Gay in des moines

Explore LGBTQ+ Events and Activities

Annual Events

Des Moines Pride Festival
The 46th annual PrideFest will be held June 6 &#x; 8, in the Historic East Village in Des Moines, Iowa. In previous years, The Des Moines Pride festival welcomed more than 40, attendees. To see our Pridefest itineraries, click here.

Pride Walk Des Moines
This annual event goes from the Nomade in the Sculpture Park to the Capital building, via Locust Street. It demonstrates that Pride is a celebration of people coming together in love and friendship. This year&#x;s walk will be on June 1 starting at 6 p.m.

CCP Pride Parade
The highlight of PrideFest is on Sunday, June 8 beginning at Noon. This parade starts at the Iowa State Capital and travels down Grand Avenue into the Historic East Village, full of floats and flags and people all celebrating Pride in Greater Des Moines.

Year-Round Activities

Pride for the Gay community goes beyond one month in June. Capital City Celebration produces authentic events and activities through

Bars and Nightlife

Gay Bars and Clubs

Blazing Saddle ( East 5th Ave), If you&#x;re looking for a kind LGBTQ+ bar in Des Moines, then you&#x;ve start it! The Saddle is open days a year featuring daily Happy Hour, Trivia Night every Tuesday, and monthly charity events for non-profits. Additionally, Latin Nites and various types of Drag Shows every Wednesday through Sunday. Observe the Blazing Saddle Calendar of Events.

Buddy's Corral ( East 5th St) is a mixed, relaxed neighborhood bar with jukebox, karaoke, located next to Blazing Saddle.

The Garden Restaurant & Show Lounge ( E Grand Ave) is an LGBT+ owned and operated business that is abode to a host of amazing talent with an outstanding legacy. The Garden offers a wide variety of entertainment and a full kitchen menu.

The Locust Tap ( E Locust) embodies the term "dive bar" nearly perfectly. Between the years of graffiti on the walls, authentic tile floor (amongst other things) dating back 60+ years, cheap drinks, and no-frills atmosphere, what you see is what you g

LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapists in Des Moines, IA

Areas of interest include polyvagal theory, EMDR, LGBTQIA+ issues, body and weight neutrality, and Complex PTSD.

I am a trauma-informed provider, and I offer a holistic perspective due to my background in yoga and massage therapy. My approach is eclectic, and I interweave mindfulness, EMDR, and CBT while using a strength-based perspective, humor, and authenticity.

Areas of interest include polyvagal theory, EMDR, LGBTQIA+ issues, body and weight neutrality, and Complex PTSD.

I primarily serve with adolescents and adults within the LGBTQIA+ community, individuals who have experienced sexual abuse, home violence, and overall complex trauma.

I value inclusivity, compassion, and authenticity- including how it shows up in the therapeutic space. I apply a strengths

Gay Des Moines: See All that The Capital Municipality has to Offer

Des Moines, sometimes known as “The Capital City”, is a midwestern city full of diverse and thriving communities, warm and friendly people, and plenty to spot and do.

Digging into Des Moines History

Des Moines traces its modern-day history support to May of , when Captain James Allen supervised construction of a fort at the place where the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers merge. The fort was initially constructed for the purpose of dealing with unrest caused by Native American populations who had been displaced from their territory, but stopped being used for that purpose after the first few years. Eventually, settlers occupied the nearby fort and surrounding areas, and by , Des Moines was officially incorporated as a municipality. While growth was initially slow, after completion of a railroad line to the area, it rapidly picked up pace. The city’s growth has continued since that time, and Des Moines is now Iowa’s largest city – a thriving hub of midwestern industry and identity, with a warm and welcoming pe