Montréal Outgames: The Perfect Host is Having You Over
Written by Sean Morrow
1 July 2005

Have you ever noticed how some cities are known for their cultural wonder while others for their social freedoms? And what of those recognised for the advanced political ideas floating about the air? It is rare that a city carries all of these characteristics at once but Montréal, Québec’s trend-setting cosmopolitan hub of diversity, magically lives with all of these features in harmony. And, Montréal’s LGBT community is no exception.

As the 1st World Outgames fast approach, there is palpable buzz of excitement running around this island city. The invitations are out, worldwide registrations are pouring in and everyone is preparing to play host to an estimated 16,000 participants and 250,000 spectators. Even more, with one of North America’s largest LGBT populations and one of the foremost gay neighbourhoods in the world, Montréal is the premiere gay and lesbian destination for an event of this kind.

But what is it really that makes this city so hot? Why does it seduce me so?

A little bit of context…
Montréal became my home a little more than five years ago. I had been living in the Province of Alberta – Canada’s answer to right wing politics. The boy I just met was a Montrealer, and after two weeks in the Caribbean together, I did the only rational thing that one does after falling in love so quickly: I packed my bags, hopped on a plane and moved here to live in sin. We were 20 then, and desperately lost in the awe of the sweetest honeymoon one might dream.

Of course, like most first loves, it ended after only a few months. I found myself faced with a decision then: stay in Montréal or return to Alberta. I remember weighing the pros and the cons of the situation; Montréal had French boys and French kisses and open attitudes to a young gay man. Alberta, on the other hand, was not that open and had pick-up trucks and cowboy boots. Deciding that cowboy boots were as out as I was, I knew I had to stay.

But there was more that was keeping me here and I knew it. I could see that this was a city of action, a hotbed of passions, and I was young and on the prowl. Even more, I could see that there was magic found in the way that Montréal constantly looked to its subculture to challenge the mainstream ideas of ‘normal.’ Here, local thoughts seemed to bridge with mainstream attitudes anywhere they could. That, in turn seemed to push for growth and constantly leave the city positioned as a leader in setting distinct trends and fashionable politics. Daring to be original, choosing to be cultural, Montréal proudly embraces this reputation with pride. I wanted to live in it as long as I could because this city welcomes anything different.

	Complexe Bourbon in the Village.
	© Tourisme Québec, Jean-François Leblanc High Resolution (5,502 KB)

The Village had me at ‘bonjour’
Montréal, I knew, had the famous Gay Village to offer and it formed the core of the LGBT community here. I had heard that it was one of the largest in North America and was alive with culture and festivities. I wanted to see the architecture, explore the shops and experience the excitement of an entire neighbourhood completely out of the closet. All right, perhaps I really wanted to pick-up (I had anticipated a large assortment of potential), but I quickly learned there was far much more available. Beyond the clubs and parties lay city attractions for every taste.

You see, the Village spans more than 15 blocks from east to west and another four from north to south. Walking here you find yourself wide-eyed, amazed and thinking that sometimes, size really does matter. This ‘quartier’ is unique, and fabulously enchanting. Its old world charm temps anyone who’d enjoy the European flavour decidedly original and fresh. To me, however, it is the colourful composite of everything all together – the narrow, winding streets, the Art Deco architecture, old style carriage garages, flowered balconies, quaint bed and breakfasts and churches – that make strolling with your partner in this area a welcomed adventure every time. Young or old, single or coupled, into the nightlife scene or not, the Village’s offering caters to every taste.

If you do want to go out in the Village, you have your pick of spots. Lesbian, gay, mixed, leather, hiphop, dance, karaoke, pub-like and cabaret bars line the main street. Strip bars are all over too and, again, there is something everyone. There are bars with younger boys and others with muscle babes, straight-acting or, okay, even a little flamboyant. When you are staying in Montréal, it isn’t uncommon to go out and have a few pre-dinner drinks, pick a restaurant from the vast array available, hit a strip bar and then dance until the bars close at 3:00. Of course, your night doesn’t have to end there, no. Instead, hit one of the after hours clubs, a 24 hour restaurant for an early breakfast or a poutine before crashing back at your hotel or – ahem – dare I say, a sauna?

These days, things are even better down there. The city and business owners are spending countless dollars refurbishing the Village. Roads are being repaved, building exteriors are being renovated and, all over the neighbourhood, bars, stores, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, cafés and saunas are undergoing a makeover. Even the park areas are being redeveloped. Whatever your interest, the Village is poised to be more fun than it’s ever been.

The Gay Village
© Tourisme Québec, Jean-François Leblanc High Resolution (5,012 KB)

Hold my hand in the street …
I was amazed, too, the first time I walked out of the Village, and beyond. Throughout downtown streets, in parks, in theatres, at festivals – wherever – people from all walks of life were out laughing and holding hands. Arm in arm, comfort is shared between friends and strangers alike. In the day and in plain view, couples of every variety simply live their lives in a way that I have since come to know myself.

Perhaps it is found in the seduction and romanticism of the French language, mixed freely with the English. Or, maybe it’s the fact that you don’t have to speak French to get by (although making the effort does draw a warm smile) in the biggest French-speaking city outside of Paris. I think though, that it is the abundance of smiling faces – and seductive glances – found in every color and every culture, all used to living together. Or maybe it is the ‘Live and Let Live’ attitude. Whatever it is, there is a world found here that greets any individual and allows them to be free. Welcoming and inviting, Montréal calls out to the international LGBT community and begs them to visit the Village and every other corner of the city. No doubt, this open invitation is one of the reasons that Divers/Cité’s Pride festivities and, as well, the events of the Bad Boys Club of Montréal (Black and Blue, Red, Hot and Dry, Twist and the Bal des Boys), welcome so many lesbian and gay tourists here each year. Thank you to the organizers of each. Because of you, I have enjoyed becoming a man many times over.

Kidding aside, I can’t help wonder if there was more to why Montréal is so open and accepting. As it turns out, Montréal has a long-standing tradition of welcoming and supporting the LGBT community specifically. Tourisme Montréal, the local tourist office here, has won numerous awards over the last 10 years for their leadership in being the first to position a city among the world’s most solicited destinations for gay travellers. That goes for the province of Québec as well. I don’t know which I find more attractive: the fact that I can kiss my boyfriend anywhere I want or the fact that we have governments and tourist offices that actively promote our ability to do so.

	A Montréal Village Scene
	© Tourisme Québec, Jean-François Leblanc High Resolution (4,602 KB)

I was talking with a good friend of mine, Joanne, about being so comfortable here. She said that she and her girlfriend go wherever, whenever, and however they want in this city too. Its nice to know, I suppose, that I’m not crazy in thinking all of this is true. Actually, Joanne insists that it is, in fact, as open as I see it here. We go people-watching sometimes and, sitting on some random bench, I can see she enjoys the game, silently offering smiles to the girls that pass, happily content when they smile back. Okay, so our heads are turning in two different directions but two girls together is just as hot as two guys. Isn’t freedom grand?

Is everything a party though?
In an attempt to explain why I love this city, I tend to center much of the argument on the fun, the comfort and well, shall we say, the boys…Let us not ignore the throngs of women that flock here too, equally excited to share in the excitement of this city. But beyond the freedoms that the LGBT community shares with the mainstream here, however, there is even more to offer. Every year, Montréal plays hosts to hundreds of cultural festivals, international conferences and sporting competitions that entice, seduce and arouse passions in any individual. Going far beyond simple events or performances, Montréal has become renowned for its ability to host any kind of event and to do so with great success. Somewhere, in so many of them, you’ll find me walking around with my friends, each of us breathing in as much of the air as we can. Millions of people join us in these experiences each year and regardless of their age, race, religion, sexual orientation, HIV status or nationality.

Some of my favourite festivals are ones that you might also find personally enriching. The Montréal International Jazz Festival for instance has been alive for more than three decades and presents all varieties of jazz and blues music on some 500 stages each summer. Artfest is another good one, welcoming hundreds of artists to show and sell their work on the streets of the Village; simply amazing, this festival becomes one of the most spectacular open-air galleries every year. Want to laugh? The July Just for Laughs Festival brings humour from all aspects of society: politically incorrect, gay, Jewish, British, Irish, Canadian, French, local, romantic, female, uptown, novice, experienced and alternative. The Image & Nation LGBT world film festival brings other variety of connoisseurs to our city and ones eager to take in as many local and international LGBT long and short films as possible.

If you’re a sport enthusiast, you’ll not easily be disappointed either. Athletes compete here year round in any number of local, provincial, national and international competitions. Men and women of every age have adopted sport like a religion and it is serious business here. In Montréal, people play and watch with so much enthusiasm that stadiums are filled, crowds go wild and the competitions just don’t stop. To further add to the regular excitement to date, the city of Montréal has just announced the coming construction of a new soccer stadium that will help accommodate the thousands of professional and amateur players that are increasingly flocking to this sport each year. This stadium will join the Olympic-level venues already prominent on the list of facilities available. This brings up another thing I like about this city: there is a game for everyone, (sport or otherwise).

Village Boutique
© Tourisme Québec High Resolution (3,853 KB)

We may be better dressed too
Montréal has another trump card up its sleeve and one that I enjoy to play whenever I return to Alberta. With ‘gay-straight’ labels flying so far out the window, this city, in general, may simply be the best dressed around. Montréal is typically the first to bring in the international fashions and throw them on the racks. We have some of the best internationally recognized talent located right here too: Luc Laroche, Philippe Dubuc, Marie Saint-Pierre, Nadya Toto, JM – we are often the first North American city outside of New York to send out what’s cool on a regular basis. And here, every Montrealer embraces these fashions whole-heartedly. In fact, straight men are flocking so much to fashion that I often find myself wondering if my ‘gay-dar’ is still working or if ‘that’s just some Metrosexual over there.’

Of course, the repercussions of this reality are far more significant when one considers that the LGBT community is simply not confined to those 15 by 4 city blocks that make up the Village. We share bars, restaurants, stores, museums, streets and now can be seen racing with our Metrosexual counterparts for the last pair of designer sunglasses sitting under the glass counter in a Saint-Laurent Street boutique. Someone, anyone, please tell me how I’m supposed to find a partner under these conditions?

There must be a solution, right?
Where a question is asked, there should be an answer, just like a problem must yield a solution. If the city pace is just a little bit too wild or you simply want to explore a little more, Canada, and Québec have so much to offer. Looking over some tourism statistics, I read that an estimated 78% of the LGBT community have valid passports versus about 28% of the mainstream population. I guess it’s safe to say we like to travel.

If you would like to explore a little more, a quick search would yield any number of interesting possibilities.

Enjoy life!
© Tourisme Québec High Resolution (3,964 KB)

Montréal is one of the best cities to start from if you want to explore a gay-friendly Québec or hit some famous attractions nearby in Ontario. By car, we are only a few hours from any number of tour possibilities or short-haul excursions sure to spice up your adventure here. Mont-Tremblant and the Laurentians are around an hour and a half from Montréal and offer incredible views, luxurious spas for any budget, fresh air, open skies, mountains, and some of the best skiing around during the winter. Charlevoix, another love of mine, is an adventure in itself: visit here for whale watching and outdoor sporting – canoeing, kayaking, rafting, horseback riding and more. Québec City, the province’s capital and a historical and architectural gem on its own, is about two and a half hours away and Ottawa, the Nation’s Capital, is about two. Toronto, Niagara Falls, the Adirondacks in Upper New York State and even New York City are close enough to travel to easily as well. If you’re coming, plan to visit one of these places, especially if you won’t be back in our neck of the woods soon.

And if one stays?
When you do decide to come and stay, you will find that Montréal is not an expensive city to visit. All things considered, you can go out, shop, get around and participate in any variety of experiences with the smallest or largest budget in mind. I found that one out when my honey left me. A couple of things to note:

	A Taste of Montréal
	© Tourisme Québec, Jean-François Leblanc High Resolution (4,550 KB)

Restaurants of every flavour and class are found in abundance here. So are the cocktail bars, mind you, but that’s a whole other article. International cuisine is a Montréal specialty of which I can attest to and savouring fine food and everything delicious a favourite pastime of locals and visitors alike. The famous ‘table-d’hôte’ is also ever-present and so don’t expect to pay much more for appetizers, dessert and coffee when they accompany your main dish. You can also try one of the many bring-your-own wine restaurants that riddle Duluth and Prince Arthur Streets or parts of the Village.

Much of what to do is free and you won’t have to stand in line or wait. Montréal is neither a line-up city nor a city that will ask you to pay entry fees every time you hit a club. Actually, you shouldn’t expect to pay for most of what you’ll do. Okay, so there may be nominal fees for a few museums or events but there is much you can do without burning holes in your pockets. Even more, early spring to fall sees streets lined with free performances in the Old Port. The Atwater Market, Lachine Canal walkways and Mont-Royal Tam-Tam experiences are all free things to do that no one should miss anyway. Art and furniture galleries, stunning architecture, the churches and basilicas can be found throughout the city year-round too. Remember, this is a city that likes to share its culture so feel relaxed when you do just that. You can always go window-shopping too but I doubt many of us know how to do that.

Métro of Montréal (Station Jolicoeur)
© Tourisme Montréal, Pierre Gingras High Resolution (1,183 KB)

Getting around in this city is as cheap as it is easy. While that phrase could easily be turned around on me, I say it with pride. The public transportation here is simple and goes wherever you could possibly like to go. Regardless of where an activity is happening, you can probably get there on the underground métro subway system. My mother suggests people bring their walking shoes – she figured it out. This city is big on the BMW (Bus-Métro-Walk) phenomenon. Taxis, though, are also available and they are typically well known for not trying to take advantage of visitors and maintaining honest intentions.

So, now back to perspective…
With so much to do in a place where everyone is welcome, Montréal remains the premiere gay and lesbian destination and a perfect host for the 1st World Outgames in 2006. This city is affordable, culturally vibrant and open to anyone, anywhere and at anytime. Outgames participants will live what promises to be a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ experience and contribute to its groundbreaking success. Even more, the famous hospitality that attracted me so – that which asked me to stay – is now waiting for you to explore. Without a doubt, people will come for the games, live for the sports and surely revel in every passion of the international festivities at hand. Mark it down in your calendar now; this is one time when being 'fashionably late’ just won’t do!