Gay-iendly towns red stat draw LGBTQ tourists: 'We're here to be normal for a weekend'

Contents:

• AFFORDABLE GAY VATN TOWNS
• UNR THE ‘GAYDAR’: 10 BT GAYTN DTATNS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU
• WHY THIS GEIA MOUNTA TOWN HAS BEE A GAY-IENDLY HOT SPOT
• THE WORLD'S MOST GAY-FRIENDLY BEACH CI AND RORTS
• FIVE GAY VATN SPOTS THAT ARE LS TIRED THAN FIRE ISLAND
• GAY-IENDLY TOWNS RED STAT DRAW LGBTQ TOURISTS: 'WE'RE HERE TO BE NORMAL FOR A WEEKEND'

AFFORDABLE GAY VATN TOWNS

The Delta variant ed breakthrough fectns and illns even vaccated people, and the Provcetown outbreak was the you remember the disappotment of mask remendatns g back, or the whiff of homophobia that floated through some of the verage, or the sense that a summer pal for artists and queer people had been ma rponsible for the Delta variant rather than beg s accintal host. Photograph: Victor LlorenteThis ought to be obv, but to make clear: Everyone Donnelly terviewed, those who vised Provcetown and me away wh a Covid fectn, is gay.

UNR THE ‘GAYDAR’: 10 BT GAYTN DTATNS THAT MIGHT SURPRISE YOU

“First was the gay and bisexual populatn, and then was the seasonal workers, and then beme rints and then schoolkids, and jt ntued to grow, ” Melchno spiralg se unt ma clear how much dividual behavr and lol ndns mattered to the transmissn of the vis. Disver North Ameri's most affordable small ci and towns for gay travelers, cludg beach getaways, small mountas, and other artsy, progrsive vatn lol that won't break your budget. A historic arts lony that retas s creative spir today, this dimutive town of about 6, 500 has long been favored by bohemians, ee spirs, progrsiv, and gays and lbians.

WHY THIS GEIA MOUNTA TOWN HAS BEE A GAY-IENDLY HOT SPOT

You might be surprised to disver one of the Heartland's favore small-town gay getaways the heart of the Ozarks, closer to fay-valu-domant Branson than to any major ci wh a sizable gay populatn and three LGBT Diversy weekends each year.

But this hilly, historic Arkansas town that's also, oddly enough, very popular wh nservative Christians draws many gay visors om Oklahoma Cy, Tulsa, Kansas Cy, St. It's also nsired to be one of Canada's favore vatn spots among lbians, although plenty of gay men e to experience the island's tranquily and unassumg bety. This dapper ltle village of about 1, 200 is home to an acclaimed summer theater and first-rate art mm, abounds wh gay-owned acmodatns, ftive lobster shacks, and tasteful shops and boutiqu, and ntas 3.

THE WORLD'S MOST GAY-FRIENDLY BEACH CI AND RORTS

This temperate regn known for s natural scenery has s share of rzy plac to stay and eat, but fear not: you'll fd plenty of budget-iendly lodggs and cheap down-home rtrants, anic ffeeho, arts and crafts galleri, expensive die shops, and quirky gay bars. A great way to experience this is by stayg a vtage n, such as Carola B&B or the gay-owned North Lodge on Oakland, a stately 1904 stone hoe that offers plenty of perks (-room DVD players, Wi-Fi, rob) at reasonable rat. Compared wh other gay-popular vatn spots the Northeast, sophistited but laid-back New Hope and s appealg New Jersey neighbor Lambertville are ls plac to see and be seen and more rtful, romantic, and reasonably priced weekend hiouts for upl.

Though this area of verdant Bucks County Pennsylvania has a lively gay nightclub and several trendy rtrants, life here floats along at an unhurried pace, and sticker shock is rare, pecially given this quat riversi hamlet's close proximy to New York Cy and Philalphia. As harmful anti-LGBTQIA legislatn ntually pass the US, ’s important now more than ever to protect and support gayborhoods, LGBTQ-owned bs, and statns that go above and beyond for LGBTQ+ travelers and lols.

Around 3 years ago, while teachg South Korea, I me out to myself  my journal, a seri of ltle not I wrote over and over “I thk I’m gay.” Lbian TikTok was nfirmatn, I was fact a big ol’ lbian.

FIVE GAY VATN SPOTS THAT ARE LS TIRED THAN FIRE ISLAND

? USA Gayborhoods, Gay Villag, and *extra* Queer-Friendly Towns and Ci I recently read a book om the early 2000s about the “ath of gayborhoods.” It proclaimed gayborhoods were dyg and that there is no longer a need for gayborhoods and gay bars and queer spac. While straight people may be fortably movg to gayborhoods and more likely to be found at drag performanc, I believe that queer spac and queer muny will never die.

GAY-IENDLY TOWNS RED STAT DRAW LGBTQ TOURISTS: 'WE'RE HERE TO BE NORMAL FOR A WEEKEND'

Arizona Melrose, Phoenix Arkanas Eureka Sprgs “The Gayt Small Town Ameri” Wele to the Bible Belt’s LGBTQ+ oasis and “gay vatn paradise.” Wh over thirty percent of s populatn intifyg as LGBTQ+, people say “not even the streets are straight” Eureka.

California Tower District, Frno Guerneville The Broadway Corridor, Long Beach Castro District, San Francis Palm Sprgs Lavenr Heights, Sacramento Hillcrt, San Diego San Jose Wt Hollywood, Los Angel Oakland Colorado Capol Hill, Denver River North, Denver Connecticut New Haven Delaware Rehoboth Beach “The New P-Town” Move over P-Town, there’s a new flamg gay beach statn town. Petersburg Wilton Manors, Fort Lrdale Geia Midtown, Atlanta Chhire Bridge Road, Atlanta Ansley Mall, Atlanta Detur Idaho North End, Boise Illois Anrsonville, Chigo Edgewater (Hollywood Beach – gay beach) Northalsted, Chigo (aka “Boystown”) Indiana Beverly Shor Bloomgton Downtown, Indianapolis Herron-Morton Place, Indianapolis Mass Ave Arts District, Indianapolis Kentucky The Highlands, Louisville Lols say Louisville is the gayt cy Kentucky (though Lexgton is a close send). Louisana Fbourg Marigny, New Orleans French Quarter, New Orleans P-Town (aka Pigeon Town/Pensn Town), New Orleans Mae Ogunqu “Mae’s Official Gay Neighborhood” If Mae had an official gay neighborhood, would be Ogunqu.

Maryland Mount Vernon, Baltimore Frerick Massachetts Jamai Pla, Boston South End, Boston Salem Somerville Northampton Provcetown (aka “P-Town”) For s, Provcetown, aka P-Town, has been one of the most popular (if not, THE most popular) gaytn spots the US, and the world.