United States
Marriage nationwide (Obergefell 2015, upheld; Respect for Marriage Act 2022). Bostock 2020 bars employment discrimination. On November 10, 2025 the Supreme Court declined to hear the Kim Davis petition to overturn Obergefell.
Updated
- Same-sex activity
- Legal
- Recognition
- Same-sex marriage
- Region
- Americas
- Cities covered
- 413
- Beaches
- 10
- Confidence
- High
- Reviewed
- September 16, 2026
Sources:UK FCDO travel adviceEqualdexLinks checked Every country in one table
Acceptance
Gallup May 2025: 68% support same-sex marriage, 64% call same-sex relations morally acceptable, with a record 47-point partisan gap. Spartacus fell from 41st (2024) to 48th (2025) to 50th (2026).
Why this tier
Placed at the top of Tier 2 rather than Tier 1 because of the sharp divergence between strong federal law and a worsening political and social climate: the 2025 executive orders (two sexes only, DEI dismantled, a transgender military ban the Supreme Court allowed in May 2025) and falling moral acceptability since 2021. Most 2025 federal actions target trans people specifically; gay legal status is unchanged.
Travel advice
Go, and stay in the cities and beach towns on our list. Read the room once you leave them.
Where the boys go
New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Palm Springs very accepting; conservative states tightening.
Destinations and scenes
Every city, by state
California74
Texas40
Florida28
Colorado12
Illinois12
Arizona11
Massachusetts11
New Jersey8
New York8
Washington8
Georgia7
North Carolina7
Virginia7
New Mexico3
Hawaii2
Kentucky2
Minnesota2
Mississippi2
Pennsylvania2
South Carolina2
Vermont2
Wisconsin2
Alaska1
Delaware1
Montana1
Nebraska1
New Hampshire1
North Dakota1
South Dakota1
413 places in United States. Every city we cover →
Clothing-optional beaches
10 clothing-optional beaches on our map, with the exact pin, the gay end and how to get there. The whole atlas →
Coming up in the United States
Questions people ask
Safety and the law
Is the United States gay-friendly?
Yes, especially in the cities. The United States is Tier 2, accepted in the cities. Marriage nationwide (Obergefell 2015, upheld; Respect for Marriage Act 2022). Bostock 2020 bars employment discrimination. On November 10, 2025 the Supreme Court declined to hear the Kim Davis petition to overturn Obergefell. New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Palm Springs very accepting; conservative states tightening.
Is it legal to be gay in the United States?
Yes. Same-sex activity is legal in the United States, Tier 2 on our ranking: legal and open in the big cities. Read the room once you leave them. Read more →
Is same-sex marriage legal in the United States?
Yes. Marriage nationwide (Obergefell 2015, upheld; Respect for Marriage Act 2022). Bostock 2020 bars employment discrimination. On November 10, 2025 the Supreme Court declined to hear the Kim Davis petition to overturn Obergefell. Married or not, the United States is Tier 2: relaxed in the cities, read the room outside them.
Can gay couples hold hands in the United States?
In the cities, yes: New York, Miami and Palm Springs will not look twice. Go, and stay in the cities and beach towns on our list. Read the room once you leave them.
Are dating apps safe to use in the United States?
Yes. In the United States the apps are simply how the boys find each other. Meet in public first, the same as at home.
Can two men share a hotel room in the United States?
Yes. Book the double; in the cities it needs no explanation, least of all in New York.
How accepting is the United States of gay people?
Gallup May 2025: 68% support same-sex marriage, 64% call same-sex relations morally acceptable, with a record 47-point partisan gap. Spartacus fell from 41st (2024) to 48th (2025) to 50th (2026). Legal and open in the big cities. Read the room once you leave them.
Why is the United States Tier 2?
Placed at the top of Tier 2 rather than Tier 1 because of the sharp divergence between strong federal law and a worsening political and social climate: the 2025 executive orders (two sexes only, DEI dismantled, a transgender military ban the Supreme Court allowed in May 2025) and falling moral acceptability since 2021. Most 2025 federal actions target trans people specifically; gay legal status is unchanged. Tier 2, accepted in the cities, means legal, with some or partial protections. Openly accepted in the major cities and tourist areas; rural or conservative regions less so. The United States sits at #1 in the tier. Where two tiers are plausible we choose the more cautious one. Read more →
The scene
What is the best gay city in the United States?
New York, #12 in our city ranking. Where Pride started. Hell's Kitchen, Fire Island and a June that never ends. The scene sits around Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea and the West Village. Read more →
Which cities in the United States have a gay scene?
New York (#12), Miami (#13), Palm Springs (#14), San Francisco (#24), Asbury Park, Aspen, Atlanta, Austin and 83 more. We cover 413 places in the United States, each with its own page, so you can look up wherever the trip puts you. Read more →
Pride, parties and beaches
When is Pride in the United States?
Most years: March: Tampa and West Palm Beach. May: Long Beach and New Hope. June: Chicago, Columbus, Dallas and 35 more. July: Portland, San Diego and Rochester. August: Austin, Charlotte and Jersey City. September: Durham, Oakland, Richmond and 1 more. Exact dates land on each city page as they are announced, and the club hears first. Read more →
What gay events are coming up in the United States?
Harness Party in Fort Lauderdale (Nov 12, 2026), Victory Party in Fort Lauderdale (Nov 13, 2026), Vince Christopher in Seattle (Nov 13, 2026), Hydro Weekend in Orlando (Nov 14, 2026) and Sexy ICON in San Francisco (Nov 14, 2026). Countdowns and details on the event pages. Read more →
Are there clothing-optional beaches in the United States?
10 on our atlas: Fire Island Pines (the gay beach), Jacob Riis Park, Bay 1 (closed), Haulover Beach (a gay end), Little Beach (a gay end), Herring Cove (a gay end) and 5 more. Each has its own page with the exact pin, the gay end and how to get there. Read more →
Planning the trip
When is the best time to visit the United States?
It depends on the city. New York: June. Miami: March. Palm Springs: April. San Francisco: June. Pride weekends and the big parties are on each city page with countdowns.
Which countries are in the same tier as the United States?
Tier 2 also holds Taiwan, Greece, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and 20 more. Legal and open in the big cities. Read the room once you leave them. Read more →
What changed recently in the United States?
Nov 2025: The Supreme Court declines the Kim Davis petition; Obergefell stands. The climate keeps worsening, so it stays top of Tier 2. On our radar: any renewed Supreme Court challenge to Obergefell or Bostock. Every change since 2024 is on the ranking timeline. Read more →
How reliable is this rating for the United States?
Confidence is high. The tier comes from ILGA World, the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Human Dignity Trust, the Williams Institute, Pew, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, Equaldex and court rulings, last reviewed September 2026. Spotted a change? Tell us and it moves. Read more →
Method
Tiered on the legal status and social acceptance of gay men and LGB people using ILGA World, the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Human Dignity Trust, the Williams Institute, Pew, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index, Equaldex and court rulings. Where two tiers are plausible we choose the more cautious one. How we tier. Last reviewed September 2026.