Last Updated on October 14, 2022
June is Pride Month, which makes this a great time to look at the top LGBTQ+-friendly cities of the world. Fortunately, we live in an era when gender and sexual orientation are much more fluid and far more accepted than ever before. Still, while some communities could best be described as “tolerant” of LGBTQ+ people, the cities below are the friendliest thanks to the consistent effort of LGBTQ+ and allies. Here are the top five places that have diligently worked to be welcoming places for everyone to visit!
5 Provincetown, MA
The small coastal town of Provincetown, Massachusetts, hasn’t gotten much fanfare or been featured in films and books as often as other travel destinations. Still, it’s been a bastion of support for the LGBTQ+ community and allies for decades. Gorgeous beaches and several yearly gatherings celebrate pride all year long while providing the perfect weekend getaway for everyone looking to enjoy the east coast together.
4 Fire Island, NY
Just a short ferry ride from Long Island, the Fire Island community is segmented into smaller neighborhoods on the island. Among them are two of the most LGBTQ+-friendly places on Earth. The Pines is a well-to-do community of beautiful beachfront houses often rented out by celebrities and fashion moguls for the summer. On the other hand, Cherry Grove provides a more down-to-earth locale for many looking to soak in the sun all day and dance their hearts out at the club all night.
3 Albuquerque, NM
The ABQ isn’t exactly a thriving community of LGBTQ+ people, though plenty resides here, to be sure. However, what landed this New Mexico hub on our list was the “accept everyone” attitude that is so pervasive. It’s a place where allies of all kinds coexist and welcome everyone with open arms, regardless of what pronouns you prefer or orientation you happen to feel is right for you.
2 Las Vegas, NV
It’s fair to say that in Las Vegas, people “just don’t care about anyone’s orientation.” While that may seem harsh to hear at first, when you think about it, that’s exactly what the LGBTQ+ movement has always been about. Las Vegas has reached the point we hope all communities eventually achieve – a status where the orientation of any person is a complete afterthought, and the focus is on the merits of an individual rather than stereotypes.
1 San Francisco, CA
The first choice was obvious from the start, wasn’t it? Back in the day, San Francisco benefited greatly by becoming one of the first cities to accept everyone openly and encourage people to be open about who they are without judgment. That built a burgeoning business community of creative, forward-thinking execs and a nightlife that many agree is better than any other. As the globe has learned acceptance, SF continues to serve as a shining example of what inclusion means and what it can do for the greater culture.