This month, many LGBTQ+ travelers will head out for summer trips and Pride Month celebrations alike. Yet, for this community of travelers, taking a trip isn’t as straightforward—or as safe—as it is for others. In some destinations, LGBTQ+ travelers still face discrimination and the risk of harm, so it’s incredibly important to know which destinations are most open and welcoming—and which require a heightened level of caution and vigilance.
To that end, we worked with our partner GeoSure (who powers TripIt’s Neighborhood Safety Scores feature) to understand what the safest destinations are for the LGBTQ+ community based on their analysis of metadata captured from hundreds of trusted sources.
Some of these sources include the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, Gay Travel Index, built environment variables and keys pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community, ACLED, Human Rights Campaign – Municipal Equality Index, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Southern Poverty Law Center, Statistica, and safety experience sharing from the GeoSure community.
Here are the top 10 safest cities for LGBTQ+ travelers, according to GeoSure data.
10. Portland, Maine
GeoSafeScore™: 82/100
As the first major U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor—and home to a Guinness World Record-holding drag queen—Portland has long welcomed (and embraced!) LGBTQ+ travelers.
Each June, the city celebrates Pride Month with a festival and parade. This year, it takes place Saturday, June 18. And all year long, LGBTQ+ travelers can enjoy drag performances, queer film festivals, and dance parties, as well as patronize dozens of the city’s LGBTQ+-owned businesses.
Did you know? Travelers can access hyperlocal safety ratings for myriad categories along any point within their TripIt itinerary for more than 65,000 cities and neighborhoods. Specifically, the LGBTQ+ safety score incorporates factors such as the likelihood of harm or discrimination against LGBTQ+ persons or groups and level of caution required at a location. In the TripIt app, Neighborhood Safety Scores focus on the level of risk (whereas the rankings in the post represent the level of safety).
9. St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
GeoSafeScore™: 82/100
While many cities around the world celebrate Pride Month in June, celebrations—including Pride Week—in St. John’s kick off in July. This year, St. John’s…
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