The 10 Best LGBTQ-Friendly Small Towns in the US

[Coventina]

Of course Fire Island makes the list, but there are some surprises. Moab, Utah and a town in Arkansas!
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Across the United States, there are small towns that you might at first think have no hope for a thriving LGBTQ+ scene. But you’d be remiss to overlook the opportunity to explore small town America where you can find vibrant queer communities that offer safe spaces rivaling those in large gay-friendly cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.

Luckily there are many charming vacation spots where you can escape the noise of the city and still walk down the street holding hands with your partner without worry. The places mentioned here range from top-tier queer destinations that pride themselves on an excellent range of LGBTQ-specific events to small towns that are showing their true colors as up-coming havens for LGBTQ+ travelers. These are the 10 best gay-friendly towns in America.

1. Provincetown, Massachusetts

It’s quaint, like Leave it to Beaver on vacation but edgier, because Theodore’s daddy is probably twirling in leather at the Boatslip Resort’s 5:00 PM Tea Dance, and here, “beaver” carries a much different meaning. This is Provincetown — the US’s gay summer capital on the tip of Cape Cod.

Protected on the Cape’s bayside by miles of bikeable dunes and scrubby forests, Provincetown (or P-town, as it’s commonly known) has long been a safe harbor for queer US travelers seeking refuge. Less than 3,000 people call P-town their year-round home, but in summer, the population can swell to over 60,000.

https://matadornetwork.com/read/lgbtq-friendly-small-towns-usa/

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Start making your summer plans now!!!

[Ohio Joe]

1. P Town is awesome

Through the 80’s and 90’s I vacationed there almost every year. A wonderful place.

[leftyladyfrommo]

2. Moab, Utah? That's a shock. I think it

was about 99% Mormon when I was in Utah. But maybe I just assumed wrong. I went to HS with a girl from there. She sewed her clothes by hand.

[Sympthsical]

4. I have San Francisco LGBT friends who've moved there

Several different ones. All of them were in tech and made a bunch of money and then moved there because the cost of living was much more manageable. They are also all huge outdoor types.

I didn't get it either until they explained it to me. It's apparently a thing, and they said the Mormon thing hasn't really been a problem for them.

[leftyladyfrommo]

6. Interesting! I did not know that. I thought

all of Southern Utah was scary.

[Coventina]

5. From the article:

Canyons of rusted red rock rise from the Colorado River as it cuts through Utah’s eastern boundary near Moab. This geologically dramatic area, home to both Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, has long been lauded as a prime destination for outdoor enthusiasts looking to hike, bike, kayak, and climb. It only recently became a notable vacation spot for the queer community.

Conservative Utah hasn’t always had the best track record when it comes to diversity, but when Moab began hosting an annual Pride parade in 2011, it garnered national recognition for its efforts at promoting equality in small-town America. Gay Adventure Week, a Moab-based organization that leads guided excursions through the nearby parks, has also helped bring the area into the gay travel zeitgeist.

You shouldn’t expect much in terms of nightlife when visiting Moab — people visit the remote town to get off both the grid and Grindr. The sandstone arches, roaring river, and trails winding around the area’s sedimentary monuments are ideal for visiting with a lover or group of friends.

Moab is a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Salt Lake City (another surprising must-visit urban area for LGBTQ+ folks) and five-and-a-half hours from Denver.

[Sympthsical]

3. I scrolled down looking for Saugatuck

Growing up, my neighbors had a weekend place there along a river for fishing and camping things. I was friends with their son, and they took me now and then. The mom knew I loved astronomy, so she'd wake me up at 2am to go outside and see how clear the sky was.

We kept going over the years, and it wasn't until I was a teenager (and a closeted gay one at that) before I started looking around town and thinking, "Wait a minute . . ."

Now my Chicago LGBT friends mention it all the time, and I still haven't been as an out adult. Maybe something to put on the summer list after all these years.

[Deep State Witch]

7. Rehoboth Beach, DE

Where Joe Biden has his beach house!

Actually, I thought that most of the LGBTQ+ folks hung out at Dewey and Bethany Beaches. But, it's kind of the same area.

[Attilatheblond]

8. If you can deal with less luxury and don't mind home-made fun that may leave you scratching your head...

Bisbee, AZ is LGBTQ friendly on a scale bigger than you could imagine an old mining town could be. The folks there are a most eclectic mix of old hippies, musicians, artists, writers, historians, and assorted multi-cultural fans who need to get the stink of city life off themselves from time to time. It's at a higher altitude, so it is cooler in summer than most of Arizona, and can get snow in winter.

Lodging is mostly in old hotels and buildings, B&Bs, even a few RV sites. Some are said to be haunted and I know several people who had interesting experiences along that line. There are ghost tours if you want to ride rather than walk the hilly town.

Food is surprisingly good and the variety may be unmatched for such a small town. The history is colorful and the Make Your Own Small Town Fun festivals are varied and amazing. The Pride Festival is great. People come from all over, even big cities. Then, there is the celebration for big migratory flying scavengers. Now, seriously, who doesn't love a town that throws a parade when the turkey vultures return?

https://www.discoverbisbee.com/annual-events]

Not mentioned at that link are things like the annual Stair Climb Race. The town started in a narrow canyon and still has lots of little miners' houses up the steep sides. Lots of stairs. The library has been listed as the #1 small town library in America. There are other runs/walks/bike events, and even a down hill race for home made, people powered conveyances on the main drag. Don't be surprised to see an old brass bed on wheels being rolled down that old downtown street. Bisbee keeps it weird.

The baseball field, Warren Ball Park, is, I believe, the oldest continually used ball park in America. Seems like Los Lobos come to play a concert at the Ball Park every fall. The locals are heavy on Hispanic culture, heavy on tree and earth huggers, and musical. Anyplace with a bench or a couple of chairs outside can suddenly become an outdoor concert event.

Lots of retired teachers, writers, and crusty non conformists. One old native, Walter Swan, wrote a book about growing up in Bisbee, entitled “Me ‘n’ Henry,” and rented a small store to sell it. The store was called The One Book Store, and that is all he sold. You may have seen him in a human interest segment, years ago on national TV. When he was talked into writing more of his Bisbee recollections, he rented the store next to The One Book Store, and called it The Other Book Store. https://arizonaoddities.com/2012/08/walter-swan-created-one-unique-way-to-sell-books-in-bisbee/]

You can dine on all sorts of foods and if vegetarian or vegan is your plate, Bisbee has you covered. Often, locals will come and provide music. Or, if you're up for it, bring your instrument and perform yourself!

[Coventina]

9. I love Bisbee! My great-grandparents got married there!

I love staying at the Copper Queen.

[Attilatheblond]

10. It's an amazing, strange, wonderful place. Cool about your Great Grandparents!

I love the balcony at the Copper Queen. My daughter has stayed at a couple B&Bs, one in an old school building. Being a 'sensitive' with an open mind and some EMF tools, she had some, um, restless nights LOL.

Years ago (80s), I wanted to open a lingerie shop, I would call Miss Kitty's, and staffed with clerks in saloon hostess period attire. I noticed a lot of bored yuppy men, being dragged along the street by wives or girlfriends who were having fun looking at antique stores and art galleries.

There was a big, half empty bar space on the main street. Figured it would be great to sell slightly naughty frilly things and provide a couple old time card table and club chairs for the gents who tired of their partners' shopping. Since most were just indulging their significant others in hopes of a rollicking night of pubbing followed by more rollicking times in one of the Copper Queen's brass beds, I figured such a shop would work. Alas, no start up capital.

[Coventina]

11. A million dollar idea thwarted by lack of maybe $100K?

Sad truth of late-stage capitalism.....

It was a genius idea for sure!!

[Attilatheblond]

15. LOL yeah, that and a husband (at that time) who NEVER supported things I wanted to try.

Oh well, live and learn. I learned.

[GenThePerservering]

13. Home-made fun

is the best kind of fun! Particularly when it leaves people scratching their heads lol.

Bisbee has long been on the map for very tough bike racing.

[beaglelover]

12. How could Palm Springs, CA not be in the top 10. Bullshit.

[Rstrstx]

14. It's probably not small enough to make the cut

[beaglelover]

16. Yeah, that's probably it.