7 Surprising Gayborhoods for Your Next Pride Month Adventure

While many members of the LGBTQ+ community flock to famous gayborhoods like San Francisco’s Castro District, Los Angeles’s West Hollywood, and New York’s Chelsea for long weekend vacations, music festivals, and rainbow-hued parades, the good ol’ U.S. of A boasts several smaller gayborhoods where inclusivity and visibility run equally as rampant. In fact, some of these destinations—often located in more conservative states—are surprising hubs of vibrant nightlife, culture, and events that cater to a significantly high population of queer locals and visitors.

Consider a trip to one of the seven lesser-known towns below to support their efforts in promoting diversity, as well as their unique array of businesses that welcome every type of traveler with open minds, open hearts, and open arms. These gay friendly areas are exciting to visit all year round—but especially fun when celebrating Pride Month.

Columbus, Ohio. Photo by Sean Pavone/iStock.com

SHORT NORTH DISTRICT (COLUMBUS, OH)

Known as the “art and soul” of Columbus, Short North District is home to a bevy of art galleries, bed and breakfasts, and antique furniture stores that make it a must-see stop in one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities. At the helm of many of these businesses, are influential LGBTQ+ figures who serve not only as symbols of Midwestern charm, but also beacons of hope for an overwhelmingly younger population seeking a safe haven in the city to put down roots and kick-start their early careers.

Albuquerque, New Mexico. Photo by SeanPavonePhoto/adobe.stock.com

NOB HILL (ALBUQUERQUE, NM)

The vibes are hip, fun, and noticeably chic in this trendy Western neighborhood that is also a hotspot for LGBTQ+ residents. Aside from wild nights on the town at posh clubs and high-end restaurants, an abundance of residents from nearby Santa Fe are also rushing to buy homes in this Southwestern spot that has made a commitment to supporting local queer entrepreneurs in practically every field.

Fort Worth, TX. Photo by Barbara/adobe.stock.com

NEAR SOUTHSIDE (FORT WORTH, TX)

Visitors don’t have to rely on the bustling metropolis of Dallas for a gay evening of good eats, good drinks, and good memories. Fort Worth’s Near Southside is a gayborhood brimming with restaurants, theaters, music venues, and shops that hang pride flags right next to flags of their beloved Lone Star State. Even though it’s a departure from the actions and rhetoric of local politicians who aim to limit the rights of this flourishing community.

Michigan Labor Legacy Monument on Hart Plaza near river embankment in Detroit. Photo by Sergey Novikov/adobe.stock.com

FERNDALE (DETROIT, MI)

Aside from a thriving social scene with distilleries, markets, and even a selfie museum, Ferndale is the gold standard when it comes to providing resources for LGBTQ+ residents. The northwestern Detroit suburb runs an Affirmations community center, Matrix MAC Health practice (formerly the Michigan AIDS Coalition), and a handful of other progressive nonprofit groups to ensure everyone has basic access to medical and mental health services.

Louisville downtown. Photo by 4kclips/adobe.stock.com

THE HIGHLANDS (LOUISVILLE, KY)

The annual Louisville Pride Festival takes place in the Highlands neighborhood, which welcomes over 150 local vendors each year, along with world-famous drag queens to celebrate the area’s commitment to tolerance and diversity. And while venturing to ultra-conservative Kentucky may seem out of character for any LGBTQ+ identifying individual, the Bluegrass State has seen a gradually positive shift in attitude towards the community, despite multiple government attempts to invalidate marriage equality.

Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo by SeanPavonePhoto/adobe.stock.com

MARMALADE DISTRICT (SALT LAKE CITY, UT)

Despite Mormonism’s once notoriously tight grasp on the pulse of Salt Lake City culture, there are pockets of the picturesque Utah capital teeming with queer undertones. In fact, Salt Lake City can arguably be called downright progressive with its plethora of LGBTQ+ restaurants, bars, and even skiing groups that accommodate vacationers from around the world.

Eureka Springs Arkansas. Photo by JTGrafix/iStock.com

EUREKA SPRINGS, AR

The entire city of Eureka Springs is a gayborhood in and of itself, set among a stunning natural backdrop of actual natural springs and the Ozark Mountains. Dubbed as “the gayest small town in America” with a whopping 30 percent of its residents identifying as LGBTQ+, the gay oasis offers unrivaled hospitality with dozens of quirky bed and breakfasts, restaurants, and shops set among a predictably well-manicured downtown with limestone sidewalks.

Hopefully this has given you some great ideas of surprising gay friendly neighborhoods across the U.S. where you can celebrate the next Pride Month.