The Magic City Acceptance Center (MCAC) is an LGBTQ-Youth support space that provides community events, workshops, heath services, free counseling and more to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer kids and their allies ages 13-24. Another hot, up & coming, yet affordable LGBT-friendly neighborhood is North Andrews Gardens. Thats a good thing too, because its pretty much out in the middle of rural Central Florida. If you visit Atlanta, check out southern Fried Queer Pride, it's a southern queer, music, and art festival that tends to highlight queer trans people of color. Palm Springs is a great place to relax, rejuvenate, and reflect. About 45 minutes south, youll find the intercoastal city of St. Augustine also known as The Souths Little Secret. Not only is it the biggest metropolis in the United States, but it has a substantial history of LGBTQ+ advocacy and community. Over the last several decades, the uber-queer Five Pointsforms the hub of what is, without question, the most gay-friendly area of Jacksonville. There are over 100,000 residents that live in this self-contained community filled with golf courses, and access to more goods and services than youd find in a regular city of that size. LGBT folks living in the South are responsible for the blossoming queer communities, and they need support. There are unique neighborhood vibes to suit your preferences. Situated in the desert outside of Los Angeles, this city is perfect for LGBTQ+ travellers with more than 30 gay bars and an extensive range of gay-friendly or gay-owned accommodation options. We then leverage that expertise to develop city rankings for a range of topics including small towns, college towns and our annual Top 100 Best Places to Live. 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. Then sing your heart out at theFront Porchpiano bar and hit upMaine Streetfor drinking and dancing. Check your syntax! The gayborhood of Palm Beach County, Lake Worth, lies just south of neighboring LGBTQ-friendly town West Palm Beach. Long Beach Pride has been held every June since the 1980s and includes a weeklong celebration of the diverse LGBTQ community here. MEI nondiscrimination score: 30 out of 30 points. Jay Wilks, the events organizer, told the crowd to do Since then, our pride festivals have grown year over year into something that has really kind of been a destination.. St. Pete also is home to one of the West Coasts premiere gay beaches, Sunset Beach. It has no shortage of historic sites, three military bases, and tons of restaurants and bars. So where are the hottest gayborhoods? The final Midwestern city on this list, Minneapolis, is an excellent choice for LGBTQ+ travellers looking for a long weekend getaway filled with history and culture. Salem has a small gay scene and only one gay bar, but it has a popular Rainbow Pride parade (moved to September this year) as well as other events throughout the year, including the Salem Art Fair and Festival in July, the Salem Film Festival, and the Salem Lit Fest. Again, Tallahassee is a lone island of blue in a sea of red, so please do beware that 15 minutes in any direction outside of the city, attitudes about the LGBT community can change dramatically. Another LGBTQ-friendly enclave in the South, Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in America, far transcending its funky college town roots. 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. QORDS hosts workshops on social justice, consent, and gender, and offers fun outings like dance and plant identification hikes. For younger LGBTs, QORDS, a queer summer camp for youth, welcomes people from around the nation to gather. WebWilton is home to a large number of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses and even has a gay strip mall: Shoppes of Wilton Manors. To come up with this list, the Realtor.com data team found states that had at least 2.5 married or co-habitating same-sex couples per 1,000 residents using U.S. Census Bureau data. With eye-popping dunes, stunning beaches, 19th-century homes, and art galleries galore, the Art Coast of Lake Michigan doesnt disappoint. The Ultimate Guide to Finding Your Best Place to Live, What a Budget of $300,000 or Less Will Get You in 10 Cities Across the Country, 6 Affordable Islands You Can Actually Live On, 10 Best Cities for Antique & Flea Market Lovers, 10 People On What Its Really Like to Leave NYC for a Smaller City, Bloomington / Photo Courtesy of Visit Bloomington, Copyright 2010-2023 Livability - Journal Communications, Inc, 5 Surprisingly LGBTQ-Friendly Small Cities, Human Rights Campaign 2017 Municipal Equality Index, The Western Montana LGBT Community Center. Not officially sanctioned by Disney, the annual event has attracted a growing number of LGBT families with children. This event began in 1972, and what started as a bon voyage party has transformed into a six-day event. Because of its proximity to the ocean, real estate here can get a bit pricey. (ID: 42), Island City Stage Presents I Wanna F#%*ing Tear You Apart by Morgan Gould, History Fort Lauderdales Women Trailblazers: Champions of Change Broward County presented by UKG Photo Exhibit, Meet Author John Bailey at History Fort Lauderdales Florida Scribes & Stories, onePULSE Topgolf Celebrating Common Ground. LGBTQ Youth Support. From an ever-increasing sports scene to a historic hot roasted nuts shoppe no, seriously. Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles! 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. Countless museums, theatres, public art exhibits, and parks are scattered through the city, providing an endless amount of things to do during your trip. Another challenge: gentrification thats been going on for years in larger cities pricing people out. So, whether youre looking for a same-sex getaway or a solo vacation in the United States, these are our top picks when it comes to LGBTQ+ friendly cities. With its increasingly luxurious hotels, exciting nightlife, and rich culture, Tampa is quickly catching up to the east coast cities of Miami and Palm Beach. Its very kumbaya in terms of live and let live.. If you are planning a visit to the beautiful beaches of Florida, you may have heard of Red Tide. Given the left-leaning slant of the city, its surprising that Tallahassee doesnt have a more visible gay population. The heart of the gay community, where all the best bars are located, is in midtown, around the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 10th Street. Required fields are marked *. She previously worked for CBS News, Bloomberg TV, and NY1. Outside of museums, youll find that Fort Lauderdale has some of the best beaches in the United States, making it the perfect place to spend a week (or two) relaxing either as a solo traveller, couple or family. However, a recent poll found that 4.3% of the citys population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. San Diego is a great place to be gay. This well-educated base has blossomed into a culture of liberal and Democratic voters, and is one of only a few Southern cities known for progressive activism. Median home list price: $449,000*. A two-story condo there is currently on the market for $329,900. The main street is the Drive (aka Wilton Drive), where shops and restaurants alike proudly display their rainbow flags. Luckily, the United States has an abundance to choose from, with the list getting longer each and every day. Most of the LGBTQ nightlife is located in the Shadyside neighborhood, a historic and walkable area that also has galleries and restaurants. Theres no central gay neighborhood here, but many of the gay bars are clustered downtown, in the Warehouse District. The rest of the year, however, this relatively conservative small city in the Florida panhandle has a small and quiet, even discreet, gay community. A four-bedroom, two-bath midcentury home here costs about $400,000. Some decided to stay and build a laid-back life in Vilano Beach, Matanzas Bay, or the San Savinoneighborhood of St. Augustine Shores. The Island City, as its known, is a little municipality 10 minutes north of downtown Fort Lauderdale and 40 minutes north of Miami. WebHere are 24 large, small and medium-sized cities that offer an excellent combination of affordability, culture, community and LGBTQ friendliness. Sunny Tampa is close to the popular beach towns of St. Petersburg, Gulfport and Dunedin. While not specifically noted as a gay community, there is a gay community within the community called Rainbow Family and Friends. The citys annual Pridefest is held in June and has one of the largest attendance rates of any pride event in any city in the United States, with more than 200,000 people flocking to the Mile-High City for the incredible 4-day event. One of our favourite things to do during our recent trip to Portland was the free walking tour. Not only that, but Palm Springs is pretty close to both Coachella and Joshua Tree National Park, giving something for both the outdoorsy types and festivalists who might make Palm Springs their vacation destination. , which includes wine tastings, drag brunches, pool parties, and other festive events. Seattle is a fantastic city to visit as an LGBTQ+ person. WebThe 7 Best Towns in South Carolina for LGBT Families Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Anderson, South Carolina are top We wouldnt be surprised. Provincetown, MA. Several LGBTQ+ friendly bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, and events can also be found in Washington DC, making it easy to meet other LGBTQ+ people and support local LGBTQ+ businesses during your trip. 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. 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.