HOME | ABOUT | INDEX | NEWS | FACEBOOK | CONTACT

GAY FRIENDLY

Welcoming | Accepting | Inclusive | Safe | Sanctuary

Business|Marketplace

Organizations|Support

Community|Grassroots Projects

Allies and Advocates

Safe Zones|Safe Spaces

Important LGBTQ Days

LGBTQ Affirming

Gay-friendly or LGBTQ-friendly are phrases that refer to places, policies, people or institutions that are open and welcoming to all members of the LGBTQ community. LGBTQ-friendly organizations and institutions seek to create an environment that is inclusive, accepting, supportive and affirming of gay people and their relationships, respectful of all people, treat all people equally, and are non-judgmental and non-discriminatory.

This is typically a late 20th-century North American term that is the byproduct of both a gradual implementation of gay rights and acceptance of policies supportive of LGBTQ people in the workplace and in schools, as well as the recognition of gays and lesbians as a distinct consumer group for businesses.

Looking to Move Abroad? Here are 10 Countries LGBTQ People Could Consider
The Out List

2024 LGBTQ State Safety Report Cards

Study Abroad: Most LGBTQ Friendly Countries

LGBTQ Friendly Cities

LGBTQ-Friendly Destinations You Need to Add to Your Bucket List

Here are the Gayest Cities in the World for 2023

Most Progressive, Diverse, Inclusive Universities in US

LGBTQ Friendly Drug/Alcohol Rehab Centers Near You

Pride Places: LGBTQ Business Directory
 

LGBTQ Sanctuary Cities

Several states and cities have declared themselves LGBTQ sanctuaries, aiming to protect LGBTQ individuals from discriminatory policies and ensure access to healthcare and other essential services.

 

Sanctuary States California Colorado Connecticut Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Minnesota New Jersey New Mexico Vermont Washington

Sanctuary Cities New York City Kansas City, Missouri West Hollywood, California Seattle, Washington Worcester, Massachusetts Lake Worth Beach, Florida Tallahassee, Florida Austin, Texas

Some of these declarations are focused on protecting transgender healthcare, while others aim to provide broader protections for the LGBTQ community.

There are several transgender sanctuary cities in the US, including Kansas City, Missouri, and California's Sacramento, West Hollywood, and San Francisco

States With the Largest Amount of LGBTQ People
Businesses That Stand Up for LGBTQ Customers

Best LGBTQ And Gay-Friendly Rehab Centers

US News: More Cities Move to Protect LGBTQ Rights

Advocate Mag: LGBTQ Friendly Hospitals

Safest Countries For LGBTQ Travelers, Ranked In New 2023 Report
HRC: Healthcare Equality Index 2018

LGBTQ-Friendly or Not: Closer Look at Most Welcoming Cities

States With the Smallest Amount of LGBTQ People
Best Countries for LGBTQ Visitors

Go Queer Website

LGBTQ Friendly Colleges

Campus Pride works alongside students, faculty, staff, and administrators at 1400+ campuses annually to help support and improve the quality of campus life for LGBTQ people. “LGBTQ youth and families want to know what campuses are doing when it comes to inclusive policies, programs and practices,” said Shane Windmeyer, executive director of Campus Pride and creator of the Campus Pride Index. What does it take to make the list? An institution had to score the highest percentages in the LGBTQ-friendly benchmarks for policies, programs and practices.

Augsburg University – Minneapolis, MN
Elon University – Elon, NC
Guilford College – Guilford, NC
Harvey Mudd College – Claremont, CA
Indiana University Bloomington – Bloomington, IN
Ithaca College – Ithaca, NY
Kansas State University – Manhattan, KS
Lehigh University – Bethlehem, PA
Macalester College – Saint Paul, MN
Montclair State University – Montclair, NJ
Ohio State University – Columbus, OH
Pennsylvania State University – University Park, PA
Portland State University – Portland, OR
Princeton University – Princeton, NJ
Rutgers State Univ of New Jersey – New Brunswick, NJ
San Diego State University – San Diego, CA
Southern Oregon University – Ashland, OR
Tufts University – Medford, MA

University of Colorado at Boulder – Boulder, CO
University of Kentucky – Lexington, KY
University of Louisville – Louisville, KY
University of Maryland, College Park – College Park, MD
University of Massachusetts Amherst – Amherst, MA
University of Oregon – Eugene, OR
University of Pennsylvania – Philadelphia, PA
University of Washington – Seattle, WA
University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, WI
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, WI
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, WI
Washington State University – Pullman, WA

These Are the Nation's Most LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges, Universities

Texas and Florida Schools Excluded From LGBTQ-Friendly College List Over New State Laws

Top 25 LGBTQ Friendly Colleges

Best Colleges for LGBTQ Students

Top LGBTQ Friendly Colleges and Universities

Great Value Colleges: LGBTQ Friendly Campuses

LGBTQ Friendly College List 2018

Religious Universities Living Up to LGBTQ Values of Inclusion

LGBTQ Friendly Companies

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issues its annual Corporate Equality Index to inform the general public about the level of LGBTQ support they can expect from the Fortune 500 companies. Based on their rating system, here are some of the companies that earned a perfect score:

 

Wal-Mart Chevron Starbucks Apple Computers General Motors Macy's Coca-Cola Goldman Sachs American Airlines CVS Health Toys R Us Hershey AT&T Verizon Communications Nestle Purina Proctor & Gamble Sony Wells Fargo Time Warner Home Depot

JC Penney McDonald's Hasbro Accenture Ernst & Young Nike Dow Chemical Deloitte Marriott Johnson & Johnson UPS Campbell's Soup Pepsico Walt Disney Hyundai New York Life General Electric Morgan Stanley Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream American Eagle Outfitters

Toyota General Mills Barnes & Noble Bookstore Anheuser-Busch Google Levi Strauss Mattel Nationwide Ford Motor Company Delta Airlines IBM Hewlett Packard Shell Oil Boeing Colgate Palmolive MetLife Glaxo Smith Kline Hallmark Cards Netflix United Airlines

States With the Largest Amount of LGBTQ People

2024 LGBTQ State Safety Report Cards

HRC Corporate Equality Index 2023-24

Pride Places: LGBTQ Business Directory

Looking to Move Abroad? Here are 10 Countries LGBTQ People Could Consider

Advocate Magazine: Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the US
LGBTQ Friendly College List 2018

LGBTQ-Friendly Destinations You Need to Add to Your Bucket List

Why Canada Issued Travel Advisory for Its LGBTQ Residents Visiting US

Here are the Gayest Cities in the World for 2023

Study Abroad: Most LGBTQ Friendly Countries

LGBTQ Friendly Cities

Most Progressive, Diverse, Inclusive Universities in US

LGBTQ Friendly Drug/Alcohol Rehab Centers Near You

Everywhere is Queer

LGBTQ Safety Grades by State

Despite years of progress toward inclusion and equality for LGBTQ Americans, a sense of safety at home remains elusive for many. By the end of last year, 75 of the 500 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced across the country in 2023 had become law, and in 2022, hate crimes against LGBTQ Americans reached a five-year high.

With hate crimes rising and more anti-LGBTQ bills under consideration, it’s essential to monitor the level of safety across the nation regularly. That’s why this report card was created for the third year. To grade all 50 states and Washington DC based on how safe they are for LGBTQ people, this new scoring system from SafeHome.Org includes both legislative analysis and hate crime data from the FBI.

The Out List

2024 LGBTQ State Safety Report Cards

Advocate Magazine: Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the US

Study Abroad: Most LGBTQ Friendly Countries

LGBTQ Friendly Cities

States With the Smallest Amount of LGBTQ People

LGBTQ-Friendly Destinations You Need to Add to Your Bucket List

Here are the Gayest Cities in the World for 2023

Most Progressive, Diverse, Inclusive Universities in US

LGBTQ Friendly Drug/Alcohol Rehab Centers Near You

Businesses That Stand Up for LGBTQ Customers

Best LGBTQ And Gay-Friendly Rehab Centers

US News: More Cities Move to Protect LGBTQ Rights

Advocate Mag: LGBTQ Friendly Hospitals

Safest Countries For LGBTQ Travelers, Ranked In New 2023 Report
HRC: Healthcare Equality Index 2018

LGBTQ-Friendly or Not: Closer Look at Most Welcoming Cities

Pride Places: LGBTQ Business Directory

Best Countries for LGBTQ Visitors

Go Queer Facebook

States With Most LGBTQ Friendly Companies

States With the Largest Amount of LGBTQ People

2024 LGBTQ State Safety Report Cards

Why Canada Issued Travel Advisory for Its LGBTQ Residents Visiting US

HRC Corporate Equality Index 2023-24

Looking to Move Abroad? Here are 10 Countries LGBTQ People Could Consider

Advocate Magazine: Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the US

LGBTQ Friendly College List 2018

Study Abroad: Most LGBTQ Friendly Countries

LGBTQ Friendly Cities

Most Closeted State in America
QueerCos: Search for LGBTQ-Owned Businesses
NBC: US Cities That Failed an LGBTQ Equality Evaluation
Monster: Best Companies for LGBTQ Workers

New York: LGBTQ Resources

The Out List

LGBTQ Friendly Cities

Based on a broad range of criteria, the following cities have a perfect score (100) on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index (MEI):

Advocate Magazine: Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the US

Go Queer Website

States With the Smallest Amount of LGBTQ People

HRC Corporate Equality Index 2018

LGBTQ Friendly College List 2018

Everywhere is Queer

Why Canada Issued Travel Advisory for Its LGBTQ Residents Visiting US

Here are the Gayest Cities in the World for 2023

Study Abroad: Most LGBTQ Friendly Countries

Best Companies for LGBTQ Workers

LGBTQ Friendly Cities

Businesses That Stand Up for LGBTQ Customers

LGBTQ-Friendly or Not: Closer Look at Most Welcoming Cities
Advocate Mag: LGBTQ Friendly Hospitals

QueerCos: Search for LGBTQ-Owned Businesses

HRC: Healthcare Equality Index 2018

Best Countries for LGBTQ Visitors

Most Progressive, Diverse, Inclusive Universities in US

LGBTQ Friendly Drug/Alcohol Rehab Centers Near You

Corporations That Improved Their LGBTQ Policies in 2020

Pride Places: LGBTQ Business Directory

European Rainbow Map Update

Ranking LGBTQ-Friendly Countries Worldwide

The annual Rainbow Map ranking has named Malta as the best nation for LGBTQ rights in Europe for the eighth year in a row, while the UK’s score continues to fall.

ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) Europe’s Rainbow Map and Index has ranked European countries on the basis of their “legal and policy situation” for LGBTQ people each year since 2009. The index ranks countries from zero to 100 per cent, with zero representing gross violations of human rights, and 100 representing full equality. Countries are marked in seven categories: equality and non-discrimination, family, hate crime and hate speech, legal gender recognition, intersex bodily integrity, civil society space, and asylum.

The 2023 list placed Malta top, with a score of 89 per cent. Rising in the ranks to fourth place was Spain (74 per cent), which ILGA-Europe said was due to the country’s ground-breaking introduction of a self-ID law for trans people.

Looking to Move Abroad? Here are 10 Countries LGBTQ People Could Consider

Social Acceptance of LGBTQ People in 175 Countries
LGBTQ Quality of Life: Major World Cities Ranked
Rainbow Europe: LGBTQ Friendly Countries Ranked
Best and Worst Countries for LGBTQ Folks  in Europe
New LGBTQ Safety Report Ranks Trans Friendly Travel Destinations
LGBTQ-Friendly Destinations You Need to Add to Your Bucket List

States With the Largest Amount of LGBTQ People

Until 2015, the UK consistently achieved the number-one spot in the rankings, but since then has slipped down the list. It was down in 10th in 2021 before falling to 14th in 2021. This year, the country dropped further still and now sits in 17th place.

The worst countries for LGBTQ people in Europe are Azerbaijan (two per cent), Turkey (four per cent), and Armenia (eight per cent). Those three countries have retained the bottom three places for the past three years.

The Rainbow Europe Map, developed by ILGA, utilizes a 100 point scale and tracks 49 countries. Here is their top 20 list:

The Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law ranks 175 countries worldwide according to their average LGBTQ Acceptance Index score. They utilize a 10 point scale. Here is their list of the top 20 countries ranked for LGBTQ Social Acceptance:
 

[Source: Williams Institute, Pink News, ILGA Europe, May 2023]

Social Acceptance of LGBTQ People in 175 Countries
LGBTQ Quality of Life: Major World Cities Ranked
Rainbow Europe: LGBTQ Friendly Countries Ranked
Best and Worst Countries for LGBTQ Folks  in Europe
New LGBTQ Safety Report Ranks Trans Friendly Travel Destinations

States With the Smallest Amount of LGBTQ People

LGBTQ Community Centers

New York City | LGBTQ Community Center
Washington DC | DC Center for the LGBTQ Community
Phildelphia | William Way LGBTQ Community Center
Boston | BAGLY: Boston Alliance of LGBTQ Youth
Chicago | LGBTQ Center on Halsted
New Orleans | LGBTQ Community Center
Memphis | Out Memphis: LGBTQ Community Center of MidSouth
Atlanta | LGBTQ Institute
Birmingham | Magic City Acceptance Center
Gainesville | Pride Community Center of North Central Florida
Winston-Salem | North Star LGBTQ Community Center
Dallas | LGBTQ Resource Center
Houston | Montrose LGBTQ Center
Cleveland | LGBTQ Center of Greater Cleveland
Milwaukee | LGBTQ Community Center
Newark | Newark LGBTQ Center
Hudson Valley | Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center
Denver | LGBTQ Center of Colfax
Seattle | Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center
San Francisco | SF LGBTQ Center
San Diego | LGBTQ Community Center

States With the Fewest LGBTQ People

The states with the fewest queer people are also some of the states proposing and passing the most anti-LGBTQ laws

The good news: wherever you are, you're not alone. Overall, 14.1 million people reported that they identify as LGBTQ between 2020 and 2021, making up a significant portion of the population at 5.6 percent. By state, there wasn't a single area with an LGBTQ population of less than 4 percent.

However, compared to others, some states still have less than half as many queer people proportionally.  Here are the states with the smallest queer communities, and the legislation facing them.

--South Carolina - 192,800 LGBTQ adults (4.9 percent of the state's population) - 32 anti-LGBTQ bills proposed this year

--North Dakota - 28,400 LGBTQ adults (4.9 percent of the state's population) - 17 anti-LGBTQ bills last year, 10 of which became law

--Iowa - 113,600 LGBTQ adults account (4.7 percent of the state's population) - 37 anti-LGBTQ bills last year, 4 of which became law

--Alabama - 173,000 LGBTQ people (4.6 percent of the state's population) - 4 anti-LGBTQ bills last year, 1 of which became law

--North Carolina - 353,100 LGBTQ people (4.4 percent of the state's population) - 6 anti-LGBTQ bills last year

--Mississippi - 93,300 LGBTQ adults (4.1 percent of the state's population) - 23 anti-LGBTQ bills last year, 4 of which became law

--West Virginia - 60,000 LGBTQ adults (4.1 percent of the state's population) - 33 anti-LGBTQ bills last year, 1 of which became law

The states with the fewest queer people are also some of the states proposing the most anti-LGBTQ+ laws. And while it may not seem as if the South is a popular place for LGBTQ people, by raw population, the region actually has the largest percentage of queer adults. The 5.2 million LGBTQ people in southern states account for 36.9 percent of the queer people in the US.  While we may not be the majority, LGBTQ people across the country have an enormous and undeniable presence wherever they call home.

[Source: Ryan Adamczeski, Advocate Magazine, Jan 2025]

States With the Largest Amount of LGBTQ People
States With the Smallest Amount of LGBTQ People

Businesses That Stand Up for LGBTQ Customers

Pride Places: LGBTQ Business Directory

US News: More Cities Move to Protect LGBTQ Rights

Advocate Mag: LGBTQ Friendly Hospitals

HRC: Healthcare Equality Index 2018

QueerCos: Search for LGBTQ-Owned Businesses

LGBTQ-Friendly or Not: Closer Look at Most Welcoming Cities
Best Countries for LGBTQ Visitors

Go Queer Facebook

The Out List

LGBTQ Friendly Healthcare

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issues its annual Healthcare Equality Index of LGBTQ affirming hospitals and medical centers. The "LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader” designation is for HEI participants that are given high scores in all criteria areas.

Focusing on the top regions and the top states in those regions: Here are the number of LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leaders by Region:

--Northeast 132 (New York 77, Pennsylvania 19, New Jersey 16, Massachusetts 13)

--West 110 (California 83, Oregon 11, Washington 8)

--South 94 (North Carolina 24, Florida 16, Kentucky 10, Louisiana 9, Texas 8)

--Midwest 82 (Ohio 24, Missouri 14, Illinois 10, Wisconsin 9)

HEI Scoring Criteria:
--Non-Discrimination and Staff training
--Patient Services and Support
--Patient and Community Engagement
--Employee Benefits and Policies

HEI 2018 LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leaders: 418 of the 626 HEI survey respondents (64%) scored 100 points in the HEI, earning them the "Leader" designation. Another 95 facilities earned the "Top Performer" designation, for scoring 80-95 points.
 

The Out List

Everywhere is Queer

Go Queer Facebook

States With the Smallest Amount of LGBTQ People

2024 LGBTQ State Safety Report Cards

HRC Corporate Equality Index 2023-24

Advocate Magazine: Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities in the US

Businesses That Stand Up for LGBTQ Customers

How To Find An LGBTQ-Friendly Neighborhood
Advocate Mag: LGBTQ Friendly Hospitals

HRC: Healthcare Equality Index 2018

Most Progressive, Diverse, Inclusive Universities in US

Best Countries for LGBTQ Visitors

LGBTQ Friendly Drug/Alcohol Rehab Centers Near You

Religious Universities Living Up to LGBTQ Values of Inclusion

LGBTQ-Friendly or Not: Closer Look at Most Welcoming Cities

LGBTQ Friendly Medical Facilities per state:

States With the Largest Amount of LGBTQ People

HRC Corporate Equality Index 2023-24

LGBTQ Friendly College List 2018

Study Abroad: Most LGBTQ Friendly Countries

LGBTQ Friendly Cities

Most Progressive, Diverse, Inclusive Universities in US

LGBTQ Friendly Drug/Alcohol Rehab Centers Near You

Everywhere is Queer

Looking to Move Abroad? Here are 10 Countries LGBTQ People Could Consider

Businesses That Stand Up for LGBTQ Customers

US News: More Cities Move to Protect LGBTQ Rights

Here are the Gayest Cities in the World for 2023

Advocate Mag: LGBTQ Friendly Hospitals

HRC: Healthcare Equality Index 2018

QueerCos: Search for LGBTQ-Owned Businesses

LGBTQ-Friendly or Not: Closer Look at Most Welcoming Cities
Best Countries for LGBTQ Visitors

LGBTQ Friendly Therapists

Psychology Help: Best LGBTQ Friendly On-Line Counseling

Pride Counseling

Beacon of Hope Counseling Services (Mesa, Arizona)

Best On-Line Therapy Services for the LGBTQ Community

Psychology Today: Find an LGBTQ Friendly Counselor

LGBTQ Life Center

Healthline: Finding an LGBTQ Affirming Therapist

Talk Space: On-Line LGBTQ Therapy

How to Find an LGBTQ Friendly Therapist

Havello: LGBTQ Social Haven

Pride Counseling: On-Line Therapy

Gaylesta

LGBTQ Friendly Addiction Recovery Centers

Drug/Alcohol Rehab USA: LGBTQ Friendly Treatment Centers Near You

The Recovery Village: LGBTQ Resources

Free by the Sea: LGBTQ Substance Abuse Treatment

Healthy Life Recovery: LGBTQ Resources

LGBTQ Addiction Recovery Centers

Addiction Group: Treatment for LGBTQ Clients

Drug Watch: LGBTQ Comprehensive Health and Wellbeing

Best LGBTQ And Gay-Friendly Rehab Centers

Bedrock Recovery Center
Sunshine Behavioral Health: LGBTQ Resources

Healthy Life Recovery

Ohio Recovery Center

Legacy Healing Center: LGBTQ Young Adults
Drug/Alcohol Rehab USA: LGBTQ Friendly Treatment Centers Near You

Pinnacle Peak Recovery: Substance Abuse Help for LGBTQ People

Inspire Recovery: LGBTQ Rehab

LGBTQ Friendly Destinations

From a survey of LGBTQ travelers conducted by the Travel Industry Association, here are the top 21 LGBTQ-friendly US vacation destinations named by the panelists (in order):

San Francisco, CA (76%)
Key West, FL (57%)
New York, NY (51%)
Fire Island, NY (48%)
Provincetown, MA (46%)
Los Angeles, CA (38%)
Miami/ South Beach, FL (37%)
Las Vegas, NV (35%)
New Orleans, LA(34%)
Palm Springs/Palm Desert, CA (33%)
Boston, MA (29%)
Chicago, IL (29%)
Fort Lauderdale/Wilton Manors, FL (29%)
San Diego, CA (29%)
Seattle/ Bellevue, WA (27%)
Washington, DC (23%)
Honolulu, HI (22%)
Palm Beach/ West Palm/Boca Raton, FL (20%)
Portland, OR (18%)
Philadelphia, PA (17%)
Rehoboth Beach, DE (17%)
Providence, RI (6%)

The Out List

Go Queer Website

States With the Smallest Amount of LGBTQ People

Looking to Move Abroad? Here are 10 Countries LGBTQ People Could Consider

HRC: Municipal Equality Index

2024 LGBTQ State Safety Report Cards

Gay Travel: LGBTQ Friendly Hotels

TAG Approved: LGBTQ Welcoming Hotels Worldwide

IGLTA: LGBTQ Friendly Hotels

LGBTQ Convention & Visitors Bureau

LGBTQ Friendly Tour Operators

Gay Friendly Cities: See Your City's Score

Here are the Gayest Cities in the World for 2023

Safest Countries For LGBTQ Travelers, Ranked In New 2023 Report
Why Canada Issued Travel Advisory for Its LGBTQ Residents Visiting US
Pride Places: LGBTQ Business Directory

LGBTQ Friendly Religious Groups

There are some religious congregations that accept gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer members and permit the ordination of openly LGBTQ candidates for ministry.

Jewish:

Reform Judaism
Reconstructionist Judaism
Jewish Renewal
Humanistic Judaism

Christian:

United Church of Christ

United Church of Canada

Disciples of Christ

Episcopal Church in the United States

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Presbyterian Church (USA)

Alliance of Baptists

Community of Christ

Metropolitan Community Church

Islam:

Mecca Institute, US

Unity Mosque, Toronto
Ibn Rushd-Goethe, Berlin
Masjid Ul-Umam, South Africa
 

Other:

Unitarian Universalist Association

American Humanist Association

Gay Church: Find an Affirming Church

NBC News: Affirming Mosques Serving Gay Muslims

Metropolitan Community Church

HRC: Faith Positions

HOME

QUEER CAFE │ LGBTQ Information Network │ Established 2017