A bar is great for a night out, but it's hard to get past small talk over loud music. A run club, a chorus or a game night gives you something to do together and the same faces every week, so by the third visit people know your name. Here are 115 LGBTQ+ clubs, leagues and regular nights in 16 cities, each with the month we last checked it was still running.
Third Tuesday of each month, 7–9pm (holidays can shift the date) Monthly
Next: Tue, Nov 17
Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted St (Lakeview/Northalsted)
Chicago's longest-running gay men's book group. It's free and open to all ages, and it reads gay-themed fiction and nonfiction. Drop in for one book or come every month.
Wednesday rehearsals 7:30–10pm during the season; joining requires an audition
Windy City Performing Arts, Lakeview (office at 3656 N Halsted St)
A tenor/bass chorus and one of the oldest LGBTQ+ choruses in the US, with holiday, spring and summer concerts. Auditions are welcoming, and you don't need to be a pro.
A casual, unstructured hangout for LGBTQIA+ folks who are sober or sober-curious. It's a social group, not a recovery program, so you can just come for tea and conversation.
Running since 1983 and open to all paces. You choose your own distance on the Schuylkill River Trail, walkers are welcome, and most people head to brunch at Little Pete's afterwards. It's free.
Church of the Holy Trinity basement, 1904 Walnut St (Rittenhouse)
A long-running LGBTQ+ recovery meeting held six nights a week. The same space also hosts a 10:30pm 'Night Owl' meeting and Crystal Meth Anonymous at 7:15pm.
Philly's legendary drag-hosted charity bingo, now 30 years old and raising money for HIV support (Action Wellness). Expect a loud, glittery, joyful crowd. The 2026–27 season continues with a new host.
Multiple 12-step meetings daily, e.g. Wed 8pm LGBTQ+ AA discussion
585 Dutch Valley Rd NE (Morningside/Ansley)
Atlanta's LGBTQ-affirming recovery clubhouse, hosting AA, Al-Anon and other meetings plus sober fellowship. Every group meeting there must explicitly welcome LGBTQ people.
Hikes and outings posted on the website; mostly weekends
Atlanta & North Georgia
An outdoor club for gay and bisexual men, running scenic hikes, BeltLine cleanups and the occasional adventure like hot-air ballooning. Membership is $20 a year.
Saturdays 10am (bag drop at Rutgers Church by 9:40am)
Central Park, across from the Daniel Webster Statue (Upper West Side)
The city's big LGBTQ+ running club. The Saturday run is the one they recommend for new runners and visitors, walkers come too, and there's a light breakfast social afterwards.
A weekly queer country night with line dancing and two-stepping. All skill levels are welcome, so it's a good one to try even if you've never danced before.
Brooklyn Pride Center, 1561 Bedford Ave (Crown Heights)
A monthly club reading gay fiction and nonfiction, with an eye on friendship as much as books. No registration needed, so you can drop in for any month's pick.
Rehearsals Mondays 7–10pm; new members usually join in Jan or Sep after an audition
Chelsea
A big, warm chorus with a full concert season. You don't need formal training, but you do need to audition. Non-singers can join as associate members and help out behind the scenes.
Laurie Beechman Theatre at West Bank Cafe, 407 W 42nd St (Hell's Kitchen)
A long-running NYC drag institution: a full drag show over bottomless brunch. Great for a birthday, a group of friends, or showing visitors a good time.
Several practices a week across Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx; book via the team's Fall 2026 schedule
Pools in Manhattan, Brooklyn & the Bronx
NYC's LGBTQ+ masters swim, water polo and artistic swimming team. There's adult learn-to-swim and a second-Tuesday water polo clinic for beginners, plus plenty of socials.
Year-round open play, clinics and seasonal leagues; times vary by session, so register on the site
Gyms around Manhattan
A long-standing LGBTQ+ volleyball league with open play and training clinics alongside competitive divisions. Open to all adults 18+, so beginners can start at a clinic or open play.
Third Thursday monthly, 7–10:30pm, no cover Monthly
Next: Thu, Nov 19
Jacques Cabaret Underground, 79 Broadway (Bay Village)
A free monthly country night. They teach line and partner dances along with a bit of LGBTQ+ country-western history, so you can show up with no experience.
All She Wrote Books, 75 Washington St (Somerville)
A free, low-pressure 'silent' book club. Bring whatever you're reading, read together, then chat if you feel like it. Easy for introverts, and seats are limited so RSVP.
Trips posted on Meetup; mostly weekend hikes and day trips
Greater Boston & New England
New England's LGBTQ+ outdoor club since 1978. Trips range from easy 2-mile walks to White Mountains backpacking, and non-members are welcome on most of them.
Tue & Thu 6:30–8pm, Sat 10am–noon; first two practices free
Charles Hadley Park Pool, 4800 NW 12th Ave (Miami)
Miami's LGBTQ-friendly masters swim team, now in its 30th year. Swimmers are grouped by speed with coached workouts, so you just need to be able to swim laps of freestyle.
Fall season Saturdays (Sept–Nov), mornings/early afternoons
Mills Pond Park & Wimberly Fields (Fort Lauderdale/Oakland Park)
LGBTQ+ 7v7 flag football. All skill levels are welcome, with free mini-camps for new players before each season and post-game parties in Wilton Manors.
Classes and socials through the month; see the group's calendar
Various Austin venues
Queer-friendly classes in line dancing, two-step, country swing, salsa, bachata and more. Lead or follow regardless of gender, and beginners are accommodated.
Veterans War Memorial Building, Zoo Dr & Park Blvd (Balboa Park)
San Diego's LGBTQ+ run and walk club. Saturday morning in Balboa Park is the main meetup, and walkers are part of the club, not an afterthought. The park's lots charge from 8am to 6pm through 2026, so arrive by bike or bus, or budget for parking.
An LGBTQ+ rugby union club where everyone is welcome and there are no tryouts. Most of its players had never played before joining, and you can practice for free before deciding whether to pay dues.
Several hikes and outings a month on varying days (e.g. evening moonlight hikes, weekday morning Griffith Park hikes)
Griffith Park and trails around LA, plus day trips
An all-volunteer LGBTQ+ outdoors club, founded in 1978, that runs free hikes (like moonlight hikes to the Hollywood Sign), camping and culture outings. It welcomes curious newbies as well as hardcore hikers.
Start with the info session (4th Wednesday monthly, 6–7:30pm), then book shifts such as the Senior Pantry Monthly
Pride Hall, 1125 N McCadden Pl (Hollywood)
Volunteer at one of the world's largest LGBTQ+ centers. Roles range from food pantry shifts to events, and you only need to attend the info session first.
A weekly queer country-western dance night with two-step, West Coast swing, waltz and line dancing. Lessons make it beginner-friendly, and your first class is free.
Regular season Sundays, April–June; winter field days help new players find teams
Seattle-area fields
Seattle's LGBTQIA+ and allied softball league, running for 45+ years, with divisions from casual to competitive. It's off-season in fall, so watch for winter sign-ups.
Saturdays 9am at Stow Lake Boathouse; Tuesdays 6:30pm from the Ferry Building; Thursdays 6:30pm from Noe & Market
Stow Lake Boathouse (Golden Gate Park) on Saturdays
The original Frontrunners club, founded in 1974. Groups range from casual walks to long runs, and there's coffee after on Saturdays. Very newcomer-friendly.
Weekly rehearsals during the season; joining requires an audition (auditions@sfgmc.org)
The Chan National Queer Arts Center
The world's first openly gay chorus. Sing with it if you audition in, or catch a concert; the 2026–27 season opens Oct 17, 2026. It also takes volunteers for concert nights.
Open daily as a sober hangout, with meetings and fellowship
Castro
A sober community space for the LGBTQ+ recovery community, with coffee, games, meetings and friendly faces. A good bar alternative in the heart of the Castro.
Schedules are as each group gives them: monthly groups meet once a month, and seasonal leagues only in season. Times change, so check the group's own site before you go. Something wrong, or a group we're missing? Post in Friends & Community. Nobody pays to be listed.