Arkansas may not be the first state you think of when it comes to being a great place for LGBT people to live. Of course, it’s not perfect, but it’s not as bad as some other places. A gay or lesbian real estate agent would be the first to tell you that certain places in Arkansas are better than others, but then again, that’s also true about many states.
First, let’s look at what rights LGBT citizens have in the state. Laws regarding same-sex sexual acts were repealed in 2005, which seems a little late considering sodomy laws had been invalidated in 2003 by the Supreme Court in Lawrence v. Texas. The Arkansas General Assembly had passed a ban on both same-sex marriage and on recognizing out of state marriages back in 1997, and in 2004, that ban was made into a constitutional amendment by voters.
On May 9, 2014, that ban was struck down, and some counties immediately began issuing marriage licenses to any same-sex couple who applied. However, the Arkansas Supreme Court later issued a stay on the ruling, and on May 16, all counties were instructed to stop issuing licenses. As of the end of 2014, this stay is still in effect.
However, even though LGBT couples can’t get married in the state, those who live in Eureka Springs can become domestic partners. The town is the only place in Arkansas that offers this. Same-sex partners of city workers are eligible for healthcare benefits, and the city has endorsed same-sex marriage. In fact, if you’re going to move to Arkansas, Eureka Springs is one of the best places. The city has four different annual LGBT festivals and is very welcoming. It’s also a major tourist destination thanks to the many different small businesses, music shows, and gorgeous mountain views.
Fayetteville is another place to consider. It’s a larger city that has a good-sized student population since it’s the home of the University of Arkansas. Walmart’s headquarters is located nearby in Bentonville, and the company’s presence helped protect Fayetteville from getting hit hard by the recent recession. The city is also one of the few cities that has passed laws prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Another city that LGBT people may want to check out is Little Rock. The capital of Arkansas certainly has many different job opportunities for those looking to relocate to the state. The city also bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, but not gender identity.