These are the 50 most and least LGBTQ-friendly cities in the U.S., according to a new study

A new study by Clever Real Estate ranked the 50 most and least LGBTQ-friendly cities in the United States based on data from the Human Rights Campaign, National LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, and more.

The Methodology: Clever analyzed data points from the Human Rights Campaign, The American Values Atlas provided by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), Movement Advancement Project (MAP), OutCare, Yelp, Google Trends, and Gaypridecalendar.com.

The metrics they used:

• Percentage of state population that is LGBTQ+
• PFLAG chapters per 100,000 residents
• LGBTQ+ affirming health care providers per 100,000 residents
• Count of state-level anti-trans legislation
• Pride events per 100,000 residents
• Count of NGLCC chapters
• Percentage of population opposing anti-discrimination laws
• Percentage of population opposing same-sex marriage
• Gay bars per 100,000 residents
• Human Rights Campaign's municipal equality index
• Movement Advancement Project's state equality tally score
• Presence of state-level inclusive curricular standards
• Presence of parental opt-out laws
• Presence of "Don't Say Gay" laws

Top Cities: Here are top 15 most LGBTQ-friendly cities according to Clever:

1. San Francisco, CA

• LGBTQ people are 6% of total population (national avg: 5.1%)
• 110% more gay bars than average city
• 63% more PFLAG chapters than average city

2. Hartford, CT

• Only 11% of Hartford residents oppose same-sex marriage, the lowest % in the study
• 213% more PFLAG chapters than average city

3. Las Vegas, NV

• 90% more gay bars than average city
• 214% more annual pride events than average metro area

4. Portland, OR

• At 8%, Oregon has he largest percentage of LGBTQ residents of any state
• 119% more LGBTQ-affirming health care providers than national average

5. Denver, CO

• 25% more LGBTQ-affirming health care providers than average city
• 103% more gay bars than average

6. Los Angeles, CA

• Only 15% of LA residents oppose LGBTQ non-discrimination laws
• 146,000 people attended the L.A. Pride Festival & Parade in 2022

7. San Diego, CA

• Just 14% of San Diego residents oppose LGBTQ non-discrimination laws
• 71% more pride events than average city

8. Sacramento, CA

• Perfect municipal equality score of 100
• Home to institutions like National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and Sacramento LGBT Community Center

9. Chicago, IL

• 38% more PFLAG chapters than average city
• Only 15% of its residents oppose LGBTQ non-discrimination laws

10. New Orleans, LA

• 5x more gay barsthan the average city the highest in the study
• 30% more LGBTQ-affirming health care providers than the national average 

11. San Jose, CA

• Near-perfect municipal equality score of 97/100
• Only 13% of residents oppose same-sex marriage

12. Richmond, VA

• Perfect municipal equality score of 100
• 88% more PFLAG chapters than the national average

13. Pittsburgh, PA

• 94% more LGBTQ-affirming health care providers than the average metro area
• Just 14% of residents oppose LGBTQ non-discrimination laws

14. Baltimore, MD

• Baltimore is home to 75% more PFLAG chapters than the average city
• 26% more LGBTQ-affirming health care providers than the national average

15. Milwaukee, WI

• 63% more chapters than the average city
• 50% more LGBTQ bars than the average city 

Further reading: Check out theses additional resources when planning your next move:

• The Queer Money podcast “Best Gay City to Live in...” series
• "The average cost of living in the 15 safest states for trans people" at Queer and Trans Wealth