The Advocate, a prominent publication for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities, has come out with its third annual list of the "Gayest Cities in America."
An intro to the article says The Advocate is ignoring well-known gay havens such as San Francisco, Provincetown and West Hollywood and focusing on "the per capita queerness of some less expected locales."
The winners are listed here:
2. Orlando
5. Seattle
9. Atlanta
13. Austin, Texas
15. Denver
The rankings were based on clear criteria, but they fuel speculation that the article may have been written tongue-in-cheek. Ratings incorporated such statitistics as how many GLBT bookstores are in a city, how many nude yoga classes are offered and even how many "Mr. Leather Competition" semifinalists hail from the area. There are some more serious criteria, such as number of gay/lesbian/bi/transgender elected officials and the existence of laws prohibiting discrimination.
Here's an excerpt from The Advocate Salt Lake City write-up: "While those unfamiliar with the Beehive State are likely to conjure images of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, far-less-oppressive-than-it-used-to-be Salt Lake City has earned its queer cred. There are more than a half-dozen hot spots for men and women ... yes, you can get a drink in this town."
City Councilman Stan Penfold, who is gay, told the Tribune topping the Advocate list is a plus: "Nationally, people just can't imagine that we're an LGBT-friendly community, and I think this really breaks that stereotype of what people think Salt Lake is like."
For a complete explanation on why each city was selected, see The Advocate website.
What do you think is the most gay friendly city in America?
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