Lisbon is Gay in September
It’s now September, which is always the gayest month in the city. The annual Pride celebrations are in June, but it’s in September that Lisbon’s Gay and Lesbian Film Festival takes place. Called “Queer Lisboa,” this festival is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and this year will be the 12th edition.
But that festival is not the only reason why this will be a gay September in Lisbon. It will be the city’s gayest month ever because there will be a number of major gay events happening almost back to back.
The first gay invasion will be on September 4th, when the Celebrity Constellation gay cruise stops in the city. It departed from London on August 30th and arrives at its final destination, Barcelona, on September 9th. The stop in Lisbon will take about 24 hours, during which the passengers descend (or ascend) the city’s streets and enjoy an evening out in the city’s restaurants, bars, and clubs. The cruise covers nine cities, but only makes an overnight stop in Lisbon and Ibiza.
Then on September 13th the first annual “Sparkling Party” will be held at Bela Vista Beach (next to the famous gay Beach 19) south of the city. DJ sounds mix with sand and the sea, for all-night partying before the Madonna concert on the 14th. The Queen of Pop will be in Lisbon for her “Sticky & Sweet” show, and as is always the case, a large percentage of the crowd will be her gay fans.
As for the Queer Lisboa Film Festival, its opening night is on the 19th and will screen the best of international gay cinema until the 27th. Dozens of films from several countries will be competing for “Best Feature,” “Best Documentary,” and “Best Short Film,” as well as for the “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” awards. This year the festival is held in São Jorge Cinema in Avenida da Liberdade, and in addition to the screenings there will be associated parties and debates about GLBT cinema.
If these events sound good to you, come to Lisbon in September. Other places to go are found in GoLisbon’s Gay and Lesbian page, which also lists the city’s gay and gay-friendly hotels.
