Best U.S. Destinations for the LGBTQ+ Community

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USA Today wrote an article about the Best U.S. destinations for the LGBTQ+ community and we wanted to highlight our favorites.

Las Vegas-

Nevada ranks as the best state in America for LGBTQ people. It has a relatively low share of hate crimes motivated by gender identity or sexual orientation. It also has nearly all laws suggested by the HRC for LGBTQ rights, including nondiscrimination laws, parenting laws, statutes against hate crimes, and those ensuring protections for health care access.

Nevada passed 34 laws protecting the rights and safety of its LGBTQ residents from 2009 to 2019. The state also has no laws considered infringing on these protections, according to the HRC. New York City - New York has special significance to the LGBTQ community, as the Stonewall riots of 1969 in New York City helped spark massive changes in the nation's understanding of LGBTQ issues and paved the way for more equality to the LGBTQ community.

Today, New York ranks as one of the best states for LGBTQ people. In the last decade, the state legislature has passed 30 laws protecting the rights and safety of its LGBTQ residents. The state has some of the most comprehensive non discrimination laws of any state. Disneyland - Not only is Disney a strong ally, as one of the first companies to provide same sex couples benefits in the 1990s, California has a strong record. Legally, there is no division between LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ residents in California. The state has only "good" laws benefitting the LGBTQ community and no "bad" laws at all that discriminate against LGBTQ people, according to the HRC. Nondiscrimination, parenting, hate crimes, youth, health and safety, and religious laws and policies all cover sexual orientation as well as gender identity.

California, which accounts for about 77% of LGBTQ adults living in the Pacific states, according to UCLA, is one of eight states that have enacted legislation banning the use of the LGBTQ "panic" defense.

Denver -

Colorado was one of a few states that took steps in 2019 to restrict conversion therapies. Health care providers are barred from trying such practices on LGBTQ youth. The state also passed several bills to make schools safer for LGBTQ students and to create more inclusive curriculums.

Colorado has no laws that the HRC identifies as "bad." LGBTQ residents in Colorado cannot be denied housing or be evicted and cannot be fired or denied employment because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The state allows gender marker updates on both driver's licenses and birth certificates.

What other states would you add to the list?