Gay Friendly Places to Visit in the USA

Despite the negative press surrounding homosexuality, the USA is becoming a more gay-friendly country. For example, Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, and since then, more than 35 states and the District of Columbia have followed suit. Many US cities have also opened their doors to the gay community and hosted events celebrating the LGBT community. Some metropolitan areas have even become hubs for LGBT travel and living. One of the best places to visit and live in the USA for LGBT people is Washington DC.

Minnesota has also been recognized as an LGBT-friendly state. The Human Rights Campaign praised the state’s policies in major cities. The city of Minneapolis has been dubbed “the gayest city in America.” In addition, the state has no laws against conversion therapy, doesn’t discriminate against transgender people, and allows them to legally change their gender on their birth certificates.

Despite such progress, many states still fail to protect the rights of LGBTQ citizens. For example, in Texas, there are no statewide non-discrimination laws, which means that businesses GAY FRIENDLY refuse to serve gay customers on religious grounds. However, Texas is home to some cities that have embraced the LGBTQ community. Austin, Texas, has been named the gay-friendly city in the United States, and San Antonio and El Paso are among the cities that have taken steps to protect the rights of LGBTQ people.

New Orleans is also a great place to experience LGBT-friendly tourism. Not only is the French Quarter full of colorful parades and nightclubs, but the city is home to the largest LGBT celebration in the Southern US, Southern Decadence. This festival began in 1972 as a going-away party for gay men and women and has since expanded into a six-day event over Labor Day weekend. The festival is celebrated with drag queens, colorful parades, and celebrity performances.

In the Mediterranean, Malta is a tiny island country south of Italy with a population of about half a million. Although there is no traditional gay village, there are plenty of gay-friendly bars and lounges, including the Michelangelo gay club. You can also find a few gay-friendly hangouts in the capital Valletta. The laws regarding gay relationships are lax here, and you will be unlikely to face any homophobia – even if you’re traveling to an economically poor neighborhood.

Argentina has a long history as a gay-friendly country. In 2004, transgender actress Florencia De La Vega starred in a telenovela titled Los Roldan. In 2005, the dating show 12 Corazones-Especial was the first to feature gay men kissing on camera.

Uruguay has made strides in advancing equality for LGBT people. The country’s Constitution contains comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, and it also allows LGBT people to openly serve in the army and on official documents. It also has a lively gay scene centered in Montevideo, where popular gay bars such as Chains Pub and Bar Rodo can be found. The country also actively supports gay events and hosts the GNetwork360 conference every August.