First off, you all know I'm completely hopeless at social things, for a pretty good combination of reasons. But that doesn't change the fact that I've recently turned 21 and have still never been to a bar in my city. And I want to have one little tiny taste of that college experience. Problem is, I don't really have friends here - well, I have one, but he's odd and I'm sort of angry at him anyway.

Actually, what I really want to do is go to a lesbian/gay bar. Two new experiences in one! That would even more definitely rule out the hetero male friend, though.

So, yeah. How does one go about this? How do you even know which bars cater to the LGBTs? What kind of clothing do you wear? Does it mark you as a pathetic loser if you just sit there by yourself at the counter?

I'm not looking to do anything wild or crazy, and I'm probably too shy to dance, so maybe it's just a bad idea anyway. All I really want to get out of it is a good beer and maybe a conversation with a pretty girl or two. Curiosity. You know.

All advice welcome.
Also, thanks to Mat Maniac for making me feel less embarrassed about my embarrassing social problems by posting about his own.