Queer, Weird, and Wildly Yourself

Portland doesn’t just wave the Pride flag—it raises it high, sews its own, and probably screen-prints a zine about it. This city is a haven for trans creatives, queer activists, and everyone who thrives in the in-between. From neon-lit underground drag shows to affirming community spaces, Portland gets it. Hit up a queer-owned coffee shop, find your people in a radical art collective, and embrace the fact that you may never want to leave.

Smoky Mountains Are Very Queer

If cozy queer community and artsy, mountain-town magic had a love child, it’d be Asheville. This is the place for sapphics sipping craft cider, trans hikers conquering the Blue Ridge, and creatives making space for each other in every corner café. The drag scene is small but mighty, the bookstores are as queer as they come, and the air smells like pine and possibility. Come for the scenery, stay for the radical acceptance.

Big Gay Energy, Texas-Sized

Austin is where cowboy boots meet glitter, and the queer scene is as loud as a southern summer. This city doesn’t just accept LGBTQ+ folks—it thrives on them. Whether you're sweating it out on the dance floor at Cheer Up Charlies, catching a drag show that’ll change your life, or getting lost in the aisles of a queer-owned bookstore, Austin is where queer culture and creativity collide. Plus, the breakfast tacos slap.

Rainy, Radical, and Rainbow-Lit

Queer liberation has deep roots in Seattle—this city doesn’t play when it comes to showing up for the LGBTQ+ fam. Capitol Hill is still the heartbeat of it all, where nightlife, activism, and art mix in the best way possible. Think: neon dance floors, trans-run co-ops, and queer storytelling nights that leave you feeling seen. And yeah, it rains a lot, but that’s just an excuse to hole up in a gay café with a book and an oat milk latte.