Best places to live for gay couples
The most and least same-sex attracted cities in America
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Among the nation's 50 largest metropolitan areas, San Francisco has the highest percentage of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or genderqueer (LGBT) at 6.2%, according to a new Gallup survey.
In Portland, Oregon and Austin, Texas, 5.4% and 5.3% of the population identifies as LGBT, respectively, adequately above the national average of 3.6%.
Salt Lake Municipality, Utah also made the superior 10, at 4.7% — a somewhat surprising discover, given Utah's reputation as one of the most conservative states in the union. As the survey notes, however, Utah remains one of the only states to have passed a law prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
After interviewing 374,325 randomly selected adults in all 50 states, researchers found that the most
Snapshot: LGBTQ Equality by State
The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) tracks over 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies. This blueprint shows the overall policy tallies (as distinct from sexual orientation or gender identity tallies) for each state, the District of Columbia, and the five populated U.S. territories. A state’s policy tally scores the laws and policies within each state that shape LGBTQ people's lives, experiences, and equality. The major categories of laws covered by the policy tally include: Relationship & Parental Recognition, Nondiscrimination, Religious Exemptions, LGBTQ Youth, Health Care, Criminal Justice, and Identity Documents.
Click on any state to view its detailed policy tally and state profile, or click "Choose an Issue" above to view maps on over 50 diverse LGBTQ-related laws and policies.
High Overall Policy Tally (15 states + D.C.)
Medium Overall Policy Tally (5 states)
Fair Overall Policy Tally (3 states, 2 territories)
Low Overall Policy Tally (10 states, 3 t
Gayest Cities in America
Obergefell v. Hodges is a civil rights case in which the Supreme Court ruled that the fundamental right to unite is guaranteed to lgbtq+ 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 male lover 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 municipality 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 urban area councilors, a lesbian mayor and a pride festival of more than 40,000 participants every year.
Top 10 Cities by LGBTQ Population
The ten gayest cities in America are:
- San Francisco, CA
- Santa Rosa, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Boston, MA
- Portland, OR
- Miami, FL
- Albuquerque, NM
- San Diego, CA
- New York City, NY
- P
The 10 LGBTQ-Friendly Cities for Retirement in 2024
For LGBTQ seniors, discovery a welcoming and inclusive retirement community that embraces diversity and fosters a sense of belonging is paramount. Outside of opting for LGBTQ or male lover retirement communities, LGBTQ seniors will also want to evaluate the culture and setting of the surrounding city. But what makes a city truly LGBTQ-friendly, and how does that intersect with cities acknowledged for their desirability as retirement destinations? To facilitate you get started on your search for your ideal retirement community, we’ve compiled our list of 2024’s best places for LGBTQ retirement and outlined the top factors you’ll want to consider.
Merging the Data: Pairing Gay-Friendly Cities & Retirement Hotspots
Our list of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities for retirees in 2024 was created through the analysis of several resources, including The Journal of Consumer Affairs’ 2024 list of LGBTQ-friendly cities, Senior Advice’s 2019 record on the best LGBTQ-friendly destinations for seniors, and Realtor’s Top 10 Retirement Towns for 2024.Collectively, these resources considered mo.