhelming tourism.

Need a perfect place to stay? Le Meridien Bora Bora, nestled on an islet and surrounded by an exquisitely-hued turquoise lagoon, is a dream-come-true destination. Once landed in Bora Bora, you taxi by boat for 20 scrumptious minutes to your elegant home away from home. There, you will find white sandy beaches, an abundance of coconut trees and giant leafy tropical plants. There is lagoon swimming and snorkeling, decadent food, private spa for two, over water, glass-bottomed bungalows, melodic greetings of “Ia Ora Na”, walking paths, and an underwater chapel. Of course, you can find many variations of these luxuries throughout all of French Polynesia’s hotels. (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Tikehau, etc.)

Turtle Rescue 1So, what sets Le Meridien apart from the rest of Bora Bora’s gorgeous choices? Along with its alluring romantic vibe, it is also the home of Bora Bora Turtle Center. In addition, Le Meridien has a fully-staffed Ecological Center with informative, hands-on lectures about sea life via their Touch Pool, Museum, & Educational Aquariums. They aim to help visitors participate in saving and protecting coral reefs, turtles, and more.

My partner and I fell in love with this place. It not only caters to the romantic, but also the animal lover and environmentalist in both of us. We spent an afternoon swimming with rescued turtles in their sanctuary. Our guide was a strict, but kind marine biologist, who half-jokingly threatened harm upon us if we touched any of “her” creatures. Rest assured, we did not. We did, however, capture some gorgeous photos & videos!

Le Meridien Bora Bora’s website boasts that it is “the preferred protection of marine turtles in French Polynesia”. We had first-hand experience of this great respect when the French Navy arrived just as we were heading to the dock. They released 17 captured turtles used as “pets”, and brought 3 malnourished young turtles to the awaiting staff for immediate care. Clearly, Le Meridien Bora Bora is the place to be rescued (in so many ways). But, don’t take my word for it. See for yourself! #StockingStuffer

Double Dip Tips: Feed two love birds with one seed, & set the getaway dates for the week of Valentine’s. REALLY surprise her with an extra “secret getaway” by taking a quick puddle-jumper to the remote pink-sand island of Tikehau for some of the BEST snorkeling & diving around! Need proof? Check my Facebook Page for some Tikehau action!

For more on what the Islands of Tahiti have to offer, go to: www.tahititourism.com

Traci Dinwiddie is an actress, yogini, West African drummer, part-time badass and full time fruitcake. Learn more about the “Elena Undone” star by visiting TraciDinwiddie.com

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It was time for another romantic weekend getaway to wine country, so Super G and I packed up our convertible, turned the radio up, and zipped up the freeway toward the Napa Valley.

It was a beautiful day that turned into perfection as soon as we saw the familiar rows of vines sloping along the hills filled with clusters of plump grapes glimmering in the bright sun against the blue sky.

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If San Francisco is my girlfriend, New York is my boyfriend. I can’t get enough of the city of lights, fashion and action and neither can Super G.

We have an infatuation with the Big Apple that can only be cured by an annual fling to catch some shows on Broadway and discover changes in our favorite neighborhoods.

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The post New York is the life first appeared on Lesbian.com.

It might be one of Lake Tahoe’s best kept secrets, a four diamond AAA restaurant for seven consecutive years in the back of a so-so casino and resort, the Mont Bleu, in South Lake Tahoe.

You would never guess from the small dingy casino floor and cheap eateries that circle the craps and poker tables that a sophisticated restaurant calls this place home, but tucked in the back near a nightclub is the Ciera Steak and Chophouse (55 Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe, 775-588-3515).

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On a hot summer day, my girlfriend and I were ready to ditch the concrete jungle and get back to nature with a quick weekend escape to the lake and mountains in the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California.

The lobby was buzzing with travelers checking in to the elegantly appointed Lake Arrowhead Resort and Spa (27984 California 189; 909-336-1511; LakeArrowheadResort.com) in Lake Arrowhead, California when we arrive on a busy Friday evening.

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Searching for an inexpensive, but durable bag while traveling? You might not want to overlook Pappeal’s backpacks and duffle and messenger bags.

The bags made out of Tyvek, a paper material, which is durable, water resistant and recyclable, are a fashionable and green option for travelers seeking an alternative to bringing heavier and more expensive bags on excursions or bringing home souvenirs.

“It’s extremely durable with great functionality,” says Madeleine Furuvald, 26, co-founder of Pappeal. “When we meet people and they see the bags the first thing that they want to do is to try to tear it apart, but it’s extremely durable and they get really surprised about it.” More >

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Stepping into the lobby of the InterContinental Cleveland, I knew that I was in excellent care.

The lobby itself speaks sophisticated comfort with its elegant cherry wood check in desk, walls softly lit by white shaded lamps surrounded by carefully placed glass vases with flowers in a vast entryway.

I wasn’t disappointed by this luxury hotel as it is everything it touts it is. More >

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Alki Beach is where sun-seekers flock to enjoy a summer day at the beach and take advantage of breath taking panoramic views of the Seattle city scape and the Olympic Mountains. It’s also a vibrant neighborhood with some foodie gems and rich with history and a beach culture all its own.
Food tasting tours are a great way to get to know a neighborhood as they are a true sensory and culinary experience.

Sampling great cuisine is a given, but you also see amazing sights, hear about interesting historical facts & learn the “back-story” of how local businesses came to be.

Taste Seattle Food Tours is pleased to be launching a unique biking foodie tour along Alki Beach beginning on July 18. The tour is a really fun activity for both visitors and locals alike and provides that ocean salt-water smell that leaves no doubt you are beachside. Cruising along the Alki bike trail affords amazing views of Puget Sound, Elliot Bay, the Olympic Mountains, Bainbridge Island and the city of Seattle.

One of the bonuses of this food and biking tour is eating all those delicious bites is guilt-free because you are riding approximately 3 miles each way, working off the calories as you go.

One of the best ways to experience the highlights of the Alki Beach neighborhood is to spend an afternoon with Taste Seattle Food Tours.

Taste Seattle Food Tours is owned by two lesbian women, Felicia Watson and Roen Ako, both of whom are West Seattle residents and are excited to share the unique culture of Seattle’s largest neighborhood.

Roen serves on the board of the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Allied business and professional chamber of commerce. They were recently married this past January and were one of the first couples married in Hawaii after the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act made same sex marriage legal in Roen’s home state. Together, they share a passion for great food and guiding both locals and visitors off the “eaten path.”

Seattle has a wealth of amazing food, and Taste Seattle aims to allow their guests to sample tasting portions, which allows eating at multiple locations to give a broad sampling of the best the neighborhood has to offer. They partner with local, artisanal businesses that offer superior and unique products that showcase Seattle’s rich food scene. Eating and biking your way through a neighborhood is a fun and flavorful interactive activity.

The afternoon is spent sampling your way along the beach on a beach cruiser bicycle (provided as part of the tour in partnership with Alki Kayak Tours) with stops at five eateries. The eating is kicked off at Marination voted by ABC’s Good Morning America as the best food truck in America. Guests will sample a few examples of this Hawaiian-Korean fusion-style street food.

Next, it is on to a relative newcomer on the beach, Slices on Alki, a pizzeria owned by a husband and wife team. Slices focuses on carefully selected ingredients (organic whenever possible) and fresh daily house-made sauce and dough that is then hand-tossed in a thin-crust style and paired with a craft micro-brew from neighboring Ampersand Cafe. Next it’s onto Seattle’s oldest fast-food restaurant, Alki Spud Fish and Chips, which has been on Alki Avenue since 1935 (celebrating 80 years next year). They use the original recipes for their fish and chips, which are still hand-cut and prepared. The tour is capped off with a sweet ending at Salty’s on Alki Beach. Salty’s is a local favorite for special occasions with one of the most impressive views of any restaurant in the area and award-winning cuisine.

“It’s been a privilege and a joy to offer Seattle’s gorgeous skyline view to our dining guests at Salty’s on Alki Beach, so we were especially eager to partner with Felicia and Roen on their new Alki Beach, Bikes and Bites Food Tour. The history of West Seattle is rich with stories and we are honored to be included,” says Kathy Kingen, Salty’s co-owner along with husband and founder Gerry Kingen.

Taking the Alki Beach, Bikes and Bites tour provides a taste for Seattle’s beach neighborhood while revealing stories of its origins like answering why there is a replica Statue of Liberty on Alki Beach. The tour visits several points of cultural interest like the former site of the Luna Park amusement park, a few of Seattle’s oldest residences still standing today and a working lighthouse on Alki Point.

Stories of the neighborhood come to life in between bites, as guests are guided alongside a knowledgeable tour lead who offers insight into Alki’s colorful past and present incarnations, pointing out hidden gems from quirky public art to a working lighthouse.

Skip all the long summer lines, planning and fuss and let Taste Seattle Food Tours entertain you for a few hours replete with tasty riches. The new tour begins July 18th and will run on Friday and Saturdays at 11 a.m. through the rest of the summer. Alki Beach is easily accessible from Seattle’s waterfront by taking the King County Water Taxi from Pier 50 to Seacrest Park where the tour begins and ends.

To buy tickets or for more information on taking Taste Seattle Food Tour’s newest Beach, Bikes and Bites tour, please visit their website.

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