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Insider tip: Time to consider Houston as your next gay destination

Gay Local Tips in Houston City

Insider tip: Time to consider Houston as your next gay destination

Meet Jim, an animal lover and activist who has lived in Houston for nearly the past 5 decades. He is also a valued host on misterb&b,  gay accommodation rental site!

 

How gay-friendly is Houston?
Let me explain I have lived in Houston for 47 years. Stonewall happened the Summer I moved to Houston. There was no coverage in the local press of course. Houston is a Southern city. Houston is in Texas. That gives you some idea of what to expect. We elected a lesbian Annise Parker for 3 terms as mayor and we've had gay council members. Unfortunately the LGBT Equal Rights Ordinance failed in a 2-1 referendum last fall. My view of Houston is that of an activist who has worked get acceptance for gays and lesbians. Things are a lot better than the days when the bars were raided on a constant basis the week before elections. Things are advancing, and that is somehting to look forward to. 

How would you then describe the gay life in Houston?
Houston is not a favorite gay destination like Key West but people come for other things like NASA, the Rodeo, Gay Pride Week and enjoy the culture of the city.

Naturally the biggest gay event is Pride Week always scheduled the same weekend as New York and San Francisco since we have had our own versions of Stonewall. In February L.U.E.Y. (Let us entertain you) happens the weekend after Mardi Gras. This is a tradition from when people drove to New Orleans and were invited back for a mega party called Mardi Gras Madness. If you could remember it the next morning, you never forgot it. 

What are some of your favorite gay bars and venues?
Houston has a very vibrant bar scene. You would expect a Country and Western bar, like George, also Neon Boots, not too far away from Montrose (the gay neighborhood) and offers two stepping. The leather bar here is the Ripcord which has been here 30 years. The young crowd goes dancing at F Bar, Meteor and South Beach. The nice thing here is that the above mentioned are within walking distance of each other.  

Montrose (never "the" Montrose) has been the center of gay life forever. It has been a funky neighborhood of shops, used clothing shops, galleries, antique stores and cheap rents. I once paid $75 a month for the downstairs of a 2 story. White flight in the '60's made all of this possible. Forty years later the "suburbans" don't like the long commute and where bungalows ($27,000 in 1973) canyons of ugly townhouses now exist ($500,000 for that same bungalow which becomes a teardown). Much of what made Montrose funky has been priced out of the neighborhood.

What are some favorite spots to grab a bit with the gay locals?
People in Houston eat out more than in any other city. In Montrose (which has been the center of gay life forever), 3 places for comfort food stand out. Barnaby's (Baby Barnaby's for breakfast) is one of the best. Food is very good and the atmosphere is high camp. Baba Yega has been a mainstay of Houston for years, and also great for brunch. Cafe Express (on W.Gray) is a local chain with very good food. The aforementioned are very reasonable. I have to mention House of Pies on Kirby. Don't stop there. There is easily 100 restaurants of every cuisine you can ask for!!

Anything else to add about you or your experiences with misterb&b?
I frequently offer a tour of Houston to my many guests. I start at the Menil Collection, incredible pieces, admission is free. You walk to one gallery and here is the Bronze Age. There is so much to see and do here, I'll let visitors figure out the rest. There are all sorts of festivals year round. Come and see!

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