By Quinn Smalley
Where I’m from in Connecticut, as a gay man on a Friday night, I had a bunch of options all over the state to go out and meet other queer people and see some local drag shows. Port of Call in Mystic, Che-Est in Hartford, and Trevi Lounge in Fairfield are some of the biggest and most thriving queer nightlife options, with many more options in between.
Tucson is known to be a speck of blue in the middle of a mostly red state with a formidable queer population. As of 2021, the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law estimated Tucson’s LGBT population at about 37,000 people, similar to the amount of queer people in the most populated parts of Connecticut. So why is the Tucson community so underserved?
As it stands, Gaytucson.com has only two queer specific nightlife spaces to choose from: IBT’s, which is a night club that hosts several drag performances, and Venture-In, a leather bar. But previously, in the 90’s until 2011, Tucson had a very well-regarded lesbian bar called Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness that in 1999 tied with IBT’s as Best Gay and Lesbian Bar three years in a row.
A photo of the outside of IBTs on 4th Ave. Photo from Google Review user “J B.”
This leaves an even bigger gap in representation for the queer community of Tucson, not only are gay spaces being endangered but now Tucson’s only lesbian bar is closed. Now there’s only 36 lesbian bars left in the whole nation according to Lesbian Bar Project. However, there is one bar that is lesbian owned and operated known as Surly Wench Pub but even then, not a queer specific space and caters to all walks of life.
A view of the front of Surly Wench Pub on 4th Ave. Photo from Tripadvisor.
Don’t lose hope fellow queer Tucsonans! Just because our queer-specific spaces are limited, does not mean that Tucson isn’t rife with events being held for us. I have compiled a short list of activities, groups, and places that cater to several interests – all welcoming, active and, most importantly, queer:
Nightlife:
1: IBT’s – Tucson’s premier gay club and bar. Here is where most of the town’s go to queer entertainment is hosted, drag and cabaret acts. This venue is home to Tucson’s most notable home-grown entertainers like Diva and Tempest Dujour.
2: Venture-N – A no-frills bear and leather bar that offers the charm of a dive bar and the mature vibes of a lounge. Great conversation and company can always be found with the other patrons or the bartenders Amy and Daniel. I recommend enjoying a drink on the patio in the back on a cool night.
Yep, that’s it!
Outdoors & Sports:
- F.L.U. (Fit Lesbians Unite) – a lesbian exclusive hiking group that meets two to three days a month in the summer due to the heat. Women only! Keep an eye out on their Meetup page for upcoming hikes.
- Our League Tucson – queer focused very inclusive kickball group that meets up for local tournaments and social gatherings. Open to all skill levels. Applications are open on their website.
- Arizona Queer Climbing Collective – Tucson Chapter – A rockwall climbing group in Tucson but has other chapters throughout Arizona. Open to all members of the queer community, all skill levels. They also offer occasional social gatherings; their Instagram gets updated often with all upcoming events.
- G3 Tucson – A happy hour meet up group that meets up at a nightclub called PLAYGROUND mostly, but sometimes they meet at other locations. Meeting nights usually have a theme and entertainment planned.
Playground is on the corner of south 5th and Congress St. in Downtown Tucson. Photo from Tucson Foodie.
Events:
- Tucson Pride Nov. 21–23 2025 – This weekend long event is a celebration of our history as queer people and a reminder to all that we exist and are not going anywhere. Historically this would be held in late September but due to rising temperatures, it has been moved to late November. There will be food, events, performances – don’t miss the chance to show your pride out loud this November.
- Hypoxia’s Triva – A night of trivia hosted by local queen, Hypoxia at the Jackrabbit Lounge on Tuesdays weekly.
- Divalicious – A weekly drag show hosted by Diva every Thursday at IBT’s. Two-for-one drinks and bottle beers. A night of entertainment and good drinks at unbeatable prices.
A flyer of drag queen Diva promoting her weekly show “Divalicious.” Photo from IBTs.
- Hot Tuna Casserole – A weekly game show event hosted by the famous Tempest Dujour of RuPaul’s Drag Race season seven fame. Every Sunday at IBT’s 1–3p.m. No cover and two-for-one liquor and bottled beer all day!
This is just a shortlist of some of the fun things designed for the queer communities in Tucson. We should not forget our allies and inclusive spaces like Surly Wench pub, The Owls Club, and Black Crown Coffee Co. (which is open until midnight most days), as they often welcome and host social events for us. Gaytucson.org is the best resource for most queer events happening in town and is frequently updated, check there for more upcoming events.
A flyer of drag queen Tempest Dujour promoting her weekly show Hot Tuna Casserole. Photo from IBTs.