Gay-friendly or LGBTQ-friendly places, policies, people, or institutions are those that are open and welcoming to gay or LGBTQ people. They typically aim to create an environment that is supportive, respectful, and non-judgmental towards the LGBTQ community. The term "gay-friendly" originated in the late 20th century in North America as a byproduct of a gradual implementation of gay rights, greater acceptance of LGBTQ people in society, and the recognition of LGBTQ people as a distinct consumer group for businesses.
Businesses
Many businesses now identify as gay-friendly, allowing for a more diversified employee and customer base. The Human Rights Campaign works to achieve equality for gays, lesbians, and other marginalized minorities, and publishes a list of companies in relation to issues concerning LGBT people. Companies that are noted for gay-friendly work environments include Dell and Coca-Cola. Companies such as R Family Vacations, Manspray, Volkswagen, Ginch Gonch, and numerous others offer niche products and services for gay customers. Others, such as LOT Polish Airlines sends the message of gay-friendliness by offering travel to major gay destinations with a rainbow flag.[1] Studies have shown that LGBT communities tend to favor gay-friendly businesses, even if the cost of a particular product or service is higher.[2]
Religious groups
Some Christian and Jewish religious denominations, as well as Christian churches and affirming Jewish synagogues, have LGBT-friendly programs.[3]
World
The Pew Research Center conducted a survey in 2019 to measure levels of acceptance of LGBTQ people around the globe.[4]
| Rank | Country | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweden | 94% |
| 2 | Netherlands | 92% |
| 3 | Spain | 89% |
| 4 | Germany | 86% |
| 4 | France | 86% |
| 4 | UK | 86% |
| 7 | Canada | 85% |
| 8 | Australia | 81% |
| 9 | Argentina | 76% |
| 10 | Italy | 75% |
Researchers at the Williams Institute at UCLA released a report in 2021 after analyzing findings from different surveys to develop their own LGBTQ Global Acceptance Index (GAI).[5]
| Rank | Country | GAI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iceland | 9.78 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 9.46 |
| 3 | Norway | 9.38 |
| 4 | Sweden | 9.18 |
| 5 | Canada | 9.02 |
| 6 | Spain | 8.77 |
| 7 | Denmark | 8.69 |
| 8 | Ireland | 8.41 |
| 9 | Great Britain | 8.34 |
| 10 | New Zealand | 8.23 |
Spartacus Gay Travel Index
The Spartacus International Gay Guide publishes the Gay Travel Index, a ranking of gay-friendly countries.[6] Points are added to countries for anti-discrimination legislation, equal marriage, partnership and adoption laws, and LGBT marketing. Meanwhile, points are subtracted for anti-LGBT laws, HIV travel restrictions, religious influence; with prosecution, murders, and death sentences resulting in the largest deductions.
In 2026, the Spartacus Gay Travel Index featured mostly Western European countries in the top 10 spots, with Iceland claiming the top spot. The last place went to Yemen.[7]
Not Included in Data
- Abkhazia
- American Samoa
- Mayotte
- Nauru
- Niue
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Palestine
- Somaliland
- South Ossetia
- Transnistria
- Wallis and Futuna
- Western Sahara
United States
Spartacus also publishes a Gay Travel Index for U.S. states, listing the 50 states plus the District of Columbia with the same criteria as the country rankings.[6]
In 2026, the top spot went to New York while Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee were the worst-ranked states for LGBT people.[7]
| Rank | Country/Region | Score | Change from last year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York (state) | 16 | 1 |
| 2 | California | 14 | |
| Nevada | 1 | ||
| Washington | 1 | ||
| 5 | Colorado | 13 | 1 |
| New Jersey | 1 | ||
| New Mexico | 2 | ||
| Oregon | |||
| 9 | Maine | 12 | 3 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | ||
| Minnesota | 3 | ||
| Vermont | 3 | ||
| District of Columbia | |||
| 14 | Hawaii | 11 | 1 |
| Illinois | |||
| Maryland | 1 | ||
| Michigan | 3 | ||
| Rhode Island | 3 | ||
| Virginia | 1 | ||
| 20 | Connecticut | 10 | |
| Delaware | 8 | ||
| 22 | Utah | 8 | |
| 23 | New Hampshire | 6 | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | |||
| 25 | Arizona | 5 | |
| 26 | Wisconsin | 3 | 1 |
| 27 | Georgia (U.S. state) | 2 | |
| 28 | Alaska | 1 | 1 |
| 29 | Kentucky | 0 | |
| 30 | Kansas | -1 | 1 |
| Louisiana | |||
| North Carolina | 1 | ||
| Ohio | 5 | ||
| 34 | Indiana | -2 | 1 |
| Iowa | 1 | ||
| Missouri | 2 | ||
| Montana | 3 | ||
| Nebraska | 1 | ||
| South Dakota | 1 | ||
| 40 | Alabama | -3 | 1 |
| Florida | 2 | ||
| North Dakota | 1 | ||
| Texas | 2 | ||
| Wyoming | |||
| 45 | Idaho | -4 | 4 |
| Mississippi | 1 | ||
| South Carolina | |||
| West Virginia | 1 | ||
| 49 | Arkansas | -5 | 1 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | ||
| Tennessee | 2 |
See also
References
- ^ "Wyborcza.pl". Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ "Gay Consumers See Themselves as Tastemakers, Prefer Gay-Friendly Companies, Says Study". EDGE Media Network. Archived from the original on 10 May 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ Adrian Thatcher, The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender, Oxford University Press, UK, 2015, p. 368
- ^ Andrew R. Flores (November 2021). "The Global Divide on Homosexuality Persists (with a table of the 'LGBTI Acceptance Index' 2017-2020)". Williams Institute - UCLA School of Law. Archived 1 July 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
- ^ "Social Acceptance of LGBTI People in 175 Countries and Locations". November 2021. Archived 13 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
- ^ "Spartacus Gay Travel Index (GTI)". Spartacus International Gay Guide. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ^ "SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index 2026 – Between Progress and Backlash". Spartacus International Gay Guide. 27 February 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ^ "Spartacus Gay Travel Index 2026". Spartacus International Gay Guide. February 26, 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.