Where in the U.S. can the LGBTQ+ community feel proudest and safest to live? That is for another article. Here, we detail the top 25 cities where LGBTQ+ communities are not as welcome and accepted as other cities around the United States.
LawnStarter compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on 20 indicators of an ideal LGBTQ city, such as anti-discrimination policies, the share of same-sex households, and LGBTQ support resources.
They also factored in affordability, LGBTQ-friendly healthcare access, and pride readiness.
They determined the factors (metrics) most relevant to ranking these cities for LGBTQ+ friendliness. They then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped them into five categories: equality, Community Support, Affordability, Health Care Access, and Pride Readiness.
Next are the 25 cities that were at the bottom of this list. While they have some work to do in accepting and welcoming LGBTQ+ people, this ranking also presents an opportunity for these cities to improve and become more inclusive.
#25 Baton Rouge, LA
Baton Rouge, LA, ranks #176 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 20.20
- Equality Rank: 170
- Community Support Rank: 143
- Affordability Rank: 167
- Health Care Access Rank: 104
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 68
#24 Shreveport, LA
Shreveport, LA, ranks #177 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” The metrics used to determine this ranking are below.
- Overall Score: 20.07
- Equality Rank: 148
- Community Support Rank: 176
- Affordability Rank: 161
- Health Care Access Rank: 96
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 115
#23 Columbus, GA
Columbus, GA, ranks #178 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 19.78
- Equality Rank: 166
- Community Support Rank: 142
- Affordability Rank: 147
- Health Care Access Rank: 175
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 95
#22 Carrollton, TX
Carrollton, TX, ranks #179 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 19.63
- Equality Rank: 180
- Community Support Rank: 115
- Affordability Rank: 29
- Health Care Access Rank: 135
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 183
#21 Mobile, AL
Mobile, AL ranks #180 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 19.56
- Equality Rank: 185
- Community Support Rank: 129
- Affordability Rank: 160
- Health Care Access Rank: 171
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 30
#20 Waco, TX
Waco, TX, ranks #181 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 19.44
- Equality Rank: 173
- Community Support Rank: 136
- Affordability Rank: 102
- Health Care Access Rank: 168
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 131
#19 Irving, TX
Irving, TX, ranks #182 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” The metrics used to determine this ranking are below.
- Overall Score: 19.31
- Equality Rank: 168
- Community Support Rank: 171
- Affordability Rank: 30
- Health Care Access Rank: 183
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 164
#18 Clarksville, TN
Clarksville, TN, ranks #183 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” The metrics used to determine this ranking are below.
- Overall Score: 18.58
- Equality Rank: 167
- Community Support Rank: 150
- Affordability Rank: 148
- Health Care Access Rank: 165
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 133
#17 Port St. Lucie, FL
Port St. Lucie, FL, ranks #184 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 18.56
- Equality Rank: 179
- Community Support Rank: 137
- Affordability Rank: 71
- Health Care Access Rank: 169
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 148
#16 West Valley City, UT
West Valley City, UT, ranks #185 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 18.48
- Equality Rank: 152
- Community Support Rank: 193
- Affordability Rank: 85
- Health Care Access Rank: 195
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 198
#15 Cape Coral, FL
Cape Coral, FL, ranks #186 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” The metrics used to determine this ranking are below.
- Overall Score: 18.09
- Equality Rank: 191
- Community Support Rank: 154
- Affordability Rank: 107
- Health Care Access Rank: 128
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 52
#14 Amarillo, TX
Amarillo, TX, ranks #187 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” The metrics used to determine this ranking are below.
- Overall Score: 17.68
- Equality Rank: 183
- Community Support Rank: 165
- Affordability Rank: 44
- Health Care Access Rank: 184
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 146
#13 McAllen, TX
McAllen, TX, ranks #188 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 17.64
- Equality Rank: 199
- Community Support Rank: 140
- Affordability Rank: 38
- Health Care Access Rank: 170
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 86
#12 Macon, GA
Macon, GA, ranks #189 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 17.14
- Equality Rank: 175
- Community Support Rank: 133
- Affordability Rank: 117
- Health Care Access Rank: 164
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 185
#11 Grand Prairie, TX
Grand Prairie, TX, ranks #190 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 16.74
- Equality Rank: 187
- Community Support Rank: 167
- Affordability Rank: 65
- Health Care Access Rank: 137
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 177
#10 Pembroke Pines, FL
Pembroke Pines, FL, ranks #191 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 16.60
- Equality Rank: 186
- Community Support Rank: 160
- Affordability Rank: 98
- Health Care Access Rank: 145
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 158
#9 Brownsville, TX
Brownsville, TX, ranks #192 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” The metrics used to determine this ranking are below.
- Overall Score: 16.02
- Equality Rank: 177
- Community Support Rank: 196
- Affordability Rank: 86
- Health Care Access Rank: 200
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 118
#8 Mesquite, TX
Mesquite, TX, ranks #193 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 15.18
- Equality Rank: 177
- Community Support Rank: 199
- Affordability Rank: 99
- Health Care Access Rank: 193
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 194
#7 Killeen, TX
Killeen, TX, ranks #194 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 15.03
- Equality Rank: 193
- Community Support Rank: 158
- Affordability Rank: 178
- Health Care Access Rank: 157
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 107
#6 Laredo, TX
Laredo, TX, ranks #195 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 14.68
- Equality Rank: 197
- Community Support Rank: 170
- Affordability Rank: 66
- Health Care Access Rank: 199
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 181
#5 Augusta, GA
Augusta, GA, ranks #196 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 14.56
- Equality Rank: 190
- Community Support Rank: 188
- Affordability Rank: 116
- Health Care Access Rank: 158
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 139
#4 Pasadena, TX
Pasadena, TX, ranks #197 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 14.56
- Equality Rank: 194
- Community Support Rank: 178
- Affordability Rank: 78
- Health Care Access Rank: 194
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 171
#3 Garland, TX
Garland, TX, ranks #198 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 13.63
- Equality Rank: 195
- Community Support Rank: 177
- Affordability Rank: 139
- Health Care Access Rank: 181
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 184
#2 Miramar, FL
Miramar, FL, ranks #199 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities.” Below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 12.74
- Equality Rank: 200
- Community Support Rank: 125
- Affordability Rank: 96
- Health Care Access Rank: 178
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 189
#1 Hialeah, FL
Hialeah, FL ranks #200 out of 200 in the list of “Most LGBTQ-Friendly Cities” and is the MOST unwelcoming city, below are the metrics used to determine this ranking.
- Overall Score: 10.75
- Equality Rank: 198
- Community Support Rank: 187
- Affordability Rank: 196
- Health Care Access Rank: 177
- Pride-Readiness Rank: 169
