Consider These Gay-Friendly Spots Around the World When Next You Travel

Gay-Friendly Spots Around the World For Travel

Summer travel season is fast approaching, with men jetting off to destination stand-bys like Puerto Vallarta, Ibiza (wait, is that still a thing?), London, or someplace more adventurous like a hiking tour in Costa Rica or the gorgeous insanity of Sao Paolo. Or if you're like some friends of mine...okay, fine, Key West again! But wherever you head off to you want to make sure you'll be safe and welcomed, and have stuff to do. Luckily the folks over at Emisil, the makers of FTM prosthetics, have surveyed cities worldwide to find some of the safest places for LGBTQ+ travelers.

 

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As reported in The Pink News, they used rubrics based on  marriage equality, safety, and nightlife, as well as their "Global Trans Index for 2023, which assesses gender recognition, anti-discrimination laws and hate crime rates in various countries." While it's odd that some places like Sweden which was at the top of a list a few years ago don't appear, or that NYC, while scoring low on safety but high on nightlife does, here is their list in ascending order.

10. Paris, France

 

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There's no doubt that Paris, with over 30 outwardly gay nightspots ranks in the top ten. It could be general ongoing social and political unrest that drives it down to the bottom of the list, though.

9. Tokyo, Japan

This mesmerizing metropolis may still not have marriage equality, but they do have a thriving nightlife and is one of the safest cities to visit.

8. Toronto, Canada

One of the friendliest cities aboot isn't the greatest for its nightlife. Sure it has its gay enclave, Church and Wellesley, where you'll find its welcoming bars and restaurants, but it's its high score on the Global Trans Index that gives it a prominent ranking.

7. Reykjavik, Iceland

 

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One of the more out-of-the-way locations, but also absolutely fascinating, is this northern region, home of Björk and The Icelandic Phallological Museum. Yes, while you might not be partying in dozens of hotspots, you can spend time in the land of the gods with some of the nicest people on earth, and learn everything you needed to know about all creatures' penises!

6, 5, 4. Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Taipei, Taiwan, and Barcelona, Spain.

Enjoy the flowers and biking of Amsterdam, the adventurous foods of Taipei, and the hot men of Barcelona! Hey, go for broke and make it all one long trip! This IG user has me with all the great food of Taipei, but the Bears of Barcelona...oh my!

 

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3. New York City, NY, USA

Hey, say what you will about dirt, crime, the exhaustion of taking the subway everywhere, and the lack of green space, you can't beat NYC for its theater and nightlife. Sure it ranks third-lowest in safety, but with so many places to play and things to see, just make sure you're being extra careful where you pull out your wallet. Bars, theater, restaurants and drag galore! And take it from yer boy Hank here, no trip to this concrete island is complete without a couple of visits to the incredible SOHO rice pudding restaurant Rice To Riches. You're welcome.

 

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2. Copenhagen, Denmark

Traveling gay in Copenhagen is just easy. Easy on the eyes, easy on the mind, body, and spirit, easy on the whole timbre of your soul. You can relax on a bicycle by day and get thrown in a sling in a popular leather bar at night in one of their famous cruise clubs. With its plethora of LGBTQ+-friendly and owned establishments, its commitment to diversity and equity, and its socially progressive politics, it's no wonder it's often referred to as one of the happiest places on Earth. Leave the hustle and bustle of London and Berlin behind you, they didn't even make this list! Let the folks at Two Bad Tourists tell you everything you need to know about traveling in this idyll.

1. Lisbon, Portugal

Now, take Copenhagen, lower the price, and put it on the shores of the Atlantic. It's the highest-ranked city on the list for good reason: very safe, very accommodating, and welcoming with gay marriage being legal since 2010, and there's simply too much to do in this beautiful city rich with history and gorgeous men! Sitting on the Atlantic Ocean, it's London and NYC's more affordable and quieter cousin...with beaches! No, you never considered this place, did you? Well, it's never too late to go check it out!

#ORGULHO2024
Arraial Lisboa Pride marcado para 22 de Junho https://t.co/Krj51zrLxN #orgulho2024 ️‍️‍⚧️ @LisbGayCircuit pic.twitter.com/hdPlcOHoPq

— dezanove.pt (@dezanovept) April 27, 2024

Where's your favorite place to travel?

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