Call For Submissions: More Queer Girl City Guides!

Posted byriese

on October 15, 2012

click here for other queer girl city guides

According to my crystal ball and my to-do list, Autostraddle needs more Queer Girl City Guides! We're working on putting the Queer Girl City Guides into various portable formats and we need you to help us make sure that our Guide includes ALL OF THE CITIES!

The Queer Girl City Guides are a tool for queermos moving to and/or just visiting various locations to employ when seeking community, food, entertainment, dance parties, sports and basically everything your city has to offer. If you wanna write one, you should be in love with your city. For example, this girl made us all want to move to Columbus.

What Cities Have Already Been Done?

Brighton (UK), Montreal (CANADA), Portland (OR), Washington DC, Seattle (WA), Cleveland (OH), Spokane (WA), Dublin (IRELAND), Vancouver (CANADA), The Bronx (NY), Columbus (OH), Santa Fe (NM), Albuquerque (NM), Manhattan (NY), Boston (MA), Tulsa (OK), Amherst & Northampon (MA), Milwaukee (WI), Miami (FL), Mexico City (MEXICO), Granada (SPAIN), Taipei (TAIWAN), Chapel Hill (NC), St.Louis (MO), Chicago (IL), New Orleans (LA), Denver (CO), Richmond (VA), Saratoga Springs (NY), Columbia (MO), Gainesville (FL), Sydney (AUSTRALIA), Melbourne (AUSTRALIA), Philadelphia (PA), Atlanta (GA), Birmingham (UK), Pittsburgh (PA), Baltimore (MD), San Diego (CA).

What Cities Do We Need Most Desperately?

San Francisco, CA

Phoenix, AZ

Austin, TX

Charlotte, NC

East Bay (Oakland/Berkeley), CA

Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti / Detroit / Detroit Suburbs, MI

Madison, WI

Brooklyn, NY

Nashville, TN

Salt Lake City, UT

Houston, TX

Dallas, TX

Minneapolis, MN

Glasgow (UK)

Manchester (UK)

Toronto (CANADA)

London (UK)

Paris (FRANCE)

Feel free to pitch cities that aren't on this list.

You'll pitch your guide to Laneia [at] autostraddle [dot] com — briefly explain why you're qualified to write about your city and confirm your ability to take photographs and write sentences, ideally lively sentences with lots of fun details and insider-tips.

She'll give you the go-ahead and guidelines, but basically you'll be responsible for crafting a comprehensive guide listing the best places to eat, dance, get haircuts, etc., and addressing things like the degree to which the LGBT scene is G vs. L, the environment for queer families, the college scene, local events/festivals, activist groups, nightlife, trans-friendliness, etc. These guides can absolutely be collaborative if you've got friends/family who wanna work on it with you.

Thank you!

93 responses to “Call For Submissions: More Queer Girl City Guides!”

Mari (member)
October 15, 2012 at 2:31 pm Permalink Reply Report user

i haven’t been here long enough to be able to do it myself but ohhhh man someone has to do edinburgh/glasgow and save my (social) life. please, fellow scotland straddlers! help a lady out!

2
1. Giulia (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 3:04 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Edinbuuuurgh!Someone has to save my social life as well!
  
  1
  1. Kirsty (member)
    October 15, 2012 at 3:24 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Mine too!
    
    0
    1. Liv (member)
      October 15, 2012 at 5:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user
      
      Why don’t you three just hang out together?
      
      Wow! 24
    2. Ellen (member)
      October 16, 2012 at 12:28 pm Permalink Reply Report user
      
      And mine!
      
      0
      1. FrodoGo
        October 17, 2012 at 2:19 pm Permalink Reply
        
        I am so going to pitch Glasgow as soon as I have written something. (Hopefully within the next hour or so.)
        
        YES YES YES.
        
        Also, if you are queer and in Glasgow right now: Glasgay! Festival – one of the only LGBT festivals in the UK – HAPPENING NOW!!
        
        Exciting.
        
        Go go go, my pretties, the skies (theatres/clubs/lecture halls) of Scotland await you!
        
        0
Rose (member)
October 15, 2012 at 2:34 pm Permalink Reply Report user

As a Motown native I would love to see someone do a Detroit city guide, and would be willing to collaborate if anyone is interested (but I think I’ve been away too long to do it alone).

And while we’re on the topic: GO TIGERS

2
1. Emma (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 3:16 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  oh gawd, please beat those damn yankees!
  
  1
2. Emma (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 4:19 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Go Wings!
  
  2
3. Katie O (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 8:08 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  yes, same here. i’d be happy to help out!
  
  0
Laura (member)
October 15, 2012 at 2:37 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I don’t have enough experience (yet), but I’m discovering a lot to do in Tucson, AZ. It is a pretty friendly and tight community despite the political climate (or maybe BECAUSE of the political climate).

0
Sarah Magdalena (member)
October 15, 2012 at 2:37 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Yay, let me do London. CANNOT WAIT

5
Adrian S
October 15, 2012 at 2:41 pm Permalink Reply

I feel like Omaha/Lincoln (Nebraska) would be a very surprising but quirky place to feature. After living there for seven years, I’ve only recently begun to appreciate the close-knit queer community, and range of queer venues and nightlife available. I’ve very recently moved, but I’d be willing to find a collaborator and do it right.

0
cathje (member)
October 15, 2012 at 2:59 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I might be able to give some tips on Manchester, but it’s been a few years since I lived there, and I was only there for 6 months anyway. But if somebody living there needs a collaborator, I can be your girl!

Personally I’m in desperate need of an Amsterdam guide (or the rest of the Randstad while you’re at it, it’s not that big anyways), because I feel like I’m missing out on the nice spots. Or maybe the lesbian scene really isn’t that big and I’ll just have to deal with it…

0
1. MileHighFemme (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 6:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I’ve only been here for about a month so I can’t really speak on everything here but have you tried these?
  
  Amsterdam: Cafe ’t Mandje, House of Rising, CutCopy, Girlesque and Flirtation.
  
  And in Utrecht there is Cafe Kalff, the ACU, BodyTalk, De Kringen and COC Midden-Nederland.
  
  They aren’t all specifically lesbian if that’s what you really want but they may be worth checking out. Also, I don’t know if you’re already planning on coming to brunch in Utrecht but you definitely should! You might be able to get some better ideas and suggestions from others. We’re also going to talk about maybe meeting in Amsterdam for Museum Night so message me if you’d like me to keep you up to date on that.
  
  0
2. Nehalennia
  October 22, 2012 at 5:38 am Permalink Reply
  
  Also for Amsterdam:
  Saarein is a realy nice cafe. Has a free pooltable and a happy hour on friday.
  
  Vive la vie, for dancing in the weekend. Not my personal favorite but its always there and its very full on friday and saturday night.
  
  De trut, mixed underground disco on sunday evening. Has a nice atmosphere and very cheap drinks
  
  Prik, mixed but also a nice atmosphere, friendly people, cheap cocktails.
  
  Ghetto, mixed but frequented by gay women. Has fantastic cocktails with names like clit tease.
  
  De Lellebel, dragqueens/trans cafe is very tiny but can be very nice. Is very close to the vive la vie so you can go here if you’re bored in the vie.
  
  For students, UvA pride. drinks with students from University of Amsterdam on the first friday of the month.
  
  Student group, ASV Gay. Last time I went is two years ago but it is very welcoming.
  
  Ok maybe I should write a guide for Amsterdam. I could ask my wife to correct my english since I’m not completely fluent.
  
  0
Dena (member)
October 15, 2012 at 3:02 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Opening a Word doc right now to write one for San Francisco…

11
1. Dena (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 6:25 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Hey Team, would it be okay if there is one guide for the Bay Area or do you absolutely want one city guide for San Francisco & one for East Bay? Inquiring Bay-straddlers want to know.
  
  3
  1. riese (member)
    October 16, 2012 at 12:17 am Permalink Reply
    
    yeah we want them to be different because we feel like there are so many things going on in each place and it’s really different w/r/t housing, schools, etc? laneia has all the guidelines for the city guides !
    
    2
2. Meg (member)
  October 16, 2012 at 2:40 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Bless you! I live in San Jose and I’m not a party animal, so I don’t know where to find people.
  
  0
Kierious (member)
October 15, 2012 at 3:04 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I would really like to see one on Grand Rapids, MI. It’s one of the bigger cities on the west side of Michigan. I’ve just moved here, and I’d love to find out more about it’s queer side.

2
1. Emma (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 4:33 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I was going to write one for GR but I couldn’t think of enough good things to say. I guess liking your city is a requirement.
  I can tell you: stay in Easttown, avoid the Baxter neighborhood, eat at Bartertown Diner and drink at Pub 43.
  
  0
  1. Daphne (member)
    October 15, 2012 at 5:52 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Aww, Pub 43! That place is charming in its rundown, oddly-lit way.
    
    This is almost certainly not a place to meet ladies, but for a generally homofriendly atmosphere and lots of genteel older gay gentlemen, may I recommend The Apartment? Claims to be “the oldest GLBT establishment under the same continuous ownership in the state of Michigan,” and I’d absolutely believe it from a look inside. http://apartmentlounge.net/ Lovely place to plunk yourself down in a booth for drinks and conversation.
    
    I haven’t actually lived in GR for a decade — I’d totally write a city guide if I had more recently! — but I get back every so often. When I was growing up there I felt like the only queer girl in the city (aside from a couple of unsuccessful crushes). From what I hear, the Pyramid Scheme is pretty good at attracting gay ladies to certain events.
    
    0
    1. Daphne (member)
      October 15, 2012 at 5:55 pm Permalink Reply Report user
      
      Also! For entertainment, I hear that this burlesque show is a hoot: http://www.superhappyfuntimeburlesque.com/. I know someone in it and my sense is that it has something of a queer sensibility.
      
      0
2. Kelly
  October 15, 2012 at 6:55 pm Permalink Reply
  
  I love GR! Just moved from there to Toronto. But there is a friendly.artsy.queer positive vibe. My partner still lives there. Maybe her and I can read a guide?
  
  3
  1. Kierious (member)
    October 16, 2012 at 4:06 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Oh my god, would you please? That would be the best thing ever!
    
    0
3. Rose (member)
  October 20, 2012 at 5:53 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  As someone from Detroit I totally did not know that GR was so welcoming for queers! I’d always been told that side of the state was super-duper conservative and when I last went there for a performance of one of my pieces, everything was named after Dick DeVos which seemed to solidify that preconception. I’m glad to hear I was wrong though!
  
  0
Wildman
October 15, 2012 at 3:10 pm Permalink Reply

SFO A-Campers need to collab on more than just Skype sessions to Chicago.

4
1. Creatrix Tiara
  October 16, 2012 at 11:04 am Permalink Reply
  
  We totally are! get in tough with Dena if you haven’t already.
  
  0
Paige
October 15, 2012 at 3:24 pm Permalink Reply

Los Angeles/Long Beach PLEASSEE!!!!!! : D

1
1. riese (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 3:43 pm Permalink Reply
  
  alex is working on a los angeles guide!
  
  8
  1. Gaela (member)
    October 15, 2012 at 5:51 pm Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Sprinkle in a bit of OC if you can (there’s like one thing in Costa Mesa by The Lab).
    
    1
  2. Paige
    October 16, 2012 at 3:51 am Permalink Reply
    
    : JUMPING WITH HAPPINESS : yay!
    
    0
Paige (member)
October 15, 2012 at 3:29 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Charleston, South Carolina!! The south needs to be represented

1
1. Robin
  November 15, 2012 at 6:48 pm Permalink Reply
  
  Yes! I was just going to say something about that. Been here 2.5 yrs and the scene is so good for where it is
  
  0
Jay (member)
October 15, 2012 at 3:55 pm Permalink Reply Report user

More Canadian cities would be nice! Maybe Calgary, AB?

1
B'alam (member)
October 15, 2012 at 4:09 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I’d love to do an East Bay or SF guide. I’m honestly surprised their hasn’t been one before.

4
1. Creatrix Tiara
  October 16, 2012 at 10:14 am Permalink Reply
  
  Get in touch with Dena and/or look for the Straddlers by the Bay group – we’re working on a collaborative doc
  
  0
Sara (member)
October 15, 2012 at 4:11 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Porto(PORTUGAL)queer girl city guide: anyone interested?

2
1. Maria (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 5:22 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  yes. porto is so gay.
  
  2
  1. raptor (member)
    October 16, 2012 at 3:38 am Permalink Reply Report user
    
    yes! also yes! please, I have to fly there at least once a year so I’d so appreciate that!
    
    1
2. Sara (member)
  October 18, 2012 at 8:24 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  so i’ll find time for that! every help is welcomed
  
  0
RoseGraced (member)
October 15, 2012 at 4:27 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Adelaide, Australia. I know we are small, but we are awesome. And I could possibly team up with someone to do this. OH HEY I KNOW WE COULD DISCUSS IT AT OUR MEET UP!!!

1
Sequoia (member)
October 15, 2012 at 4:48 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Please someone do a SF and East Bay one! How has this not been done yet??

3
jennifer edmondson (member)
October 15, 2012 at 5:15 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I would be happy to do Baltimore Md. I live in the biggest gayborhood around.

0
1. Rose (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 11:54 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  I already did one: http://www.autostraddle.com/queer-girl-city-guide-baltimore-md-145402/
  
  0
  1. jennifer edmondson (member)
    October 16, 2012 at 2:42 am Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Really well written!
    
    0
lex (member)
October 15, 2012 at 5:45 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Asheville, please! I haven’t lived here long enough, but I’m sure someone has. Tons of tourists come here and it’s supposed to be real gay. I’m having trouble finding the gay!

1
Claire
October 15, 2012 at 5:45 pm Permalink Reply

Tacoma, WA. supes gay.

2
1. Maura (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 10:45 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Yep. There needs to be a Tac guide.
  
  0
Nicki
October 15, 2012 at 6:03 pm Permalink Reply

No one’s done Dallas, Houston or Austin yet?!? DESPICABLE.

0
leafdarking (member)
October 15, 2012 at 6:15 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Someone who has lived in the Easy Bay longer than me should get on that. Please!

2
Kelly
October 15, 2012 at 6:57 pm Permalink Reply

Toronto please! I don’t feel I’ve lived here long enough to write a guide – but there are so many wonderful, queer, lady loving ladies activities. And also so much trans pride and rights. love this place.

1
1. Erin
  October 15, 2012 at 10:09 pm Permalink Reply
  
  Seconded!!!!
  
  0
Miriam (member)
October 15, 2012 at 7:10 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Yes! I’ve been wanting to do an Austin guide for ages. Anyone who takes the entry, don’t forget to include Bernadette’s.

1
1. Carrie (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 11:21 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Yes an Austin guide would be awesome! I only know of Bernadette’s as a totally queer friendly place. I’ve been here for two years and I think missing out!
  
  0
Cara (member)
October 15, 2012 at 7:20 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I would write one up for Phoenix, but unfortunately I am still trying to find queer/gay/lesbian fun things to do here and I am very bad at it haha.

2
rachip (member)
October 15, 2012 at 7:23 pm Permalink Reply Report user

no brooklyn guide yet? I’ll volunteer, but I suspect there are more experts among us…

1
Ria
October 15, 2012 at 7:49 pm Permalink Reply

Tampa Florida. We’ve got it going on. And, for once, a Florida report would be on a city DIFFERENT than Miami. (seriously we don’t hear enough about other Floridian cities!)

3
1. Carrie (member)
  October 15, 2012 at 11:26 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Gaybor!!!
  
  0
Emily (member)
October 15, 2012 at 9:24 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I’m totally giving Phoenix a shot! Don’t worry guys, it’s not as Mormon as you’ve heard. I don’t think anything really could be.

STILL. Rad town.

0
D
October 15, 2012 at 9:39 pm Permalink Reply

can someone do Honolulu, Hawaii PLEASE!

1
msamanda (member)
October 15, 2012 at 9:41 pm Permalink Reply Report user

i’d love a brooklyn guide. i feel like i don’t go out/socialize enough to be able to write a comprehensive guide.
i also feel like maybe there is too much and no one could write a comprehensive guide… so i guess what i’m saying is i wouldn’t mind collaborating.

0
eraserhead (member)
October 15, 2012 at 11:52 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Amsterdam for sure, would be a shame if it wasn’t included

1
Brianna (member)
October 16, 2012 at 12:30 am Permalink Reply Report user

Providence, RI?

2
Flic (member)
October 16, 2012 at 2:30 am Permalink Reply Report user

Tempted to write one for Brisbane (Australia)… I live in Sydney but I spent the past 2 years living/studying in Brisbane and go back there once a month since most of my friends are there.

1
1. Creatrix Tiara
  October 16, 2012 at 10:16 am Permalink Reply
  
  as an ex-Brisbanite I say DO IT. I can connect you to a bunch of friends if you like.
  
  1
  1. Flic (member)
    October 21, 2012 at 1:12 am Permalink Reply Report user
    
    Haha I could easily write it, 95% of my friends live there and I go back so frequently. I know the place like the back of my hand. It’s more a matter of whether I have the time to write it!
    
    0
Catherine (member)
October 16, 2012 at 2:36 am Permalink Reply Report user

I don’t know enough about it cos I’ve only been here a couple of weeks, but can someone please do Cambridge, UK? Thank you!!

1
Amber (member)
October 16, 2012 at 4:44 am Permalink Reply Report user

Richmond, VA is super queer… Would there be any interest in this Southeast Hipster Mecca?

0
1. Rose (member)
  October 16, 2012 at 5:54 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  There’s already one for it…
  
  0
  1. Amber (member)
    October 16, 2012 at 6:31 am Permalink Reply Report user
    
    sweet! thanks, rose!
    
    0
    1. Rose (member)
      October 16, 2012 at 11:26 am Permalink Reply Report user
      
      No, I mean it’s in the list above of ones that have been done and I remember reading it when it was posted, not that someone is currently working on it. I don’t know what people are currently working on other than me.
      
      0
Anna (member)
October 16, 2012 at 5:07 am Permalink Reply Report user

It makes me very happy that Glasgow is top of your list in terms of UK/Europe Have lived here for most of my life but only just starting to discover the cool queer stuff going on here… Most of it seems to revolve around the Flying Duck as far as I can tell…

2
Tarzan (member)
October 16, 2012 at 6:15 am Permalink Reply Report user

If anyone wants to collaborate on an Ottawa guide, check out the Ottastraddlers facebook group! I want to write one but I could use some help!

1
naiiimah (member)
October 16, 2012 at 8:26 am Permalink Reply Report user

Theoretically I couuuuld do San Francisco, but I’ve spent a lot of the past 5 years inside. I will look at the forecast of me going out in the near futures

2
Sophia (member)
October 16, 2012 at 8:40 am Permalink Reply Report user

Bristol or Bath UK?! I don’t live there technically I’m moving all over the place and only ever lived in a village outside of Bath, but it’s so awesome being queer in the south west!!
Now, I can’t write it because I don’t live there and I’m kind of a sucky writer when it comes to articly travely stuff, but someone totally should you guys it’s so fab there!! Especially Bristol I’m soooo bloody desperate to live in Bristol, even in OMG is one of the worst clubs in the world

0
gabie
October 16, 2012 at 9:53 am Permalink Reply

I noticed you don’t have Tel Aviv, Israel on your list. I went out to a couple of bars there recently and it really is so lgbt friendly.

0
Giles
October 16, 2012 at 10:17 am Permalink Reply

HOWWWWWWW is there no Toronto?! If I knew Toronto proper rather than the GTA I’d totes be on that

0
kristyn (member)
October 16, 2012 at 4:10 pm Permalink Reply Report user

No Chicago yet? Where is everyone.. I live in the far west suburbs but I might be able to write one.

0
SealIt (member)
October 16, 2012 at 8:12 pm Permalink Reply Report user

If anyone wants to team up with me for Houston, let me know. I’m not too involved with the queer scene here so I’d need some help with that!

1
Ali
October 16, 2012 at 9:09 pm Permalink Reply

I am going to UVM for college this spring and I would love to know the Burlington, VT lesbian scene. Thanks!

0
pants!
October 17, 2012 at 7:13 pm Permalink Reply

Ithaca!!!!!!!111elevensies.

0
Pilar
October 19, 2012 at 10:47 am Permalink Reply

AUSTIN<TEXAS

1
Madeline (member)
October 19, 2012 at 10:55 am Permalink Reply Report user

I pitched a Paris guide to Laneia, girls! If there’s anybody out there lurking who wasn’t at our meetup last Friday, you should definitely search for and join our (closed, but findable, apparently) Facebook group. We’re definitely seeking to include everybody’s good ideas.

0
Rose (member)
October 20, 2012 at 5:51 am Permalink Reply Report user

Hey, can people please read the list of “What Cities Have Already Been Done?” before asking if they can do one? This might be just me, but it feels a bit insulting to those of us who have already worked hard on city guides for those places. So far there are three cities that people have suggested here that are on that list.

0
Ashe
October 21, 2012 at 7:15 am Permalink Reply

Anyone want to collaborate on Nashville? I work at a hotel downtown and have numerous concierge credits and resources but I’m not totally in to the lesbian scene.

0
Savannah
December 8, 2012 at 10:50 am Permalink Reply

I’m going to Paris with a friend in February. I’ve been before, but it’d be awesome to have some gay things to do this time. Could someone living there make that a priority?

0
Tuey (member)
December 15, 2012 at 7:33 pm Permalink Reply Report user

Kansas City, MO! The poor queers there need help ):

1
1. Rebecca (member)
  April 26, 2013 at 2:47 am Permalink Reply Report user
  
  Indeed we do!
  
  0
Chris (member)
January 5, 2013 at 4:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I’d like to do one on my hometown. It’s called Las Cruces, and I think it would be a neat perspective on a small-town queer community. Let me know if that’s cool.

0
Raquel B (member)
February 27, 2013 at 3:03 pm Permalink Reply Report user

I don’t understand how there isn’t an Austin yet? I’d like to do one of those. This city is the SHIT for queer ladies.

0
1. Vanessa (member)
  February 27, 2013 at 3:05 pm Permalink Reply Report user
  
  i have become unreasonably obsessed with the idea of moving to austin so i’m excited for the day the austin city guide gets born
  
  1