The Best and Worst States for LGBTQ Family Travel
Are you looking for the best and worst states for LGBTQ travel right now? Here’s a list of the most LGBTQ-friendly states to visit in 2026
US laws are changing so fast right now that it’s hard to keep up. We hear about a hostile law in the news – but was that law passed or merely just proposed? Part of trip planning is finding out this information now, before you’re stuck somewhere you may not want to be. I’ve been keeping tabs on anti-LGBTQ laws for the last few years while preparing to write my book on LGBTQIA travel.
If you’re looking for the best states, choose New York, New England (minus New Hampshire), and the West Coast states.
If you’re looking for the worst states, Texas and Florida are the most hostile.
Keep reading for the full list of states that welcome LGBTQ+ travelers and states to avoid in 2026.
How I Created This List
To rank which states are the most LGBTQ-friendly in 2026 I considered two variables.
One, do these states have laws in place that protect their LGBTQIA residents? Specifically, do they protect transgender residents at a time when other states are stripping trans Americans of their rights?
I also vetted states by whether or not they’ve been proposing anti-LGBTQ laws. The best states to visit do not have any of the regressive anti-LGBTQ laws that red state legislators have been proposing, including anti-drag laws, bathroom bills, or “Don’t Say Gay” bills.
Even states with bad laws have progressive cities where LGBTQ+ rights are protected.
But for the purposes of this blog, I didn’t give exceptions for states that have discriminatory laws just because they have a big city where conditions are friendlier. I looked at state laws and policies overall.
The best states for LGBTQ travel in 2026, Ranked
California
From San Diego to LA to San Francisco, where I used to live, California’s biggest cities are queer havens.
Colorado
Colorado is a sanctuary state for gender affirming care with a vibrant, growing LGBTQ+ population.
Connecticut
Connecticut has gone out of the way to reassure queer travelers they are welcome, and they’ve got the laws and policies to back it up – plus some incredible AT hikes.
Delaware
Delaware is home to Rehoboth Beach, a queer-friendly beach haven for the Mid-Atlantic region. They have progressive laws and welcoming attitudes!
Washington, DC
DC has a vibrant queer population and strong legal protections. They hosted 2025 World Pride.
Hawaii
Hawaii’s natural beauty, laid-back tropical vibes and strong legal protections for let you relax and unwind stress free.
Illinois
Illinois is a beacon of LGBTQ+ acceptance in the Midwest.
Maine
Maine is one of the most trans friendly states to visit right now, thanks to progressive laws and policies.
Maryland
Maryland has comprehensive supportive laws for LGBTQIA residents.
Massachusetts
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, and they’re proudly progressive on LGBTQ+ rights. Boston just became a sanctuary city for the trans community, protecting and affirming trans rights.
Michigan
From Detroit to Traverse City, a sweet lakeside getaway with local wineries and outdoor recreation, Michigan has vibrant LGBTQ+ communities and strong legal protection.
Minnesota
Minnesota’s queer allyship goes back to 1993 – when they became the first state to since ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and housing!
Nevada
Sure, Las Vegas is solidly blue, but did you know Nevada has pretty progressive policies on LGBTQ+ rights?
New Jersey
New Jersey has strong legal protections for queer and trans folks including legal protections for residents seeking gender affirming care.
New Mexico
New Mexico is another safe haven for gender affirming care, with broad legal protections for gays and lesbians too.
New York
NYC played a pivotal role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and the city deserves to be proud of its Stonewall era history – and what they’ve done to enshrine LGBTQ+ rights since then.
Oregon
Oregon has strong legal protections for LGBTQ+ people. Portland in particular is a favorite queer getaway.
Rhode Island
Little Rhody is a sanctuary state for abortion and gender affirming care, with some of the best beaches in New England.
Vermont
Vermont is another longtime champion LGBTQ+ rights, with many amazing small towns to explore.
Virginia
Virginia has strong legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents.
Washington
Washington is a sanctuary state for trans youth, protecting access to gender affirming care.
The Worst States for Transgender Travel
Transgender rights are under severe attack in red states across the US.
But Texas and Florida deserve a special callout as being unsafe for trans travelers.
Not only do these states have the highest number of anti trans laws, the newest laws proposed are even harsher.
Odessa, Texas has a bathroom bounty law that incentivize cis people to “turn in” people they suspect of using a restroom that doesn’t match their assigned gender at birth with a cash reward.
Florida is trying to convict trans people who updated the gender marker on their drivers license with fraud for ‘misrepresenting’ their gender on official documents.
It’s also legal in Florida to arrest trans people who use the bathroom that aligns with their gender.
In my opinion, trans people should avoid Florida and Texas for their personal safety and peace of mind.
No Florida beach is worth sacrificing your mental health, risking arrest, and spending your entire vacation worried about whether you pass as cis or what might happen if a cop pulled you over and scrutinized your identification.
No matter how blue Austin is, there is no getting around the fact that a visit to that city supports a state that wants to legislate trans people out of existence.
The Worst States for LGBTQ+ Travel
The states on this list lack legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents, such as employment and housing nondiscrimination laws. State laws prevent cities and counties from passing nondiscrimination ordinances that create safe spaces. So-called negative state laws penalize trans people by narrowly defining sex, policing public facilities usage, and actively excluding LGBTQ+ youth from legal protections such as anti-bullying laws.
While these policies impact LGBTQ+ residents, they can also make communities unpleasant for visitors.
If you’re considering traveling to any of these states, do your own research to figure out how current laws impact your family – and what travel safety measures you need to implement to protect yourselves.
I like to check Movement Advancement Project when I’m researching LGBTQ+ travel safety in the US. Their bulleted list format makes it easy to see what specific laws and policies apply to me.
Here are the worst states if you’re LGBTQ right now, according to these resources.
Alabama
Alabama is the second-from-the-lowest on LGBTQ+ rights. For adults, gender change is legal if you have surgery first. Rather than getting a new birth certificate, an amended one that notes the switch is given. Gender affirming care is banned for minors, and medical providers who administer it could face felony charges. Factor in a Don’t Say Gay law and the youth climate in Alabama is hostile.
Arkansas
Public opinion in Arkansas is split right down the middle on LGBTQ rights – the slimmest margins of any state. The state has so few LGBTQ+ protections, it’s easier to name what is allowed than what’s not. Basically, you can change your name, get married (due to Obergefell only), and anti-bullying laws cover LGBTQIA youth. Any other law or protection – nope, forget it.
Florida
While cities like Miami, Orlando, and Key West are more. inclusive, overall Florida is one of the lowest-ranked states for LGBTQ people. Censorship laws, low support for transgender rights, and low overall confidence marks from travelers for queer safety and acceptance make Florida risky for LGBTQ folks.
Idaho
In 2023, Idaho adopted their own version of a Don’t Say Gay law prohibiting discussion of LBTQ topics in public schools. The state has very low legal protections for LGBTQ residents. Nonbinary folks with X gender IDs should avoid the state, as it will not recognize their identification.
Louisiana
After passing some harshly anti-LGBTQ laws, Louisiana has earned a place on the no list. States and cities are not banned from passing nondiscrimination laws, so some protections exist in places like New Orleans. But on the whole, legal protections are sorely lacking. Social attitudes are more accepting than in other states on the no list. While that’s important to note, it’s hard to recommend a visit until statewide policies change. Data from travelers who’ve been there suggest that half of queer visitors felt safe being out, and only 40 percent felt like Louisiana was a place they could explore without threats, verbal harassment or violence, via Equaldex.
Mississippi
Mississippi censors discussion of LGBTQ+ topics through a Don’t Say Gay bill, bans gender-affirming care for minors, and has an ambiguous process for adults that want to change their gender. Hate crime protections are limited and outside of a handful of municipalities, nondiscrimination ordinances are nonexistent.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma has the dubious distinction of passing the US’s first law censoring the discussion of LGBTQ+ topics. Back in 1987, Oklahoma passed a law requiring HIV/AIDS educators to blame same-sex activity as the cause of HIV/AIDS. That law is still on the books, folks. With the lone exception of Norman, there are no nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, and extremely limited hate crime protections as well.
South Carolina
South Carolina ranks toward the bottom of the list, with many religious exemption laws. While there is no Don’t Say Gay bill on the books yet, trans youth have no protections. Access to gender-affirming care is restricted for youth and adults, and overly broad censorship laws restrict access to books with LGBTQ themes. Moral panic much?
Tennessee
Tennessee ranks at the very bottom of US states. Half of queer Tennessee residents do not feel safe being openly out. Almost half worry about violence and physical threat, and sixty percent fear bullying. The vibe shift is due to the rise in anti-trans and religious exemption laws that provide a cover for discriminatory practices.
Texas
Social attitudes in Texas are mixed. Around 60 percent of people support LGBTQ rights with 40 percent opposed. With big cities having more progressive policies, Texas might feel okay for some queer travelers. But trans and nonbinary folks should definitely think twice given the gender policing bathroom laws and other anti-trans policies. Texas now is far more punitive than in past years.
West Virginia
Socially, West Virginia is fairly mixed on LGBTQ rights. Forty percent of people are opposed to same sex marriage, fifty to sixty percent of people support it. Where West Virginia lets LGBTQIA people down is on nondiscrimination laws for sexual orientation and gender identity. There are no protections on the books currently.
Should LGBTQ Families Visit States with Anti-LGBTQ Laws?
I know from experience how uncomfortable it can be to visit a state that has bad laws. I visited North Carolina where their harmful bathroom bill HB2 was in effect.
Even though I was in Asheville, which is a progressive city, I felt super self-conscious about being misgendered every time I used a public restroom.
A few years after that bathroom bill was repealed, I visited Asheville again. This time, I could actually relax and enjoy a weekend getaway, because I wasn’t having to by hyper vigilant about how I was perceived.
With an understanding of LGBTQ-friendly states, rainbow families can make conscious travel choices that prioritize their well-being.
They can support destinations promoting diversity, equality, and acceptance.
If traveling to a less-friendly destination, they can spend extra time planning the levels of support they need to have the best possible experience.
This might look like booking an LGBTQ-friendly hotel or an all-inclusive resort, getting a rental car so they don’t have to rely on public transit to ride share, or staying in an LGBTQ neighborhood that’s a bit further from the main attractions.
