The queer clubs in the city may be the most diverse in the South; there are western-themed, bear, Latino and gender-queer bars. You may have noticed that Tallahassee has a reputation for being particularly lesbian-friendly, and that may stem from the fact that between 1905-1947 FSU was a women-only institution, and was one of the largest women-only universities in the country! However, aside from an ever-increasing LGBTQ+ population, what else does Columbus, Ohio have to offer tourists? Browse over 140 LGBTQ-owned businesses (also found in neighboring Douglas), swim and kayak at, (widely hailed as one of the countrys best), and climb to the top of. Its officially Pride Month, and after more than a year in lockdown, its time to celebrate! With its high end shopping, five-star restaurants, the beach, all while still living in a residential neighborhood that is a tightly-knit and well-organized gay community. Try another? Big cities like San Francisco are known for being LGBTQ-friendly, but if you're looking for a change of pace, these unexpected small cities and towns deserve a second look. Some decided to stay and build a laid-back life in Vilano Beach, Matanzas Bay, or the San Savinoneighborhood of St. Augustine Shores. These Are the Most Googled Questions and Answers About Asheville, NC Each October more than 10,000 people attend one of the most colorful Pride celebrations in the country, the Blue Ridge Pride Festival. Speaking of the theme parks, what started as a small group of gays and lesbians dressing in red and spending the day at Walt Disney World in 1991 has grown into one of the largest gay pride events in the world, attracting over 150,000 gay and lesbian travelers to Orlando on the first Saturday of every June. Median home list price: $449,000*. Lakeshore, for example, is a popular gayborhood. Or, if closer to downtown is more your thing, the artsy and hip All Saints neighborhood, is quirky, fun and very gay-friendly. Mount Dora offers a small town vibe where everyone knows your name. Take your pick of LGBTQ-owned accommodations like, and saunter down Commercial Street for hip art galleries, terrific seafood restaurants, and popular hangouts like the. Take your pick of LGBTQ-owned accommodations likeSomerset House InnandLands End Innand saunter down Commercial Street for hip art galleries, terrific seafood restaurants, and popular hangouts like theBoat Slip, where seemingly everyone in town gathers for its iconic tea dance. Because of its proximity to the ocean, real estate here can get a bit pricey. It may be more transitional than others, but its convenient location and great prices makes up for it. It has no shortage of historic sites, three military bases, and tons of restaurants and bars. It's a different world when juxtaposed to the rest of South Carolina; it challenges the state's reputation for intolerance (i.e.., Ted Cruz's upcoming Death to Gay's Rally). The annual Hampton Roads PrideFest, which includes a boat parade, has been moved to September this year, but there are still plenty of things to do during Pride Month. Members of the LGBTQ community are still less likely to own a home. By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. WebThese Gay-Friendly Cities Have Lots to Offer LGBTQ BuyersIncluding Affordable Homes. LGBTQ+ events occur regularly in the city, the most notable being the Orlando Come Out With Pride festival in October, attracting more than 185,000 people annually. Columbia, Missouri. Its residents regard Madison as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the United States. >. WebAvondale Estates is a small, tight knit community that spans across 1.1 square miles with approximately 3,000 residents. Error, group does not exist! LGBTQ folks want an equitable experience, says Ryan Weyandt, CEO of the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance. As the LGBT population ages, many predict Sea Ranch Lakes/Lauderdale by the Sea to be very popular LGBT-friendly beach resort communities, offering oceanfront living at very attractive prices. With a score of 85 out of 100, Anchorage deserves a closer look. However, Lake Worth is a city has the highest percentage (1.9 percent) of same-sex couples in the county. WebHere's a list of up-and-coming queer communities in the South. This progressive and liberal haven in the heart of Texas sees cowboys, politicians, gays, hipsters, artists, and musicians all live, work and play here in harmony. Its filled with hip shops and on-trend restaurants. Lauderdale Lakes features gated condo communities and is a must-see neighborhood if you want to be close to the action, but are on a budget. Gulfport is Tampa Bays Gay Margaritaville. The gayborhood of Palm Beach County, Lake Worth, lies just south of neighboring LGBTQ-friendly town West Palm Beach. With eye-popping dunes, stunning beaches, 19th-century homes, and art galleries galore, the Art Coast of Lake Michigan doesnt disappoint. And while Austin isnt the cheapest city to visit in the USA, its not expensive either, provided that youre not travelling during the peak season, which for Austin specifically is going to be during the South by Southwest festival. Unsurprisingly given how progressive Boston is, there are plenty of annual LGBTQ+ events in the city and many gay-friendly and gay-owned businesses. Just outside of Downtown, and north of Colonial Drive, the gays were some of the first to move to the once-rundown area to spruce it up. All sites are especially designed to accommodate manufactured homes or RVs in a natural setting. Saugatuck and Douglas, two small beach towns, are popular destinations for gay and lesbian travelers, and frequently lauded as some of the most gay-friendly small towns in the country. Wilton Manors, Florida. This city is known for the Stonewall National Museum & Archives, affectionately referred to as the LGBTQ+ communitys Smithsonian. Throughout the year, Gulfport celebrates diversity in all of its colors, shapes and sizes, so it is no surprise that it is home to the most LGBTQ-welcoming residents. Madison is so gay friendly that finding out where a gay neighbourhood starts and ends is somewhat impossible, while the number of gay bars to choose from is so extensive that you may just have to extend your trip to visit them all! And for those who already call this state home, its the perfect place to reside. South Tampa is a There are drag queen brunches on the Dora Queen, LGBTQ meetup groups, lesbian realtors, gay-owned shops and more. The largest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque, has become increasingly popular with LGBTQ+ tourists over the past couple of years. Not officially sanctioned by Disney, the annual event has attracted a growing number of LGBT families with children. The Stonewall Inn is where the 1969 Stonewall Riots occurred, catalysts for the gay liberation movement. This Is Why LGBTQ+ Americans Are Less Likely To Own Homes, How President Biden Plans To End LGBTQ Housing Discrimination. While many travellers choose to visit this pocket of the Sunshine State for Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, theres plenty more this incredible city has to offer, including a vibrant nightlife scene, fine dining and upscale shopping malls. Aside from mosquitoes and those pesky hurricanes, who wouldnt want to be surrounded by water and sun the majority of the year. Atlanta is the epicenter of the gay South, and members of the LGBTQ community have flocked there from more conservative towns and states for decades. The celebrations begin on 12th night, and end on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and while travel prices during this time rise significantly if you have the chance to attend we highly recommend doing so. Pride festivities arent the only gay-friendly events throughout the year either. However, it has some surprisingly queer-friendly spots and an increasing number of LGBTQ+ annual events, including OutFest and Philly Pride. Theres no central gay neighborhood here, but many of the gay bars are clustered downtown, in the Warehouse District. Some of our favourite neighbourhoods to either visit or stay in during our trips to NYC include Chelsea, where youll find one of the best LGBTQ+ bars in the world, The Cubbyhole and Brooklyn, home to the lush Metropolitan Bar. Buy buyers can snag a three-bedroom historic home in nearby Belmont Heights that is on the market for under $1 million. The Florida Keys, in general, are gay-friendly, however gay transplants have been relocating and vacationing in the island paradise of Key West since the early 1970s. Boston, Massachusettss diverse and inclusive culture, makes it one the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities in the United States. In fact, about half of Leon Countys residents possess at least a college degree, and has the most highly educated population in all of Florida. If you want to live downtown Fort Lauderdale, then Victoria Park is the neighborhood for you! That number is even lower for LGBTQ people of color, who are more likely to experience housing discrimination. Located in Minneapolis Cedar-Riverside neighbourhood (known locally as The West Bank), this nonprofit resource offers a wealth of knowledge for travellers curious about LGBTQ+ culture and history. Because of this, some LGBTQ people are looking for other places to call home, says Amin Ghaziani, a professor of sociology and Canada Research Chair in Urban Sexualities at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She previously worked for CBS News, Bloomberg TV, and NY1. During the festival, the cost of visiting Austin can be 2x to 5x, with many accommodation options selling out months in advance. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. Quaint and charming, cultured and European, St. Augustines history is quite alluring to LGBT travelers. Named the second gayest city in America by the Williams Institute in 2010, this subtropical locale has just 12,600 residents but managed to score 100 on the MEI. Do a quick search online for "gay-friendly travel," and you'll find the usual suspects New York City, Tuxedos have long been a classic wardrobe staple for men, but in recent years, women and nonbinary people have been breaking gender norms by rocking, AIDS Healthcare Foundation Healthcare Center, Alewife Craft Beer Bottle Shop & Tasting Room, Arcade Monsters Lido Beach St Armands Circle, Berkshire Hathaway Florida Properties Group, Center for Spiritual Living Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Orlando at SeaWorld, Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Fernandina Beach Pride Parade &Festival at Central Park, Flora-Bama Lounge, Package and Oyster Bar, Greater Ft. Lauderdale / Broward County Convention Center, Historic Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Naples Downtown, Holiday Inn Melbourne-Viera Conference Ctr, an IHG Hotel, Hotel Melby Downtown Melbourne, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, Hyatt Regency Orlando, Windermere Ballroom 9801 International Dr., Orlando, FL 32819, ICE HOUSE Chalk Festival '3D Illusion Museum', Lake Park Black Box Center for the Arts @ The Kelsey Theater, Lee County, FL Library (Fort Myers Regional Downtown), LGBTQ Resource Center Gulfport Public Library: Catherine Hickman Theater, Metropolitan Community Church of Tampa (MCC Tampa), Museum of Discovery and Science Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University Orlando Campus, Online Facebook Event @ DTSP:Saved by Streaming, Orange County Convention Center North Hall B, pin Art Ovation Hotel, Autograph Collection, pin The Barrel Room at Twisted Vine Bistro, Playalinda Beach/Holiday Inn Titusville-Kennedy Space, Rainbow Room at the Nauti Parrot Dock Bar, Renningers Mount Dora Flea Market and Antique Center, Residence Inn Fort Lauderdale Intracoastal/Il Lugano, Richardson Historic Park & Nature Preserve, Rosen Event Center on the Rosen JCC Campus, SpringHill Suites By Marriott Amelia Island, St. Matthew's Tavern at the Orlando Beer Garden, Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, Sunset Green Event Lawn at The Keys Collection, Sunshine Cathedral Center for the Performing Arts, Thanksgiving Art & Crafts Festival Tarpon Springs, The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater, The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, The Out-of-Door Academy Middle & Upper School Lakewood Ranch, The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club, The ZOO Studios & Event Space-Us Artists Group,LLC, Treasure Bay Golf, Tennis & Recreation Center, University of Miami Shalala Student Center, 01marAll Day07Miami Winter Party Festival, 02marAll Day12Florida Strawberry Festival, 02marAll Day02aprIsland City Stage Presents I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart by Morgan Gould, 03marAll Day05Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, 05mar2:00 pm5:00 pmDrag Queen Brunch Sunday, 05mar5:00 pm9:00 pmPride Music and Art Festival, 08mar6:00 pm10:00 pmPride Night at The Central Florida Fair, 10marAll Day31History Fort Lauderdales Women Trailblazers: Champions of Change Broward County presented by UKG Photo Exhibit, 11mar12:00 pm5:00 pmManatee Pride Festival, 12mar12:00 pm6:30 pmGulfport Pride, Peace & Love Festival, 18mar1:00 pm3:00 pmMeet Author John Bailey at History Fort Lauderdales Florida Scribes & Stories, 18mar(mar 18)7:00 pm19(mar 19)12:00 amMasquerade: The Sevens, 24mar6:00 pm10:00 pmonePULSE Topgolf Celebrating Common Ground, 25mar10:45 am4:00 pmTampa Pride Street Festival, 25mar4:00 pm6:00 pmTampa Pride Diversity Parade. Floridas population includes an estimated one million LGBTQ community members (This estimate doesnt account for tourists and may not fully account for snowbirds). Aside from the enormous Gay Pride Parade that brings out thousands of LGBT tourists on Memorial Day weekend, residents in the area will tell you that everyday life is a bit stricter. Here youll find countless incredible items from LGBTQ+ histories, such as an original printing of Dr Aldred Kinseys research and donations from prominent LGBTQ+ celebrities. Most college towns tend to be more progressive, open and tolerant, and the small college town of Gainesville, home to the University of Florida, is no exception. Disclaimer: Most gay-friendly cities in Florida are quite diverse, and neighborhoods can change dramatically in just a few short blocks. In other words, if youre looking for tolerance, culture and diversity, youre no longer limited to major metropolises. With over 6% of its population being LGBT, Tampa has a perfect score on HRCs Municipal Equality. In 2019, Fort Lauderdale passed a law that protects the citys LGBTQ community from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations. There are 200 miles of biking and hiking trails to explore, and Lake Mendota offers kayaking and fishing. Known for its great shopping and dining on Fifth Avenue, world-class golf courses, with more than a hint of cosmopolitanism, Naples is not necessarily known for being a gay hotspot. Noted for its extensive gay, lesbian and transgender annual events, nightlife, clubs and bars, Boston is a fantastic place to travel to as an LGBTQ+ person. A modern industrial condo there is currently listed below $350,000, while a single-family home steps from Piedmont Park (where the annual pride festival is held) is on the market for $799,900. About 15 miles south on the main road to Mt. WalletHub gave Orlando the highest ranking for LGBTQ Millennial job seekers, in addition, roughly 33% of the population is single. Historic Old Northeast was the first developed in St. Petersburg. Therefore, accommodation availability and costs increase dramatically. Web21. Many LGBT couples in town reside in this historic neighborhood, which has its own small fenced-in dog beach. The city has a long-standing acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community, with the residents here being one of the first in America to elect an openly gay mayor and a pride parade that dates back to the 1970s. Browse over 140 LGBTQ-owned businesses (also found in neighboring Douglas), swim and kayak atOval Beach(widely hailed as one of the countrys best), and climb to the top ofMount Baldheadfor sweeping views. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use. This three-bedroom, 3.5-bath condo is currently on the market for $430,000. Notwithstanding the consistent bigotry that saturates the legislature and state party politics, Dallas is a city of encouragement and hope for queer Texans. The center of Long Beachs gay scene is located along Broadway, between downtown and Belmont Shore. Gay Florida Road Trip Guide to Delray Beach, Red Tide in Florida: What You Need to Know, Tampa EDITION, The Newest Luxury Hotel Near Amalie Arena, Suit Up with Style: The Perfect Tuxedos for Women and Nonbinary Individuals, SpringHill Suites Orlando Altamonte Springs/Maitland, Quench Your Thirst On The CoolCraft Beverage Trail, The Best Events in Miami During Rainbow Spring, The Most Popular LGBTQ-Friendly Resorts in Fort Lauderdale, Must-Visit Miami Michelin Star Restaurants, Your Guide To The Best Gay Bars In Tampa Bay & Surrounding Areas. Your email address will not be published. And while lesbians tend to earn more than heterosexual women, most still earn less than either gay or heterosexual men. However, if you cant visit during the pride festival, dont worry, as the queer love lives on in the city throughout the year in the host of incredible gay bars and clubs. This longtime LGBTQ+ hotspot offers scenic bike rides, inclusive bars and restaurants such as the, , and picture-perfect beaches. Provide a Few Fierce Surprises. Unlike some larger cities, there isnt one primarily gay neighborhoodbut that means theres more room to spread out. some of the most famous LGBTQ+ historical sites in this city, ranked among the top ten pride festivals in the country by USA Today, Boston is a fantastic place to travel to as an LGBTQ+ person. Gulfport is also home to the nationally accredited LGBTQ Resource Center, located in the Gulfport Library. Festivities started Saturday at MJs Tavern, a gay watering hole in nearby Norfolk. But the beauty about Austin is people dont need to live in just one neighborhood to enjoy the queer culture. The Miami neighborhood of Little Havana is the spiritual and cultural core of Miamis Hispanic community, hosting Gay8 Festival, the largest Hispanic LGBT Festival in the United States attended by over 60,000 people. And although still in its infancy, Naples Pride brings together LGBTQ community members and business owners from throughout the region. This three-bedroom, 2.5-bath home there is listed for $239,900. With 4.1% of the population identifying as LGBTQ, Orlando has a well-established gay community and several popular gentrified neighborhoods such as Winter Park, Lake Eola Heights and Colonialtown.