Nightlife is, of course, a key player in Vancouver's rich and prolific pride. It even has its very own pride festival, dubbed East Side Pride and recognized by the official Vancouver Pride Society, that's separate from the main Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival held at Sunset Beach. This hip, bohemian hamlet is popular with the lesbian crowd, specifically, and is not nearly as touristy as Davie Village. On the other side of Vancouver, Commercial Drive-to locals, just 'The Drive'-is becoming a major runner-up for the gayest vibes in town. This West End 'hood is the most colorful thing in Vancouver-even the tables and chairs that line the sidewalk have been bathed in pastels. They are beckoned by the bubblegum-pink bus stops and neon-lit gay bars serving up umbrella-topped drinks. They flock to the rainbow-painted crosswalks that have become fixtures and photo opps on Davie Street. This metropolis on the West Coast of Canada is a haven for queers of all kind.
Vancouver would not be the same laidback, anything-goes city without its beloved LGBTQ+ population.