LGBT: Vancouver

As it turns out, Seattle’s northern neighbor in British Columbia is just as gay-friendly as the Washington city. From San Diego to San Francisco, the West Coast is a haven for members of the LGBT community to enjoy pride parades, gay bars and health centers, specifically for LGBT young adults.

To give an indication of how LGBT friendly the city of Vancouver, B.C., is, they have a sizable section on their official tourist website with information for LGBT visitors. Vancouver boasts the largest gay population in all of Western Canada, with significant populations in the West End and Commercial Drive neighborhoods. The West End neighborhood even has rainbow-painted crosswalks in honor of the city’s dedication to gay pride.

In August 2016, Vancouver will be celebrating its 38th annual pride parade, one of the longest-running in the world. During the rest of the year, the city’s gay pride is no less visible. Plenty of coffee shops, bars and homes are adorned with rainbow flags. When British Columbia legalized same-sex marriage in 2003, they were on the forefront of legal jurisdictions to grant this equal right. As such, Vancouver is a popular destination for LGBT weddings, bachelor(ette) parties and honeymoons.

For the adventurous, cruises from Vancouver to Alaska are a beautiful sight for a honeymoon destination, or for a regular vacation experience. Vancouver itself is often regarded as a city where urban meets wild. The New York Times even said Vancouver is “like Manhattan with mountains.” This LGBT-friendly city is welcoming to all people, regardless of gender identity, sexuality, race or religion.