Gay district sacramento

One of the first prominent venues was the Mercantile Saloon, also known as the Merc, which opened in 1976 at 1928 L Street in a converted Victorian house. In a 1978 article published by The Advocate, a national gay and lesbian magazine, a local resident described the city’s LGBTQ+ scene as being “deep beneath the surface,” reflecting the fear many people had about being openly identified.

In 2019, the Sacramento LGBT Community Center moved into its forever home at 1015 20th street, in the heart of the Lavender Heights district. They [were] paranoid about who [knew they were] gay.”

The emergence of a visible LGBTQ+ community in Sacramento during the late 1960s through the 1980s was shaped by a combination of social, economic, and cultural factors.

Bars, businesses, and gathering places began to appear in West Sacramento, which was unincorporated at the time and therefore less tightly regulated. During the 1980s, under the management of Ernie Brown, the Merc became a vital gathering place for Sacramento’s gay Black community.

Another important bar in the area was The Western, located at 2001 K Street.

In 1971, the Gay Alternative Coffeehouse opened at 2215 P Street in the apartment of Edgar Carpenter, a Sacramento State College student, LGBTQ+ rights advocate, and contributor to Gay Voice Sacramento. Plus, our LGBTQ+ support services and resources make sure you're seen and supported no matter where you go. The crosswalks are maintained and supported by the Midtown Association, which is committed to ensuring Midtown remains a thriving center for culture, creativity, and vibrancy.

In 2017, a documentary was released about a woman who founded the Sacramento LGBT Community Center (then called the Lambda Community Center) after bringing a successful lawsuit against a reverend.

These grassroots efforts laid the foundation for a more visible and cohesive LGBTQ+ presence. The Center’s website provides several links to community resources including Advocacy, Arts and Culture, Community, Social, Health & Wellness, and more.

Rainbow Chamber: The Sacramento Rainbow Chamber has a member directory of LGBTQ-owned and ally-owned businesses in Sacramento.

In a few short months, the effort raised $38,000 to install the colorful crosswalk using durable materials, in addition to funding its ongoing maintenance under the direction of the Midtown Business Association.

Unveiled in October 2015, the rainbow crosswalk installation proved to be a red-hot media story, receiving ongoing media coverage locally and throughout California, from the time the City Council approved the project through its October “ribbon-cutting.” Anecdotal and social media evidence shows the crosswalk continues to be a popular attraction, with many visitors posting photos of the crosswalk on social media channels.

The Rainbow Chamber Foundation continues to serve as fiscal agent for additional projects to fund street light banners, sign-toppers and other public art installations designed to attract tourists, diners and shoppers to the vibrant and flourishing Lavender Heights business district.