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Valencia has a small but thriving gay scene. Most of the gay bars, shops and clubs are in the hip neighbourhood of the Barri del Carme, particularly the Carrer Quart. The Spanish in general are not especially gay-friendly (most being of the 'out of sight, out of mind' mentality rather than downright disapproving), but the bad old days of intolerance and incomprehension are largely a thing of the past.
Around the Carme, you'll see dozens of shops and bars displaying rainbow stickers with pride and there are plenty of gay organizations campaigning for gay rights. While there are no specifically gay beaches in Valencia city, the slightly more remote Platja de la Devesa is gay-friendly. For all kinds of information from health issues to beaches or upcoming events, contact the useful telephone information line, InfoRosa, T 963 913 238, which is run by the lesbian and gay collective, LAMBDA.
Benidorm, a big gay holiday destination, has its own website, http://www.gaybenidorm.com
Also check out http://www.gayinspain.com, http://www.lesgou.com, http://www.gaymap.info.com for bar and club listings in Valencia. Also http://www.guiagay.com, http://www.naciongay.com, http://www.corazongay.com http://www.gaywired.com, http://www.rainbownetwork.com and http://www.gay.com For nightlife listings, pick up a copy of the free Shanguide. GO and Ciclo are two gay news magazines available all over Spain. The freebie listings guide LaNetro, doesn't have a specific section for gay nightlife, but anywhere described as 'de ambiente' is gay or gay-friendly.
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