From one of the USA’s last surviving lesbian bars to local queer-owned businesses, these are just some of the places where LGBTQIA+ tourists can thrive Words by Fran Tirado Photography by Neal Santos When you think of LGBTQ+ destinations, it’s unlikely that Phoenix, Arizona, comes immediately to mind.
Though the US is filled with bustling metropolises and queer cultural capitals, it’s the destinations tucked away in the US’s corners, hiding in the desert or on the fringe, that contain the richest communities and undiscovered histories.
Despite the anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation currently tracking across the United States, every single city is home to queer people who thrive, and Phoenix, Arizona, is one of them.
That’s why we’re taking a queer-led road trip, to show you first hand how you can experience LGBTQ+ culture, and all the hidden gems of LGBTQ+ American travel. ————- We landed late in Phoenix thinking first and foremost about tacos.