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.

City Rankings
Highlights and Lowlights
Ask the Experts
Methodology
Why This Study Matters

City Rankings

See how each city fared in our ranking:

Overall Rank (1=Best)	City	Overall Score	Equality Rank	Community Support Rank	Affordability Rank	Safety Rank	Health Care Access Rank	Pride-Readiness Rank
1	San Francisco, CA	71.69	1	4	177	139	2	3
2	Fort Lauderdale, FL	71.33	105	1	42	75	12	4
3	Orlando, FL	62.75	105	2	65	101	24	2
4	Seattle, WA	62.08	22	6	125	170	1	18
5	Pittsburgh, PA	60.47	83	7	76	97	5	12
6	Atlanta, GA	59.42	123	5	10	105	7	6
7	Portland, OR	59.17	24	9	129	145	21	50
8	Richmond, VA	58.89	47	11	89	58	25	25
9	Denver, CO	58.14	10	13	39	166	16	13
10	Providence, RI	57.65	35	24	155	42	27	7
11	Boston, MA	57.61	31	10	161	164	10	45
12	Oakland, CA	57.57	1	14	171	148	17	47
13	Long Beach, CA	57.29	1	19	188	79	61	15
14	Sacramento, CA	56.91	1	15	156	85	48	37
15	Las Vegas, NV	56.32	16	38	84	87	72	5
16	Chicago, IL	55.34	27	32	72	92	52	9
17	San Diego, CA	54.98	1	22	166	54	77	30
18	St. Louis, MO	54.48	117	12	82	114	3	23
19	New York, NY	54.26	12	42	194	55	90	10
20	Pasadena, CA	53.68	18	47	186	65	4	66
21	Minneapolis, MN	53.03	35	37	53	146	18	34
22	Tacoma, WA	52.93	30	28	139	133	23	49
23	Los Angeles, CA	52.76	1	31	185	161	95	11
24	Baltimore, MD	52.73	40	33	102	104	19	58
25	Rochester, NY	51.94	12	53	142	63	14	83
26	Salt Lake City, UT	51.84	122	8	61	151	15	39
27	Washington, DC	51.66	41	3	97	194	8	28
28	New Orleans, LA	50.41	126	34	120	136	51	1
29	Tampa, FL	50.40	105	17	22	33	29	55
30	Fort Collins, CO	50.39	20	55	86	42	26	86
31	Cincinnati, OH	50.22	97	20	79	130	11	43
32	Norfolk, VA	49.25	62	21	147	86	112	60
33	Jersey City, NJ	48.96	21	58	146	16	73	89
34	Austin, TX	48.78	118	16	15	132	38	27
35	Madison, WI	48.44	71	45	80	67	36	44
36	San Jose, CA	48.34	11	51	162	108	135	88
37	Dayton, OH	48.06	97	18	132	128	63	54
38	Santa Rosa, CA	47.95	44	41	192	51	60	128
39	Buffalo, NY	46.92	33	74	100	121	65	22
40	Philadelphia, PA	46.82	83	35	138	95	58	69
41	Milwaukee, WI	46.81	71	40	116	69	126	38
42	Albuquerque, NM	46.78	59	26	98	160	101	63
43	Spokane, WA	46.77	73	46	133	143	44	26
44	Dallas, TX	46.14	118	25	32	127	94	14
45	Santa Clarita, CA	45.64	51	56	127	4	150	184
46	Bellevue, WA	44.67	22	78	17	165	20	153
47	Louisville, KY	44.61	103	30	70	112	102	76
48	Columbus, OH	44.24	97	29	71	156	114	35
49	Reno, NV	43.97	16	108	111	60	99	21
50	Orange, CA	43.72	55	71	154	40	33	184
51	Rockford, IL	43.39	57	60	92	119	103	96
52	Riverside, CA	42.96	1	97	153	124	125	104
53	Raleigh, NC	42.93	139	23	18	46	50	94
54	Detroit, MI	42.64	65	48	157	157	155	64
55	Grand Rapids, MI	42.59	89	103	93	37	9	29
56	Vancouver, WA	42.56	63	57	152	142	41	146
57	Colorado Springs, CO	42.27	78	62	77	115	80	78
58	Durham, NC	42.07	136	44	27	125	13	100
59	Arlington, VA	41.78	47	107	67	7	39	115
60	Eugene, OR	41.68	24	104	167	163	22	73
61	Oceanside, CA	41.29	1	112	172	30	127	85
62	Alexandria, VA	41.28	47	113	68	41	6	123
63	Cleveland, OH	41.18	97	27	150	190	42	16
64	Anchorage, AK	41.07	93	68	109	107	68	61
65	Miami, FL	40.87	132	76	160	66	35	8
66	Worcester, MA	40.71	31	119	178	57	30	80
67	San Antonio, TX	40.68	118	49	54	99	145	70
68	Salem, OR	40.26	39	70	148	167	84	105
69	Charlotte, NC	40.01	140	39	14	116	83	67
70	Naperville, IL	39.66	74	96	2	1	34	184
71	Nashville, TN	39.66	153	36	31	106	76	40
72	Henderson, NV	39.56	29	116	30	16	91	162
73	Irvine, CA	39.45	18	139	174	11	40	176
74	St. Petersburg, FL	39.31	105	54	34	182	47	24
75	Toledo, OH	39.21	102	86	131	94	122	32
76	Winston-Salem, NC	38.78	150	52	85	2	86	113
77	Lexington, KY	38.55	110	64	28	155	74	59
78	Honolulu, HI	38.43	104	99	196	102	104	17
79	Birmingham, AL	38.39	131	61	126	90	59	42
80	Chula Vista, CA	38.31	1	161	163	7	175	116
81	Fresno, CA	38.29	85	87	123	72	148	118
82	Bakersfield, CA	38.11	79	84	143	126	174	111
83	Houston, TX	37.85	144	50	19	118	115	65
84	Akron, OH	37.63	101	94	128	147	62	46
85	Kansas City, MO	37.32	127	77	49	152	31	62
86	St. Paul, MN	36.96	35	117	81	158	54	120
87	Indianapolis, IN	36.89	124	72	56	120	105	77
88	Lancaster, CA	36.89	45	111	164	30	162	181
89	Sunnyvale, CA	36.60	28	132	101	53	137	137
90	Des Moines, IA	36.31	96	81	57	191	32	48
91	Fort Worth, TX	36.21	118	82	21	89	158	84
92	Jacksonville, FL	36.21	129	65	48	68	131	90
93	Greensboro, NC	35.91	125	66	75	138	64	119
94	Virginia Beach, VA	35.90	47	155	66	7	111	122
95	Phoenix, AZ	35.69	114	89	41	150	121	53
96	Hayward, CA	35.65	42	128	165	109	120	101
97	Aurora, IL	35.57	52	176	13	5	96	184
98	Fremont, CA	35.47	26	165	117	37	164	160
99	Elk Grove, CA	35.33	38	171	74	19	143	159
100	Omaha, NE	35.32	142	73	16	93	75	74
101	Aurora, CO	34.24	54	142	83	88	81	164
102	Fullerton, CA	34.21	42	151	170	80	109	143
103	Tallahassee, FL	34.12	105	63	135	174	71	106
104	Modesto, CA	33.92	68	118	103	144	153	56
105	Syracuse, NY	33.68	60	109	137	183	85	33
106	Lincoln, NE	33.66	130	79	45	117	139	169
107	Torrance, CA	33.61	79	123	189	56	69	184
108	Palmdale, CA	33.59	46	185	159	16	167	145
109	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	33.49	61	162	141	27	118	184
110	Stockton, CA	33.41	55	134	151	100	185	121
111	Springfield, MA	33.23	66	136	173	103	55	155
112	Yonkers, NY	32.84	12	152	190	159	144	110
113	Scottsdale, AZ	32.78	134	124	9	27	37	36
114	Escondido, CA	32.62	68	137	184	23	146	179
115	Huntington Beach, CA	32.49	75	133	181	78	97	139
116	Pomona, CA	32.24	53	110	182	183	191	31
117	Santa Ana, CA	31.85	67	145	180	98	178	114
118	Salinas, CA	31.77	64	182	145	37	124	180
119	Jackson, MS	31.66	146	95	108	137	89	68
120	Oklahoma City, OK	31.33	165	83	26	69	110	51
121	Lakewood, CO	31.11	82	149	105	154	49	149
122	Fontana, CA	31.08	75	191	144	21	149	184
123	Tempe, AZ	30.98	114	127	113	75	53	125
124	Tucson, AZ	30.95	114	88	149	189	106	75
125	El Paso, TX	30.60	164	98	95	15	187	57
126	Newport News, VA	30.58	95	135	130	110	119	171
127	Hollywood, FL	30.58	128	131	118	34	87	72
128	Oxnard, CA	30.18	79	189	175	34	182	136
129	San Bernardino, CA	30.16	90	125	168	141	183	164
130	Moreno Valley, CA	30.14	68	190	158	47	192	184
131	Boise, ID	30.00	137	129	40	73	28	98
132	Savannah, GA	29.92	143	100	122	176	79	19
133	Anaheim, CA	29.92	34	153	183	180	163	103
134	North Las Vegas, NV	29.88	94	163	124	82	157	157
135	Overland Park, KS	29.87	113	188	6	23	67	156
136	Springfield, MO	29.69	170	43	134	196	45	102
137	Kansas City, KS	29.25	138	69	114	191	70	93
138	Paterson, NJ	29.04	86	196	187	27	194	178
139	Chesapeake, VA	29.02	111	175	63	23	133	174
140	Garden Grove, CA	28.93	90	181	191	62	193	184
141	Glendale, CA	28.91	58	154	195	168	57	151
142	Fort Wayne, IN	28.90	168	85	73	81	130	117
143	Gilbert, AZ	28.35	141	146	11	6	78	133
144	Knoxville, TN	28.28	167	91	91	149	66	99
145	Tulsa, OK	28.10	147	114	33	83	100	92
146	Fayetteville, NC	27.76	162	93	136	111	128	163
147	Port St. Lucie, FL	27.54	157	115	94	3	154	141
148	Bridgeport, CT	27.50	112	150	176	134	123	170
149	Plano, TX	27.37	151	143	4	20	56	158
150	Denton, TX	27.37	155	106	88	96	92	184
151	Olathe, KS	27.22	133	179	7	11	113	168
152	Pembroke Pines, FL	26.60	135	177	119	7	117	166
153	Baton Rouge, LA	26.28	174	105	78	83	88	52
154	Thornton, CO	26.17	15	157	38	135	138	148
155	Wichita, KS	25.87	149	144	51	90	116	87
156	Newark, NJ	25.69	88	140	193	171	129	134
157	Joliet, IL	25.58	87	164	29	168	173	184
158	Chandler, AZ	25.56	152	170	12	22	93	129
159	Lubbock, TX	25.52	181	75	43	129	140	147
160	Mobile, AL	25.40	192	101	110	49	171	20
161	Shreveport, LA	25.25	148	92	99	193	160	79
162	Little Rock, AR	24.90	161	130	24	123	82	82
163	Corpus Christi, TX	24.76	169	121	55	63	190	41
164	Corona, CA	24.59	75	180	140	176	166	182
165	Sioux Falls, SD	24.58	163	120	44	59	152	107
166	Midland, TX	24.57	187	102	5	42	177	126
167	Glendale, AZ	24.54	145	156	87	77	136	135
168	Mesa, AZ	23.89	154	169	62	36	141	132
169	Chattanooga, TN	23.71	176	59	69	195	108	97
170	Ontario, CA	23.69	92	168	169	178	170	167
171	Peoria, AZ	23.44	160	167	20	11	172	131
172	Arlington, TX	23.22	155	174	35	52	151	124
173	Murfreesboro, TN	22.90	195	80	58	49	168	138
174	Memphis, TN	20.41	171	148	52	131	161	81
175	Hialeah, FL	20.25	166	184	179	32	179	183
176	McKinney, TX	20.22	181	173	8	14	98	144
177	Montgomery, AL	19.74	178	67	59	183	169	142
178	Cape Coral, FL	19.73	159	141	115	153	134	71
179	Irving, TX	19.18	172	172	37	61	159	150
180	Amarillo, TX	18.82	183	126	25	69	188	151
181	Killeen, TX	18.11	184	160	106	74	156	91
183	Huntsville, AL	16.64	191	90	45	187	142	108
182	Mesquite, TX	16.89	177	183	104	113	176	177
184	Garland, TX	15.85	189	186	64	42	186	173
185	Columbus, GA	15.03	158	166	121	186	164	127
186	Cary, NC	14.54	186	158	3	122	43	184
188	Augusta, GA	13.89	180	122	90	181	132	112
187	Laredo, TX	13.99	196	193	36	26	195	175
189	Pasadena, TX	13.78	194	195	47	47	189	140
190	Frisco, TX	12.62	187	192	1	140	46	154
191	McAllen, TX	12.01	184	147	23	172	180	95
192	Brownsville, TX	11.81	175	187	60	175	196	109
193	Grand Prairie, TX	10.82	179	178	50	173	184	172
194	Miramar, FL	9.74	173	194	112	162	181	184
195	Clarksville, TN	9.05	193	159	96	179	107	130
196	Macon, GA	8.62	190	138	107	187	147	161

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.

What are three hallmarks of the best LGBTQ city?
What can cities do to protect their LGBTQ communities from the wave of new state anti-LGBTQ leglislation?
What will Pride events look like this year with COVID-19 cases rising again across the nation?
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

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?

Repeal of marriage equality
Tighter restrictions on ability of sexual minority adults to foster and adopt children
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

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.

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.
There’s also the law of attraction — if you have already a sizable LGBTQ+ community, it’s more likely to attract more people.
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

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

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?

There are well-established, diverse, thriving queer communities where LGBTQIA+ can raise families, socialize, and feel seen and supported.
There are recognized and appreciated LGBTQIA+-owned businesses and restaurants that serve the LGBTQ community.
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?

There are well-established, diverse, thriving queer communities where LGBTQIA+ can raise families, socialize, and feel seen and supported.
There are recognized and appreciated LGBTQIA+-owned businesses and restaurants that serve the LGBTQ community.
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?

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?

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

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.

Kyle Shupe

PhD Student, Department of Sociology

University of Cincinnati

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:

A geographic center that is recognizable by locals as part of the gayborhood,
A unique queer culture that’s visible and practiced within the gayborhood,
A concentration of queer residents and visitors within the gayborhood, and
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:

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.

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.

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.

Metric	Weighting	Min. Value	Max. Value	Best
Equality
Municipal Equality Index Score	6	0	100	Max. Value
State Equality Index Score	5	-7.0	41.3	Max. Value
Community Support
Same-Sex Households per 1,000 Households	4	1.1	14.5	Max. Value
LGBTQ Support/Resource Centers per 100,000 Residents	3	0	1.66	Max. Value
LGBTQ Support Groups per 100,000 Residents (1=Yes, 0=No)	3	0	1	Max. Value
LGBTQ Social Groups per 100,000 Residents	3	0	18.2	Max. Value
LGBTQ Nonprofits and Charities per 100,000 Residents	1	0	4.7	Max. Value
Metropolitan Community Churches per 100,000 Residents	1	0	0.7	Max. Value
Unitarian Universalist Churches per 100,000 Residents	1	0	2.2	Max. Value
Presence of LGBTQ Chambers of Commerce	2	0	1	Max. Value
Affordability
Cost of Living Index	1	73	205	Min. Value
Average Annual Household Income	1	$46,474	$192,790	Max. Value
Safety
Sexual Orientation- and Gender-Related Hate Crimes per 100,000 Residents	4	0	9.3	Min. Value
Crime Index	2	0	85	Max. Value
Health Care Access
LGBTQ-Friendly Health Providers per 100,000 Residents	2	0	16.1	Max. Value
LGBTQ-Friendly Therapists per 100,000 Residents	2	3.8	348.6	Max. Value
Pride-Readiness
Number of Pride Events	2	0	6	Max. Value
Gay Bars and Clubs per 100,000 Residents	3	0	4.6	Max. Value
LGBTQ-Friendly Accommodations per 100,000 Residents	1	0	214.4	Max. 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