Considering that we live in the land of the free, many gay communities have the opportunity to openly express their sexuality and fly their flags. Almost anywhere you go, there will be at least a few areas that are very LGBT friendly and will make you feel welcome.
In terms of lesbian communities, certain cities attract larger populations of these same-sex couples because of things like feminism, progressivism, or activist efforts that generate awareness and acceptance.
Regardless, having a large lesbian population is not the only positive attribute of an LGBT area. There are many factors that combine to create an ideal lesbian community, such as open and tolerant attitudes, natural beauty, community events and legalized rights.
As someone who recently made a big cross-country move from Portland, Maine to Denver, Colorado based in part on the lesbian community, I’ll admit up front that you’re mixing my opinion and experience here.
And yes, I’m skipping the big, well-known cities because you already know them. It’s the many small cities I want to address that welcome lesbians with open arms because too often they go unnoticed.
Portland, Maine
(Maine has full legal rights and protections for LGBT residents).
Over the past 10 years, the lesbian (and queer) community has blossomed in a big way in Portland, Maine. There’s the lesbian neighborhood, Munjoy Hill, where I grew up as a child, and it’s definitely not the neighborhood I once knew.
There are many lesbian-owned businesses, such as Caiola’s and Katahdin, both restaurants that are hip and fun and have amazing food. You’ll find real estate agents, bankers, mortgage brokers, designers, therapists, doctors and just about anyone else you need.
There’s entertainment that’s queer/lesbian based, and there’s the Portland Lesbian Coffee House, a meetup group that started in 2007 and really changed the face of lesbian social life in southern Maine.
As a beautiful city on the coast, there are lighthouses, parks, bike trails, kayaking, beaches, skiing, First Friday art events, breweries, wineries, amazing local food and more to share with your SO.
Don’t forget it’s also a beautiful city on the coast. Lighthouses, parks, bike trails, kayaking, hiking, beaches, skiing, First Friday art events, breweries, wineries and amazing local food and farmers markets. There are endless activities to do with your SO.
Along with all this, you’re only an hour away from Ogunquit, Maine. A beautiful summer community with a strong LGBT presence, it hosts LGBT events year-round, including a monthly lesbian T-dance at a bar called Maine Street with my friend DJ Jodi rocking the dance floor.
Finally, it’s a 90-minute drive to Boston and a six-hour drive to New York City.
Now, at this point, you can see that I have the 411 in Portland, so let’s take a look at other small cities around the country.
2. Denver, Colorado
(Colorado has full legal rights for LGBT residents).
The Mile High City is filled with lesbians of all kinds. One way to find out is by attending the First Friday dance hosted by Dede Frain at Tracks. More than 2,000 women attend this dance, where it starts early with two-stepping and runs with hip hop, electric and pop music, and is held in three different sized dance halls.
One week later, there is Second Friday Happy Hour at the Living Room in downtown Denver. You have the opportunity to meet women from all over the city.
Denver is home to the Gill Foundation, the leading foundation to support LGBT rights nationwide. I had the pleasure of meeting the president and CEO, Courtney Cuff – she’s smart, energetic and one of our own! The Gill Foundation has been instrumental in helping us achieve equality in many states.
There’s the LGBT Center which also houses a program called Rainbow Alley for LGBTQIT youth. It’s a really important resource for young people who need information, support, allies and other queer youth.
Denver is home to the Gill Foundation, the leading foundation to support LGBT rights across the country. It has been instrumental in helping us achieve equality in many states.
Now, what else is going on in Denver? There are 800 miles of bike trails, mountains just 45 minutes away where you can hike, ski, snowboard or mountain bike if you want. There are hot springs, and let’s not forget 300 days of sunshine a year. It’s also a destination for legal recreational marijuana use.
What I love about Denver is the large, sober lesbian community. Yes, I’m friends with Bill and can find sisters at almost any gathering I attend, but there are those where sisters gather en masse. It’s a good thing.
It has all the things we want! Universities and colleges, breweries, local food, festivals, a great PRIDE festival, lots of great places for foodies, cheap and free things to do in bulk (there’s nothing better than hiking the foothills of the Rocky Mountains for free), lots of parks, and the most breathtaking mountain views.
But where else do women hang out?
3. Austin, Texas
Slightly larger than Denver but much smaller than Dallas and Houston, Austin has become one of the best cities for lesbian life.
Texas is known as an ultra-conservative state that prides itself on being anti-LGBT (you can still get fired simply for being a lesbian in Texas), but Austin seems to be different.
What I love about living in Austin is that people are pretty laid back. The lesbian scene is alive and expanding thanks to active women who love to make events happen.
Go on Facebook and do a search for Lesbutante. She and her girlfriend organize dance events all over the city on a regular basis.
Be on the lookout for Rusty’s Revival, a dance event at Maria’s Taco Express on South Lamar that happens once a month. First of all, Maria’s really embraces the “keep it weird” theme that is Austin and fills that space with two-step lesbians, so there’s nothing but fun and good food there.
Austin, slightly larger than Denver, has become one of the top cities for lesbian life.
Check out the hike and bike trail in downtown. It’s 10 miles of trail that has been developed along the Colorado River that runs through downtown (also known as Town Lake or Lady Bird Lake), and it’s crowded all the time. It’s a great place to meet other lesbians who are fit, exercising, or just bird watching.
While living in Austin, I joined the Texas Rowing Club. It was the only way I could endure the summer heat and humidity. An inside secret is that there are a lot of lesbians who love to row. Rowing is a team sport and a community activity, so to put a single boat in the water you need to ask someone to help you.
I had the pleasure of quad paddling with three other lesbians. It was a lot of fun, even if we didn’t win any races during the regattas that take place.
Finally, like most cities that have an active lesbian community, visit Meetup.com for lesbian groups in Austin. There are a swarm of them. I started one of the first groups in 2009 known as Austin Lesbian Coffee House. You’ll also find a book club, a biker group, a basketball group, etc.
Long Beach, California
California is very lesbian-friendly, and we finally have full legal rights to marry, work and live equally.
Long Beach is about 30 minutes from Los Angeles and is often overlooked, despite having its own thriving LGBT community. There’s Long Beach Pride, the Long Beach LGBT Center and the Long Beach Q Film Festival. Long Beach is actually 8.1 percent LGBT, making it the 10th most populous LGB city.
Long Beach Pride takes place in mid-May and the night ends with a big dance event called Krave, attended by more than 1,000 women. This is an event not to be missed.
California is very lesbian friendly, and we finally have full legal rights to marry, work and live equally. Long Beach is about 30 minutes from Los Angeles and is often overlooked, despite having its own thriving LGBT community.
But Long Beach has a beach too! There are plenty of opportunities for water sports and activities. There are theme parks like Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Park in nearby Orange County, as well as more educational venues like the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Let’s not forget the beautiful California State University, the ideal weather and the large number of LGBT meeting groups in the area. Plus, you can visit the Queen Mary, the aquarium and Dog Beach – what lesbian in her right mind wouldn’t want to hang out at Dog Beach with her furry friend and a potential girlfriend?
5. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Let’s head back to the east coast for some great lesbian life. There’s plenty to do in Rehoboth Beach year-round.
If you like clubs and bands, then Rehoboth is the place to be. There are also many events such as parades, celebrations, festivals, theater, plays, water sports, gold and more to do here throughout the year.
Rehoboth Beach is an award-winning, five-star beach with plenty of space for sunbathing, sandcastle building and wave surfing, as well as dolphin watching, pontoon boat tours and early morning or sunset jogging areas along the shoreline and boardwalk. Beach access is free, so pack your beach blanket and sunscreen and hit the sand!
If you like clubs and bands, then Rehoboth is the place to be. There are also many events such as parades, celebrations, festivals, theater, plays, water sports, gold and more to do here throughout the year.
This small community flourishes in the summer, but has an active LGBT community year-round. Summer sees the biggest crowds and the most exciting beach and nightlife, but as fall progresses, visitors enjoy independent film and jazz festivals, wild holiday shopping (no sales tax!) AND a New Year’s Eve women’s gala at the convention center. Spring brings chocolate, wine and cabaret festivals.
This is a beautiful place to live with a welcoming community and plenty to do. You won’t find universities or colleges, but you will find beauty, sunshine, peace and quiet (most of the year) and a town that welcomes lesbians of all kinds.
Plus, it’s only three hours from Washington DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia, so you can get your intellectual, political or historical fix easy as pie.
6. Columbus, Ohio
Ohio’s capital and the third largest city in the Midwest gets five stars for a great place to live lesbian. With more than 35,000 LGBT people living in the city, there’s a busy LGBTQ scene.
It’s a city full of women-owned businesses, lesbian clubs, good food and hot women selling bikes everywhere. What’s even more fun for lesbians is that it’s legal for women to go topless in Columbus.
If you’re a coffee lover, check out Travonna. It’s the premier LGBT-friendly coffee and art space, open 24 hours a day.
If you’re the kind of lesbian who loves lesbian literature and writing, Columbus has 10 local LGBTQ publications for print news. There’s Outlook, Gay People’s Chronicle and Out in Columbusto to get you started. Check out Lavender Listings for all things lesbian. You’ll find many of these publications available free of charge at local coffee shops and bookstores.
Speaking of bookstores, The Garden is said to have the best and largest selection of lesbian literature anywhere, and The Chamber has a spectacular section on fetishes along with whatever kind of gadget or toy you’ve been wondering about.
Ohio’s capital and the third largest city in the Midwest gets five stars for a great place to live for lesbians. With more than 35,000 LGBT people living in the city, there’s a busy LGBTQ scene.
All of this makes Columbus sound like one of the most attractive places for lesbians to live and enjoy all the goodness of lesbian life.
Central Ohio has a high concentration of colleges and universities, including The Ohio State University, Columbus College of Art and Design, Franklin University, Columbus State Community College and Capital University.
This is a potent mix of youth and academia which means lots of sexy, smart girls of all orientations, identifications and presentations. It also means we have lots of art exhibits, galleries, poetry slam, celebrity speakers, music, drunkenness and fun!
As one of the largest universities in the country, by enrollment and area, Ohio State University is rife with lesbians. OSU also has a lot to offer, with one of the best and largest women’s, gender and sexuality studies departments, plus dozens of LGBT organizations on campus. You’ll even find that they have a lesbian porn class during the winter semester.
There’s so much to love about Columbus!
It’s six major cities from the east coast to the west coast, and a couple of places in between that give you a lot of options as a lesbian woman. What I’ve learned is that you have to create the life you want, and sometimes that requires moving to a new location.
I firmly believe that everyone should live in a different place than where they grew up, even if it’s just for a little while. It will change the way you think about life.
So get on Google and explore these cities. You won’t be disappointed.
