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About mid-way between St Louis and Kansas City, Columbia is home to the University of Missouri. In this politically liberal college town, over half the population is said to hold a bachelor's degree. A simmering gay scene mixes in well with everyone else. The MidMO Pride Fest takes place each year in late August.

 

Getting here

Columbia Regional Airport receives American Airlines direct flights to Columbia from Dallas/Fort-Worth and Chicago O'Hare. See their website for taxi and shuttle information into town. Hertz and Enterprise offer car rental services.

Kansas City International Airport to the west, and Lambert-St Louis International Airport to the east, are alternative landing options, each a couple of hours drive away on I-70.

 

Getting around

Because the gay scene is so spread out, you’ll probably want to rent a car. If you're looking for public transportation, see the website of GoComo for bus routes, fares and schedules. Note they run only until 6:30pm Monday-Wednesday, until 9:30pm Thursday-Friday, until 7pm on Saturday, and not at all on Sundays.

 

Media & Resources

The Center Project (300 Saint James) is central Missouri’s only gay community center. They organize the Mid-Missouri Pride Fest and do film screenings and social nights, in addition to other services, and the website has info about the local gay community.

For students at Mizzou (the University of Missouri), the MU LGBTQ Resource Center has weekday drop-in and hang-out hours 8am-4pm (until 6pm on Wed/Thur), plus various services and resources, including a lending library with hundreds of titles. MU Pride Month takes place in April.

The Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Daily Tribune are local newspapers. The local Convention & Visitors Bureau website has information on things to do and see, and the Parks & Recreation website has sports, aquatics, golf and other leisure activities info.

The website of Vox Magazine has good listings for local arts and entertainment, and a comprehensive restaurant guide.

See our Gay Columbia map & listings section for locations and website links to businesses listed below, along with some restaurant, shopping, and hotel suggestions.

 

Going out

Arch & Column Club (1301 Business Loop 70 E), neighborhood LGBT;  karaoke, bear nights, monthly dances.

Passions Video (1108 Business Loop 70 E), has a large selection of videos and DVDs, Falcon and Bel Ami studios, adult toys, novelties, magazines, lingerie, state-of-the-art arcade, open 24 hours on weekends.

Snapper's (12 S 7th St, Columbia), mixed dive bar, popular with students, cheap drinks, friendly folks, juke box, pool table.

Tropical Liqueurs (515 E Broadway, Downtown + 3805 S Providence Rd), mixed crowd, alcohol or virgin frozen cocktail specialties, beer and mixed drinks.

Yin Yang Night Club (128 E Nifong Blvd), gay/mixed young crowd, all welcome; drag shows, special events.

CLOSED: Megaplex Spa (11674 Old Hwy 40a, Boonville), gay bathhouse; and Soco Club - young crowd gay dance club/cabaret.