They've paved the way for equal rights for decades.
Pride Month has arrived, and one of the most meaningful ways to celebrate is by exploring and honoring the history behind it. Across the United States, countless destinations highlight the vibrant legacy of the LGBTQIA+ community. From supporting queer- and trans-owned businesses to walking in the footsteps of trailblazers like Marsha P. Johnson and Harvey Milk, travelers can discover both well-known landmarks and lesser-known safe spaces that helped shape LGBTQIA+ history.
We've gathered some of the must-visit locations around the country, including San Francisco’s famed Castro District, New York City’s Greenwich Village, and even a small Arkansas town that has championed LGBTQ+ rights for generations. While this isn’t a complete list of every LGBTQ+-friendly destination in America, it’s a great starting point for anyone looking to explore the nation’s rich queer history.
Keep reading to discover colorful places worth adding to your itinerary, from charming coastal retreats to lively urban centers.
Greenwich Village, New York City
What better place to start than with the birthplace of Pride? In June 1969, the Stonewall Inn riots catapulted the gay rights movement to national attention. To commemorate the protests, Pride Month is celebrated throughout the U.S. every June. The Stonewall National Monument, dedicated in 2016, is just adjacent to the inn. Stonewall Inn isn't the only major historical landmark in the neighborhood, though. Nearby, Marie’s Crisis Café is an iconic LGBTQIA+ piano bar that opened in 1929.
Washington Square West, Philadelphia
Nicknamed the “Gayborhood” in the 1990s, the Washington Square West neighborhood holds the heart of Philly's LGBTQIA+ community and culture. In 2007, Philadelphia Mayor John Street dedicated 36 rainbow street signs to formally acknowledge the neighborhood. In 1965, over 150 people participated in a sit-in when the manager of the former Dewey's restaurant refused service to queer people, one of the first major LGBT civil rights actions. The city is also home to Giovanni’s Room, the oldest LGBTQIA+ and feminist bookstore in the country. A trip with Beyond the Bell Tours even offers an LGBTQ-focused history tour of Philadelphia.
Bloomington, Indiana
Not only does Bloomington regularly earn a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, but it's also home to the world-renowned Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. Alfred Kinsey, the researcher behind the Kinsey scale, founded the institute in 1947. It holds one of the largest collections of archival materials related to gender and sexuality.
Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
At the center of the nation's capital, the first gay rights picket at the White House took place in 1965. Decades later, in 1991, D.C. Black Pride became the first Black Pride celebration in the country. Rather than having one specific "gayborhood," D.C. has a few hubs of LGBTQ+ culture. Among them are Dupont Circle, U Street, and Logan Circle. The Adams Morgan neighborhood is even home to one of the last lesbian bars in the United States, A League of Her Own. D.C. is packed with queer-owned and welcoming places, from the eclectic vintage furnishings at Miss Pixie’s to Three Fifty Bakery & Coffee Bar.
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Proudly wearing the nickname "the gay capital of the Ozarks,” Eureka Springs is an LGBTQ+ haven tucked in the South. In May 2015, the Eureka Springs City Council unanimously passed an ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender expression, just over a month before the United States legalized same-sex marriage. More than 30 percent of its population identifies as LGBTQIA+, and there are plenty of LGBT-owned retreats for tourists, such as the trans-inclusive, all-male Magnetic Valley Resort.
Northalsted, Chicago
Previously named Boystown, the Northalsted neighborhood is Chicago's home for queer life. The Chicago Pride Parade passes through the community's streets, which themselves are lined with history. Located on Halsted Street from Belmont Avenue to Grace Street is the Legacy Walk, the world’s only outdoor LGBTQ history museum. As you stroll and learn about LGBTQ+ heroes and history, stop by Sidetrack for some unforgettable queer nightlife.
Ogunquit, Maine
Ogunquit was one of the first towns in the country to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance to protect LGBTQIA+ people. The sleepy seaside town is just a 90-minute drive from Boston, and it's full of bustling seafood restaurants and welcoming nightlife. The top-notch Ogunquit Playhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and it focuses on uplifting artists and administrators of color, all genders, and varying disabilities.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
Did you know that Provincetown has the largest number of same-sex households in the U.S. per capita? It's a longtime vacation haven for the LGBTQIA+ community, full of queer events throughout the summer. From the historic Crew's Quarters boarding house and Atlantic House bar to the queer-owned shops lining Commercial Street, queer Cape Codders can take advantage of all the seaside fun.
The Castro, San Francisco
With a queer history dating back to the 19th-century gold rush, San Francisco is full of thriving queer life. It has the highest LGBTQ+ population percentage of any U.S. metropolitan area, and the heartbeat of it is in the Castro District. Beloved queer landmark the Castro Theatre has been around since 1976, and famous resident and gay rights activist Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay officials ever elected in the United States. Walk the rainbow-covered sidewalks, and you'll pass at least a dozen historic LGBTQ+ establishments.
Columbus, Ohio
The Buckeye State's capital is one of the most queer-friendly cities in the Midwest, with a huge Pride celebration every year. Civil protections based on sexual orientation were enshrined in a city ordinance back in 1992, and Jim Obergefell, lead plaintiff in the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling that legalized same-sex marriage, even led the Columbus Pride Parade in 2015. The Short North and German Village are just two welcoming neighborhoods you'll find in Columbus. The crown jewel of the Short North district is the Short North Stage, an LGBTQIA+-owned theater housed in a 1920s building. From LGBTQIA+-owned barbershop Goodfellow’s Tonsorial Parlor to Ohio's only remaining lesbian bar, Slammers, you're bound to find a popular watering hole to relax in.
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