Traveling for Pride

Traveling for Pride is not new, but it seems to be a lot more popular, or easier to share, now. Pride is a celebration and a party, and a sense of community wherever you are. I love the idea that people want to experience Pride outside of their hometown, but also that they may not have celebrations at home, or even feel safe there, so they go where they can be themselves. 

The LGBTQIA+ community experiences similar discrimination wherever they are, so being able to engage with others is always joyful, celebratory, and has a feeling of understanding. Pride is so accepting and lovely, that I love going to events as an ally. It's one of those atmospheres where I always feel safe in the people around me and I hope that's how everyone feels. 

Outside of Pride celebrations, there are other ways you can learn about the history of Pride when you travel. A few places that are very important to the protest that has gotten us to where we are today:

California

The Black Cat in Los Angeles might sound familiar to you, as it was the site of a peaceful protest of 200 people in 1967; however, the LA area has many other great places to learn about the city's place in Pride history. 

You already know that San Francisco is sort of a gay mecca, but did you know that it also has the world's first official transgender district? I didn't, and I think that's amazing.

Georgia

The Atlanta Eagle bar is a leather bar that has moved locations, but still kept its community and welcoming atmosphere, plus it has officially been declared a landmark as of 2020.

Florida

Despite all the politics and intolerance of the state of Florida right now, it still houses one of the U.S.'s more important museums for Pride history. The World AIDS Museum in Fort Lauderdale. Wilton Manors is next door and is one of the country's most welcoming and LGBTQ-friendly communities. Now you can frequent a bunch of queer-owned businesses and historical sites, but you can also indulge in some of the many Pride events they put on every June. 

Louisiana

New Orleans is known for it's good times and party vibes, so it's no surprise that Pride has it's foothold there, too. Café Lafitte in Exile opened in 1933 and is the oldest continuously-operating gay bar in the U.S. (according to them). 

New York

Stonewall Inn in New York City is the beginning of most people's knowledge of Pride and where it all went down. But it's not the only landmark in New York that's important. Here are 14 other places to visit while you're there.

If you're traveling to New York during the warmer months and hope to get away from the city, there are even quite a few "gay" beaches, so bring your suit and sunscreen and relax at one of these places.

Texas

While religious organizations aren't really known for being that accepting of the LBGTQ+ community, but Dallas's Cathedral of Hope is known as being the largest LGBTQ+-welcoming congregation in the U.S. Their Interfaith Peace Chapel was designed by famous gay architect Philip Johnson.

Before it became known for it's accepting and "weird" reputation, Austin had a small district where the LGBTQ community found a safe space to be themselves and Oilcan Harry's was one such place, known to invest quite a lot in the art of drag, it is the city's longest-running gay bar.

A hotel in Port Aransas known for welcoming everyone, the Seahorse Inn has been a site for activism, art, politics, community, and also leisure and recreation. Not only was Pride a big part of the Seahorse, but you can enjoy the mid-century modern architecture, too. 

I hope this helps you find more Pride in your travels and life in general. We can all use more tolerance, diversity, and rainbows in our world. Do you have a favorite LBGTQ+ business, destination, or event?

Where To Go Right Now As a Queer Traveler

Pride Month may be halfway over and you might not even be traveling right now. That's okay, because there are places you can visit all year that are safe, welcoming, and help you engage with new people in the queer community. It can be scary going to a new place, especially as a minority, woman, or LGBTQ, so I wanted to do a little research for those of you who want to travel, but aren't entirely sure where you should go.

You don't want to keep going back to the same places you've been to before, even if it is tried-and-true, you can only visit those places so many times before you're longing for something else. Yes, this is coming from someone who visits Las Vegas multiple times per year, but it's not the only place I visit and it's also never my big trip of the year. It's just one of the smaller getaways I take, but unlike a lot of destinations, Las Vegas is continually changing. 

Some countries that are moving towards a more inclusive environment are:

• Barbados - while British Colonial law seems to have been cemented in this country's history, and gay & lesbians haven't always had the easiest time, Barbados lifted their ban on same-sex activity just in 2022. I'm not sure how they enforce a law without being in people's bedrooms, but this is a big step towards more accepting society.
• Chile - a pioneer in the queer acceptance front (in South America), Chile legalized same-sex marriage in 2022 and has created a number of laws since 2019 surrounding gender equality, trans rights, and the outlaw of conversion therapy. Santiago's pride month is the 3rd largest in South America and prohibits for-profit brands from participating.
• Estonia - the Baltics are a bit behind when it comes to marriage equality and rights, but Estonia became the first of them to legalize same-sex marriage (2024) and public opinion on same-sex relationships is on the rise as well. There's no Pride Month here, but Baltic Pride rotates country (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) each year. It's not ideal, but it's possible that changes in the future and maybe other Baltic countries will take their lead.
• Greenland - last year saw the passing of the Law on Equal Treatment and Anti-Discrimination, but same-sex marriage has been legal in Greenland since 2016. Greenland finally has a direct flight from the U.S., establishing itself as a tourist destination, but it also launched this Pride Month and welcomes queer travelers to its progressive environment for equal rights.
• India - though same-sex marriage isn't legalized (yet), India has been evolving on acceptance of the queer community over the years, officially ruling that same sex couples could be recognized as familial units and also qualifying for social security. Their KASHISH Pride Film Festival in Dubai has over 150 films and 10,000 attendees.
• South Africa - same-sex marriage was legalized in 2006 and last year they passed the “Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill”, which has largely been met with enthusiasm, especially among LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Cape Town is also slated to hold World Pride in 2028.
• Thailand - the second Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage is not only warm, but also very affordable. The new law that grants same-sex couples equal legal, financial, and medical rights as heterosexual couples. It also gave them adoption and inheritance rights.

If you're traveling within the U.S. and want to go to the most accepting cities, here are the top 15 for you:

• San Francisco, California (obvs)
• Hartford, Connecticut - this was a surprise to me, but now I feel like I should go visit.
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Portland, Oregon (yay!)
• Denver, Colorado
• Los Angeles, California
• San Diego, California
• Sacramento, California
• Chicago, Illinois
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• San Jose, California
• Richmond, Virginia (so rich in history, too!)
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (home of Mister (Fred) Rogers)
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin

You may want to avoid visiting these states:

• Florida
• Indiana
• Kansas
• North Carolina

And these cities in particular:

• Memphis, Tennessee
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• Houston, Texas
• Jacksonville, Florida
• Birmingham, Alabama
• Miami, Florida
• Dallas, Texas
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
• Tampa, Florida
• St Louis, Missouri
• Kansas City, Missouri

Personally, I enjoy visiting destinations that are progressive or are attempting to do better when it comes to the treatment and equality of people. All people. I'm a strong ally for marginalized people and I want to support places that are doing what is right and are supporting people of all types. Those are the communities I feel should get my tourist dollars.

Make sure to use Equaldex and Global Change Data Lab to help you plan your trips when you're unsure of safety, laws, and public opinion scores. You can also use these tips and resources, and use social media to ask your friends about their experiences.

Travel well and happy, knowing you chose the best places for you. Tell me your favorite cities/countries that are welcoming to all.