United States Indice du Voyage Gay 2026
Score = Juridique 46/60 + Scène 35/40 = 81/100
Updated 1 Oct 2026 · release 2026.3.
A live score, not an annual report — it recomputes as laws, rulings and the scene itself change. See what moved in 2026.
State by state · Sécurité juridique · Legal milestones · La scène sur place · Planifiez votre voyage · Questions fréquentes
The United States is fifty legal environments wearing one flag. New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and Provincetown remain some of the greatest gay places on earth, and June Pride season has no equal anywhere. But the 2023-26 wave of state legislation — aimed mostly at trans healthcare, school policy and drag — means the experience depends on where you land: the coasts and the north feel like Northern Europe, while parts of the South and Midwest call for checking the specific state's laws, especially for trans travellers. Marriage is protected federally everywhere. Plan by city, not by country.
State by state
Marriage and federal protections apply everywhere — the rest varies sharply, and this is where the national average stops being useful. Tiers follow the HRC State Equality Index and MAP policy tallies. Trans travellers: read the state note before booking.
No statewide LGBTQ+ protections; multiple anti-LGBTQ+ laws cover schools, sports and bathrooms. Scene is city-based.
⚖️ Felony ban on care for trans minors; school bathroom and sports restrictions.
24 venues listed · Birmingham guide →
No statewide LGBTQ+ anti-discrimination law, but no major restrictive statutes; Anchorage has local protections.
⚖️ No healthcare ban; a state board regulation restricts trans girls in school sports.
6 venues listed · Anchorage guide →
School sports and minor surgery bans remain in force; the governor has vetoed newer anti-LGBTQ+ bills since 2023.
⚖️ 2022 sports ban and minors' surgery ban stand; adult care unrestricted.
39 venues listed · Phoenix guide →
Broad slate of anti-LGBTQ+ laws spanning healthcare, schools, sports and bathrooms; no statewide protections.
⚖️ Trans youth healthcare ban upheld in court; school bathroom and sports laws in force.
16 venues listed · Little Rock guide →
Comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, conversion-therapy ban and some of the nation's strongest LGBTQ+ protections.
⚖️ Sanctuary state with a shield law for gender-affirming care.
253 venues listed · San Francisco guide →
Comprehensive protections, conversion-therapy ban and expanding LGBTQ+ rights legislation, including the 2025 Kelly Loving Act.
⚖️ Shield law protects gender-affirming care; legal name and document changes simplified.
23 venues listed · Denver guide →
Long-standing comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, conversion-therapy ban and top-tier equality ratings.
⚖️ Shield law covers gender-affirming care for residents and out-of-state patients.
15 venues listed · New Haven guide →
Comprehensive anti-discrimination statutes, conversion-therapy ban and a welcoming climate anchored by Rehoboth Beach.
⚖️ 2025 executive order makes Delaware a shield state for gender-affirming care.
20 venues listed · Rehoboth Beach guide →
Among the strongest human-rights laws in the country, with explicit LGBTQ+ protections in all areas.
⚖️ Sanctuary jurisdiction; gender-affirming care protected and X gender markers available.
62 venues listed · Washington DC guide →
Several restrictive laws affect schools, bathrooms in public buildings and trans healthcare; major gay destinations remain vibrant.
⚖️ Trans minors' care banned and adult care restricted; public-building bathroom law applies.
142 venues listed · Miami guide →
No statewide anti-discrimination law and recent anti-trans legislation, though Atlanta remains a major LGBTQ+ hub.
⚖️ Gender-affirming care banned for minors; school sports and facility restrictions apply.
30 venues listed · Atlanta guide →
Comprehensive anti-discrimination protections and a conversion-therapy ban; one of the most welcoming US states.
⚖️ Trans rights fully protected; easy document updates and inclusive healthcare access.
22 venues listed · Honolulu guide →
Among the most restrictive states, with sweeping anti-trans laws and no statewide LGBTQ+ protections.
⚖️ Felony ban on youth care; bathroom, sports and ID restrictions in force.
12 venues listed · Boise guide →
Full anti-discrimination protections, a conversion-therapy ban and shield laws; Chicago hosts a thriving scene.
⚖️ Trans healthcare protected by shield law; strong statewide gender-identity protections.
103 venues listed · Chicago guide →
No statewide LGBTQ+ protections and several anti-trans laws, though Indianapolis is notably friendlier.
⚖️ Youth gender-affirming care banned; school sports and instruction restrictions in force.
25 venues listed · Indianapolis guide →
First state ever to strip gender identity from its civil-rights act, effective July 2025.
⚖️ State discrimination protections removed; youth care ban plus bathroom and sports laws.
20 venues listed · Des Moines guide →
Sweeping anti-trans laws define legal sex at birth; no statewide LGBTQ+ discrimination protections.
⚖️ Broad bathroom ban; trans markers rescinded from driver's licenses; youth care banned.
11 venues listed · Wichita guide →
Sweeping 2023 law restricts trans healthcare and school policies; Louisville and Lexington are friendlier pockets.
⚖️ SB 150 bans youth care and restricts school bathrooms and pronouns.
19 venues listed · Louisville guide →
Anti-trans healthcare, bathroom and curriculum laws in force, though New Orleans stays famously welcoming.
⚖️ Youth care ban, bathroom law and school 'Don't Say Gay' restrictions apply.
23 venues listed · New Orleans guide →
Longstanding comprehensive protections, a conversion-therapy ban and a 2024 shield law protect LGBTQ+ visitors.
⚖️ Trans healthcare shielded by state law; full gender-identity protections statewide.
25 venues listed · Portland guide →
Full nondiscrimination protections and a trans shield law; Baltimore has a lively, welcoming scene.
⚖️ Shield state; Trans Health Equity Act guarantees care coverage; no restrictions.
12 venues listed · Baltimore guide →
Comprehensive protections in the first marriage-equality state; Provincetown and Boston are iconic destinations.
⚖️ Shield law and full trans healthcare protections; no anti-trans laws.
68 venues listed · Provincetown guide →
Civil-rights law covers sexual orientation and gender identity since 2023; Detroit and Ferndale welcome visitors.
⚖️ No anti-trans laws; conversion therapy banned; gender-affirming care accessible.
32 venues listed · Detroit guide →
Trans-refuge state with comprehensive protections; the Twin Cities host a large, visible LGBTQ+ community.
⚖️ Shield law protects gender-affirming care; no restrictions on trans people.
17 venues listed · Minneapolis guide →
No statewide LGBTQ+ protections plus a broad religious-exemption law; exercise discretion outside Jackson.
⚖️ Healthcare ban, sports and bathroom restrictions in force; travel cautiously.
No statewide protections and restrictive laws, though St. Louis and Kansas City are welcoming cities.
⚖️ Youth gender-affirming care banned; sports restrictions; some adult care limited.
30 venues listed · Kansas City guide →
Hostile legislature though courts blocked several laws; Missoula and Bozeman are the most accepting spots.
⚖️ Courts struck the youth-care ban, but sports bans and restrictions persist.
Few legal protections and recent anti-trans laws; Omaha has a friendly, established local scene.
⚖️ Youth gender-affirming care restricted; school sports and bathroom laws in force.
Strong statewide protections and constitutional marriage equality; Las Vegas and Reno are very welcoming.
⚖️ Shield law protects trans healthcare; insurers must cover gender-affirming care.
32 venues listed · Las Vegas guide →
Longstanding nondiscrimination laws remain, but new anti-trans measures signal a shifting climate.
⚖️ Youth care banned and schools must out students; adult protections remain.
2 venues listed · Manchester guide →
Comprehensive nondiscrimination and hate-crime laws statewide; Asbury Park and Jersey City host thriving LGBTQ+ scenes.
⚖️ Shield law protects trans care access; easy gender-marker changes including X option.
21 venues listed · Asbury Park guide →
Full statewide protections and a strong shield law; Santa Fe and Albuquerque are notably welcoming.
⚖️ Trans healthcare protected by law; X markers available on state IDs.
8 venues listed · Albuquerque guide →
Among the most protective states, with sweeping civil-rights laws and iconic LGBTQ+ nightlife in NYC.
⚖️ Trans rights and healthcare fully protected; sanctuary shield law in force.
185 venues listed · New York guide →
No statewide protections and recent anti-trans laws, though Asheville, Durham and Charlotte remain welcoming pockets.
⚖️ Youth care ban plus 2025 college bathroom restrictions; adult care legal but unfunded by state.
40 venues listed · Charlotte guide →
Numerous anti-LGBTQ+ laws passed since 2023 and virtually no protections; scene limited to Fargo.
⚖️ Youth care ban, bathroom restrictions in public buildings, birth-certificate changes barred.
3 venues listed · Fargo guide →
Statewide anti-trans laws contrast with genuinely vibrant scenes in Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati.
⚖️ Youth care ban in force; 2025 law restricts bathrooms in schools and colleges.
65 venues listed · Columbus guide →
Among the harshest legal climates, yet Oklahoma City's 39th Street district keeps a proud local scene.
⚖️ Care ban, school bathroom law, and no birth-certificate or ID gender changes.
19 venues listed · Oklahoma City guide →
Longstanding comprehensive protections; Portland ranks among America's most LGBTQ+-friendly cities.
⚖️ Strong shield law; trans care covered by Medicaid and easy X-marker IDs.
37 venues listed · Portland guide →
No hostile laws and welcoming Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but protections rest on regulations rather than statute.
⚖️ Trans care legal and accessible; protections via agency rules and executive orders only.
52 venues listed · Philadelphia guide →
Full statewide protections in a compact, easygoing state; Providence punches above its weight for queer culture.
⚖️ Trans healthcare protected; conversion therapy banned and X markers available.
18 venues listed · Providence guide →
No statewide LGBTQ+ protections and recent anti-trans laws; stick to Charleston and Columbia's welcoming pockets.
⚖️ Trans youth care banned; school bathroom restrictions; no legal ID or discrimination safeguards.
15 venues listed · Charleston guide →
Hostile legal climate with no protections; LGBTQ+ life is low-key even in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.
⚖️ 2026 law defines sex as birth sex, blocking ID updates; youth care banned.
2 venues listed · Sioux Falls guide →
Sweeping anti-LGBTQ+ laws, including the first drag restriction, though Nashville and Memphis keep vibrant queer scenes.
⚖️ Trans youth care ban upheld by Supreme Court; bathroom and drag restrictions apply.
30 venues listed · Nashville guide →
Some of the nation's harshest anti-LGBTQ+ laws, yet Austin, Houston and Dallas host huge queer communities.
⚖️ Youth care ban, sports and bathroom laws; state won't update gender markers.
133 venues listed · Dallas guide →
Partial nondiscrimination law but multiple anti-trans statutes; Salt Lake City is a notably progressive exception.
⚖️ Bathroom law covers government buildings and schools; youth care and sports bans in force.
18 venues listed · Salt Lake City guide →
Comprehensive protections, a trans shield law and long pro-equality history make Vermont thoroughly welcoming.
⚖️ Shield law protects trans care; easy ID updates; full anti-discrimination coverage.
7 venues listed · Burlington guide →
The Virginia Values Act bans discrimination statewide, the South's strongest protections; 2026 pro-marriage ballot measure pending.
⚖️ No care bans; gender identity protected statewide; ID updates straightforward.
32 venues listed · Richmond guide →
Among America's most protective states, with a trans shield law and Seattle's famous Capitol Hill gayborhood.
⚖️ Shield law protects trans healthcare seekers; comprehensive gender identity protections statewide.
125 venues listed · Seattle guide →
No statewide protections and mounting anti-trans laws; small friendly scenes survive in Charleston and Morgantown.
⚖️ Youth care ban, sports ban and a 2025 sex-definition law in force.
3 venues listed · Huntington guide →
Sexual orientation protected since 1982 but gender identity isn't; Milwaukee and Madison are reliably welcoming.
⚖️ No anti-trans laws in force, but no statewide gender identity protections either.
35 venues listed · Milwaukee guide →
2025 brought bathroom and healthcare bans with no protections; expect discretion outside Jackson and Laramie.
⚖️ Bathroom bans in state facilities and schools; youth care banned since 2025.
6 venues listed · Casper guide →
Tier sources: HRC State Equality Index · MAP Equality Maps · verified Aug 2026, refreshed with the monthly sweep.
Puerto Rico is scored separately — and at 77/100 it currently sits near the mainland average. Puerto Rico profile →
Sécurité juridique — 46/60 points
| Criminalisation | Legal · varies |
|---|---|
| Partenariat | ● Oui (mariage pour tous) |
| Anti-discrimination | ● Partiel |
| Reconnaissance du genre | Restricted — heavy barriers (surgery, courts) or rarely granted |
| Application dans les faits | Harassment — police or state harassment documented |
Research note: Federal birth-sex passports since EO 14168; state-level wave of anti-trans laws (FL/TX +20 states) — protection is not uniform — GayOut Index 2026.3 legal research (ILGA World / Human Dignity Trust / Rainbow Europe / Equaldex).
Legal composite, five components
Fulfilment per component (100 = maximum). Weights: criminalisation 35% · partnership 20% · enforcement 20% · anti-discrimination 15% · gender recognition 10%.
Legal milestones
Background, not travel advice — how the current status came to be. For planning a trip, rely on the current score, tier and scene sections above; 2026 movements are tracked in the sourced change log.
- 2003In Lawrence v. Texas the Supreme Court struck down remaining state sodomy laws, decriminalising same-sex intimacy nationwide. ↗
- 2011The military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy barring openly gay service members was repealed, taking effect on 20 September 2011. ↗
- 2013In United States v. Windsor the Supreme Court struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act's refusal to recognise same-sex marriages. ↗
- 2015In Obergefell v. Hodges the Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriage in all fifty states. ↗
- 2020In Bostock v. Clayton County the Supreme Court ruled that firing workers for being gay or transgender violates federal law. ↗
- 2022The Respect for Marriage Act enshrined federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages, replacing the Defense of Marriage Act. ↗
- 2023A record wave of state laws restricting transgender health care, sports and bathroom access swept Republican-led legislatures. ↗
- 2026The Supreme Court upheld state bans keeping trans girls out of school sports (Little v. Hecox) and cast about 25 conversion-therapy bans into doubt (Chiles v. Salazar). ↗
- TodayRights remain a state-by-state patchwork: marriage is protected federally, but transgender protections vary sharply between states. ↗
Sources: ILGA World · Human Dignity Trust · Equaldex. Each milestone links to a reference source ↗.
La scène sur place — 35/40 points
Detailed scene metrics (for researchers)
| Bars gay par million | 2.50 |
|---|---|
| Saunas par million | 0.15 |
| Événements par million | 34.85 |
| Niveau de couverture | A |
| Score de la scène | 35/40 (indice brut de la scène 87/100) |
June belongs to NYC and San Francisco — the two flagship Prides. Southern Decadence takes New Orleans over Labor Day weekend, and winter belongs to Palm Springs. US Pride & festival calendar →
Tipping is real: 20% at bars and restaurants. Last call swings wildly by state — 02:00 in New York, 04:00 in Miami, and famously never in New Orleans.
The coasts and the north feel like Northern Europe. In parts of the South and Midwest, check the specific state's laws first — especially for trans travellers.
Questions fréquentes
Is the United States safe for gay travellers?
In the big cities — among the safest and best anywhere: New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and the classic resort towns have scenes nothing else matches. But the US is fifty legal environments, and the 2023-26 wave of state laws means the experience genuinely differs by state. Marriage and federal protections apply everywhere; check the state-by-state table above for the rest.
What should trans travellers check before a US trip?
The state, before the city. About half the states now restrict some combination of bathroom access, documents or gender-affirming care, while protective states have shield laws. Carry ID that matches your presentation where possible, check the trans note on your destination state in the table above, and if your itinerary crosses states, check each one — the rules change at the border.
When is Pride season in the US?
June, everywhere at once — New York and San Francisco are the flagships, with hundreds of parades the same month. The calendar runs year-round though: Southern Decadence takes New Orleans over Labor Day, Provincetown and Fire Island peak all summer, and Palm Springs owns the winter.
Do I need a visa to visit?
Citizens of 40+ Visa Waiver countries need an ESTA (apply online at least 72 hours ahead); most others need a B2 visitor visa. Travellers with an X gender marker in their passport have generally entered without issue, but US document policy shifted in 2025 — check your embassy's current guidance before flying.