5 LGBT Friendly Cities Across the World

While India is still debating whether to legalize same sex relationships or not, we decided to put on our detective caps to bring you a list of LGBT friendly cities across the world. These places are both accepting and tolerant of homosexuality. In fact, the governments here take extra measures to make sure the LGBT traveller feels welcome and safe, and even host many interesting events for them.

Here is our list of the top cities where LGBT travellers can feel right at home:

1. Brighton, England:

Brighton, a picturesque little beachside town in on the South Coast of England is one of the oldest cities in England to have openly accepted homosexuality. For over hundred years, Brighton has been a long standing gay refuge. The spirited LGBT community here is 40,000 strong and makes for almost a quarter of the total population. Apart from that, the town also has a string of gay run bars, cafés, hotels and restaurants. There are special spas, saunas and bookstores aimed at the LGBT population in the area. Brighton is also home to the popular “Gay is the Word” walk and the Brighton Gay Men's Chorus which is a great place for gay men to come together and celebrate music and enjoy the company of like minded people.

2. Amsterdam, Netherlands:

Popularly known as the gay capital of Europe, gays and lesbians make up around 20-30% of the population in the Carpet City. There is no dearth of options when it comes to venues dedicated to the homosexual and transgendered communities in Amsterdam. The over hundred exclusive gay nightclubs and bars, bookshops, sports clubs and other support services here stand testimony to that.

But it is the Gay Pride Parade that steals the show. Celebrated as one of the most flamboyant parades in the world, it is held annually on the first Saturday of August and stretches over the weekend. Drop by to soak in the colourful street parties, club circuit bashes and the unusual canal parade that is held on boats. 

3. Sydney, Australia:

Gays and lesbians form an important and vocal part of the society in Australia. Sydney in particular is the most LGBT friendly of the Australian cities and has also hosted the 2002 Gay Games in addition to the vibrant Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras. In 2014 the Mardi Gras will take place from 7^th February to 2^nd March. Go there for the spectacular cabarets, comedies, music and theatre as did the half million people who attended it last year.

4. Kathmandu, Nepal:

Nepal’s vibrant capital, Kathmandu, is a rather surprising entrant in the list of LGBT friendly destinations in South Asia. Considering homosexuality is illegal in other South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bhutan, Nepal is the only country in the region which allows homosexuality. Moreover, the Nepalese government also prohibits discrimination of any kind against the LGBT community. Nepal also recognizes the third gender, in addition to male and female.Nepal also hosts an annual gay beauty pageant called Mr. Handsome, in which hundreds of gays, lesbians and transgendered contestants take part. The pageant is very popular and is a flamboyant affair with clothes being flown in especially from Thailand for the contestants. The Nepal Tourism Board has plans of promoting Nepal as a LGBT friendly tourist destination and there are further plans of training hospitality professionals on how to make LGBT guests feel comfortable in hotels and restaurants.

5. New York City, United States of America:

The LGBT community makes for 3.8% of the population in the Big Apple. New York was the fifth state in the United States to make same-sex marriages legal. The Chelsea and Greenwich Village area houses vibrant localities for the queer community to interact and spend time with each other. Then there are the numerous art galleries, bars and night-clubs in NYC exclusive for them. Other than that, the city is host to the annual Gay Pride Parade which takes place in June every year and attracts travellers from across the world.