2022’s Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities

A diverse group of people - one person holds a pride flag

Everyone wants the American dream — a home in a safe and supportive community — including LGBTQ people.

That’s why LawnStarter ranked 2022’s Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities this Pride Month.

We compared nearly 200 of the biggest U.S. cities based on 19 indicators of an ideal LGBTQ city, such as their equality index, the share of same-sex households, and the presence of LGBTQ support groups. 

We also factored in affordability, safety, access to LGBTQ-friendly health care, and Pride-readiness.

Check out the best and worst cities for the LGBTQ population below. You’ll also find some highlights, lowlights, and expert insights on how communities can improve acceptance and inclusivity in their cities.

Contents

City Rankings 

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Overall Rank (1=Best)CityOverall ScoreEquality RankCommunity Support RankAffordability RankSafety RankHealth Care Access RankPride-Readiness Rank
1San Francisco, CA71.691417713923
2Fort Lauderdale, FL71.3310514275124
3Orlando, FL62.75105265101242
4Seattle, WA62.08226125170118
5Pittsburgh, PA60.478377697512
6Atlanta, GA59.4212351010576
7Portland, OR59.172491291452150
8Richmond, VA58.89471189582525
9Denver, CO58.141013391661613
10Providence, RI57.65352415542277
11Boston, MA57.6131101611641045
12Oakland, CA57.571141711481747
13Long Beach, CA57.29119188796115
14Sacramento, CA56.91115156854837
15Las Vegas, NV56.3216388487725
16Chicago, IL55.3427327292529
17San Diego, CA54.98122166547730
18St. Louis, MO54.481171282114323
19New York, NY54.261242194559010
20Pasadena, CA53.68184718665466
21Minneapolis, MN53.033537531461834
22Tacoma, WA52.9330281391332349
23Los Angeles, CA52.761311851619511
24Baltimore, MD52.7340331021041958
25Rochester, NY51.941253142631483
26Salt Lake City, UT51.841228611511539
27Washington, DC51.6641397194828
28New Orleans, LA50.4112634120136511
29Tampa, FL50.401051722332955
30Fort Collins, CO50.39205586422686
31Cincinnati, OH50.229720791301143
32Norfolk, VA49.2562211478611260
33Jersey City, NJ48.962158146167389
34Austin, TX48.7811816151323827
35Madison, WI48.44714580673644
36San Jose, CA48.34115116210813588
37Dayton, OH48.0697181321286354
38Santa Rosa, CA47.9544411925160128
39Buffalo, NY46.9233741001216522
40Philadelphia, PA46.828335138955869
41Milwaukee, WI46.8171401166912638
42Albuquerque, NM46.7859269816010163
43Spokane, WA46.7773461331434426
44Dallas, TX46.1411825321279414
45Santa Clarita, CA45.6451561274150184
46Bellevue, WA44.6722781716520153
47Louisville, KY44.61103307011210276
48Columbus, OH44.2497297115611435
49Reno, NV43.9716108111609921
50Orange, CA43.7255711544033184
51Rockford, IL43.3957609211910396
52Riverside, CA42.96197153124125104
53Raleigh, NC42.931392318465094
54Detroit, MI42.64654815715715564
55Grand Rapids, MI42.59891039337929
56Vancouver, WA42.56635715214241146
57Colorado Springs, CO42.277862771158078
58Durham, NC42.07136442712513100
59Arlington, VA41.784710767739115
60Eugene, OR41.68241041671632273
61Oceanside, CA41.2911121723012785
62Alexandria, VA41.284711368416123
63Cleveland, OH41.1897271501904216
64Anchorage, AK41.0793681091076861
65Miami, FL40.871327616066358
66Worcester, MA40.7131119178573080
67San Antonio, TX40.6811849549914570
68Salem, OR40.26397014816784105
69Charlotte, NC40.0114039141168367
70Naperville, IL39.6674962134184
71Nashville, TN39.6615336311067640
72Henderson, NV39.5629116301691162
73Irvine, CA39.45181391741140176
74St. Petersburg, FL39.3110554341824724
75Toledo, OH39.21102861319412232
76Winston-Salem, NC38.781505285286113
77Lexington, KY38.5511064281557459
78Honolulu, HI38.431049919610210417
79Birmingham, AL38.3913161126905942
80Chula Vista, CA38.3111611637175116
81Fresno, CA38.29858712372148118
82Bakersfield, CA38.117984143126174111
83Houston, TX37.85144501911811565
84Akron, OH37.63101941281476246
85Kansas City, MO37.3212777491523162
86St. Paul, MN36.96351178115854120
87Indianapolis, IN36.89124725612010577
88Lancaster, CA36.894511116430162181
89Sunnyvale, CA36.602813210153137137
90Des Moines, IA36.319681571913248
91Fort Worth, TX36.2111882218915884
92Jacksonville, FL36.2112965486813190
93Greensboro, NC35.91125667513864119
94Virginia Beach, VA35.9047155667111122
95Phoenix, AZ35.69114894115012153
96Hayward, CA35.6542128165109120101
97Aurora, IL35.575217613596184
98Fremont, CA35.472616511737164160
99Elk Grove, CA35.33381717419143159
100Omaha, NE35.321427316937574
101Aurora, CO34.2454142838881164
102Fullerton, CA34.214215117080109143
103Tallahassee, FL34.121056313517471106
104Modesto, CA33.926811810314415356
105Syracuse, NY33.68601091371838533
106Lincoln, NE33.661307945117139169
107Torrance, CA33.61791231895669184
108Palmdale, CA33.594618515916167145
109Rancho Cucamonga, CA33.496116214127118184
110Stockton, CA33.4155134151100185121
111Springfield, MA33.236613617310355155
112Yonkers, NY32.8412152190159144110
113Scottsdale, AZ32.781341249273736
114Escondido, CA32.626813718423146179
115Huntington Beach, CA32.49751331817897139
116Pomona, CA32.245311018218319131
117Santa Ana, CA31.856714518098178114
118Salinas, CA31.776418214537124180
119Jackson, MS31.66146951081378968
120Oklahoma City, OK31.3316583266911051
121Lakewood, CO31.118214910515449149
122Fontana, CA31.087519114421149184
123Tempe, AZ30.981141271137553125
124Tucson, AZ30.951148814918910675
125El Paso, TX30.6016498951518757
126Newport News, VA30.5895135130110119171
127Hollywood, FL30.58128131118348772
128Oxnard, CA30.187918917534182136
129San Bernardino, CA30.1690125168141183164
130Moreno Valley, CA30.146819015847192184
131Boise, ID30.0013712940732898
132Savannah, GA29.921431001221767919
133Anaheim, CA29.9234153183180163103
134North Las Vegas, NV29.889416312482157157
135Overland Park, KS29.8711318862367156
136Springfield, MO29.691704313419645102
137Kansas City, KS29.25138691141917093
138Paterson, NJ29.048619618727194178
139Chesapeake, VA29.021111756323133174
140Garden Grove, CA28.939018119162193184
141Glendale, CA28.915815419516857151
142Fort Wayne, IN28.90168857381130117
143Gilbert, AZ28.3514114611678133
144Knoxville, TN28.2816791911496699
145Tulsa, OK28.10147114338310092
146Fayetteville, NC27.7616293136111128163
147Port St. Lucie, FL27.54157115943154141
148Bridgeport, CT27.50112150176134123170
149Plano, TX27.3715114342056158
150Denton, TX27.37155106889692184
151Olathe, KS27.22133179711113168
152Pembroke Pines, FL26.601351771197117166
153Baton Rouge, LA26.2817410578838852
154Thornton, CO26.171515738135138148
155Wichita, KS25.87149144519011687
156Newark, NJ25.6988140193171129134
157Joliet, IL25.588716429168173184
158Chandler, AZ25.56152170122293129
159Lubbock, TX25.521817543129140147
160Mobile, AL25.401921011104917120
161Shreveport, LA25.25148929919316079
162Little Rock, AR24.90161130241238282
163Corpus Christi, TX24.76169121556319041
164Corona, CA24.5975180140176166182
165Sioux Falls, SD24.581631204459152107
166Midland, TX24.57187102542177126
167Glendale, AZ24.541451568777136135
168Mesa, AZ23.891541696236141132
169Chattanooga, TN23.71176596919510897
170Ontario, CA23.6992168169178170167
171Peoria, AZ23.441601672011172131
172Arlington, TX23.221551743552151124
173Murfreesboro, TN22.90195805849168138
174Memphis, TN20.411711485213116181
175Hialeah, FL20.2516618417932179183
176McKinney, TX20.2218117381498144
177Montgomery, AL19.741786759183169142
178Cape Coral, FL19.7315914111515313471
179Irving, TX19.181721723761159150
180Amarillo, TX18.821831262569188151
181Killeen, TX18.111841601067415691
183Huntsville, AL16.641919045187142108
182Mesquite, TX16.89177183104113176177
184Garland, TX15.851891866442186173
185Columbus, GA15.03158166121186164127
186Cary, NC14.54186158312243184
188Augusta, GA13.8918012290181132112
187Laredo, TX13.991961933626195175
189Pasadena, TX13.781941954747189140
190Frisco, TX12.62187192114046154
191McAllen, TX12.011841472317218095
192Brownsville, TX11.8117518760175196109
193Grand Prairie, TX10.8217917850173184172
194Miramar, FL9.74173194112162181184
195Clarksville, TN9.0519315996179107130
196Macon, GA8.62190138107187147161
2022's Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities Infographic is based on household data, social groups, pride events, and more!
Note: Although we ranked 196 cities for each metric displayed above, the lowest ranking position may not be 196 for some metrics due to a number of ties among cities. For presentation purposes, not all cities in a multi-way tie may be displayed.

Highlights and Lowlights

San Francisco aka Baghdad by the Gay 

No drum roll needed: The Golden City comes out as our 2022 LGBTQ Capital. 

San Francisco has the numbers to back up its cultural and political significance. The city passed four of our six ranking tests with flying rainbow colors: Equality (No. 1), Health Care Access (No. 2), Pride-Readiness (No. 3), and Community Support (No. 4).

On the flip side are San Francisco’s dismal rankings in Affordability (No. 177) — no surprise there — and Safety (No. 139), which is not entirely a cause for embarrassment. For context, hate crimes in San Francisco were previously underreported until an uptick in 2018.

Traditional and Surprise LGBTQ Cities

Topping our ranking are both traditional and less familiar gay meccas. Among the capitals are San Francisco (No. 1), Fort Lauderdale, Florida (No. 2), and Providence, Rhode Island (No. 10). A couple of surprises include Pittsburgh (No. 5) and Richmond, Virginia (No. 8).

Regardless of their popularity status, these LGBTQ-friendly destinations have plenty to be proud of: Each is strong in at least half of the categories, but all landed in the top 25 for Community Support.

Not all that glitters is gold, however — a few of these cities have a dark side. Both Denver and Seattle landed in the top 25% — and Portland, Oregon, in the top 50% — for most hate crimes.

Mega and Mini LGBTQ Magnets?

Although there’s no official census count of LGBTQ-identifying residents in each city, the share of same-sex households gives us our next best guess — and some were unexpected. 

One would assume San Francisco has the biggest concentration of queer folks due to its notoriety. However, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, leads the pack in this metric, with 14.49 same-sex households per 1,000 households, over two more than in San Francisco (No. 2). 

LGBTQ crowds also cluster in less familiar gay cities, including Springfield, Missouri (No. 13), Santa Rosa, California (No. 16), Savannah, Georgia (No. 19), and Eugene, Oregon (No. 20). None of these cities landed in our top 25 overall, so what’s the draw? That’s less obvious.

Southern Inhospitality

The South is revered for its warm, welcoming vibe, but our data suggests this region would not be the most welcoming of LGBTQ incomers. Southern cities make up the entirety of our bottom 25, dinged by their poor performance in Equality, Community Support, and Pride-Readiness. 

There are two notable exceptions in these categories, though: Montgomery, Alabama, ranked a decent 67 in Community Support, while Cary, North Carolina, proved to be a healthy choice for LGBTQ Health Care Access at No. 43.

Southern cities’ most redeeming quality is Affordability, where some managed to place in the top 10. But beware: While cost of living might be lower here, it’s at the expense of higher quality of life.

Ask The Experts

We live in a different world compared to the America we knew before 2015, when the U.S. achieved marriage equality. But politics and the pandemic are contributing big changes to the way LGBTQ Americans live. 

To help LGBTQ Americans navigate those changes, we reached out to experts for insights. See what they had to say below.

  1. What are three hallmarks of the best LGBTQ city?
  2. What can cities do to protect their LGBTQ communities from the wave of new state anti-LGBTQ leglislation?
  3. What will Pride events look like this year with COVID-19 cases rising again across the nation?
  4. What are the three biggest changes likely for LGBTQ Americans if a red wave sweeps the House and Senate in the midterms?
Mignon R. Moore
Chair and Professor of Sociology
Helis Sikk
Visiting Assistant Professor of Gender Studies
Lem Watson
Senior Scientist, Kinsey Institute
Monica Taylor, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Director of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies
Kyle Shupe
PhD Student, Department of Sociology
Mignon R. Moore
Chair and Professor of Sociology
Barnard College

What are three hallmarks of the best LGBTQ city?

The best cities for LGBTQ folks have political systems led by the Democratic Party. 

Those cities have diverse populations in terms of race, ethnicity, and income.

Cities that are great places for LGBTQ people to live have vibrant cultural centers and lead with progressive cultural ideologies.

What can cities do to protect their LGBTQ communities from the wave of new state anti-LGBTQ legislation?

City leaders must speak out in support and protection of all of their most vulnerable populations. They must reaffirm their commitment to laws and policies that protect the rights of sexual minorities. 

What will Pride events look like this year with COVID-19 cases rising again across the nation?

Despite COVID-19 cases, high levels of vaccination and low hospitalization rates mean most cities will return to pre-COVID versions of Pride celebrations.  

What are the three biggest changes likely for LGBTQ Americans if a red wave sweeps the House and Senate in the midterms? 

  1. Repeal of marriage equality
  2. Tighter restrictions on ability of sexual minority adults to foster and adopt children
  3. More discrimination, harassment, and hate crimes against sexual minorities and trans persons in workplaces, at schools, and in other social institutions
Helis Sikk
Visiting Assistant Professor of Gender Studies
Brown University

What are three hallmarks of the best LGBTQ city?

Clearly, it’s not just about rainbow flags during Pride month that makes LGBTQ+ people want to move in. 

  1. Human Rights Campaign (HRC) uses the Municipal Equality Index (MEI) to calculate the best places for LGBTQ+ people to live. This is a good metric to consider. One of the key things to consider are laws and policies that protect LGBTQ+ people against discrimination at their workplace and in finding accommodations. 
  2. There’s also the law of attraction — if you have already a sizable LGBTQ+ community, it’s more likely to attract more people. 
  3. Finally, having a strong creative arts community and businesses owned by LGBTQ+ people will make a city more appealing to others.

What can cities do to protect their LGBTQ communities from the wave of new state anti-LGBTQ legislation?

The easiest thing to do is for community members to step up and not support businesses that deny services to LGBTQ+ people. It is also the responsibility of city officials to take a clear stance and put pressure on the lawmakers on the state level.

What will Pride events look like this year with COVID-19 cases rising again across the nation?

To be honest, I do not think COVID-19 will have much impact on Pride celebrations this year. Yes, the cases are rising, but people seem to be over and tired of the pandemic. 

I’m not saying that this is where I stand, but that is what I gather looking at the planned celebrations across the country. Most places canceled Pride in the last two years, and my guess is that this year will be a big celebration to make up for that.

What are the three biggest changes likely for LGBTQ Americans if a red wave sweeps the House and Senate in the midterms? 

I’m more concerned about what is happening in the Supreme Court right now. We have several conservative judges who will likely stay in place for the next 30 years. This is not good news for us. 

If this wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation continues, I can see more direct and indirect violence directed toward our community. This means violence at the hands of the state and also civilians who feel justified and supported by the government.

Lem Watson
Senior Scientist, Kinsey Institute
Indiana University at Bloomington

What are the three hallmarks of the best LGBTQ city? 

Regarding the best LGBTQ cities or towns, it is a matter of preference and lifestyle. 

There are a host of websites and resources that rank cities across several data points from all of the 50 states for LGBTQ+ individuals. Such data as livability, economies of scale, health, and concentration of LGBTQ+ populations are among the many data points. 

Cities that individuals might find positive for a good quality of life include: (a) how the municipalities deal with non-discriminatory employment practices; (b) housing and public accommodations; (c) access to jobs at LGBTQ-friendly companies; (d) youth initiatives; (e) transgender policies and practices; (f) cultural festivals; (g) health and medical care; and (h) options for retirement communities for couples and individuals. 

It is wise to remember that LGBTQ+ communities are very diverse and include people from all walks of life. Based on one’s lifestyle, the best place may be different for married couples, retirees, singles, etc. 

There simply is no way to list the overall best place for LGBTQ+ individuals. However, if one prefers a large city, amongst the top list are Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; San Francisco, California; Atlanta, Georgia; and Miami, Florida, just to name a few. 

For smaller towns amongst many others, individuals might consider Portland, Maine; Asheville, North Carolina; Bloomington, Indiana; and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. 

For more rural areas, it is always good to find those places that celebrate and support members of the Queer community. Communities with vibrant post-secondary institutions and spiritual, cultural, and wellness centers and integrated and diverse neighborhoods are good indicators of livability.

What can cities do to protect their LGBTQ communities from the wave of new state anti-LGBTQ legislation? 

Municipalities should look to build coalitions with supportive communities, including local, state, and national representatives. We know that systemic approaches work, and building trust with key figures in blue and red states matters. 

Ask LGBTQ+ individuals to meet with local representatives, and invite them into their communities and homes to offer them their lived experiences. 

Use media to share how vital the Queer communities and individuals are to the fabric of the community, state, and nation.

What will Pride events look like this year with COVID-19 cases rising again across the nation?

Pride will be celebrated in a positive way by many more people this year because it brings together individuals and families from all walks of life. The voice of Queer individuals will be louder and prouder in our large cities and smaller communities. 

As June begins, Gay Pride Month, I am already witnessing the energy reverberating from acknowledging our power to not be intimidated, harassed, or give up on those things that make us all better — human rights.

What are the three biggest changes likely for LGBTQ Americans if a red wave sweeps the House and Senate in midterms? 

The most pressing concerns for the Queer community are the transgender bills and gender-nonconforming legislation that have multiplied since 2019. 

There must be a dedicated watch on: (1) national bills that reach to limit state power on the rights of the Queer community; (2) state bills that reach into municipalities to also limit the fundamental human rights and protections of the community; and (3) hate crime against any group of the local communities. 

The communities need to make sure they are engaged in ways to advocate (one-on-one meetings and community activities), motivate all of the Queer communities to get out and vote, discuss political agendas, and educate, educate, and educate for impact. 

We must remember that the world is constantly changing. We are never done with human rights; therefore, we should always be willing to lift our voices and resources for basic human dignity for all. 

Monica Taylor, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Director of Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies
Montclair State University

What are three hallmarks of the best LGBTQ city?

  1. There are well-established, diverse, thriving queer communities where LGBTQIA+ can raise families, socialize, and feel seen and supported.

  2. There are recognized and appreciated LGBTQIA+-owned businesses and restaurants that serve the LGBTQ community.

  3. There are LGBTQ community leaders, centers, and services available (gender-affirming care, Pride events, rainbow flags).

What can cities do to protect their LGBTQ communities from the wave of new state anti-LGBTQ legislation?


City officials can advance LGBTQ rights in opposition to the state anti-LGBTQ legislation. For example, last May the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania city council passed a bill adding LGBTQ-owned businesses to the list of businesses eligible for government aid and support. Last June, in Columbia, South Carolina, the city council passed a ban on conversion therapy for minors.


I do not think people realize that their local governments have power. It is important to get involved, let your local representatives know your concerns, and push for pro-LGBTQ legislation.


I also believe that corporations have a lot of power in terms of combating anti-LGBTQ legislation. This spring, 271 corporations signed the Human Rights Campaign and Freedom for All Americans Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation.They have united to oppose anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, much of which harms transgender youth, in states across the country.

What will Pride events look like this year with COVID-19 cases rising again across the nation?

Mostly, Pride will be back to normal, although some venues may require vaccination proof or masks. There will be many outdoor events, too. Pride will be more inclusive this year with a focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) and the trans community.

What are the three biggest changes likely for LGBTQ Americans if a red wave sweeps the House and Senate in the midterms? 


We are really hoping this does not happen. We are hoping that some of the extreme right turn off their Republican voters.

We are fearful that the rights of LGBTQIA+ Americans will be taken away. We are worried about more bills like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida, which punishes children, families, and teachers, and the Safe Act in Ohio, which bans gender-affirming mental and medical care for minors. 

So many of these bills are targeted against LGBTQ children. Of course many of these restrictions are not new concerns for transgender children of color.

In response to these laws, many more queer artists of color will be sharing their resistance in art, music, film, and digital media. They will be ensuring that there is representation of LGBTQ joy, love, acceptance, and resilience, too.

What are three hallmarks of the best LGBTQ city?

  1. There are well-established, diverse, thriving queer communities where LGBTQIA+ can raise families, socialize, and feel seen and supported.

  2. There are recognized and appreciated LGBTQIA+-owned businesses and restaurants that serve the LGBTQ community.

  3. There are LGBTQ community leaders, centers, and services available (gender-affirming care, Pride events, rainbow flags).

What can cities do to protect their LGBTQ communities from the wave of new state anti-LGBTQ legislation?

City officials can advance LGBTQ rights in opposition to the state anti-LGBTQ legislation. For example, last May the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania city council passed a bill adding LGBTQ-owned businesses to the list of businesses eligible for government aid and support. Last June, in Columbia, South Carolina, the city council passed a ban on conversion therapy for minors.

I do not think people realize that their local governments have power. It is important to get involved, let your local representatives know your concerns, and push for pro-LGBTQ legislation.

I also believe that corporations have a lot of power in terms of combating anti-LGBTQ legislation. This spring, 271 corporations signed the Human Rights Campaign and Freedom for All Americans Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation. They have united to oppose anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, much of which harms transgender youth, in states across the country.

What will Pride events look like this year with COVID-19 cases rising again across the nation?

Mostly, Pride will be back to normal, although some venues may require vaccination proof or masks. There will be many outdoor events, too. Pride will be more inclusive this year with a focus on BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) and the trans community.

What are the three biggest changes likely for LGBTQ Americans if a red wave sweeps the House and Senate in the midterms? 

We are really hoping this does not happen. We are hoping that some of the extreme right turn off their Republican voters.

We are fearful that the rights of LGBTQIA+ Americans will be taken away. We are worried about more bills like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida, which punishes children, families, and teachers, and the Safe Act in Ohio, which bans gender-affirming mental and medical care for minors. 

So many of these bills are targeted against LGBTQ children. Of course many of these restrictions are not new concerns for transgender children of color.

In response to these laws, many more queer artists of color will be sharing their resistance in art, music, film, and digital media. They will be ensuring that there is representation of LGBTQ joy, love, acceptance, and resilience, too.

Kyle Shupe
PhD Student, Department of Sociology
University of Cincinnati

What are three hallmarks of the best LGBTQ city?

In terms of LGBTQ city life, sociologists tend to focus on queer neighborhoods or districts — sometimes called “gayborhoods” — rather than entire cities. 

Some urban areas may have one gayborhood or even single gay bars, whereas other cities may have several queer districts with different residents, venues, and experiences for visitors.

Urban sociologists like Martin Levine and Amin Ghaziani highlight four aspects of thriving gayborhoods:

  1. A geographic center that is recognizable by locals as part of the gayborhood, 
  2. A unique queer culture that’s visible and practiced within the gayborhood,
  3. A concentration of queer residents and visitors within the gayborhood, and
  4. A cluster of commercial venues catering to LGBTQ residents and visitors.

These four factors signal to LGBTQ people that they’re welcome within these neighborhoods and their sexual and gender identities will be affirmed by other residents and visitors.

So, in my mind, the hallmarks of the best LGBTQ cities or neighborhoods would tap into these features, including:

  1. A variety of commercial venues like queer bars and bookstores, nonprofits like health clinics and shelters for LGBTQ youth, and public spaces for use by queer folks like community centers. 

These provide necessary and diverse gathering places and services for LGBTQ people that foster a sense of queer community within a neighborhood.

  1. Legal protections and political representation within city government, such as nondiscrimination ordinances that provide LGBTQ people protections in housing, work, education, healthcare, law, and all other aspects of social life. 

I’d also expect to see queer elected officials, committees to advance LGBTQ rights, and local activist organizations advocating for equality.

  1. A diverse LGBTQ population in terms of race, gender, class, religion, (dis)ability, and other social characteristics. 

We know that the most recognizable gayborhoods tend to be very white, male, cisgender, and upper-middle class, but I think the ideal LGBTQ cities would be radically inclusive of queer folks from all walks of life in a way that’s actually meaningful — inclusive in city programs and services, attentive to the needs of underrepresented people, and leadership that reflects a diverse queer community.

What can cities do to protect their LGBTQ communities from the wave of new state anti-LGBTQ legislation?

This is a tough question given the resurgence of anti-LGBTQ sentiment from the far right. We’re seeing hundreds of anti-LGBTQ bills being proposed — some even passed — by conservative politicians in states across the U.S. 

These bills target the teaching of LGBTQ issues in K–12 schools; provide religious exemptions that allow discrimination against LGBTQ folks; and attack the rights of transgender and nonbinary people — often children — to use public restrooms, play sports, or seek gender-affirming healthcare.

LGBTQ-friendly cities, particularly those in conservative states, must instate local nondiscrimination ordinances and provide health and legal services for their queer residents, although some state governments are working to prevent this from happening (see Equality Texas 2022).

City officials, especially those who call themselves allies, need to advocate their local and state governments and the federal government to enact LGBTQ protections to prevent the spread of bigoted legislation that permits discrimination against queer people.

What will Pride events look like this year with COVID-19 cases rising again across the nation?

I imagine that Pride events will look like other large-scale events that are happening all over the country. Some people will wear masks, but most attendees probably won’t. Those most vulnerable to the virus likely won’t be able to attend without risking their health, which is an unfortunate consequence of how our federal and state governments have handled the pandemic.

I’m not an epidemiologist, so I’ll not comment on the public health consequences of these highly attended events. But I know that some research suggests that some LGBTQ adults view COVID-19 vaccinations more favorably and have higher vaccination rates than their straight counterparts (McNaghten et al. 2022; Sparks 2021).

What are the three biggest changes likely for LGBTQ Americans if a red wave sweeps the House and Senate in the midterms? 

This is the question that queer people are asking themselves with real fear. I’m not a political scientist, but I think we should expect to see a red wave in the midterm elections. 

I suspect this will include an intensification of the culture war targeting LGBTQ folks that’s being used to mobilize Republican voters, resulting in more legislation stripping away decades of work by LGBTQ rights movements, as well as more violence targeting queer people — particularly those who are gender-nonconforming, transgender, or nonbinary.

Unfortunately, I think a red wave will guarantee a rollback of LGBTQ rights in this country and make the passage of bills like the Equality Act impossible. Certainly, the Biden administration and Democrats in Congress claim to support LGBTQ rights, but I’ve yet to see much direct support from the federal government for queer people. We hear a lot of statements, but we see very little action.

Queer people and our allies will continue to mobilize, as we’ve always done, to challenge these efforts to strip the LGBTQ community of civil and human rights. Sometimes we lose, and sometimes we win. 

I take some solace in knowing that LGBTQ people are more accepted today than at any other point in country’s history, and we routinely see support from politicians, businesses, and the public for LGBTQ rights.

Methodology

We ranked 196 of the largest U.S. cities from best (No. 1) to worst (No. 196) based on their overall scores (out of 100 possible points), averaged across all the weighted metrics listed below.

MetricWeightingMin. ValueMax. ValueBest
Equality
Municipal Equality Index Score60100Max. Value
State Equality Index Score5-7.041.3Max. Value
Community Support
Same-Sex Households per 1,000 Households41.114.5Max. Value
LGBTQ Support/Resource Centers per 100,000 Residents301.66Max. Value
LGBTQ Support Groups per 100,000 Residents (1=Yes, 0=No)301Max. Value
LGBTQ Social Groups per 100,000 Residents3018.2Max. Value
LGBTQ Nonprofits and Charities per 100,000 Residents104.7Max. Value
Metropolitan Community Churches per 100,000 Residents100.7Max. Value
Unitarian Universalist Churches per 100,000 Residents102.2Max. Value
Presence of LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce201Max. Value
Affordability
Cost of Living Index173205Min. Value
Average Annual Household Income1$46,474$192,790Max. Value
Safety
Sexual Orientation- and Gender-Related Hate Crimes per 100,000 Residents409.3Min. Value
Crime Index2085Max. Value
Health Care Access
LGBTQ-Friendly Health Providers per 100,000 Residents2016.1Max. Value
LGBTQ-Friendly Therapists per 100,000 Residents23.8348.6Max. Value
Pride-Readiness
Number of Pride Events206Max. Value
Gay Bars and Clubs per 100,000 Residents304.6Max. Value
LGBTQ-Friendly Accommodations per 100,000 Residents10214.4Max. Value

Sources: CenterLink, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Gay Pride Calendar, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, GreatNonprofits, Human Rights Campaign, Metropolitan Community Churches, misterb&b, Movement Advancement Project, National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Unitarian Universalist Association, and Yelp

Why This Study Matters

The past few years have been tough on the LGBTQ community. States have introduced a raft of anti-LGBTQ bills — about 300 in 2022 alone.

That makes it challenging for LGBTQ Americans to find a new place to call home. Besides cost of living, job prospects, and the quality of schools and parks, LGBTQ Americans must consider whether the cities on their shortlist will welcome them, too.

Everyone wants to live the American dream in a home with a white picket fence and a beautiful lawn (or a xeriscaped yard if you prefer). We all want to live in a community that is welcoming and safe. 

Why did LawnStarter rank the Most (and Least) LGBTQ-Friendly Cities? Green — our color — is a stripe in the rainbow flag. 

Main photo credit: Shutterstock

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Staff Writer