Friendly, creative, and gay-welcoming Providence is one of the great success stories among industrial Eastern U.S. cities over the past couple of decades. Just an hour south of Boston, this capital city of Rhode Island has a significant LGBTQ population, including plenty of students and staff at Brown University, Johnson & Wales, RISD, and- to a lesser but still significant extent- Providence college. There are plenty of university resources and local events catering to LGBTQ community, as well as handful of gay bars and restaurants in the hip DownCity neighborhood.

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Keep your social life full with this calendar of Providence’s LGBTQ Community Events.

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COMMUNITY PARTNERS

The Office of Intercultural Student Engagement is proud of the many working relationships, partnerships and collaborations we have with our local community and beyond. Are you interested in partnering with ISE & RISD? Contact our office anytime at 401.277.4908 or ise@risd.edu. Below are some of the current organizations we enjoy a partnership with and recommend you checking out!

 

• Aids Project RI   http://aidsprojectri.org/
  AIDS Project Rhode Island (APRI) was founded approximately 30 years ago as a non-profit organization dedicated to providing compassionate, non judgmental and collaborative response to the needs of people infected, affected and at-risk of HIV/AIDS.
   

• Brown University Undergraduate Concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies    401.863.3585
  Gender and Sexuality Studies is an interdisciplinary concentration that examines the construction of gender and sexuality in social, cultural, political, economic, or scientific contexts. 
   

• Brown University Office of Health Education   401.863.2794
  Health Education is part of Health Services. They facilitate interactive workshops, offer individual counseling and referrals, and coordinate special events on a wide range of health topics. Topic areas include nutrition, alcohol and other drug use, safer sex, sexually transmitted infections, stress management and general wellness.
   

• Brown University Sarah Doyle Women’s Center   401.863.2189
  The Sarah Doyle Women’s Center, founded in 1975, was named in honor of the prominent Rhode Island educator, Sarah Doyle. The SDWC welcomes women and men who have interests in issues of gender and in issues that concern women in particular. The center offers a variety of services and programs, as well as meeting space for university and community groups. The SDWC houses an art gallery, a darkroom, an extensive library and resource center, and a student lounge. It is a welcoming place on the Brown University campus

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LOCAL SERVICES

• Youth Pride RI   youthprideri.org
  YPRI’s goals are to meet the social, emotional, and educational needs of LGBTQQ youth and their allies through empowering programs of support, education, organizing, and advocacy, while working to change the homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic environments in which they live.
   

• Biversity Boston   biversity.org
  Biversity Boston is a great resource for mixed sex social network information. They host bi-monthly brunches and other social events.
   

• Boston Bisexual Women’s Network   biwomenboston.org
  Social activities including monthly brunches, coming out groups, and quarterly newsletter Bi Woman. Free to subscribe at the website.
   

• Pawtuxet Pride   401.345.1264
  LGBTQQ Folks and friends in Pawtuxet Village, Cranston and beyond. All welcome.

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ACTIVITIES & EVENTS

• AIDS Project RI/ AIDS Walk   aidsprojectri.org
  AIDS Project RI was founded approximately 30 years ago as a non-profit organization dedicated to providing compassionate, non-judgmental and collaborative response to the needs of people infected, affected and at-risk of HIV/AIDS. An annual walk is held each year to raise awareness.
   

• RI/ Providence Pride   prideri.com
  RI Pride is a nonprofit organization incorporated in the state of RI. It is managed and operated by a corps of volunteers and staff who have a sincere interest in recognizing, promoting, and celebrating the diversity and successes of the LGBTQ Community. An openly elected board of directors governs the organization and an operating committee plans, creates, and manages all the programs and services offered.
   

• Opera Club   401.765.0209
  If you’re interested in exploring the world of opera, either live or pre-recorded, come join us on the last Sunday of every month. The Opera Club is an informal gathering of both new and veteran opera fans. In addition to meeting once a month, usually to sample an opera video, we regularly attend performances and/or opera telecasts in movie theaters in the general area. Always eager to welcome new people, contact Dave if interested.
   

• Providence Gay Men’s Chorus   provgmc.org
  PGMC members serve as Musical Ambassadors to the LGTB community and provide a positive image to thousands every year. We constantly strive to produce professional-quality shows, combining the best of musical theater, cabaret and traditional choral performance.
   

• Queer Book Club
  Meets 3rd Wednesday at 7pm at Books on the Square, 471 Angell St.
   

• Gay Bingo   http://www.aidscareos.org/GetInvolved/AttendanEvent.aspx
  Hosted on the third Thursday of every month (except June, July, and August) in Cranston RI, Gay Bingo is a great, fun activity that also raises money for AIDS Project RI and AIDS Care Ocean State.
   

• Provincetown Pride   ptown.org
  The Provincetown Business Guild is a non-profit organization that helps maintain the #1 Gay Community in America by promoting Provincetown to the LGBTQ market worldwide, producing such events as the much loved Carnival – the height of Ptown’s summer celebration,Holly Folly – the world’s only LGBTQ holiday festival and Cabaret Fest – a weekend of music and merriment.
   

• Fantasia Fair   fantasiafair.org
  Fantasia Fair is a week-long transgender event held every October in the LGBTQ resort town of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Part conference, part social gathering, the Fair is a “full immersion” experience, meaning that attendees can and usually do spend an entire week 24/7 presenting their gender as they wish.
   

• Harbor to the Bay   harbortothebay.org
  Harbor to the Bay is a one day bike ride from Boston to Provincetown Massachusetts that improves community awareness and care for people living with HIV and AIDS.​

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BARS & RESTAURANTS​

• Dark Lady and Alleycat   17 Snow St | 401.831.4297
  In the center of downtown Providence, Dark Lady/ Alleycat is one of the top dance clubs in the region among both gay men and lesbians, with the crowds varying a bit depending on the night. Dark Lady used to be in a separate space down the street but has since moved adjacent to Alleycat in 2011. In the Dark Lady space, there is a women’s night on Wednesdays, and the well-regarded, occasional lesbian parties produced by Girl Spot take place here. Other nights, such as Thursday (college night), Friday (retro tunes), and Saturday (top local DJs) draw men and women of all ages. Alleycat is smaller and more intimate, more a spot for conversation.
   

• MiraBar   15 Elbow St | 401.331.6761
  Quite a few gay clubs have come and gone in Providence over the years, but MiraBar has been around for decades, although it did move from its long- established location in 2012. The former space has since been torn down, but MiraBar’s new location is looking good, making this still a favorite LGBTQ hangout in town for dancing, cruising, and enjoying a variety of theme nights, from karaoke to drag shows.​
   

• The Salon   57 Eddy St | 401.865.6330
  This Downtown dance club behind City Hall, right by the historic Haven Brothers Diner, is extremely LGBTQ friendly and is a very popular place for dancing, comedy shows, small concerts, and other events, some with direct ties to the community (such as the occasional gay speed-dating parties). Dancing and performances take place in the lower level club space, while there’s an airy bar with picnic tables and bar stools upstairs.
   

• The Stable   125 Washington St | 401.272.6950
  The Stable is a welcoming, convivial downtown gay bar that is a perfect option for happy hour, pre-dance socializing, late-night hobnobbing, and conversation- although it can get loud and crowded in here on weekends. This is one of the newer gay bars in Providence and is a handsomely restored space with a sophisticated yet friendly vibe.

 

ISE does not endorse any establishment, yet encourages students to connect with the community. These are just a few examples of different opportunities available in the area.