American Association of Law Libraries
2004 Annual Meeting, July 10-14
Boston, Massachusetts

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Guide

We hope you will enjoy your visit for AALL's 97th Annual Meeting & Conference!

Boston is one of the most queer-friendly places in the U.S. Many Boston and gay travel guides include GLBT listings for Greater Boston, and there is a wide range of information available on the web. We hope this guide may be a useful starting point for you as you consider how to spend your days in The Hub!

NOTE: Massachusetts uses 10 digit dialing. All phone numbers are in the 617 area code unless otherwise stated.

At AALL

Be sure to keep your schedule open for the evening of Tuesday, July 13.

Always a highlight of the annual meeting, the reception of the Standing Committee on Lesbian and Gay Issues (of the Social Responsibilities SIS) is scheduled for 7-10 p.m. The invitation to the reception provides location and details.

The Standing Committee's business meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. (Check the final program for location.) Contact the Standing Committee's chair, Scott Fisher, by e-mail or by calling 732-855-6160, if you would like to send your RSVP for the reception or add an item to the business meeting agenda.

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply for the Alan Holoch Memorial Travel Grant, which is awarded to assist with travel expenses to attend the AALL Annual Meeting. Note: The application deadline is May 1, 2004.

The AALL Mentor Project encourages prospective mentees and mentors to connect at the AALL Annual Meeting. If you’re a student or newer member and would like to be matched with a GLBT mentor, you can sign up and designate “Gay/Lesbian” in the Minority Category section on the Mentee Application form. Potential mentors can make the same designation on the Mentor Application form.

Calendar: GLBT Events

Many publications and web sites provide listings of GLBT events in the Boston area. Some of these are:

  • Bay Windows is the principal GLBT newspaper in New England. Delivered to numerous locations in the area on Thursdays, each issue includes a weekly calendar section; select Calendar from main menu.
  • InNewsWeekly is also distributed throughout the city, and it includes a regular calendar section; select Calendar from main menu.
  • Check the "Calendar" section in Thursday's Boston Globe
  • Improper Bostonian is a biweekly magazine, distributed at boxes and stands around the city. Listings include Gay & Lesbian section.
  • Boston Phoenix is an alternative weekly paper that emphasizes arts and entertainment; distributed throughout the area.
  • Calendar of Events (Greater Boston PFLAG)
  • Biversity Calendar (Bisexual Resource Center)
  • Cambridge Women’s Center Events Calendar
  • Craig’s List / Boston is all-purpose directory, includes daily events calendar (not limited to GLBT activities), ads for services, personals, and much more.

Boston Area GLBT Community Information

There are many online guides or other sources for information about support, health, social and other groups and organizations:

Entertainment

Public Transportation

If you will be using public transportation, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (T) provides a convenient trip planning feature, where you can enter the addresses for your starting point and destination and retrieve train and bus routes to travel in the greater Boston area. T station links in this guide open a new window fro directions from the convention center.

Please note that the T does not run all night. Although most area bars close at 2am, the last train on all lines leaves between midnight and 1am. The Night Owl Service offers bus service along the Green and Red lines on Friday and Saturday nights only until 2:30am.

Bars & Clubs

Current bar listings are included in each print issue of Bay Windows and In Newsweekly. Several guides to Boston area bars & clubs, some with comments and/or links to web pages, are listed below:

The online guides provide useful information but may be dated, so call ahead or check the listings in a current issue of Bay Windows or In Newsweekly.

Remarkably, there is no full-time women’s bar in the Boston area. See the Bay Windows and other calendar sections (listed above) and the Fever! Web site for a current listing of upcoming and ongoing dances, social and other groups, and more. These include the popular Dyke Night (Thursdays) at the Midway Café in Jamaica Plain.

Restaurants

Films

Daily movie listings and ads are available in The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald, as well as the Boston Citysearch Movie Guide (directory of theaters and daily show times).

Boston has several alternative theaters that feature independent, foreign, classic and documentary films; all are easily accessible through public transportation, including:

Destinations

You may want to consider a day trip, or a longer stay before or after the Annual Meeting, at one of New England's queer-friendly vacation spots, including Provincetown and Ogunquit, Maine.

If you have a free afternoon or evening, or just want to get away for a meal or some time away from the conference, consider these local destinations:

Other Entertainment Links

  • See the Boston Phoenix for it's extensive listings and the online guides on Art (including museum and gallery listings), Theater, and Music
  • Jordan Hall (concerts at New England Conservatory of Music, often free)
  • PrideSports Boston (network of sports clubs in Greater Boston area)
  • Sports (Bay Windows Community Guide)
  • See the Miscellaneous Links section below

Shopping

  • See Fodors Guide (via boston.com) for some general comments and Massachusetts Travel Journal for a description of places to shop
  • GLBT Bookstores
  • Destinations
    • Prudential Center is connected to the Hynes Convention Center and to Copley Place mall; combined, this complex is home to dozens of stores (including Saks Fifth Avenue, Lord & Taylor, Barnes & Noble); a popular food court and fine dining; Loews Cineplex Theaters; and much more.
    • Newbury Street is just a block north of Boylston Street and the Hynes Center, is the destination for scores of elegant shops, restaurants and outdoor cafes, art galleries, and the Virgin Megastore that sits atop the Hynes T stop.
    • The South End is a destination for numerous trendy clothing stores and gift shops, We Think the World of You bookstore, plus the restaurants, nightlife, bars and more.
    • Downtown Crossing is home to Macy's, Filene's Basement, Borders and Barnes & Noble and many other shops. Take the Green Line to Park station and cross Tremont Street.

Religious/Spiritual

There are many GLBT and welcoming congregations and spiritual organizations in the Boston area. Many of them have web sites with information about times for services, location, directions, etc. A partial list includes:

For a more complete list of GLBT and welcoming religious & spiritual groups in New England, see the Bay Windows community guide. See also the church listings in the guide at johnpierce.com.

Note: During the summer months, some religious organizations in the Boston area suspend or "scale down" their usual activities. It is advisable to call in advance to verify services or activities.

Select Resources for …

Women

Men

Transgender Folk

GLBT & Questioning Youth

  • BAGLY (Boston Alliance of GLBT Youth)
  • Boston GLASS (drop-in center for GLBT and questioning young people)
  • Peer Listening Line for GLBT Youth (267-2535; Toll-free 800-399-PEER)

Miscellaneous Links
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Last Updated: June 29, 2004
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