Most friendly gay cities
Happy Pride Month, one and all! It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and to mark, we asked Time Out’s LGBTQ+-identifying writers and editors to tell us all about their favourite municipality 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 gay community, cities that assist and protect LGBTQ+ citizens and visitors, and cities that are notable hubs for Queer life in their respective countries and regions. So, what are the world’s most LGBTQ+-friendly cities? While we couldn’t possibly label them all, these are some of our favourites.
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Where in the U.S. can the Queer community feel proudest and safest to live?
To mark Event Month, LawnStarter ranked 2023’s Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.
We compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on 20 indicators of an ideal LGBTQ city, such as anti-discrimination policies, the share of lgbtq+ households, and LGBTQ support resources.
We also factored in affordability, LGBTQ-friendly health take care access, and Pride-readiness.
Find out which cities are best for LGBTQ+ folks below. To learn how we ranked the cities, see our methodology.
Contents
City Rankings + Infographic
See how each city fared in our ranking:
Top 5 Close Up
Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our top five cities.
Key Insights
The Gist
The uppermost of our ranking is dominated by liberal strongholds enjoy San Francisco (No. 1), Washington (No. 2), and Denver (No. 4). These cities tend to be the most progressive — at least at the municipal level — so feel free to say “gay” here. Although generally not the most affordable, our uppermost performers boast powerful LGBTQ+ communities.
All but nine of our 50 bottom cities, on the other hand, are located in the So 2025, the most LGBTQ-friendly countries contain Malta, Iceland, Canada, Spain, and New Zealand. These nations consistently rank at the top for LGBTQ rights, protections, and social acceptance. Other highly inclusive destinations are the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, and Australia. 2025, Amsterdam in the Netherlands is often called the gay capital of the planet, known for its vibrant LGBTQ culture, historic activism, and iconic Pride celebrations. 2025, 25 countries contain enacted nation-wide bans on so-called “conversion therapy” while others include done so more on a state or provincial level. Transgender individuals can legally transform their gender in many LGBTQ-friendly countries, often through self-determination processes without invasive requirements. Notable examples include Malta, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Argentina, Canada, and Recent Zealand, which allo Are you thinking of making a move to the Midwest? If so, there are plenty of things to love about making your house in the center of our state. Generally, housing prices are affordable, most neighborhoods are approachable and welcoming, and there’s a matchless mix of active, bustling cities, as well as more laid-back suburban and rural areas offering space to stretch your legs and enjoy a slower pace of existence. The Midwest is an area entire of diverse communities and so much to see and do. If you’re considering making a move to this region of the country, there are many wonderful cities in several states to choose from. Some of those include: 10 Most LGBTQ Friendly Countries: 2025 Guide
What are the most LGBTQ-friendly countries in 2025?
Which country is the gay capital of the planet in 2025?
Which countries have banned conversion therapy?
Where can transgender people legally change their gender?
Making a move to the Midwest? Here are some excellent cities for the LGBTQ folks.