You’ll be hard-pressed to find a huge gay scene anywhere in Idaho, which leaves the heavy lifting to Boise-the capital and also the state’s largest city. Don’t miss the Sunday beach party featuring drum circles and fire dancers! Idaho A slice of island paradise just south of ritzy Wailea, the beach is perfect for both chilling and socializing and both gay men and lesbians frequent it in large numbers. Elsewhere on the islands, there are scattered gay and gay-welcoming bars and clubs, but the best place to hang out-and let it all hang out-is at clothing optional Little Beach at Makena State Park in Maui. The undisputed hub of gay nightlife in the Aloha State is Honolulu, but visitors will find the scene tame compared to mainland meccas. While in Orlando, have drinks at Parliament House, an iconic (albeit dated) hotel and hangout. In 2018, Disney earned its 12th annual perfect score on the HRC Corporate Equality Index and many cast members and characters are excited to roll out the pink carpet for queer visitors. But who among us doesn’t dream of a selfie with Mickey (or Elsa for that matter)? Gay Days at Disney, which happens every June in Orlando, has grown to be a global gay event attracting tens of thousands of people, but a visit to Disney World rules anytime of year. Between Miami’s beaches, Fort Lauderdale’s gay guesthouses and Key West’s breezy vibes, South Florida in particular is an LGBTQIA paradise. Meanwhile, gay-friendly lodgings abound, mostly in the form of winsome bed and breakfasts.
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A Lilliputian gay area boasts queer-friendly restaurants and a couple of lively gay bars, then there’s Poodle Beach (lol), a patch of sand marked by a rainbow flag and packed Speedo to Speedo in summer. And why wouldn’t we? In summer, the seaside town of 1,500 swells with tourists to the point of bursting, and a great many of them are LGBTQIA. The entire state (all 12 people) would riot if we didn’t single out Rehoboth Beach. The 34th Annual Arizona Gay Rodeo happens in Phoenix in February the World Gay Rodeo Finals happen October in Scottsdale and then there’s queer country western bars in Phoenix including Charlie’s, the Cash Nightclub and Lounge, and Latin-flavored nightclub Karamba (which hosts occasional cowboy nights). In truth, gay rodeo is a nationwide phenomenon, but Arizona is as good a place as any to squeeze into your tightest pair of Levi jeans and give the Cowboy lifestyle a try. You might say that queer rodeo enthusiasts are, um, bucking a few trends. Also, most mainstream cruise ships offer onboard meetups for queer folk. The Frontier State: So much land, so few people! So where’s a gay to go to find large numbers of other LGBTQIA-identified folk? How about boarding one of the giant cruise ships traveling up and down the coast? Lesbian cruise company Olivia, for example, offers two Alaska itineraries this summer while RSVP Vacations (now owned by Atlantis) offers a “Summer in Alaska” ship that hits up places like Juneau and Ketchikan. For the queerest of times, head out to nabes like Five Points South and especially Southside, where you’ll find a plethora of welcoming hangouts as well as LGBTQIA bars like Quest, Our Place and Spike’s Bar-all within (relative) walking distance of one another. Between a revitalized downtown, the Birmingham Civil Rights District (now a national monument) an influx of funky cafes and eateries, and Railroad Park, the city is earning legit visitor cred. Gay old times (and by gay we mean good) abound in Birmingham. RELATED: Visit our LGBTQIA travel hub for welcoming hotels, the ultimate queer events calendar, inspiration, and more! Got a place you think should’ve been included on this list? Share in the comments! If you’re a ‘mo on the go, here are the best LGBTQIA hangouts in all 50 states. That is until you turn a corner and see a rainbow flag and just like that-it’s you’re home! Whether visiting queer meccas like New York or California, or road-tripping through rural states like West Virginia and Wyoming, queer life really is everywhere. To be LGBTQIA is to wander the streets of a new town or city, excited for sure, but also maybe a little hesitant. This article was last updated June 8, 2021. Note: All travel is subject to frequently-changing governmental restrictions-please check federal, state, and local advisories before scheduling trips.