From Staff Reports
WILTON MANORS, Fla. — More than three-quarters — 76 percent of LGBTQ+ people have avoided, would avoid or have previously considered avoiding certain areas because of fears of discrimination, according to research commissioned by GayRealEstate.com and announced in a recent press release.
These findings suggest that, for many LGBTQ+ homebuyers, choosing where to live involves far more than comparing house prices and commute times, the press release notes. Instead, decisions are shaped by a combination of legal protections, neighborhood culture, community visibility, healthcare access, affordability, and local safety.
To help buyers make more informed relocation decisions, GayRealEstate.com has outlined the key factors people should consider when assessing whether a city is genuinely LGBTQ+-friendly, supported by research involving more than 1,000 LGBTQ+ people:
- Research legal protections
Nearly two-thirds — 66.4 percent — of respondents said the political climate surrounding LGBTQ+ laws was a medium or top priority when deciding where to live. That’s because housing protections and LGBTQ+ rights vary between states and cities, making it important to understand local laws rather than relying on a city’s reputation alone.
While neighborhood research is essential, statewide policy can also shape everyday life. State-level LGBTQ+ policy rankings place Colorado among the strongest policy environments, followed by California, Maine, New York and Maryland.
At the opposite end of the scale are Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, South Carolina and Mississippi. Texas is very near the bottom, too, placing 42nd out of 50 states, according to evaluations like SafeHome.org’s safety report cards.
When asked which policies would have the greatest impact on relocation decisions, 54.4 percent selected anti-discrimination protections covering housing, employment and public places, making it the highest-ranked factor. Other commonly selected considerations included public accommodation protections (22.8 percent), school curriculum laws (20.8 percent), gender-affirming healthcare (19.8 percent) and local authority powers to introduce stronger LGBTQ+ protections (18.2 percent). - Look beyond city rankings
A city’s overall reputation doesn’t always reflect every neighborhood within it. Buyers should research individual communities, visit prospective areas where possible and look for signs of an active LGBTQ+ community, including Pride events, local organizations and inclusive businesses. Population size can also provide useful context, but it should never be viewed as the only measure of how welcoming an area may be. For example, California has the nation’s largest estimated LGBTQ+ adult population (approximately 1.55 million people), and the largest estimated LGBTQ+ economic footprint (more than $141 billion), yet experiences can still vary considerably between neighborhoods and cities within the same state. - Think about life beyond the move
Finding a home is only the beginning. Buyers should also consider access to LGBTQ+-affirming healthcare, mental health services, community organizations, inclusive businesses and wider support networks, alongside affordability and overall quality of life.
The research found that 60 percent of respondents would be willing to pay more to live in an LGBTQ+-friendly area, highlighting the value many place on feeling safe, supported, and able to be themselves within their local community. - Work with experienced LGBTQ+ real estate agents
The research also found that nearly 6 in 10 — 59 percent — of respondents said they, or someone they knew, had experienced discrimination during their real estate journey, while 53 percent identified finding an LGBTQ+-friendly neighborhood as the biggest challenge when searching for a home. As such, 54 percent of respondents had hidden, or would consider hiding, their LGBTQ+ identity when securing housing, including one in five who said they had previously concealed their identity and would do so again if necessary.
That’s why choosing an experienced LGBTQ+-friendly real estate agent can make a world of difference. Whether it’s helping buyers to better understand local communities, answer questions or navigate the homebuying process as an LGBTQ+ person, there are many ways these realtors can help them relocate with greater confidence.
Ultimately, buyers should balance these figures with neighborhood-level research, recognizing that experiences can differ significantly even within the same city.
A spokesperson for GayRealEstate.com noted, “For LGBTQ+ homebuyers, choosing where to live is about more than finding a city with a strong reputation. Buyers often need to consider legal protections, safety, community visibility, affordability and whether they can work with professionals who understand their circumstances.
“A genuinely LGBTQ+-friendly location should support both the practical and personal sides of the homebuying process.” - What makes a city LGBTQ+-friendly?
Legal protections, neighborhood culture, community visibility, local safety, access to LGBTQ+-affirming healthcare, inclusive businesses, affordability and the availability of experienced LGBTQ+-friendly real estate professionals are the combination of factors that make a city LGBTQ+-friendly.
What are the best places for LGBTQ+ homebuyers? California, New York and Massachusetts ranked as the top three states to live in as an LGBTQ+ person, with more than two-thirds of respondents skewing strongly to blue states.
What are the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the U.S? Cities such as New York City, San Francisco, Chicago and Los Angeles are often considered to be some of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the U.S. because they tend to offer stronger legal protections. While these often rank at the top of the list, a city’s overall reputation doesn’t always reflect the experience of every neighborhood, which is why it’s important to consult with a gay-friendly Realtor.
LGBTQ+ buyers and sellers can use GayRealEstate.com to connect with experienced LGBTQ+ and -friendly real estate agents across the United States. Dallas Voice.com and Out North Texas both include business directories that list a number of LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+-friendly real estate professionals.
GayRealEstate.com is an LGBTQ+ real estate platform that connects homebuyers and sellers with experienced LGBTQ+ real estate agents across the U.S. and beyond.