Located on the bay of the beautiful Gulf of Mexico, Mobile is widely considered to be one of the cultural centers of the Gold Coast and is known for having several art museums, a symphony orchestra, a professional ballet company and opera, as well as a significant concentration of historical architecture. It's also well known for having the oldest Carnival or Mardi Gras celebration in the United States. Mobile has a variety of nicknames, including The Port City, Azalea City, and The City of Six Flags. Whatever you call it though, it's a city that's vibrant, welcoming and the happy home of a thriving and growing LGBTQ community.
A Look at Mobile’s History
Mobile was founded in 1702 as the capital of colonial French Louisiana. In fact, it remained a part of the New France colony for over 60 years. Eventually, in 1763 the Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the seven years of war in which Britain defeated France. Following that war, France ceded its territories east of the Mississippi River, including Mobile to Britain, and eventually, following it became part of the United States. Throughout the next century, the city continued to grow, becoming an important center of industry and culture, as well as a key harbor and center of the shipbuilding industry. Despite its unfortunate segregationist history in the mid-20th century, Mobile has grown and changed significantly and is now a far more forward-thinking city rich in culture, arts, and industry.
Mobile– A Few Fun Facts
Read more fun facts about Mobile here.
The LGBTQ Community in Mobile
Mobile is a city that truly loves and celebrates its LGBTQ community and supports it with a wide variety of resources. Some of the LGBTQ community resources in Mobile include:
Rainbow Mobile is a non-profit LGBTQ organization that serves the needs of the LGBTQ community in coastal Alabama. The organization promotes inclusive events and programs and maintains a directory of LTBTQ affirming resources on its website, in addition to engaging in community projects, advocacy and outreach.
PFLAG Mobile is the city’s local chapter of the national PFLAG organization, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. PFLAG is well-known for its mission of supporting LGBTQ people, friends, family, and allies across the country in a wide variety of ways. With 500 chapters and more than 200,000 members in the United States, PFLAG plays a critical and important role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community.
What’s the Weather Like in Mobile?
Because of its location on the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile has a mild subtropical climate. This means that it typically has hot and humid summers and mild and rainy winters. The city gets a significant amount of rainfall each year – in fact, the most of any city in the contiguous 48 states - with 66 inches a year on average. Occasionally, the city is affected by tropical storms and hurricanes, and it is important to be aware of that and plan accordingly if you are a resident. On the other side of the coin, however, Mobile also experiences plenty of sunshine and offers beautiful coastal beauty throughout the year for visitors and residents alike to enjoy.
The Best Events in Mobile
Mobile Pride or “MobPride” for short is the city’s largest annual LGBTQ pride celebration, and it’s one event that you’ll want to be certain to put on your calendar. It is the Mission of MobPride to serve the LGBTQ community in Southeast Alabama year-round by celebrating its culture and commemorating its heritage, and by being dedicated to the achievement of equal rights, by fostering diversity and understanding, and promoting the physical, mental, and spiritual health of our community. The annual celebration of all that the LGBTQ community adds to the city includes parades, parties, and many other events and festivities that you won’t want to miss.
Mobile is proud to host the nation's oldest and longest-running Mardi Gras celebration each year in February – and it's a fun and festive event that the whole city looks forward to each year. Although this isn't a specifically "gay" event, it still draws plenty of participation from Mobile's LGBTQ community.
Where to Live in Mobile
Some of the larger cities in the United States have one particular area of town or "gayborhood" where most of the LGBTQ community lives. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of wonderful places to live in Mobile. The city has several different gay and lesbian clubs, restaurants, and other businesses, and the city that has the largest concentration of LGBTQ-owned and friendly businesses called the Rainbow District. The Rainbow District is bordered by St. Francis Street, South Clairborne Street, and Government Street. Although The Rainbow District is part of the downtown area and is mostly businesses, there are nearby areas like Dauphin Acres which have some wonderful homes for sale. A wide variety of home styles and price ranges are available in Mobile, and there are plenty of wonderful neighborhoods and homes to choose from.
Arts and Entertainment
Dauphin Street is often compared to the famed Bourbon Street in New Orleans – and not without good reason. Although Dauphin Street may not be as big or quite as well-known as Bourbon Street, it nevertheless has plenty of the same “French Quarter” character and a wide variety of restaurants, nightspots, and street entertainment for visitors to enjoy.
The Crescent Theater located in the heart of Mobile’s downtown entertainment district is the city’s independent movie theater. It shows locally produced films, independent films, older films, and a wide variety of performances for all tastes.
Parks and Recreation
Dauphin Island is a beautiful beach known for having some of the most stunning vistas and abundant natural resources in the Mobile area. It is a great place to soak up the natural coastal beauty of the bay area and it is a wonderful spot to spend a sunny afternoon.
Gulf Quest National Maritime Museum
Gulf Quest National Maritime Museum opened in September 2015 with the goal of providing an interesting insight into the unique maritime history and culture of communities along the Gulf of Mexico. The museum offers much to see and do and is an interactive learning experience for all visitors. Whether you enjoy learning about marine archaeology, shipwrecks, hurricanes or any number of other interesting topics, there is something to pique your interest here.
Mobile Nightlife
B-Bobs has long been a staple of gay nightlife in Mobile. This roomy bar offers strong cocktails, a great selection of draft beers, as well as plenty of dancing and great drag shows. It’s a must-try nightspot for a night out on the town!
Flip Side is another wonderful LGBTQ nightspot in Mobile. The most popular activity at Flip Side is karaoke, which usually happens at least three times a week. When the weather is nice, the beautiful outdoor patio is a great spot to sit outside and enjoy the evening with friends.
Contact a Mobile Gay Realtor Today
If you’re ready to make a move to Mobile, at www.gayrealestate.com, we’re here to help. To find the perfect home in a neighborhood you’ll love, you’ll need a realtor who knows the community well to help listen to your home-buying goals, and help point you in the right direction. We’re proud to have a network of excellent realtors in Mobile who can do exactly that. Contact a Mobile gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
