The stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny and La Cienega has been called a lot of things over the years, but most locals have known it simply as the Rainbow District and Boystown before that. Now the City has made that long-time nickname official, formally designating the area as West Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ cultural district and acknowledging its decades-long role as a gathering place for community, nightlife, activism, and everything in between.
As part of the rollout, the newly named Rainbow District launched its own social media channels on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. The City says the goal is to keep residents and visitors up to date on events, small-business happenings, and the kind of day-to-day neighborhood life that gives the area its character.
For the City, the designation is as much about honoring history as it is about charting the future. The announcement describes the mile-long corridor as one of West Hollywood’s most visible symbols of acceptance, inclusion, and visibility, a place that has welcomed people from every background for generations.
Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers echoed that point in the City’s announcement, saying the Rainbow District has long been a place “where LGBTQ+ people take their first steps into living openly, where the warm embrace of community is found at every turn, and where the joy of living out, loud, and proud fills the streets.” Byers added that the designation “honors both the legacy and the future of this vibrant neighborhood, home to beloved entertainment venues, bars, and restaurants that have long served as cornerstones of LGBTQ+ life.” She called the district “a beacon of hope, pride, and belonging” and a reminder that everyone deserves a place to feel seen and supported.
More than fifty businesses operate in the Rainbow District, including shops, restaurants, clubs, and community organizations. Nearly half of West Hollywood’s bars and nightclubs sit inside these few blocks. The City’s announcement notes that the district’s year-round programming blends reflection with celebration, a mix of long-standing traditions and new events designed to build joy, strengthen community ties, and keep the neighborhood’s identity front and center.
Winter lights went up in mid-November, and the opening of STORIES: The AIDS Monument at West Hollywood Park on November 16 marked one of the district’s first major moments following the designation. More events are already on the calendar, including a Winter Market and ice-skating rink in December 2025, Go-Go Dancer Appreciation Day in March 2026, Harvey Milk Day on May 22, and WeHo Pride Weekend and the OUTLOUD Music Festival from June 5 to 7.
By formalizing the Rainbow District, West Hollywood joins other cities that have designated LGBTQ+ cultural landmarks. The announcement frames it as a continuation of the City’s long-standing commitment to protecting queer spaces, uplifting LGBTQ+ voices, and maintaining a safe, joyful environment for all who call the neighborhood home.
Residents and visitors can follow the Rainbow District on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to keep up with local happenings, support businesses, and stay connected to the district’s programming. More information is available at visitwesthollywood.com/rainbowdistrict.
The City also used the announcement to highlight West Hollywood’s history since incorporation in 1984. West Hollywood has been recognized for its progressive public policies, social justice work, and leadership on LGBTQ+ rights. More than 40 percent of residents identify as LGBTQ+, and four of the five current councilmembers are openly LGBTQ+. The City was one of the first in the United States to adopt a Domestic Partnership Ordinance in 1985, formed its Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board in 1989, and created the nation’s first municipal Transgender Task Force in 2001, later becoming the Transgender Advisory Board in 2009. The City marked its 10,000th domestic partnership registration in 2014, and the following year West Hollywood became a national focal point during the celebration of the Supreme Court ruling on marriage equality.
The Rainbow District remains home to many of the city’s most historic LGBTQ+ clubs, restaurants, and retailers, and it serves as the center of one of the largest Pride celebrations in the country, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. More information about City programs is available at weho.org, and residents can follow @WeHoCity across social platforms for updates.
Visit West Hollywood, the organization promoting tourism in the city, also highlights the Rainbow District among its three major neighborhoods, along with the Sunset Strip and the Design District. West Hollywood is home to twenty hotels, enjoys a mild year-round climate, and continues to be a cultural and entertainment destination for visitors from around the world. Visit West Hollywood can be found on Instagram at @visitweho and on Facebook at @WestHollywood.
The Mile of Magic Along Santa Monica Boulevard from
N. Doheny Drive to N. La Cienega Boulevard Welcomes
Residents and Visitors to Come as They Are
Follow @RainbowDistrictWeHo for
Upcoming Events and Happenings
I like it.
I don’t see any harm in it. I think it’s got too many syllables to really catch on, so it will always be Boyztown to those of us who live in Boyztown. (Just as “gay” is less of a mouthful than 2SLGBTQIA+.) Americans prefer fewer syllables.
But knock yourself out, WeHo. I don’t mind or see any harm in either the more formal name or the cultural designation.
I think it’ll stick easily.
Nothing more than a re-marketing effort for an area that didn’t need this. An unnecessary waste of time and money when efforts should made about safety and cleanliness. Rainbow District is very generic and West Hollywood ,as a whole, has always been welcoming to acceptance and LGBT+ forward. Do we need to define a certain area for that?
This is the silly nonsense the city focuses on. They aren’t capable (nor interested) of passing laws at enable businesses to flourish so it’s an endless “identity” conversation.
Driving down that section of road……and looking at the condition of the area……doesn’t seem something to be very proud of. It’s a rather run down continuous strip mall with homeless junkies in every direction.
“She (Mayor Byers) called the district “a beacon of hope, pride, and belonging” and a reminder that everyone deserves a place to feel seen and supported.” Unless you’re a right of center gay…then they silence you or run you out of the city. LOL Girl please, save your bs.
Yes. Whatever something purports itself to be, very often the opposite is the truth.So true in this bubble.
It’s still Boystown and it will always be Boystown to me and many other older gay men who frequented WeHo in its early days. No kid who was probably in diapers while we we’re partying is Boustown is going to come here and make us call it something else.
Your absolutely correct! Ever since cityhood the boys have been apologizing for winning. Internalized homophobia. It wasn’t rainbow wigs and silly looking outfits that dodged the bricks coming through the windows of the bars on Santa Monica Blvd . It was the boys, the drag queens and the dykes. Rainbow trivializes the fight and struggles we made . I’ve always liked the boystown label cause that’s what it is. The only thing that’s not inclusive is the women who also fought for our rights .