Gay-Friendly Kansas City

If we say cosmopolitan, vibrant, creative, down-to-earth and gay friendly, Kansas City may not be the first city that comes to mind, but that's exactly what you'll find in the Heart of America. Located smack-dab in the middle of the country, Kansas City will probably surprise you with its laid-back, yet welcoming vibe.

Kansas City might be described as a gay-friendly respite in the country's conservative Heartland. The city added sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination ordinance in 1993, and in 2008 a unanimous vote by the city council added protection for the transgender community without causing a whiff of local controversy.

Despite the gay-friendly politics, some mistakenly knock the city for not having a gay neighborhood. Locals would be quick to point out that this is a city where gay and straight readily mingle, so there's no need for a single gay enclave. Gay travelers will feel welcomed throughout the city, though if you're looking for the area with the most gay faces, the Midtown area from Westport to the Crossroads Arts District is your best bet.

The Greater Kansas City area is home to about 2 million people and straddles the Missouri-Kansas state line. (Don't get us started trying to explain that there are two Kansas City's, one in Kansas and the other in Missouri. Just know that Kansas City, Mo., is the major city of the region).

Geographically, Greater Kansas City encompasses a huge land area. The City of Kansas City, Mo., alone is 318 square miles- large enough to fit the cities of San Francisco, Boston and Miami in it twice and still have room to spare. Given this wide swath of area to explore, consider renting a car. If you plan to stay in the heart of the city, the MAX rapid bus system offers stops at most of the city's main visitor districts. You'll also find plenty of taxi cabs, but plan to call to arrange a pickup as it's not likely you'll happen upon one on the street, unless you are in the heart of downtown.


Where to Stay? Gay-Friendly Hotels

Kansas City's main visitor district is located in a six-mile central corridor along Main Street that stretches from the Missouri River on the north to the Country Club Plaza on the south. Here, you'll find a wide range of gay-friendly hotels from name brands to chic boutiques.

Staying anywhere in this central corridor will give you a maximum 15-minute drive to the most popular neighborhoods in the heart of the city. Each of these neighborhoods offers their own distinct personalities with a number of amenities in walking distance.

Downtown has traditionally been a business and convention district, but a $5 billion revitalization over the last few years has brought a number of new entertainment options. Downtown is home to the city's largest hotel, plus a great collection of historic boutique hotels. These hotels are an easy walk to the Power & Light District, Sprint Center, theater venues and the galleries in the Crossroads Arts District.

Just south of downtown is Crown Center, which is home to Hallmark Cards, several museums, restaurants and kid friendly attractions. Crown Center's two hotels, a Hyatt and Westin, are closest to the Liberty Memorial grounds where the Pride Festival is held each June.

Westport may be Kansas City's most gay-friendly neighborhood. It has a fierce, independent vibe set against 19th-century buildings, old-style lampposts and tree-lined boulevards. The area features fun and funky shops, diverse restaurants and a variety of bars and nightclubs. You'll find a couple of hotels here including The Q, the city's only green hotel. Ken's Place, a gay-owned bed and breakfast is located nearby. Just to the west is 39th Street West, which offers an eclectic mix of ethnic restaurants and colorful shops.

At the southern end of the central visitor district is perhaps the city's toniest address, the Country Club Plaza. The 14-block shopping district features beautiful Spanish architecture, fountains and statues. Its 150 shops and restaurants range from Tiffany to the Gap. You'll find a wide range of hotel options, including some of the city's most upscale hotels, as well as a number of unique bed & breakfasts.

You'll find a plethora of hotel options around the region, including a number of budget-friendly hotels and quaint bed and breakfasts. The gay-owned Orchard Hill Bed & Breakfast is located on an 80-acre rural estate located about 40 minutes north of downtown. For a list of gay-friendly hotels in Kansas City, be sure to visit the list that can be found under the City Directory on the left side of this page.

What to Do? Where to Go?

Part of Kansas City's charm lies in the city's unique neighborhoods that are connected by wide boulevards, spacious parks and dazzling fountains. Kansas City is nicknamed the City of Fountains. With more than 200 fountains, only Rome makes a claim to having more.

Kansas City has a rich collection of museums. The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial, Museums at 18th & Vine and Union Station should be at the top of any visitor's list.

With a flourishing visual arts scene and a vibrant performing arts community, Kansas City might be best described as a bustling Midwestern cultural center. You'll find more than 100 art galleries and exhibition spaces, with more than half of them in the vibrant and very gay-friendly Crossroads Arts District. First Friday is a local favorite, when the galleries stay open late the first Friday of each month. The newly-expanded Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a must-see. Or, check out the contemporary works at the Kemper Museum or the new Nerman Museum.

With more than 65 performing arts organizations, Kansas City's stages are rarely dark. You'll find edgy and thought-provoking productions at the Unicorn Theatre, Off Center or Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Broadway musicals shine at the Music Hall or under the stars at Starlight Theatre. The city's renowned ballet, symphony and opera companies produce an eclectic repertoire of classical performances. The Heartland Men's Chorus is Kansas City's gay men's chorus and produces shows throughout the year.

Don't miss Kansas City's live music scene. Kansas City's rich jazz heritage continues at jazz clubs throughout the city. On weekends, the Mutual Musicians Foundation at 18th & Vine gets started after midnight for fierce late-night jam sessions. Catch some of the nation's hottest acts at Sprint Center or check out a concert at dozens of live music venues around the city.

The new eight-block Power & Light District is one of the city's hottest addresses for nightlife. More the 40 bars and restaurants dot the district, drawing big crowds on evenings and weekends. While you won't find any gay bars in the mix, you'll most certainly find gay faces in the crowd.

If shopping is your scene, you have to spend time at the more than 150 shops and restaurants in the Country Club Plaza. Antique hunters can browse upscale antiques in the shops at nearby 45th Street & State Line Road. Or, head to the River Market Antique Mall in the River Market for four stories of affordable finds. You'll also find a number of interesting gay-friendly boutiques in the Crossroads Arts District and Westport.

Gay families will find a plethora of gay-friendly options in Kansas City. The Kansas City Zoo is one of the 10 largest zoos in the country. Worlds of Fun is one of the largest amusement parks in the Midwest, and you'll find lots of waterslides at Schlitterbahn Vacation Village and Oceans of Fun. Hallmark's Crown Center is filled with kid-friendly attractions.


Dining in Gay Friendly Kansas City

Kansas City knows how to eat. And with gay-friendly dining options of nearly every origin, KC can cook up whatever you have a taste for. The city is known for great steak and barbecue. You'll find heaping helpings of slow-smoked barbecue served up at more than 100 local restaurants. Be sure to try the burnt ends, which are a local favorite. If you're in the mood for steak, you'll find the Kansas City Strip on the menu just about anywhere around the city. Some might mistakenly call it a New York Strip, until you've had the KC version.

If you have a more adventurous palette, you won't be disappointed by Kansas City's diverse culinary scene. You'll find innovative culinary creations from James Beard award-winning chefs that have earned national reputations. You'll find a number of gay-friendly or gay-owned restaurants in the Crossroads Arts District and Country Club Plaza.

Westport and 39th Street West are great spots to people watch, have a casual meal or do brunch. Both offer a number of locally owned restaurants, and 39th Street West boasts a wide range of ethnic restaurants from Ethiopian to Cajun. If you're looking for Mexican, head to Southwest Boulevard. For fresh ingredients, you can't beat the City Market. Be sure to stick around for the weekend farmers' market and antique stores.

For a list of gay-friendly restaurants in Kansas City, be sure to visit the list that can be found under the City Directory on the left side of this page.

Gay Bars and Clubs in Kansas City

No wonder Dorothy tried clicking her ruby red slippers - Kansas is worth a stop! When it comes to nightlife - Kansas Citians like to go out and have a good time, so you'll find a variety of gay nightlife to keep you out until the wee hours.

Once a city dominated by two big gay bars, Kansas City's gay nightlife scene is today characterized by moderately sized, neighborhood bars. You'll find a gay club for nearly any taste -- lesbian to leather, cosmopolitan to country western, drag to dance clubs. You'll also find gay locals mingling with their straight counterparts at more mainstream nightlife districts throughout the city, so don't feel like a gay bar is your only option.

The majority of the Kansas City's gay bars are concentrated in the Midtown area between the Crossroads Arts District and Westport. It's common to hop from bar to bar in one evening - but you'll need to drive or take a cab, as most gay bars are not within walking distance of each other.

On weekends, locals usually go out after 10 p.m. with bars peaking around midnight. The crowds are diverse - so expect to encounter all ages and types from gym rats to bears, college boys to daddies.

Locals in Kansas City tend to go out in groups, which can make a visitor feel like a bit of an outsider. You just need to strike up a conversation to discover why Kansas Citians are known for their Midwestern hospitality. Just make sure you've made your move by 3 a.m. (2 a.m. in Kansas), as that's when the bars close.

Check out our City Directory on the left margin of this page for a full listing of gay nightlife in Kansas City.

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