Gay Montreal

Gay Montreal

Formerly known as the Gay Village, the area bordering rue Ste-Catherine Est from Amherst to de Lorimier, and on the north-south axis from René-Lévesque to Sherbrooke, is a thriving part of town, replete with restaurants, bars, bathhouses, boutiques, and cafés. Montréal has one of the most vibrant gay communities in the world, widely supported by residents of this proudly liberal, open-minded city. In recent years the municipal, federal, and provincial governments have taken it upon themselves to aggressively promote the Village and Montréal's gay-friendly climate as a reason for tourists to visit, including those who wish to wed. In recognition of the Village's importance to the city, the downtown borough of Ville-Marie hangs a rainbow flag in its council chambers, and the recently rebuilt entrance to the Beaudry Métro station, essentially the gateway to the neighborhood, is now adorned with rainbow pillars.

The best way to explore the area is on foot, getting off at the Beaudry Métro station and heading east along rue Ste-Catherine. No trip to the Village would be complete without stopping by Le Drugstore (1366 rue Ste-Catherine Est) and Cabaret Mado (1115 rue Ste-Catherine Est).