Six LGBTQ+ travel destinations around the world

Along with famous hotspots such as Brighton and Berlin, these are among the most tolerant destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers.

Even if it Proud season, it can still be a potentially nerve-wracking time for LGBTQ+ travelers. While LGBTQ+ rights and visibility have increased significantly over the past decade, some increasingly intimidating threatswhile the community continues to struggle against international customs, legality and cultural norms.

A typical example: In May, the US State Department published a worldwide travel warning about the “increased potential for violence against LGBTQI+ people and events inspired by foreign terrorist organizations.” It recommends remaining vigilant in places “frequented by tourists, including Pride celebrations and venues frequented by LGBTQI+ people.”

Matthieu Jost, CEO of the LGBTQ+ accommodation app misterb&bwhich has 1.3 million registered users, advises queer tourists to “travel and be like a local, especially in areas where you are not safe, and Get advice from LGBTQ+ residents before you even set foot in a new destination.” Even in less LGBTQ+-friendly places, Jost claims that “LGBTQ+ travelers are often not as put off as one would expect, and that’s likely due to the gay hosts on site as well as allies within the community itself.”

This list of six LGBTQ+ friendly destinations is based on several sources, including the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index, which rates European countries on LGBTQ+ equality; the parent website, ILGAwhich produces global rankings; and Asher Fergusson’s 2023 LGBTQ+ Travel Reportwhich involved 400 hours of research and examined many factors related to LGBTQ+ safety – from protection from discrimination to same-sex marriage – in more than 200 countries.

“It was important to us to cover this topic because it affects so many travelers,” said Lyric Fergusson, who runs the travel safety site with her partner Asher. “Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that most of the world is still far from safe for LGBTQ+ people. However, with laws constantly being revised, it’s our job to update this list at least once a year.”

Here are six LGBTQ+-friendly destinations across five continents that prove that despite recent warnings, much of the world remains an open and welcoming place.

Canada, which decriminalized homosexual acts in 1969 and same-sex marriage in 2005, proudly ranks first on the Asher Fergusson list. While the country’s largest city, Toronto, has one of the world’s largest Pride celebrations (until June 30, 2024), Montreal’s queer scene is groundbreaking: the first known queer magazine in North America was published here in 1918, The Fantastic Eyes.

The epicenter of the city’s LGBTQ+ scene, The villagein Ville-Marie, is the largest gay district in the province of Quebec. The main street, Saint Catherine Street East, is home to a lively row of bars such as The Stud, Aigle Black And Complex sky. Nonbinary, queer women and trans attendees should also check out parties like Elle Lui And Sweet like honey.

“The queer community is well mixed between Anglophones and Francophones, so I think it is an asset to hold most of our events bilingually,” said Theo Tessier of the Montreal LGBTQ+ Community Centrefounded in 1988, whose libraryShe explained that she owned “more than 20,000 books, essays, documentaries and films”. Gay Archiveswhich is open to the public, contains thousands of books, zines, posters and magazines.

Thailand legalized same-sex activities in 1956 and has laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. In addition, the law on same-sex marriage was passed just last weekThis makes Thailand the only Southeast Asian country to recognize same-sex partnerships. However, since same-sex marriage was still not legal in 2023, the Asher Fergusson report ranked it 62nd on its most recent list.

“And yet, Bangkok is truly one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in the world” for travelers, said Blue Satittammanoon, founder of White Party Bangkokan annual event that attracts 32,000 visitors from 93 countries. “It’s not only the biggest gay dance festival in Asia,” he said, “but also the biggest gay New Year’s Eve in the world.”

For visitors, Satittammanoon recommends districts such as Silom, which are home to venues such as “DJ stationG Bangkok and The Stranger Baras well as new clubs like beef And Hurry“. As Satittammanoon said, the key to Bangkok being a “paradise for LGBTQ travelers is Thailand’s (increasingly) progressive stance on LGBTQ rights, coupled with the warm hospitality that is so deeply rooted in Thai culture.”

Belgium ranked third in the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index (after Malta in first place and Iceland in second place) and ninth on the Asher Fergusson list. Amazingly, same-sex activity was legalized here as early as 1795, and in 2003 it became the second country in the world, after the Netherlands, to legalize same-sex marriage.

Although Brussels is sometimes considered a little buttoned up, locals say the LGBTQ+ scene is second to none. The main hub of the queer scene is on the curving main street, Rue De Marche au Charbon, and the surrounding streets. Popular bars include the historic eatery The Belgianin trade since the 1980s; BXL station; and quirky bar Homo erectusHome of the drag artist Paula Roid.

“We are at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights, whether it’s queer parenting or trans identity,” said Roid. “Our queer artist scene includes Kitsch and cheap at The agendaa must-see non-binary bar, and reproductionthat opens the doors of so-called straight places to raise awareness for our community.”

But for more than 60 years, the holiday resort on the Pacific coast Puerto Vallarta in the state of Jalisco is an LGBTQ+ destination. In fact According to some estimatesAbout a third of all tourists in the so-called “San Francisco of Mexico” are members of the LGBTQ+ community.

As Omar Eduardo Rivera Aguayo of the Mexican LGBTQ+ rights organization Yaaj said: “In a country with one of the highest rates of hate crimes against its sexually diverse population, Puerto Vallarta stands out as one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in the world through an act of rebellion and acceptance.” Aguayo recommends the “iconic” cobblestone gay district called Romantic Zoneand added that there are “more than 40 bars and hotels that are exclusive to our diverse community,” including long-standing Palm Cabaretwhich has hosted tribute shows for queer icons.

“I like to think that Melbourne is so queer-friendly because of our multiculturalism and diverse backgrounds,” said owner Beca Pressing. “That’s helped us form a community that is tolerant. We’re not the first lesbian bar, but we are the first lesbian, trans, nonbinary and neurodivergent bar: our aim is to create a safe and inclusive space for those who are most disadvantaged in the community.”

Brazil ranks 33rd in the Asher Ferguson report due to “the recent increase in violence against LGBTQ+ (particularly the trans community).” Nevertheless, same-sex couples have enjoyed equal rights since 2013, and laws were passed in 2019 prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

“This physical expansion reflects the broadening of horizons that we aspire to,” explained director Carlos Gradim. “It is the first step in a series of cultural and educational activities that create important links and dialogues for society: a sublime moment for us.“