Is Medellin Gay-Friendly?

TLDR? Medellin is gay-friendly and super welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve traveled with past partners and had people give us dirty looks. It’s not a nice feeling and is something that can put you off visiting a place for good. 

If you’re in this boat and are visiting Medellin, I can completely understand wanting to be sure that the same won’t happen to you here. 

Luckily, Medellin is a welcoming place for anyone in the LGBTQ+ community. If you’ll be visiting the city, here’s what to know!

The City’s Attitude Towards Gay Couples

In 1991, Colombia changed its constitution and went from being a Catholic country to not belonging to any particular religion. Of course, the changes weren’t immediate, but it was a huge step for Colombia in moving towards more acceptance of the gay community. 

While there’s still a mall percentage of the population that holds conservative attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community, the Colombian population has made great strides in recent years in regards to accepting the gay community. 

Bogotá is largely thought to be the most gay-friendly city. However, Medellin really isn’t that far behind, having tons of LGBTQ+ nightlife options around the city.

There are also plenty of gay advocacy groups in the city. Aside from Medellin, it’s hard to find these types of groups outside Bogotá. 

Visiting Medellin as an LGBTQ+ Tourist

Medellín is a city that receives millions of tourists from all over the world every year, and thankfully, the locals are ready to welcome everyone regardless of their sexual orientation or gender.

The most important tourist spots are totally gay-friendly, so you don’t need to worry about not being accepted or being discriminated against.

In terms of restaurants and gay-friendly hotels, pretty much anywhere you go will be accepting. You can get out and have a good time without worrying about whether you’ll be turned away or run into problems.

Gay-Friendly Tours and Activities

While you can go on any tour you like as an LGBTQ+ couple without it being an issue, sometimes you just want somewhere that you feel comfortable. 

There’s an agency called OUT In Colombia that organizes tours around not only Medellin but the surrounding villages as well. They take care of all the details and put together trips that are centered around diversity and inclusion. 

There are also LGBTQ nightlife tours you can take if you want to explore the gay bar scene. These can be a fun way to explore what Medellin is like after dark!

Annual Medellín Pride

Almost every year, the city makes a peaceful protest of LGBTQ+ community members celebrating diversity and limitless love.

This is a big parade in which you can check out extravagant floats and watch people model the brightest and most colorful outfits of the season. It’s not uncommon to see cosplay and drag at this event, either!

One of the highlights of the festival are the Colombian artists who put on musical performances. This year, the concert will take place in the Central Mayorista de Medellín very close to El Poblado.

Gay-Friendly Groups

If you want to meet some new people and join a community group in Medellin, that’s definitely an option. There are plenty of gay-friendly groups around the city. 

Here are a couple of the top LGBTQ+ organizations in Medellin that you can check out.

Alianza Social LGBTI de Antioquia

Alianza Social LGBTI de Antioquia is one of the main organizers of the Medellín pride parade, which the city celebrates every year. If you’re planning on participating in (or watching) the parade, this is a good group to know about.

They also host festivals, cultural events, workshops, talks, and awareness campaigns on violence and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in LGBTQ communities.

It’s a group that’s super-inclusive and has both social and educational activities for you to get involved in.

Twitter: @AlianzaLGBTI

Voluntariado Diverso

This group gears itself toward young people and is an organization that fights for community rights and builds spaces that welcome diversity.

The group organizes fun activities such as camping trips and movie nights. They also organize an event called “Sembratón” where they plant trees in deforested or empty areas of the city.

What’s cool about Voluntariado Diverso is that they don’t just represent the LGBTQ+ community, but also focus on giving back to Medellin in general. They frequently meet up with charity groups and local festivals. 

Most of the events are free to join, too. They’re a great way to meet new people in the city and get involved in Medellin’s culture.

IG: @voluntariadodiverso

Casa Diversa

This diverse group focuses on fighting the inequality that the LGBTQ community deals with. They offer talks, workshops, plays, and other cultural activities that promote gay pride.

What’s extra cool about this place is that they work in partnership with museums and universities to share a message of peace with different community groups.

They frequently organize group activities and events, such as decorating one of the city’s surrounding hills with pride flags. 

IG: @casadiversac8

Enjoy Exploring a Diverse City

Medellin is a gay-friendly city where you can be yourself without worrying about what others think. There are tons of great places you can visit, whether it’s LGBTQ-friendly activities or nightlife you’re looking for.

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