Thrillist.com did the research to find the most LGBTQ friendly cities in every red state in America.
Can you guess what city in Arizona city made the top of this list? Tucson! But can you guess who was featured in the article, GayTucson.com’s creator, our own Tony Ray Baker!!!
The Most LGBTQ Friendly City in Arizona is Tucson, AZ
Tucson has a reputation for being a laid-back city-town. I call it a city-town because both names are fitting. Tucson boasts small town vibes even though number-wise it is actually a fairly large city with just under 1 million residents. The city-town is simply fitting because it’s right in that in-between place of having community but also amenities.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, Tucson isn’t the only city in Arizona that is awesome for LGBT residents. Phoenix, Tempe, and Bisbee, scored perfectly on HRC’s study of the most LBGTQ friendly cities. Tucson, however, scored off the charts with bonus points included.
Some LGBTQ highlights about Tucson to justify this honor quoted from the article:
“Arizona cities are kicking ass — Phoenix and Tempe also have perfect HRC scores — but Tucson gets the nod here. Says Tony Ray Baker, of GayTucson: “Tucson was the first city in the US to enact a domestic partner provision way back in the ’70s, and was also home of the first church to openly welcome gay members — drawing the ire and protest of a very young Fred Phelps.” Pissing off the Westboro Baptist Church patriarch is truly God’s work, but Tucson marches on. The city also has an openly gay police chief who has enacted a new program called Safe Place. Businesses throughout the community have rainbow stickers in their windows, indicating that they are a shelter from harassment or bullying. Adding to that, the police have trained business owners to be able to handle all kinds of issues, especially situations that may threaten trans people.It all makes for a surprisingly well-protected and inviting city; the US Veterans Administration has its primary wing for trans soldiers here. “We keep getting lumped in with the red mass,” Baker says, “but we’re a town full of loving and beautiful people.”
Learn Why Tucson AZ is one of the Most Gay Friendly Cities in the US at GayTucson.com!
