LGBTQ: Louisville, Kentucky

Aside from hosting the world-renowned Kentucky Derby, Louisville has made a name for itself by becoming a welcoming enclave for the gay community in the American South. Walk the streets here hand in hand with your significant other and nary a citizen will bat an eye.

One of the gay-friendliest areas of town is on the east side, along Bardstown Road. It’s heavily populated by Asian and European residents with a plethora of delicious restaurants. Art galleries and chic clothing stores lines the streets, though the place has lost a bit of its character in recent years due to gentrification.

Downtown is where you’ll find the majority of gay-owned establishments, including the bars. Tryangles is one of the more popular venues and is a great place to cut loose with friends. Teddy’s Bears, meanwhile, has a more relaxed atmosphere if drinking and dancing aren’t your thing.

The best time of the year to visit is during Thunder Over Louisville, one of the largest fireworks displays on Earth. Thousands of people from all across the country converge along the Ohio River to watch this epic display.

Overall, Louisville is a great place to escape for a weekend getaway for those living in the South or Midwest and you shouldn’t have any issues as a member of the LGBTQ community while visiting here.