Club Q, Colorado Springs, Colorado

The central Rockies city of Colorado Springs has earned a reputation for far-right conservative politics over the years, and to be sure, it's not the gay-friendliest city in the state (try Denver, an hour north). But the gay scene here is improving steadily. You'll find a few gay bars in town, the largest and most popular being Club Q (3430 N. Academy Blvd., 719-570-1429), a "come one, come all", zero-attitude place that's equally popular among lesbians and gay men. It's nothing fancy, and you'll find it tucked behind a shopping center in a suburban neighborhood on the northeast side of town.