Phoenix Gay Attractions

The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix displays over 50,000 desert plants from around the world across 55 acres beside the Papago Buttes. Visitors can walk scenic trails lined with rare cacti and wildflowers, attend seasonal exhibitions, and join events or classes focused on desert conservation. The garden has been welcoming guests for over 80 years and hosts music nights and family-friendly programs throughout the year.

Phoenix Art Museum holds over 20,000 works of art, making it the largest visual art museum in the Southwest. Among the works are modern and contemporary pieces, photography, and international collections from American, Asian, Latin American, and European artists. The museum’s calendar features rotating exhibitions, lectures, performances, film screenings, and workshops.

Roosevelt Row is downtown Phoenix’s arts district, home to street murals, galleries, restaurants, and boutique shops. Highlights include the 1½ Street Mural Project and monthly First Fridays Art Walks, along with festivals like M3F and Phoestivus. Visitors can browse local artwork, shop for handmade goods, and explore colorful public art throughout the neighborhood.

The Rainbow Crosswalks in Phoenix add a splash of color to the city’s streets, celebrating LGBTQ+ pride and visibility. Installed at Central and First avenues at Portland Street (just outside the gay-owned restaurant Fez) and Seventh Avenue at Glenrosa, these vibrant crossings mark two key locations: downtown and the Melrose District.

The project, led by local LGBTQ+ organizations and approved by the city council, is now a permanent and photogenic symbol of inclusion in Phoenix.

The Rosson House at Heritage Square is a restored 1895 Queen Anne Victorian home that gives visitors a window into Phoenix’s early days.

Beyond its historical tours, the Rosson House holds special significance for the LGBTQ+ community: it hosted hundreds of same-sex weddings when Arizona’s marriage ban was struck down, and it’s the setting for Phoenix Pride’s annual Rainbows Festival. The site is a unique mix of history and modern LGBTQ+ milestones.

Corona Ranch and Rodeo Grounds has a place in Arizona’s LGBTQ+ history as the site of the state’s first gay rodeo in 1984. Today, the Arizona Gay Rodeo Association still hosts events here, including the annual rodeo on Valentine’s Day weekend, complete with drag shows, contests, and plenty of cowboy flair.

Corona Ranch also welcomed the first Latino Pride Festival in 2018, keeping the spirit of community and celebration alive.

Steele Indian School Park is where Phoenix’s modern Pride festival comes to life, bringing together the LGBTQ+ community for music, parades, and celebration every year since 2003. The park features lawns, a lake, and courts for sports and picnics, making it a popular spot for locals year-round.

As a gathering place for Phoenix Pride and other community events, Steele Indian School Park is a key landmark for the city’s LGBTQ+ history.