TOP 10 of the best gay neighborhoods in the United States

June 10 2014

by Marc Dedonder

What are the best gay neighborhoods in the United States? The American gay travel website Out Traveler recently asked its readers for their opinion. Since mid-November, on the occasion of the Out Traveler Awards 2014, they could vote for their favorite gay neighborhood in the United States. Seen from afar, the Top 10 resulting from this vote is quite surprising:

10 - Washington Square West, in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's gay neighborhood, right in Center City, is small, walkable. It is easy to find, the street signs all have a rainbow on them.

9. Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C.
The capital of the United States still has a long way to go before its gay district can compete in notoriety with that of the big metropolises. Nevertheless, the gay community is very active there.

8. Capitol Hill in Seattle
Capitol Hill is Seattle's gay neighborhood, a bit hipster, on Pine Street and Pike Street. Seattle has the reputation of being the greenest city in the United States but also a very liberal city.

7. Boystown in West Hollywood/Los Angeles
Nicknamed "WeHo", the gay district of Los Angeles is concentrated along Santa Monica Boulevard, at the foot of the northern hills of the city. Apparently, the California style has lost some of its popularity.

6. Wilton Manors in Fort Lauderdale
It's been a long time since Americans who love the Florida sunshine fled Miami beach and Key West to Fort Lauderdale, a little further north.

5. Hell's Kitchen in New York
Hell's Kitchen, just above Chelsea, is only one of New York's gay neighborhoods, but it is undoubtedly the one where the most things are happening today, especially since the opening of the gay hotel The Out in the heart of the neighborhood.

4. Midtown in Atlanta
Atlanta is the only city in the south of the United States in the Top 5 of this ranking. The gay establishments are not very concentrated there but it is in Midtown that we find the most.

3. Castro in San Francisco
Castro is THE gay neighborhood par excellence, even your straight brother-in-law knows it by name! Historic, of course, with the ghost of Harvey Milk. But maybe a little faded in places. Further north, The Mission district seems to want to take over.

2. Boystown in Chicago
Boystown, Chicago's gay neighborhood, had been voted best gay neighborhood in the United States in 2013, it loses its place this year. This small gay village located along Halsted Street and Broadway, was the first gay neighborhood in the United States officially recognized by a municipality.

1. Oak Lawn in Dallas
Did you know that Dallas, Texas has one of the largest LGBT communities in the United States? That's probably why the city's gay district was named the best gay district in the United States this year. With its bars, clubs and restaurants lined up on Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue, Oak Lawn is the next American destination to put on your perfect gay tourist's travel diary!

Find all the results of the Out Traveler Awards 2014 on the website Outtraveler.com