History & landmarks / Detroit
Christopher Street Detroit '72 – Michigan's First Pride
Michigan's first Pride, held in June 1972 with dances, picnics, films, a drag pageant and a march and rally in Detroit.
- Detroit, MI
DETROIT + MICHIGAN / LGBTQ+ / ¼
Bars, clubs, drag nights, saunas, community centers, Pride festivals and landmarks of queer history, with addresses, phone numbers and sources, all in one place.
Full guide
29 places & communities · 12 archive entries · 2/2
Clear filters ↺History & landmarks / Detroit
Michigan's first Pride, held in June 1972 with dances, picnics, films, a drag pageant and a march and rally in Detroit.
Bars & clubs / Port Huron
Historically Port Huron's only gay bar, with a dance floor, pool table and occasional drag and dancer nights; current status unconfirmed.
Bars & clubs / Inkster
Inkster nightclub that was one of the few Michigan clubs catering mainly to lesbians, with a drag show bar and a dance floor.
Bars & clubs / East Side (7 Mile)
1980s punk and new-wave bar complex on East 7 Mile that welcomed gay patrons and had its own drag pageant title.
Bars & clubs / Inkster
Historical Inkster gay bar that awarded its own drag pageant title.
Addresses, phone numbers and hours come from public sources, and every entry shows its check date. Nightlife venues change schedules often, so confirm on the venue's own website or social page before you go. Photos and logos come from the venues' official websites, archived websites or openly licensed collections; each entry names its exact source.
Time machine
These places are gone, but they shaped queer life in Detroit and Michigan. We keep their entries as an archive, with the years they opened and closed.
Before you go
Michigan serves alcohol from age 21, and almost every bar checks photo ID at the door. Visitors from abroad should carry a passport, the ID accepted everywhere.
Michigan bars stop serving alcohol by 2 a.m. Most clubs are liveliest Thursday to Saturday; drag nights and theme parties vary by venue.
Several Detroit and Ferndale community organizations offer free or low-cost HIV and STI testing and PrEP advice. Find them under Health & testing.
Use a taxi or rideshare between venues at night. Saunas and men's clubs admit adults only, often with a membership and photo ID.