“I have seen many changes over the years — the hot spots, the hot looks, etc. Fifteen years ago, the Gay community was not yet centered in the Marais. There weren’t as many clubs and they were more spread out. Many of my favorites have come and gone — Swing Bar, Le Boy and Le Palace (a major player in the history of the Gay community). Many remain, though, and new places open all the time.
The fitness craze had already hit the “boys” in the States long before reaching here, so at the time I first began to discover Paris, Parisian Gay men weren’t obsessed with muscle "bods." Looks were important to an extent, but personality, style, individuality, intelligence, and especially the ability to hold one's own in a discussion, those were the turn-ons. That’s all still true, though it has changed somewhat. Health clubs and fitness have come into their own here as well, so it’s much more common now to see in-shape, muscular French men. Most of the muscle “boys” you’ll see in Paris are older — 30 and above. Among younger Gay men the trend is to be thin, even waifish. This is not to say that they’re effeminate, not at all.
As for the scene, clubbing in Paris is different than what you might be used to. Here everything starts late. Some clubs don’t even open until midnight. We generally meet at a friend’s place or a café for drinks, maybe some hors-d’œuvres, then head off to dinner around 9:30 p.m. A typical dinner is usually pretty casual, filled with lots of conversation, lasting at least two, usually three hours. Then it’s off to the clubs. By the time we’re clubbed out the Métro has closed (the last train leaves the end of the line about 12:30 a.m.). So, unless home is within walking distance, someone drove, or taking a taxi is an option, we just stay at the club. Since the Métro doesn’t reopen until 5:30 a.m., most clubs stay open until then, if not later. This is also true when someone has a party. They’re expected to go all night since most people won’t be able to go home until the Métro opens the next morning. It’s fun to do once in a while -- honest. More and more the Lesbian sector of the community here is growing and thriving. There are one or two clubs that have been around a long time, but the last few years have seen an increase in clubs and restaurants specifically for Lesbians.
Sex clubs have made a big comeback the last few years – very big. Paris has now the world record with over 40 sex clubs ! While some of them are pretty sleazy, many of the newer ones are more upscale, taking the form of saunas and salons for “musculation” (gyms). Some are all-in-one places. On one level there’s a bar, dance floor, and stage — for the go-go boys — while downstairs... well, you know what the downstairs is for. You may be familiar with such places in the States, but you have never seen anything like the sex clubs in Paris!
Large numbers of Gays and Lesbians from smaller towns around France and from other countries come to Paris to experience life in the big city. It is, after all, the center for the French-speaking world. With the advent of inexpensive travel, an easing of immigration laws, and the extension of the EU that has now 25 countries, Paris has become even more of a melting pot of cultures and nationalities. This is evident in the Gay community as well. So, in addition to French men and women, the community here is made up of just about any skin color, hair color, eye color, size, shape, and age you find attractive and interesting — all with adorable accents!
Paris is pretty accepting of its Gay community. Oh, there are the stalwart critics with their religious objections, but it’s far less strident than other places. The French generally adopt a live-and-let-live view of the Gays. In 2000 they created the PACS, a civil union for straight or gay people. In the 2001 city elections the people of Paris put an openly Gay man in the mayor’s office, Bertrand Delanoë. A large part of his support came from the 3rd and 4th Arrondissements, but it still took the majority of mainstream Paris to put him in office. Even more telling is the fact that his sexual orientation was never made an issue in the campaign and rarely mentioned, by either side. Further evidence of acceptability is the huge Gay Pride Parade/celebration held every June. The turnout of people from all over Europe, Gay and straight, is enormous. It’s an incredible celebration that covers most of central Paris. Paris is a great city for Gay and Lesbian residents and for Gay and Lesbian tourists as well!
In May 2007, France elected a new liberal-conservative president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Among the many subjects that are listed as political issues, gay marriage is a very serious one. The unfortunate socialist candidate Segolene Royal who got only 47% of the votes had promissed gay marriage and equal rights for all couples would be adoped if she was elected... But she lost and despite a more open minded attitude towards gay issues, the french right wing is not ready for gay marriage. Sarkozy promissed equality in terms of inheritance and taxes which is already a real plus, but it will take more time for France to follow Danemark, Holland, Belgium and Spain as one of the many European countries that have already legalized gay marriage.
Gay News by TETU magazine
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An Insider’s
View of Today’s Gay Paris By Schuyler Hoffman
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