The Most LgbtQ Friendly Cities in America

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation recently published its annual Corporate Equality Index, which rates companies on their LGBTQ equality policies. This year, 94% of Fortune 500 companies are now considered LgbtQ friendly. Until 2002, only 3% of companies had a policy addressing discrimination based on gender identity. Most of these companies have openly LGBTQ job listings on websites such as Monster.com. However, many are still not completely LgbtQ-friendly, and companies are encouraged to be more open in this respect.

The American Academy of Family Physicians has a free LGBT health toolkit for physicians. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health is another excellent resource. The UCSF Center for Excellence in Transgender Health is an important resource for health care professionals. There are many local organizations focusing on the health needs of older Lgbtq friendly people, including the Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders. Additionally, the National LGBT Health Education Center has free CMEs available on LGBTQ health issues.

South Carolina has laws against discrimination based on sexual orientation, age, or gender identity. In addition, the State Religious Freedom Restoration Act protects LGBTQ residents in schools. Mississippi has bills that would make schools less LGBTQ-friendly. One of these bills would allow school employees to misgender students. Additionally, South Carolina has a statewide policy that bars discussion of gender identity or sexual orientation in public schools. The State Religious Freedom Restoration Act has also created laws that limit public accommodations to LGBTQ people.

In addition to these state laws, Minnesota has a few cities that are considered LGBTQ-friendly. One of the most notable is Madison, which has active homosexual rights organizations. These organizations extend these protections to employment, housing, and public accommodations. The state has also created a liaison for LGBTQ students in its school system. Additionally, it has passed bills to prohibit the "panic defense" which allows a person accused of a crime to blame the victim of the violent hate crime.

Located in Eugene, Oregon, the University of Oregon is a highly regarded university with about 25,000 students. The Office of the Dean of Students supports an inclusive environment through LGBTQ scholarships, speaker panels, and career advice. LGBTQ students can also select their own residence halls. Moreover, they have several organizations to promote their goals and make their education as productive as possible. This is a good place to start a career if you are LGBTQ-friendly.

Despite North Dakota's small population, certain cities and states are more tolerant and welcoming than others. For example, Missoula, the progressive city in the Big Sky state, is a welcoming and progressive environment. It is home to the University of Montana and hosts numerous LGBTQ organizations and choruses. Besides Missoula, Helena and Bozeman are also considered LgbtQ-friendly. However, despite being more homophobic, both of these cities are not as homophobic as their neighboring counterparts.

Many Americans are embracing equal treatment for all residents. A Gallup survey shows that 63% of Americans support same-sex marriage, up from 44% in 2010. Cities such as Austin, Texas are embracing the LGBTQ community in an increasingly accepting way. Some even have entire states dedicated to protecting the rights of LGBTQ residents. This shows that the trend towards equality is growing and that it will continue for a long time to come. So, what can you do to make your city a gay-friendly city?