When people think of the best places for LGBT people to live, many think of cities like San Francisco and Portland—cities on the West Coast. However, the East Coast has a few great places for LGBT people, too.
New York City is the first place most think about. It’s the home of Broadway and musical theater, and while it’s a stereotype, it’s also true that many gay men love the theater. New York City is also home to the Stonewall Inn, the birthplace of the gay rights movement. The city has a number of gay neighborhoods, and many more LGBT people visit the Big Apple every year.
Florida’s Key West is another great LGBT city. It was one of the first cities to have an openly gay mayor, and it’s also home to the Key West Gay & Lesbian Museum & Archive. This museum includes items such as Tennessee Williams’s typewriter. Key West, like many places in Florida, is a popular retirement destination for older LGBT people.
Besides Key West, the trinity of Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, and Oakland Park are also known for having major LGBT communities. The three cities, which are located near each other, have some of the highest percentages of LGBT people in the nation. Fort Lauderdale is home to the Stonewall Library & Archives, while Wilton Manors hosts the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center.
Boston, the largest city in Massachusetts, is another very welcoming city on the West Coast. The city is the location for the headquarters of The Rainbow Times, an LGBT publication that is the only lesbian-owned LGBT newsmagazine in the U.S.
Providence, Rhode Island, made history in 2002 when David Cicilline was elected as the first openly gay mayor of the state’s capital, becoming the first LGBT person to serve as the mayor of a capital city. At the time, Providence was also the largest city with a gay mayor, although Portland, Oregon, obtained the title in 2009. Providence is also home to one of the fastest growing LGBT communities. It’s been called one of the Best Places for Lesbians to Live and is the location of the largest bathhouse in the New England area.
If you’re considering a move to the East Coast but haven’t decided on a city or state yet, talk to a gay or lesbian real estate agent. They can help you select the right city for your new home.