(Photo Credit: Olena Kamenetska/Unsplash)

The 15 Gayest Cities in the World

May 4, 2023 Kyle Jackson

Several cities around the world are becoming known as ‘gay cities,’ primarily for their dedication to LGBTQ+ rights, diversity, and inclusion, and how these places are becoming safe havens for the queer community. This goes a bit further than the usual list of cities and countries that have been known as liberal and accepting places for a longer time, such as Amsterdam, San Francisco, and New York City.

For example, many people may not be aware that Thailand has recently become known as one of the most welcoming and affirming countries for Trans people, as discussed in our article, “11 Safe LGBTQ+ Honeymoon Destinations.” This is because Thailand has become a popular destination for gender reassignment surgery in Asia. Many Trans women and men throughout Asia have started to relocate to Thailand, seeking the acceptance of gender fluidity that is generally uncommon in many other parts of Southeast Asia.

In Insider Monkey’s article “25 Gayest Cities in the World”, they discuss research papers done by various universities that help to determine which cities and countries are some of the safest places for LGBTQ+ people in terms of mental and physical health and economic, political, and social well-being. The goal of one study done by Rutgers University and the University of Massachusetts was to establish a link between LGB (Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual) inclusion and the gross domestic product (GDP) using economic data from 132 countries. Using the Global Index on Legal Recognition of Homosexual Orientation (GILRHO), they found out that a 12.5% increase (one point increase on an eight-point index) on the index led to $2,000 gains in GDP per capita.

Another study done by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which expands the focus to include gender minorities, found that LGBTQ+ people are harmed through state suppression, police detention and extortion, workplace discrimination, mental health issues, and discrimination in learning institutions – all of which add up to impact their productivity and output, highlighting that the freedom to live for these people end up impacting the broader economy.

Multiple other studies were discussed, and Insider Monkey consulted all of these sources to come up with its list of cities that are gay-friendly and have large gay populations. From their list, here are the Top 15 Gayest Cities in the world.