Louise Lopez expertly guides queer individuals to vibrant, inclusive U.S. and North American neighborhoods with 15+ years of dedicated experience, ensuring they find not just a home, but a community where their authenticity is celebrated and protected.
If you’re thinking about moving to LGBT Quebec City, there’s no need to be intimidated by the prospect of making this big change in your life. It is a safe, vibrant, welcoming place for queer to call home with a strong economy and an amazing quality of life.
Quebec City and its surrounding area have a well-deserved reputation for being secure locations to reside. The city has some of North America’s lowest crime rates and has been voted Canada’s safest urban area for raising children.
If you’re thinking of moving here, you might just find the accepting and inclusive environment that you or your family need to thrive in.
Even better? There is a tight-knit queer scene in Quebec City just waiting to be discovered. However much like Winnipeg, Victoria, Halifax and other mid-sized cities in Canada, it is rather low-key, especially when compared to places like Montreal or Toronto. This is why a gay realtor in Quebec City is worth their weight in gold as they can help you find your new perfect home here in the most LGBT-friendly neighborhood possible.
Despite the rather concealed LGBT culture, moving to this dynamic city shouldn’t make you uncomfortable. Quebec City has everything you could want from a metropolitan city and more, thanks to its LGBT-friendly business environment, nightlife, neighborhoods full of independent shops and restaurants that cater to queer customers … and a general atmosphere that it’s easy to love.
The vast majority of people here are accepting of the LGBTQ community, and you will soon discover that most businesses, shops, and services will serve you with pride.
A note, however, that Quebec Province – and Quebec City – are French-speaking, and you would be wise to not forget it. English is widely spoken here in and while people here might not be as uppity as in France, a few words de français will surely help you make friends quicker. A lack thereof can equally be a recipe for disaster and misconstrued as downright rude.
We’ll go over what you should expect when moving to LGBT Quebec City, as well as how you can make the transition easier on yourself (or with your family) and make sure you’re prepared to enjoy every minute of your new life here! If you need a more nightlife and travel-focused guide detailing all the LGBT clubs, parties, and more, check out our Gay Quebec City Travel Guide.
Moving to LGBT Quebec City is not what you think it is, so leave all of your preconceived notions at the door…
In this article we will cover...
- Highlights Of Moving To LGBTQ Quebec City
- Does Quebec City Embrace The LGBTQ Community?
- Is Quebec City An Expensive City to Move To?
- The Best Gay Neighborhoods In Quebec City
- LGBTQ+ Community Organizations In Quebec City
- LGBT-Owned Businesses In Quebec City
- Final Thoughts On Moving To LGBTQ Quebec City
- Finding Gay Realtors In Quebec City
Highlights Of Moving To LGBTQ Quebec City
Gay Quebec City is a breathtaking city whose historic streets and colonial Nouvelle-France inspire romance and exoticism. Charming, transfixing and utterly unforgettable – there is a lot to love here, including a small but vivacious gay scene
It’s a location where everyone in your family can find something enjoyable, however, this fabulous city is full of both tourist traps and hidden gems. Once you will live here, you will be able to connect with locals and spend your free time discovering that Quebec City is brimming with culture and captivating sights away from the well-beaten tourist trail…
Almost anything that your heart desires can be found here. There are plenty of things to look forwards to when moving to LGBT Quebec City, be it picturesque nature, charming streetscapes, fun festivals, world-class museums, epicurean restaurants, and effervescent nightlife.
Let’s take a closer look at a few of the aspects that make up this incredible city before we get into the details.
It’s One of the Safest Places to Live
It’s good to know that Quebec has consistently been ranked as one of Canada’s safest provinces. The city’s crime severity index score is much less than that of other prominent provinces such as British Columbia and Alberta. CSI is a statistic that considers how frequently crime is committed as well as the severity of incidences, making it an excellent measure of safety.
Quebec City has performed very well in terms of safety within the province. In fact, according to one analysis from 2019, the city has the least CSI of all Census Metropolitan Areas. It has also been named the safest metro to raise children in the country.
There Is Universal and Free Healthcare
As a resident of Quebec City, you will have access to the region’s healthcare system, which is run by the Régie de l’assurance Maladie du Québec. This medical scheme covers all your necessary medical care for free.
However, the plan only begins after a three-month grace period. Officials from the province highly advise those moving to Quebec to obtain private insurance during the waiting time. If you don’t have that, out-of-pocket costs could be high if you require medical attention.
Transportation Options Are Plentiful
Many residents prefer to own and drive a car, but anyone who doesn’t have access to one can select from a range of options. Quebec City is a cyclist’s paradise, with well-lit and very well-defined bike lanes connecting various areas of the city.
There is also a low-cost local bus system, Réseau de transport de la Capitale, running across the metro region. Via Rail Canada offers a quick train service that links Quebec City to various cities across Canada.
Does Quebec City Embrace The LGBTQ Community?
The rights of lesbians, gay men, lesbian women, and transgender people (LGBT) in Canada are among the most robust and comprehensive in the world. In 1969, same-sex relationships became legal throughout Canada, and later the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 1995 that sexual orientation is protected by the constitution.
Later, Canada became the first nation in the Americas and the fourth country overall to allow same-sex unions on a national level in 2005. According to polls, 76% of Canadians felt that same-sex couples are equally likely as other parents to raise children effectively, and 70% of the country thought that same-sex couples should have the same rights to adopt children as heterosexual couples have.
Similar surveys have revealed that 87.6% of respondents stated they would feel “comfortable” living next to a transgender person and that 91.8% of those asked in a survey commissioned by the Privy Council Office said they were “comfortable” living next door to someone how was gay, lesbian or bisexual.
Obviously, we would love to see all these numbers at 100%, but for now, they are some of the highest rates of acceptance in the world – making Canada an extremely gay-friendly place to live.
When it comes to Quebec City specifically, it’s difficult to pass through Saint-Jean-Baptiste and not see a few rainbow flags. They boldly wave over nearly every establishment and blend in with the town’s vibrant colors.
Quebec City is, without a doubt, a great place to be gay. Although there are only a few official gay bars, members of the LGBTQ+ community are welcome to go wherever they please, from trendy breweries to dance clubs, wine bars, and pubs.
Gay life is open and welcomed in this province with gay marriage being legal all through the province. Queer tourists are marketed to heavily and the rainbow flag is proudly featured on the website and doors of numerous restaurants and hotels throughout the city. Since 2004, gay marriage has been legalized in Quebec province, and in extension, Quebec City has a rich history of being gay-friendly.
For many years, queer-parent families, and gay honeymooners have been drawn to the city by its variety, good restaurants, festivals, skiing, culture, and outdoor leisure. People of all ages can embrace the European charm of North America’s oldest city, irrespective of their parents’ orientation.
The city, which is very LGBTQ+ friendly, hosts the annual “Fête Arc-Cieliel” pride weekend in early September, and both the City Council and Quebec government actively promote local LGBTQ+ organizations.
Even though Montreal holds Quebec’s largest Gay Pride, attracting millions of attendees, Quebec City’s Gay Pride, attracts over 35,000 attendees each year and isn’t to be overlooked. Quebec City generally creates an exceptionally welcoming and safe environment for the LGBTQ+ community, which is reflected in society and life here.
Is Quebec City An Expensive City to Move To?
Quebec City is a lovely and economical city to live in. With various kinds of jobs accessible and a low unemployment rate, it’s a great time to be a job seeker here. In comparison to other adjacent cities, the city also boasts inexpensive housing costs.
Residents can go about their days without feeling too upset about transportation since they have access to public transport, which helps to reduce traffic during rush hour.
Quebec City is cheaper to live in than Montreal. Living in Quebec City comes with several drawbacks, such as low-paying occupations and a lack of a huge population to draw upon for career options.
Since the rental rate for a small apartment in the downtown area isn’t expensive, Quebec City is one of the few in the country where less than 20% of your monthly salary can be spent on rent.
Outside the city center is even much cheaper. The largest amount of your money will go towards food, which is a relatively expensive cost in this area.
The Best Gay Neighborhoods In Quebec City
There are thankfully many other places to reside for those who are looking for a calmer yet still LGBT-friendly environment as not all LGBT people want to be close to the relative chaos of the Old Town Quebec.
When moving to LGBTQ Quebec City, bear in mind that some areas are more conveniently located for all the fun queer events and activities. By being aware of them in advance, you can arrive at your new residence in the gay-friendly neighborhood that best suits your needs.
Discover your delightfully ideal new home in one of these prominent gay and LGBT-friendly communities in Quebec City. Each one has its own distinct personality, a friendly neighborhood, and facilities you’ll love.
Give yourself lots of time to get to know the many different and diverse areas of Quebec City, and bare in mind that this city has plenty to offer everyone – queer or otherwise!
Now let’s take a look at where the handful of marvelous gay areas in Quebec City are and talk about the Quebec City gayborhood where you might feel most at home! Or speak to a local LGBT real estate agent for a more detailed understanding of the best options today.
Old Town
The Old Town is a vibrant neighborhood with a rich history and vibrant streets at all hours of the day. It is home to some of Canada’s top restaurants as well as magnificent historical structures that should be seen at least once in anyone’s lifetime. The Morrin Centre in the neighborhood is worth seeing since it houses a lovely Victorian-style library.
In addition, this center was once a British soldier’s prison that you can still visit today. The gay village of Quebec City is situated in Haute Ville in Old Town, which also holds a three-day LGBT pride event in September. For several centuries, Haute Ville served as New France’s governmental and religious center. It has a number of convents, churches, and monuments that add to its beauty.
Old Town has a recognized culinary legacy that seeks to provide you with the greatest culinary experience possible by utilizing locally sourced and fresh products. Your taste buds will thank you for the delectable dishes you’ve been served.
Old Town is predominantly a family-friendly neighborhood with property values above $2 million. Since the rent is too high for a single person, you will find families living here collectively.
Saint-Jean-Baptiste
Saint-Jean-Baptiste, located within Montcalm and Old Québec, is every foodie’s dream city. The atmosphere in Saint-Jean is bohemian. Saint-Jean Street, which traverses the length of the neighborhood and is intersected with streets of colorful residences embracing the steep slope, leads out of the walled sector.
Bakeries, gourmet dining spaces, chocolate shops, bookshops, independent boutiques, and record shops can all be found here.
Saint Jean’s taverns, restaurants, and bistros will keep you busy till the early morning, serving delicious food and entertaining you. Because of its brilliant and colorful residences that are nearly built on top of one another, SaSaint-Jeans is also renowned as the bohemian neighborhood of Quebec City. It is an area where go crazy shopping and enjoy delicious meals.
Foodies will adore this neighborhood, which is home to a variety of small bistros serving regional cuisines as well as grocery stores and bakeries. This neighborhood appeals to a wide range of people. Saint Jean has poetry, jam sessions, and live music.
The stylish local brands and handcrafted products available in different shops will entice you to the point where universally common and expensive brands will not suffice.
In addition, there are a number of small stores selling a variety of decorative items so that you can personalize your space. These boutiques will melt your heart and tempt you to buy all they have.
Nouveau Saint-Roch
This neighborhood is located in the center of downtown Quebec City and features a variety of newly established trendy businesses as well as restaurants that offer excellent eating.
This district was once a working-class neighborhood, but select portions have been renovated to create a more fashionable zone. It is estimated that around $380 million was put into reconstructing different parts of the neighborhood.
Along with restaurants, the neighborhood houses upmarket shopping establishments and chic bars. Single people who want to enjoy a newly constructed region with modern commercial outlets on numerous streets would enjoy this area.
Saint-Roch was once a working-class area and is now sometimes likened to Williamsburg because of its hipster ambiance.
Foodies will want to come here to get a spot at some of Quebec City’s most talked-about restaurants, while beer lovers will enjoy the microbreweries that produce some genuinely fantastic brews. Although this neighborhood is reasonably priced, some home prices can go up to $250,000.
Montcalm
Montcalm is an active residential neighborhood that’s perfect for family living and is regarded as the city’s art center. There are a lot of galleries and theaters in the area. The Montcalm neighborhood is the ideal blend of bohemian and bourgeois styles. It draws art and culture enthusiasts and their families to the area.
The Festival d’été de Quebec, which takes place in July, brings the district to life and food is excellent at this location. The Montcalm area is an excellent neighborhood for families and you can find welcoming pubs, bistros, bars, and cafés where you can dine from dawn to night.
The Montcalm neighborhood attracts epicureans, art and culture lovers, and sports fanatics, in a spectacular historical setting.
LGBTQ+ Community Organizations In Quebec City
To progress the LGBTQ agenda, the queer community commonly has to rely on donor organizations or non-profits.
Wherever you live, it is imperative that you assist such organizations in any manner you can in order for them to reach out and aid others in the neighborhood. These Quebec City LGBT community organizations are some of the best.
Québec City Pride Festival (September)
A socio-artistic festival of LGBT + Pride that takes place during Labor Day weekend and attracts more than 35,000 people to downtown Quebec City. This celebration is an opportunity for thousands of people to publicly express their values of equality and justice, reaffirm their rights, and allow the population to rub shoulders with members of diversity. Everyone can enjoy 4 evenings of free shows, and 2 days of entertainment on rue Saint-Jean, in addition to conferences, themed evenings and a host of other activities including fabulous club events. A fabulous organization to volunteer with if you are wanting to help the LGBT community of Quebec City and connect with other like-minded people.
Center de Solidarite Lesbienne
The CSL’s mission is based on feminist ideals. Its goal is to enhance lesbians’ lives by providing services and support tailored to their specific circumstances in the areas of domestic abuse, health, and well-being. The CSL is a space where lesbians can talk and encourage one another.
The Arc-en-Ciel Alliance of Quebec
This organization’s objective is to mobilize and promote public awareness about the challenges and concerns that persons with gender and sexual diversity face, as well as to ensure their inclusion and protection of their rights.
The QLN has been working for the collective protection of rights as a national independent community action organization. It seeks to unite lesbian, pansexual, gay, bisexual, cis, queer, gender fluid, or questioning women.
The organization represents women from all areas of the city, including all ages, socioeconomic classes, cultures, and political viewpoints, with or without impairments, and so on.
LGBT-Owned Businesses In Quebec City
After moving to LGBT Quebec City, it’s only natural to want to support queer businesses. One strategy for establishing a safer and more inclusive society is to create a secure environment where people may rest, buy, dine, and connect without fear, and this is exactly what LGBT companies should strive for.
To safeguard the queer community’s survival and success, it is critical to support these initiatives wherever you are. When you shop locally, you put in a personal investment in your city and community. Here’s a short list of LGBTQ+-owned businesses in Quebec City you can invest in with your pink dollars…
Here are three fantastic LGBT-owned businesses you can promote throughout the year in Quebec City.
The chocolatiers and pastry chefs in this establishment meticulously prepare chocolate goods at the chocolaterie using Érico’s time-tested recipes. Their methods are processed with high regard for ingredients and a keen awareness of sanitary conditions.
Advisers here have established culinary expertise by tasting the products on a regular basis. They will happily and attentively offer insightful advice to the hesitant, delight the connoisseur, and shock the courageous beginner who is looking for a new taste.
A trendy gay cabaret space and nightclub – perfect for meeting friends. Symbolizing the bridge between the gay, lesbian and hetero-friendly community, Le Drague has proudly welcomed an open and diverse clientele for over thirty years. Le Drague Cabaret Club is made up of several zones offering different atmospheres and activities and has an amazing terrace open all summer long. There is the cabaret area offers shows by local and (sometimes famous) drag queens, or after 11 pm you can check out the club area for dancing and vibe-setting sounds from fiery DJs! There is also a lounge zone for those who want to relax, chat and sip cocktails with friends.
A Quebec City gay institution for men to have fun and relax away from prying eyes offering 3 levels and a basement – all in the heart of the old city of Quebec. Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, the Back Boys bath houses recently underwent a complete renovation in a Mediterranean style with sunny and bright colors and no offers an impressive list of services such as the whirlpool, dry and steam saunas, a cozy fireplace in the relaxation lounge, lockers and more intimate spaces.
A gay-owned and utterly charming boutique hotel offers 15 rooms and suites with a unique cachet, in the heart of the Quebec City arts district. We love the delicious English breakfasts served with fresh croissants cooked on-site every morning and the rustic red-brick inn building it is housed in. Stay in relaxed rooms with modern furnishings, some with balconies, chat with other travelers in the guest lounge and garden, or explore the trendy Saint-Jean-Baptiste which is right on your doorstep. One of the most popular options for gay adventurers seeking something a bit different while still being extremely good value. And a perfect option if you are checking out Quebec City before committing to the big move..
Tutto Gelato represents a family-friendly, urban, and, Italian environment. All the different classic varieties of gelato are available here and they are finely produced in an artisanal manner. The master glacier chases his goal by constantly being on the alert in the place that attracts him; exoticism does not avoid the seduction of delight.
Les Bruleries is happy to provide excellent quality coffee that is always fresh, all while observing the best quality-price ratio imaginable. The coffee shop seeks to play a leading role in the consumption space while also respecting the heritage of coffee and the craft of its transformation.
Final Thoughts On Moving To LGBTQ Quebec City
Quebec City is a wonderful place to live in. Even though the LGBTQ community is not as vibrant as in cities like Montreal or Toronto, it is visible and welcoming. There’s a lot to see and do here, and most importantly, you will find a community that’s ready to accept you as you are.
Remember that life is what you make it, and wherever (or if ever) you decide to start your new chapter in LGBT Quebec City, we wish you the freedom and security you deserve. Living in a gay-friendly area, visiting nearby LGBT businesses and events, and joining queer community groups and sports teams are always the best methods to discover more about LGBT Quebec City.
We guarantee that if you follow these recommendations, moving to LGBT Quebec City will be less difficult for you and that you’ll quickly find like-minded individuals with whom to establish your newly chosen family.
Finding Gay Realtors In Quebec City
When searching for the ideal realtor, why would you consider someone’s sexuality? This may seem strange at first, but there are numerous reasons why contacting a gay realtor in Quebec City is a great way to find your dream house.
After all, when undertaking one of life’s most important transactions, it’s not unreasonable to expect fair, equal, and honest representation from someone who understands the queer community’s particular needs and wishes.
Furthermore, unfortunately, many people (up to a third of Americans) continue to believe that our community does not deserve protection and dignity in housing, adoption, employment, and other areas of life.
So it’s no surprise that LGBT people who use mainstream realtors often express feelings of discomfort, unnecessary trouble, unenthusiastic representation, or even antagonism or outright contempt.
Everyone deserves a gratifying, stress-free home buying or selling experience while being sufficiently represented, and this is why we feel you should engage a gay realtor to help you in finding your perfect future home.
LGBTQ realtors are more likely to be knowledgeable about the diverse communities in their area and understand which ones may be best suited to you when searching for a home. That’s not to say heterosexual realtors are not competent, but they’ve probably never had to handle many of the issues LGBT people face.
Rather than just being concerned with how bustling, fashionable, or up-and-coming a neighborhood is (or what it may appear like), gay realtors perform extensive research into the neighborhoods in which they sell homes to ensure that clients are safe.
It used to be challenging to uncover professional LGBT-friendly real estate agents in Quebec City – and it was virtually impossible to find one if you were relocating here from out of state and didn’t have access to a local referral.
Thankfully, you no longer have to search for a realtor without knowing whether or not they are accepting of others because you can use a list of gay, lesbian, and gay-friendly agents in Quebec City to do all of your homework for you.
Simply go to the page, and you’ll be presented with a free list of gay, lesbian, and gay-friendly agents who can help you with your relocation as well as other useful information like LGBT+friendly schools, shopping, storage firms, tradesmen, and more.
Read the biographies of LGBT real estate agents, then select the one who is right for you. It’s essential that you find someone who will be by your side and support you and your family during one of life’s most exhilarating occasions.
Even better, there is no hidden motive, cost, or obligation whatsoever!
