It has been a while since Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was abolished, marking a watershed moment in India's history. But as we are moving towards the direction of inclusivity, there are still spaces which are narrow-minded and have a biased nature towards people who are of a different sexuality. But Banglore is one of the most lgbtqia+ friendly places ever, moving fast in the direction of inclusivity. We have listed here specific locations in the city that have made a concerted effort to provide safe settings and raise awareness about the queer population. This article stands as a tribute to them.
Explore Best 20 Safe Spaces For The LGBTQIA+ Community
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Alliance Francaise De Bangalore, Cunningham Road
Situated in a green retreat in the heart of Bangalore, Alliance Française opens their doors to the Bangalore Queer Festival that happens every year as a celebration of love which consists of documentaries from across the globe as well as interaction with the queer community.
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Urban Solace, Ulsoor
Having held the first Queer and Allies Art Festival in the country to conducting drag queen events, Urban Solace is more than a cafe in Bangalore. It gives the LGBTQIA+ community a voice to come forth and share their experiences and opinions. They have Also screened the infamous movie Unfreedom which is about a lesbian couple in India. They are a constant venue for queer dating platforms as well.
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Lahe Lahe, Indiranagar
Lahe Lahe is a pottery studio and cafe space in Indiranagar. Setting people free to express their true selves, they offer a non-discriminatory, non-judgmental community space where ideas and audiences intermingle and enrich each other. This venue has become popular for its poetry events and open mic nights that have given a platform to the LGBTQIA+ community.
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Rangashankara Theatre, J P Nagar
Going by the philosophy of ‘A Play a Day’, their performances include special shows for children, matinees and youth festivals. Having hosted the theatre festival, ‘Equal’ that questions gender polarization and inequality, they have hosted the play A Straight Proposal’ in 2014 that follows the problems and possibilities of gay people in the current Indian political scenario.
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1 Shanti Road, Shantinagar
1 Shanthi Road is an art space and art residency located in Shanthi Nagar, Bangalore. They have in the past, had book launches for authors creating awareness about orientation and gender identity. It has been the venue for Namma Pride and the Karnataka Queer Habba (festival). They also have gender-neutral washrooms.
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Max Mueller Bhavan, Indiranagar
The Goethe-Institut is the cultural institute of the Federal Republic of Germany with a global reach. Apart from promoting German, they also focus on LGBTQIA+ based issues. One of their most popular festivals is the Gender Bender that is hosted annually. This consists of workshops, plays and seminars revolving around creating awareness about the queer community.
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Kitty Ko, Sheshadripuram
Kitty Ko, like its counterpart Kitty Su support the LGBTQIA+ and drag community in the city by doing regular events with them. They conduct a drag queen night every Thursday at 9 PM. This entails one drag queen artist and another entertainer who will accompany them (may or may not be from the LGBTQIA+ community).
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Game Point
Game Point is a volunteer-run non-profit organisation that provides a safe and inclusive environment for queers and allies to play/learn badminton and socialise. Queer badminton aficionados, practise three days a week near Indiranagar and occasionally Whitefield.
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Salt World, Salt Cave & Float Tank
Salt World is a health centre in Bangalore's HSR Layout that offers unique wellness experiences including the Salt Cave and Float Tank. Salt World is the LGBTQ+ community's safest and friendliest inclusive health space, offering partner experiences.
Out and About
Out and About (OAA) is India's first LGBTQ+ inclusive travel and experience community. OAA organises queer-inclusive trips, excursions, workshops, and hangouts. They provide end-to-end logistics, food, lodging, and adventure in inexpensive packages.
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Bengaluru Frontrunners
Bengaluru Frontrunners is an inclusive group for LGBTQIA+ runners in Bangalore. They meet at Cubbon Park every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. The club aims to provide a safe atmosphere for LGBT running aficionados and wants its members to be courteous of one another.
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Chaifee Cafe
An LGBTQ+-friendly café in Banashankari, Bangalore. Aside from the diverse menu, they provide two private movie screens, board games, and a little library for book lovers.
PrideCafe
PrideCafe is an inclusive mobile cafe run by the LGBTQ+ community at WeWork Galaxy on Residency Road in Bangalore. It is a first-of-its-kind programme in India, in collaboration with the Solidarity Foundation, to promote cultural transformation and economic possibilities for the LGBTQ+ population.
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Qonnect
Qonnect is a platform for connecting, collaborating, and building a community of LGBTQ professionals. They hold networking events, mentorship, and startup ideas at various venues throughout Bangalore on a regular basis.
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Goodasyou Support group Meetings
Sometimes all you need is to chat to someone who understands where you're coming from, and therapists aren't always LGBTQ-friendly. This support group meeting takes place every Thursday in Bengaluru, and it is only open to LGBTQIA+ people who want to share and seek help from their peers for the many challenges that they face.
Timings: Every Thursday, 7-9pm
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How To Join: Checkout their facebook group here and their social media here
Love All Badminton Group
Who doesn't enjoy playing badminton with their pals from time to time? Check out the LGBT badminton players that play every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Indiranagar courts, usually from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Timings: MWF 9pm-11pm
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How To Join: Check out their facebook group here
Cubbon Park
Cubbon Park was once a popular cruising spot for the LGBTQIA+ community before the introduction of app-based dating, but it has since turned into a welcome space for various gay support group meetings. I recall my first Bangalore Queer Campus gathering as a newcomer to the city, which took place at Cubbon Park in 2012. Don't miss the Bengaluru Frontrunners' weekly LGBTQIA+ walk/run, as well as the yearly Pride March-related events hosted in this gorgeous park with over 6,000 trees. Making it a truly supportive and thriving ecosystem.
Timings: Tuesday to Sunday between 6 AM and 6 PM
Ratings & Reviews: 4.4/5 out of 1,34,875
How To Join: Stay updated for cubbon park events on BookMyShow
The Lalit Ashok Bengaluru
Lalit Ashok, a hotel in the Lalit group, is credited with popularising drag culture in India and fostering LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace. It is also a pioneer in queer-friendly hospitality. Kitty Ko, the first venue in Bangalore to host regular drag shows every Wednesday, hosts mega events like Queerdom, Fifty Shades of Gay, Drag-o-ween, and ChristmasSlay at its opulent ballrooms bi-monthly in addition to Kooth night, a monthly drag show featuring exclusively South Indian artists. Take in the fusion of mainstream and subculture while sipping delicious cocktails and interacting with like-minded individuals. For most South Indian drag artists, taking the stage at Lalit Ashok Bengaluru is akin to a rite of passage.
Timings: Open 24/7
Ratings & Reviews: 4.6/5 out of 26258 reviews
How To Join: You can visit KittyKo or go for their weekend brunches known as Queerilicious
Dude Party
If you want an unforgettable queer nightlife experience in Bangalore, look no farther than Dude Party. They are one of the most well-known names in India's queer nightlife scene, having organised LGBTQIA+ parties for over ten years. Kitty Ko, which is synonymous with Saturday night LGBT adventures in Bangalore, is held every Wednesday and Saturday at various five-star locations throughout the city. They are primarily renowned for their high-production LGBT extravaganza events, White Party and Moulin Rouge, which introduced circuit-style queer parties to Bengaluru.
Timings: Varies with each event
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How To Join: Stay tuned to their socials and website for updates on their events
Indiranagar Social
Social is not just a cafe or collaborative workspace; it's a vibrant hub for artists, innovators, and the LGBTQIA+ community," they claim, and we agree. Don't miss their Satrangi Mela hosted in June & December, a day-long celebration that celebrates everything queer, from art, culture, and live music to wonderful cuisine, beverages, and drag performances. The flea market, which focuses on women, trans, and non-binary-led brands, runs from 2 to 8 p.m., followed by an entertaining drag show involving both new and veteran drag artists. After that, dance the night away to the DJ's rhythms for a genuine young and Generation-Z Bangalore LGBT experience. Since it is a speakeasy inspired bar, you already know that the limited crowd events here would be the best to attend!
Timings: 9am-12.30am
Ratings & Reviews: 4.1/5 out of 3568 reviews
How To Join: Check out their social media and website for updates on events