Turns out, Barbieland isn't as gay as s queer fans had hoped

MONTREAL GAY CY GUI: A CY OF FUN, FTIVALS, AND FRIENDLY NEIGHBORS

Gay Montreal is the largt cy Canada’s Quebec provce. It is a dynamic, LGBTQ welg cy wh a hip, eclectic vibe. It’s a cy that’s overflowg wh culture, ftivals, wonrful food, and plenty of outdoor activi, not to mentn endls opportuny and a wi variety of warm and welg neighborhoods that will eagerly embrace anyone who wants to ll home. * montreal gay culture *

Reportedly, North Ameri's first LGBT publitn, "L Mouch Fantastiqu" (The Fantastic Fil) was found here 1918; by the early 1970s a queer bohemian scene was flourishg (1974 die film "Montreal Ma" offered a glimpse); the first Montreal Pri march took place 1979 (memoratg the 10th anniversary of NYC's Stonewall rts), and Montreal's famed "gay village" me to be the 1980s, as gay bars, clubs, and rints overtook a formerly impoverished, crep sectn of the cy's Centre-Sud district along Sate-Cathere Street East. Rehgly, Montreal's gay village (which is closed to rs durg warmer months) remas a lively and ncentrated hub that's even more lerally lorful and easy to spot thanks to s overhead, 1 kilometer long "18 Shas Of Gay" - prised of 180, 000 lored recycled plastic r balls spend overhead. The gay-owned Spa & Palac offers "non-touristy tours" by bike and by foot, which are perfect for both newers and those who know the cy but would like a eper dive.

Book the four-hour, lunch-clive Beyond The Bike Lan tour that vers both rintial and popular tourist zon cludg the Gay Village, or nsir the two-hour Beyond The Village one that spotlights the gayborhoood and s history and landmark s.

GAY VILLAGE

* montreal gay culture *

Get your selfi on the Gay Village durg daylight while takg s art stallatns and muny spac, cludg the Park of Hope (Parc L'poir) and AIDS Memorial. Montreal-based graphic novel publisher Drawn & Quarterly has a fantastic store, Librarie Drawn & Quarterly, the buzzy Mile End district, a favore stompg ground of lol, acclaimed gay filmmaker and actor, Xavier Dolan. Bota Bota Spa, suated on a multi-level ship the Old Port, is a iendly spot to unwd and get pampered (wh kid-iendly hours), though some mal might prefer one of Montreal's adults only gay snas, which clu the 24-hour Sna Oasis and four-floor Sna G.

You'll fd most of Montreal's LGBTQ nightlife nveniently ncentrated s gay village along Ste. While the Gay Village's dg scene hasn't exactly proven as foodie-centric as other parts of Montreal (lols might feel that's puttg diplomatilly), there has been some improvement the past few years.

EXPLORG GAY MONTREAL

Few ci the world embrace their LGBT muni wh as much gto as Montreal. Canada's send biggt cy also hosts a slew of gay-popular annual events and ftivals throughout the year. * montreal gay culture *

A few blocks away, the chic 152-room gay-fave W Montreal is posed jt across om the Square-Victoria-OACI metro statn (look for s art nouve Paris-style entrance porti, a 1967 gift om the Cy of Lights) and received s own prehensive, multiln update 2015. If you're keen to be based the Gay Village a gay-owned property, make rervatns at the five-room Sir Montlm Ge B&B.

Montreal's annual gay pri ftival is tly somethg that you won’t want to miss.