12 Best U.S. States For LGBTQ Travelers And 10 To Skip 

If you are planning a road trip and you or someone going with you is LGBTQ+, it is good to know which states are friendlier than others. Some states are more inclusive and, therefore, safer and more welcoming, and luckily, numerous nonprofits follow changes in state laws, including safety and non-discrimination laws, as well as the number of hate crimes. Here are some of the latest findings. 

California and New York are the best for the LGBTQ community

The Movement Advancement Project (MAP) has created a list of states and compared their policies from least to most harmful. There are five categories: High, Medium, Fair, Low, and Negative. Among all U.S. States, 15 are considered the safest, including New York and California. 

New York scored better than most countries

The state’s laws against discrimination are higher than some of the friendliest LGBTQ places in the world, including Portugal, Spain, Malta, Canada, and New Zealand. However, MAP reminded that their rankings were based on current state laws, meaning changes are possible. Still, the chances of New York changing dramatically are slim to none. 

California’s impressive score

California is also safer than most LGBTQ+-friendly countries. A real estate website Clever study found that California has a near-perfect score, and San Francisco is dubbed a welcoming haven for everyone. Los Angeles and San Diego were also among the top 10 LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the United States. 

Nevada

Nevada is also among the highly LGBTQ+ supportive states, and Las Vegas is ranked the third-best city for the community. While many states included anti-LGBTQ+ bills in 2023, Nevada advanced protections. This earned Republican governor Joe Lombardo and the state applause from the Human Rights Campaign. 

Oregon

Last year, it was reported that Oregon welcomed numerous LGBTQ individuals seeking refuge from anti-LGBTQ laws. Oregon has strong anti-discrimination laws and a massive support network. The majority of Oregon cities scored high on the pro-LGBTQ safety list. 

Washington

Washington state has the same score as the safest countries for LGBTQ travelers worldwide. Seattle has a thriving LGBT community. The state’s LGBTQ commission, established in 2019, works with state agencies to create and implement policies to address the community’s needs. 

Colorado

The Centennial State takes great pride in protecting the LGBTQ population. Around 77 percent of Colorado residents are against discrimination, and this is why the state is considered to be among the most LGBTQ -friendly states in the Mountain West.  

New Jersey

New Jersey is another welcoming state. It has been LGBTQ-friendly since the 1960s, making it one of the states with the oldest tradition of providing safety to its residents and visitors regardless of their sexuality. Five Garden State municipalities, Hoboken, Jersey City, Lambertville, Montclair, and Princeton, were among the 120 American cities with perfect scores for LGBTQ families. 

Maine

Maine was among the first states to legalize same-sex marriage, and it is a friendly and welcoming place for both residents and visitors. Maine’s non-discrimination rules earned it the perfect score on LGBTQMap, which is considered one of the safest places in the U.S. for the LGBTQ community. 

Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut, is dubbed the second friendliest LGBTQ city in the U.S. Unfair discrimination has been banned since 1991, making Connecticut the fourth state to ban anti-gay discrimination. There is a sense of togetherness across the state, making it one of the freest in the U.S. 

Illinois 

Chicago is among the top ten cities considered to be safest for the members of the LGBTQ community. The state laws are highly friendly, and many families fleed states with anti-trans, anti-LGBTQ+ laws for Illinois, where their rights are protected, Equality Illinois confirmed in 2023. 

Washington D.C. 

D.C. has a vibrant LGBTQ community, and its local government is a proud ally, making this one of the safest areas in the U.S. Some hotels are illuminated in Pride colors during Pride Month, so if you’re considering exploring the States, D.C. should definitely be on your list. 

Maryland

The University of Maryland is the top college in the nation for LGBTQ+ students, so this information alone gives you a sense of the state’s protection of the community. In 2023, Governor Wes Moore addressed the crisis due to a large number of anti-LGBTQ bills and told Marylanders that they deserve to be their authentic selves, not only during Pride Month.  

Less safe states 

While 44% of the overall LGBTQ+ population lives in states with high safety and acceptance scores, 27% of the LGBTQ+ population lives in states that are least friendly to them. Inside these states are the top ten least friendly LGBTQ cities. 

Texas

Houston was named the second least-friendly LGBTQ+ city in the States, and overall, the state of Texas offers limited protections. In 2023, the Human Rights Campaign asked Texas legislators to stop their attacks on LGTBQ+ Texans. The organization pointed out that Texas is accountable for over 20% of the 500 anti-LGTBQ+ bills introduced in state legislatures in the U.S. 

Florida

Miami, Tampa, and Jacksonville are among the top ten least welcoming cities for the LGBTQ community. Much of the concerns come from anti-LGBTQ laws, though public acceptance is moderate. The Sunshine State gained an overall negative score due to its policies.

Arkansas

Arkansas is among the lowest states protecting LGBTQ+ people when it comes to state regulations. In 2021, the Arkansas Governor signed a bill allowing medical staff to refuse treatment to LGBTQ people. ACLU Arkansas called for the state to stop supporting anti-LGBTQ laws in 2023. 

South Dakota

In the past decade, South Dakota introduced numerous bills that are not in favor of the LGBTQ community. State non-discrimination laws received zero out of nine on the LGBTQMap and -1.5 out of 7.5 regarding healthcare. 

Alabama

Alabama has similar laws to Florida, and the state is currently working on banning Pride flags at schools as a way to expand the state’s ban on teacher-led discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in public school classrooms. While there is federal protection, the state was ranked the third worst state for LGBTQ+ safety in 2023. 

Mississippi

Mississippi hasn’t been LGBTQ-friendly for years, if not longer, and this hostility is also felt among students in the state. In 2014, the state passed a law that allowed businesses to refuse service to LGBTQ couples, and a school orchestrated a fake decoy prom to prevent an LGBTQ couple from attending. Not much has changed since then. 

Montana

The Big Sky Country has lower scores regarding LGBTQ safety than many southern states. The Human Rights Campaign blasted state lawmakers over a bill that somewhat bans LGBTQ+ people from bringing claims of discrimination in areas including employment, housing, public accommodations, health care, and education. 

Tennessee

Tennessee was the first state to ban drag shows in 2023, and LGBTQ+ travelers may face unique challenges. According to LGBTQMap, the state scored -13 out of 44.5 overall, one of the country’s lowest. Some countries, like Canada and the U.K., also advised their LGBTQ travelers to avoid certain states that showed a lack of protection and safety for the community. 

Louisiana

In 2023, the NAACP sought a travel advisory for LGBTQ members looking to visit Louisiana. In a statement, the NAACP alerted African Americans, people of color, and the LGBTQIA2S+ community to be highly cautious while in Louisiana. The organization added that the state may not prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion and may have biased laws or policies. 

Missouri

St Louis and Kansas City are among the top 10 least LGBTQ-friendly cities in the States. Missouri gained -0.25 out of 44.5 points, and the LGBTQ community may face legal challenges not experienced by the straight community. Missouri lawmakers proposed more anti-LGBTQ+ legislation than any other state in 2023, but one city, Columbia, was declared an LGBTQ+ safe haven in the state. 

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