Looking for an accepting place to go to school, or even move to post-graduation? One of the most important aspects for a queer woman moving to a new place is to ensure that this city is accepting of LGBTQ+ people. So here’s a little guide to help you find the right place for you. We all know the major cities throughout the country are queer-friendly, but really, how realistic (and financially plausible) is it to move to a city such as New York or Los Angeles when you’re just starting out? Instead, here are some of the unexpected cities for queer women to live.
1. Salt Lake City, Utah
According to Advocate, Salt Lake City is one of the “queerest cities” in America.
Although Utah may seem like a pretty conservative state, Salt Lake City actually has a high percentage of LGBTQ+ population, meaning that finding queer friends and/or a partner won’t be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The LGBTQ+ population can be found in several neighborhoods, such as Mountain West, Sugar House, and the Avenues, so you don’t have to stick to one specific neighborhood in the city.
Every year, the Utah Pride Center—based in Salt Lake City—holds the Utah Pride Festival, an event that empowers and brings together the entire state to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.
The city also shows its acceptance through its choice in politicians. The mayor, Jackie Biskupski, is openly gay! Way to go, Utah.
2. Lansing, Michigan
Voted one of the top LGBT-friendly cities in Michigan and the United States, this college town, home to Michigan State University, is perfect for someone looking for a small city to live in that is also accepting of who they are.
Every year Lansing celebrates the LGBTQ+ community with Michigan Pride, held by the organization of the same name whose mission is to educate and provide outreach and support to those in the LGBTQ+ community in Michigan.
Related: The Top 7 LGBTQ+-Friendly Cities
3. Atlanta, Georgia
This city likes to call itself the “epicenter of the LGBT South” with a strong and vibrant LGBTQ+ community. If you’re over 21, the city has a great party scene with inclusive bars and nightlife around the city. But if you aren’t into partying, or simply want to meet new people in a less hectic way, there are several queer-friendly businesses across the city that hold LGBTQ+ specific events where you can mingle and meet other queer people in the area.
If you’re moving to the city to start your life, there isn’t a specific neighborhood in Atlanta that is labeled the “gay neighborhood.” You can feel comfortable settling down throughout the city without ending up being the only queer person on the block.
4. Washington, D.C.
The capital city of the Land of the Free is very accepting of people from all walks of life. Whether you want to move to a queer-friendly city for college or want to move post-grad, D.C. is the city for you.
With a sizable amount of the population identifying as LGBTQ+, nearly 10 percent, you will fit right in. With a thriving theater and music scene, you won’t ever have to find something to do each night. If you want to keep active, there are also a lot of LGBT sports leagues where you can break a sweat and meet people with similar interests.
5. Honolulu, Hawaii
Although this city is not exactly financially realistic for people just starting out, it would be a great place to visit as a queer woman.
According to Vocativ, Honolulu has a large percentage of LGBTQ+ adults, while also having absolutely no hate crimes reported! So if you want to visit the city for some fun and want to beach it by day and party by night, you can enjoy the gorgeous sandy beaches and active nightlife throughout Honolulu.
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
This Southern city has an unexpectedly large queer population. There are over 19,000 queer people living in New Orleans and tons of things to do every day to meet them. The LGBTQ+ celebrations and nightlife are not your average parties—with no open container laws and bars that do not close, you can live it up to your heart’s content. If partying isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other things to enjoy around the city, such as theater, music and other events specifically for queer women.
When living in New Orleans, your best bets for a queer-friendly neighborhood have to be Faubourg Marigny, Bywater, Mid City and the French Quarter. Although more expensive than the rest of the state, you will find it cheaper than a lot of other places on both coasts.
The city, like most, celebrates Pride every June but also celebrates Southern Decandence every Labor Day weekend to honor the LGBTQ+ community.
These are just six of many queer-friendly cities across the nation, not to mention those around the globe. There are so many more places to go exploring and possibly even live—the possibilities are endless! We promise you’ll find the right place for you.