Top 15 safest U.S. cities for LGBTQ+ travel

Yahoo! News - Apr 17th, 2025
Open on Yahoo! News

misterb&b has launched the Queer Safety Index, a tool designed to help LGBTQ+ travelers choose safe and enjoyable destinations across the United States. This index ranks cities based on a weighted scoring model that draws from various data sources, including travel trends, state-level protections, and city-specific LGBTQ+ policies. Key organizations contributing to the data include the Movement Advancement Project, Human Rights Campaign, American Civil Liberties Union, and PFLAG. The index is particularly timely for the upcoming spring and summer travel seasons, providing essential information on safety and inclusivity for LGBTQ+ individuals.

The significance of the Queer Safety Index extends beyond simple travel convenience. It highlights the ongoing challenges and risks faced by the LGBTQ+ community in different regions, while emphasizing the importance of supportive and inclusive environments. The index serves not only as a practical guide for travelers but also as a reflection of broader social and political climates across the U.S. By making this information accessible, misterb&b aims to foster safer travel experiences and raise awareness about the need for continued advocacy and policy improvements to support LGBTQ+ rights and safety.

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RATING

7.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the safest U.S. cities for LGBTQ+ travelers, supported by credible sources and a clear methodology. It effectively highlights a range of destinations, offering valuable information for those planning inclusive and safe travel experiences. While the article is generally accurate and well-structured, it could benefit from more explicit citations and greater transparency in its methodology. The topic is timely and relevant, addressing public interest in LGBTQ+ rights and travel safety. Overall, the article is engaging and informative, with the potential to influence travel decisions and promote awareness of inclusive destinations.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The article provides a detailed account of the safest U.S. cities for LGBTQ+ travelers, supported by a methodology that incorporates multiple reputable sources. The factual claims, such as the rankings and scores of cities, are well-supported by data from misterb&b and other credible organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and the Movement Advancement Project. However, the article could improve by explicitly citing these sources within the text to enhance verifiability. Additionally, the mention of specific attractions and community support in each city seems accurate but would benefit from direct links or references to confirm these details.

7
Balance

The article maintains a generally balanced perspective by focusing on a broad range of cities across the United States, highlighting both well-known and lesser-known destinations for LGBTQ+ travelers. However, the piece could be seen as favoring certain cities by providing more detailed descriptions of attractions and community support in some locations, such as San Francisco and Chicago, while offering less information about others. This imbalance might lead to an impression of bias toward more popular or traditionally recognized LGBTQ+ hubs.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow that guides the reader through the list of cities and their respective scores. The language is straightforward and accessible, making it easy for readers to understand the key points. However, the inclusion of more detailed explanations of the scoring methodology and direct citations would further enhance clarity and comprehension. The use of images and related links also helps to break up the text and provide additional context.

8
Source quality

The article relies on credible sources, such as misterb&b, the Human Rights Campaign, and the Movement Advancement Project, which are well-regarded for their work in LGBTQ+ advocacy and data collection. These sources lend authority to the article's claims about safety and inclusivity in different cities. However, the article would benefit from more explicit attribution and direct citations within the text to enhance the reader's ability to verify the information independently.

7
Transparency

The article provides a reasonable level of transparency by outlining the methodology used to create the Queer Safety Index. However, it lacks detailed explanations of how each data source contributes to the final rankings and scores. Greater transparency in explaining the weighting of different factors and the specific criteria used to evaluate each city would improve the article's trustworthiness. Additionally, disclosing any potential conflicts of interest, such as misterb&b's commercial interests, would enhance transparency.

Sources

  1. https://www.misterbandb.com/gay-blog/4418-the-safest-us-cities-for-lgbtq-travelers-in-2025
  2. https://www.chriscruises.com/the-safest-u-s-cities-for-lgbtq-travelers-2025/
  3. https://www.timeout.com/usa/news/these-are-the-30-safest-cities-for-lgbtq-travelers-in-the-u-s-040225
  4. https://www.asherfergusson.com/lgbtq-travel-safety/
  5. https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/lgbt-legal-equality-index