Long before gay marriage was legalized, members of the LGBT community lacked basic rights to work or adopt without discrimination. Liberal cities in Canada, America and Europe often feature gay neighbourhoods that were created as a means to keep local members of the queer community safe. The history of many gay neighbourhoods around the world offer insight into why LGBT folks gather inside their own communities. In our hometown of Toronto, gay bars make up the majority of the appeal of living in or visiting rainbow adorned Church & Wellesley Village. Some of the most popular cocktail bars in the world can be found in gay travel destinations like Toronto, Montreal, New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Savannah, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Los Angeles, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, Floripa, Rio de Janeiro, Bangkok, Bali, Hamburg, Potsdam, Berlin, Dresden, Cologne, Leipzig, Malaga, Ibiza, Brighton, Belfast and Cardiff.

Since the dawn of queer time, members of the LGBT community have had a thirst for sipping gay drinks.