Santa Barbara - Guide for Gays, Lesbians and Queers

The main LGBTQ+ resource in Santa Barbara is the Pacific Pride Foundation, headquartered at 608 Anacapa St. It was founded in the mid-seventies as a counseling service for gay men and lesbians. A second office is in Santa Maria. Its services include individual counseling and clinical therapy groups, peer support, programs for older adults, and resources for parents of LGBTQ+ kids. Young people have a youth group, PROUD Prom and a youth conference.

Health is the other pillar. The foundation offers free HIV and hepatitis C testing, runs a syringe services program and shares information on naloxone. In the eighties it was among the first sites in the county to offer anonymous HIV testing, and prevention is still at the heart of its work. Adults can join film nights and volunteer projects.

The city no longer has a full-time gay bar, so the scene meets at queer nights in mixed venues. Wildcat Lounge, 15 W Ortega St, is the best known, thanks to its weekly Red Room night. Eos Lounge, 500 Anacapa St, hosts drag parties. Son Y Sabor, 409 State St, has a weekly Latinx drag show, and Press Room, 15 E Ortega St, hosts a monthly queer night. The Pacific Pride Foundation also holds Sunset at the Canary on the rooftop of the Kimpton Canary Hotel, 31 W Carrillo St.

No gay sauna or cruise bar is documented in Santa Barbara. The nearest larger scene with dedicated bars is in Los Angeles and West Hollywood. For local tips, the Pacific Pride Foundation is the best first contact, and it keeps a community calendar of events across the county.