The number of destinations that are reaching out to the gay community is burgeoning, but where are the top gay cities to be out, loud and proud?

During February we’re celebrating LGBT History Month and looking back (and forward!) to what we’ve achieved and what we hope to accomplish as a community in the future. Of course, things haven’t always been easy for global gay communities and we shouldn’t forget that in over 70 countries homosexuality is still illegal.

In a spirit of acceptance and tolerance we visit the world’s most gay friendly cities and discover what made these metropolises so liberal in the first place?

London

London remains one of the premier places for gay people to live thanks to the large and vocal gay community that makes the city their home. The last few years has seen the introduction of several equality laws such as adoption rights in 2002, civil partnerships in 2004 and the introduction of the Sexual Orientation Regulations in 2007, which outlawed the provision of services based on sexual orientation.

Of course London isn't only at the forefront of modern gay rights, it also has one of the best gay and lesbian scenes in the world. It was this diverse and excellent reputation that in 2007 saw the capital rated as the number one tourist destination for gay tourists from the USA and Germany as well as being a favourite destination for gay people from around the world too.

See our full listing of London Gay Bars And Clubs.

Barcelona

Today, Spain is one of five countries in the world where same sex marriage is legal and it has some impressive and progressive legislation on gay rights. The visibility of the LGBT community in the large cities has reached a level that was unthinkable a short time ago and Barcelona has particularly come out as a gay haven.

The 1992 Olympic Games left a remarkable legacy of regeneration, transforming the city into a vibrant and modern destination, and the Olympic spirit is still very much in evidence. The Games included more nations than ever before - Germany had become one nation, the Soviet Union had fallen apart as the Cold War ended, South Africa and Cuba were welcomed back into the Olympic fold - and 169 nations focused their attention on the city.

With a thriving gay scene and laid back attitude sitting alongside excellent weather, food, great architecture, a fun lifestyle and a close proximity to the sea, what’s not for everyone to love?

Want to read more about Barcelona? Then why not read Barcelona Weekend and our Guide To Barcelona.

San Francisco

San Francisco was the point of departure for many American soldiers in the Second World War and, on their return, many stayed - particularly those dishonourably discharged for homosexuality. The city was well primed as a civil rights hot-spot and the gay rights movement seized on the anti-war, feminist and counter culture movements of the 1960s to forward their own civil rights agenda. The post Stonewall years of the early 70s saw a huge leap forward in the progression of gay rights, but it was the eruption of the gay community in the 1978 White Night Riots, following the assassination of gay politician and human rights activist Harvey Milk, which really rocked the world.

During the 80s and 90s the protests of the San Francisco community focused the world’s attention on the growing global AIDS pandemic by insisting this was not just a gay man’s disease and that urgent action was needed to combat the disease and find a cure.

It is without doubt the unwavering achievements of San Francisco’s LGBT community which has made not only this city, but the world, a more tolerant and accepting place to live.

Get more information on the city with out San Francisco Diary.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam has a long history of acceptance and not just to the gay community. As far back as the 16th century the city welcomed the Sephardic Jews fleeing persecution in Spain and Portugal and so founded the diamond industry for which Amsterdam is now famous for.

Homosexuality was decriminalised here in 1811 and arguably the oldest gay venue in the world, ‘t Manje, opened in 1927 and is still going strong. After the dark days of the Nazi occupation - which is commemorated by the Homomonument, unveiled in 1987 - Amsterdam’s gay life was quick to recover with gay group COC organising popular dance nights by 1949. By 1955 Amsterdam was home to many gay hotels, bars and clubs, the most famous being De Odeon Keller at Singel 460. It was during the 1950s that the gay leather scene first appeared in Amsterdam and by the 1960s spawned the famous Argos bar which was largely responsible for the birth of the new, masculine gay leather identity.

However, it’s not just for these reasons that Amsterdam is a global centre for the gay community. The whole country has a long history of legislating for gay rights as was the first country in the world to recognise same sex marriage in 2001 and gay couples in Holland also have the same rights to adopt as straight couples. The government was also quick to act on a comprehensive programme of sex education during the 1980s which resulted in low levels of HIV infection in the country and estimates now put the gay population at between 20-30% for the city.

You can find out all you need to know about this city with our Amsterdam Guide and our Amsterdam Gay Guide.

Sydney

Whilst Sydney doesn’t have the gay rights history that some other places have, it’s still undoubtedly one of the most gay friendly places to be in 2008. The first gay rights march took place here in 1978 amidst a background of intimidation. Many of the protesters were arrested when the permission to march was revoked and the march was broken up by police. Most of the charges were eventually dropped, but not before the names of participators were published in the Sydney Morning Herald, resulting in many of the people losing their jobs as homosexuality was illegal and remained so until 1984. But how things can change in just a short 30 years!

Sydney Mardi Gras is now the largest annual event to take place in Australia with over 500,000 people expected to watch the parade in this, its 30th anniversary year, a sign of the acceptance that the gay community has earned over the last three decades.

Sydney also boasts one of the liveliest, most diverse and varied gay scenes in the world with a huge array of gay bars, clubs, restaurants, groups and associations and miles and miles of beautiful golden beaches in the city.

The success of films, such as the 1994 gay classic Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, reinforced the city’s gay appeal and it now has to rank as one of the top places to be gay in the world.

Read more about this exciting destination with our guide to Sydney And New South Wales, our Sydney Guide and our Sydney Gay Guide.


Want more? Then check out out Gayest Countries feature.