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Gay Copenhagen
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Being the capital of a country where homosexuality has long been legal, and where gay and lesbian couples are allowed to marry, has led to Copenhagen becoming one of the world's premier gay cities. Heads don't generally turn if a gay or lesbian couple are seen kissing or holding hands, and many Copenhageners pride themselves on their liberal attitudes, although occasional cases of gay-bashing do take place. An example of the city's emancipated attitude is the way its main cruising spot, H.C. Arstedsparken, has been equipped with "birdboxes" containing condoms and lubricating gel, while police patrols here are designed not to chase out cottaging men, but to protect them from homophobic violence.
Look out in all major gay hangouts for the English-language Guide to Gay and Lesbian Denmark , published annually. The monthly, Danish-language PAN Bladet has dozens of useful listings - fairly easy to decipher even if you don't speak Danish.
Paradoxically, Copenhagen's liberal traditions mean that there are fewer specifically gay and lesbian venues than in less tolerant cities. For general
information
, the national organization for gays and lesbians, the Landforeningen for BA?sser og Lesbiske (LBL) at TeglgA?rdsstrA¦de 13 (Tues & Sun 1pm-3am, Thurs 1pm-4am, Fri 1pm-5am, Sat 1pm-6am; tel 33 13 19 48,
www.lbl.dk
) provides a very well-run advice service and is an excellent place to pick up news of any gay- or lesbian-oriented events in the city. Alternatively, the telephone service PAN INFO (Mon, Thurs & Sun 8pm-11pm; tel 33 36 00 86) offers information on any aspect of the gay and lesbian scene in Denmark. For
rooms
(from 300kr) in gay or gay-friendly private accommodation call Enjoy on 32 96 02 06 or email
jope.rainbow@sol.dk
. Copenhagen's annual
gay pride march
takes place at the beginning of August, though it's only been going for a few years and numbers are still quite low. For further details visit
www.mermaidpride.dk Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Denmark,
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