Happy Pride Month, one and all! It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and to celebrate, we asked Time Out’s LGBTQ+-identifying writers and editors to tell us all about their favourite metropolis on the planet. The resulting list covers all four corners of the globe, from the beaches of Brazil to the creative hub of Glasgow’s Southside. These are cities with a vibrant queer community, cities that sustain and protect LGBTQ+ citizens and visitors, and cities that are notable hubs for LGBTQ+ life in their respective countries and regions. So, what are the world’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities? While we couldn’t possibly mention them all, these are some of our favourites.
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Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.
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Check out our roundup of the gayest cities in Europe based on our first-hand experience, the gay scene, as well as what life is favor for the local LGBTQ community.
From the industrial warehouses in Berlin to the babbling of water stroking the canals of Amsterdam, European gay life spans across the entire spectrum. And we can't earn enough.
We've been around the European block quite a few times, and can safely say, it boasts some of the most progressive places in the world. Yet, each gay scene manages to be different from the others. Some are smaller, some are wilder and some have become so intertwined within city life, that the straight community is left feeling love they're intruding into our special world!
For this list of the top gayest cities in Europe, we look at the gay scene, what's it appreciate to live there as a member of the LGBTQ community, and from our own first-hand experience traveling there as a gay couple. For more inspiration, be sure to check out our more comprehensive guide to the gayest cities in the world and our top gay destinations in Europe.
1. Berl
In this article, we rank the gayest cities in the USA based on the size of the LGBTQ population, the number of gay neighborhoods, queer events, and historical records.
America: Land of the Free and Home of the Gay!
Since the United States only legalized gay marriage in 2015, it’s simple to assume that the entire country falls on the conservative side of the social scale. However, that could not be farther from the authenticity. Like other countries we’ve had the pleasure of visiting during our years of worldwide expeditions, America is one of those places where you can fully express yourself almost everywhere you go.
A sizable chunk of the citizens of this vast, all-encompassing melting pot confirm of LGBTQ relationships (although, sadly, a large number really don't!), which means that gay America can be found in every city, whether big or small.
That being said, there are obviously some places that are far more welcoming than others. Now, with so many gay vacation destinations within the US, we thought we could make things a lot simpler for our
Gayest Cities in America
Obergefell v. Hodges is a civil rights case in which the Supreme Court ruled that the fundamental right to join is guaranteed to same-sex couples. Decided on June 26, 2015, Obergefell v. Hodges required all fifty states, the District of Columbia, and US territories to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples on the same terms and conditions as opposite-sex marriages.
LGBTQ-Friendly Cities
While all 50 states are required to recognize gay marriages, some states and cities are more LGBTQ friendly and have higher populations of gay couples. Portland, Oregon, for example, is one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in the US. Portland was the first major metropolis to elect an openly gay man as mayor in 2008 and mandated most public restrooms to be gender-neutral in 2016. Salt Lake City, Utah has two gay noun councilors, a lesbian mayor and a pride festival of more than 40,000 participants every year.