In this article, we will list 20 gayest cities in Europe. Before going to the list, let’s discuss some of the important developments and facts about the LGBTQ+ community.
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Gaining acceptability in society as a homosexual individual can be tough. In some cases, it can lead to mental illnesses, as recognized by the American Psychological Association (APA). In our piece about the most gay-friendly cities in the world, we discussed how LGBTQ+ individuals are more likely to face financial hardships compared to others in the United States. During COVID-19, high rates of food and economic insecurity were noted among the LGBTQ+ community. People belonging to the community are also more likely to face discrimination in public settings such as education and employment, which further worsens their economic hardships.
The LGBTQ+ community is facing these hardships even though its contribution to the US economy is significant. This contribution comes most notably through entrepreneurship and business ownership. The National LGBT Chamber of Commerce reports that businesses owned by LGBTQ+ individuals have contributed $1.7 trillion to the US economy in 12 years, creating 33,000 jobs.
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As per the ruling by the Supreme Court on June 5, 2020, employment discrimination against people belonging to the LGBTQ+ community is prohibited. While its implementation remains a topic of debate, it is at least a sigh of relief for the growing LGBTQ+ community in the United States, which is becoming more and more prominent every day. According to a survey by Pew Research Center, 7% of adults in the country identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Similar figures are also quoted by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which reports that the LGBTQ+ population in the United States is at least 20 million, translating to roughly 8% of the adults. A Gallup survey of 2022 also reported that LGBT identification in the US was 7.1% in 2022, up from 5.6% in 2020. This clearly shows that LGBT identification in the country is growing at a fast rate.
Despite the court ruling and rising LGBTQ+ population, polarization around the gay rights issue is increasing. As we approach the annual Pride Month, anti-gay protests have erupted around the country, forcing mainstream brands to reconsider their pro-LGBTQ+ strategies. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), for instance, removed LGBTQ Pride Month merchandise after threats, as reported by USA TODAY. In addition, Bud Light, a beer brand owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE:BUD), faced a conservative blowback last year over a social media campaign with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
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The LGBTQ+ community is prone to discrimination and injustice all around the world. Recently, for example, the Iraqi government criminalized homosexuality and transgender identities, forcing LGBTQ+ individuals in the country to relocate or seek asylum. Violence and threats against the LGBTQ+ community in Iraq were prevalent even before these measures.
Good news surrounding the LGBTQ+ community is also emerging. The Associated Press recently reported that Methodists end anti-gay bans. This is a big win for protestant gay rights activists. The Biden Administration also recently announced a rule that expands the safeguards against discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals seeking health care in the United States. This acts as a reversal of the Trump-era limitations that restricted federal health protection for the LGBTQ+ community.
With that backdrop, let’s look at the 20 gayest cities in Europe.
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Methodology
To curate our list of the 20 gayest cities in Europe, we utilized a consensus approach. We looked at 8 (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) sources that ranked gay-friendly cities from around the world. Each time a European city occurred on our list, we noted it down. We named this frequency of occurrence Insider Monkey Score. The higher this score, the higher the city ranks on our list. As a tie-breaker, we used the total population of the city. For example, if City A and B have the same Insider Monkey Score but City B has a higher population, it will rank higher on our list.
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20 – Zurich, Switzerland
Insider Monkey Score – 1
Zurich is 20th on our list of the gayest cities in Europe. Switzerland, in general, is quite progressive when it comes to gay rights. Zurich has a well-developed gay culture with numerous gay bars and cafes.
19 – Ghent, Belgium
Insider Monkey Score – 1
Belgium is generally one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, with some of the most progressive laws. Its city, Ghent, ranks 19th on our list of the gayest cities in Europe. It is known for its gay night scene with numerous bars such as Kingstreet and A-Pluss. The Ghent Pride is an inclusive community event that will take place on 17th June.
18 – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Insider Monkey Score – 1
Rotterdam, Netherlands, is 18th on our list of the gayest cities in Europe. It has a vivid nightlife scene, which includes gay bars and gay men’s saunas. Its ReWind is an artwork that serves as a marker for a monument for sexual and gender diversity. It is expected to soon follow a permanent monument. The Rotterdam Pride is also one of the most renowned Pride festivals in the world.
17 – Stockholm, Sweden
Insider Monkey Score – 1
Stockholm has one of the largest gay scenes in Scandinavia. The city has very few gay-specific bars and venues, which shows that the LGBTQ+ lifestyle is integrated and normalized. Many travelers admit on public forums that no one bats an eye on gay couples holding hands. Still, the area surrounding Gamla Stan is known to be the center of the gay scene in the city.
16 – Cologne, Germany
Insider Monkey Score – 1
Cologne is one of the most gay cities in Germany. Some people even compare it to San Fransisco in the United States. The city boasts a vibrant gay nightlife with numerous gay bars and cafes. One of its most iconic establishments is the historic gay bar of “Exile”. The city is also home to the Gay History Center, which hosts exhibitions about struggles for sexual freedom.
15 – Prague, Czech Republic
Insider Monkey Score – 1
Prague ranks 15th as the gayest city in Europe. The Czech Republic, in general, is one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world, where same-sex sexual activity was decriminalized as early as 1962. The country has also recognized same-sex partnerships since 2006. Prague is the epicenter of the gay scene in the country, with numerous gay bars and cafes.
14 – Warsaw, Poland
Insider Monkey Score – 1
Warsaw is one of the gayest cities in Europe, even though Poland is considered socially conservative compared to other countries in Western Europe. Still, the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals is increasing in Polish society, with visible gay scenes all around the country.
13 – Lisbon, Portugal
Insider Monkey Score – 1
Lisbon is 13th on our list of the gayest cities in Europe. The city is home to several gay-friendly neighborhoods, such as the Príncipe Real area. The city also has a dedicated gay district by the name of Bairro Alto. Lisbon also has a vibrant gay nightlife scene with gay bars, an abundance of which could be found around the Rua da Barroca.
12 – Reykjavik, Iceland
Insider Monkey Score – 2
Reykjavik is the gayest city in Iceland. It ranks 12th on our list of the gayest cities in Europe and marks the point on our list where the cities are recommended by more than one of our eight sources.
11 – Copenhagen, Denmark
Insider Monkey Score – 2
Copenhagen is one of the most popular cities for gay travelers in Europe. Although much of its gay scene revolves around the city center, its society, in general, is welcoming of LGBTQ+ individuals. Gay travelers note that pretty much all the hotels and bars in the city are LGBTQ+ friendly. The city is also colorful and while there are no LGBTQ+ specific neighborhoods, the whole city offers a welcoming place for gay travelers
10 – Oslo, Norway
Insider Monkey Score – 2
Oslo is 10th on our list of the gayest cities in Europe. Norway was one of the first countries to introduce anti-discrimination laws. The country also has gender-neutral marriage rules since 2006. Oslo is the center of the gay scene in Norway with its Oslo Pride being one of the most popular Pride events in the world.
9 – Paris, France
Insider Monkey Score – 2
Paris is the most gay-friendly city in France and ranks 9th as the gayest city in Europe. The city has a lively LGBTQ+ community and boasts several gay-friendly places. The Paris Pride Fortnight and Gay Pride Parade in Paris are some of the most popular LGBTQ+ events in the world.
8 – Brighton, United Kingdom
Insider Monkey Score – 3
Brighton is the second gayest city in the United Kingdom, according to our methodology. The city is renowned for its vibrant gay village and nightlife. Some people also consider Brighton the gay capital of the UK because a significant proportion of its population belongs to the community, with some sources quoting it to be as high as 21%.
