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This gallery initially ran on Out.com, read the original here.
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may have won Super Bowl LV this past February, but the LGBTQ+ community scored big this off-season when Carl Nassib of the Las Vegas Raiders came out as gay, the league's first out gay player signed to a regular-season roster. Since then, the league has done its best to be a strong ally both to Nassib and the LGBTQ+ community.
For new queer fans of the league, the play on the field might still remain a bit of a mystery with all those tight ends running around and quarterbacks taking the snap under center (NFL lingo for the quarterback lining up directly behind and reaching between the legs of the bent-over player snapping the ball), all with the purpose of scoring in their opponent’s end zone.
Thankfully for the football newbies, there’s plenty of action and opportunity to score off the field before and after the game as well. In fact, the NFL plays in many of the most queer-friendly cities in the country. In no particular order, here are 12 NFL cities that also just happen to be some of the best LGBTQ+ destinations as well!
Technically, the New York Jets and Giants both play at Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but that won’t stop us from placing New York City on our list. The Big Apple simply has it all for LGBTQ+ football fans, from Greenwich Village to Broadway and with plenty of restaurants and gay clubs. And no mention of New York City is complete without honoring Stonewall, which is generally regarded as the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ-rights movement.
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The famed City by the Bay has been a gay mecca for decades now, with its rich history of Harvey Milk, the Castro, and a libertine attitude of anything goes. It also happens to be one of the finest cities in the world, with plenty of great restaurants, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the wonderful Golden Gate Park. While it’s not as wild as its hedonistic days, it has more than earned its place on this list.
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Sorry, San Diego, but the Chargers are now an LA team — and that’s OK for LGBTQ+ fans. From West Hollywood and the Sunset Strip to Malibu's beaches and Disneyland to the south, Los Angeles is one of the great travel destinations for the community and our allies. Plus, you won’t need to pack your parka for a December visit!
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It’s known as Sin City for a reason, and it’s probably best for some that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Known primarily for its gaming, nightlife, and scorching temperatures during the summer, Las Vegas now can also claim to have the first (and currently only) out active player on their regular season roster, as if you needed another reason to plan a trip to the desert oasis. Who knows? You might even run into Carl Nassib, the first out players signed to a regular season roster.
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No list of queer-friendly NFL cities could be complete with Miami. Be sure to pack your speedo along with your glitziest outfits for a great time before the game. And if South Beach isn’t enough to satisfy your LGBTQ+ appetite, why not take a quick trip even further down south to Key West? You may not want to return home, especially if you visit during the frigid winter months.
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Perhaps no NFL city has a richer history of social justice than Atlanta. The home of the beloved dirty birds, the city was a nexus of the Civil Rights movement during the 1960s. But it’s also been home to pioneering drag queens and queer activists as well. From Midtown to Downtown, the city has become a safe (and incredibly fun) space in the Deep South for the LGBTQ+ community.
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The Big Easy has been a long-time favorite of the LGBTQ+ community. Famed for Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras, Creole cooking, a rich history, and, of course, a libertine attitude, New Orleans is a no-brainer to make this list. Here’s hoping the city is able to build back better than ever after Hurricane Ida paid a visit.
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Tom Brady may be hoisting the Vince Lombardi Super Bowl trophy in Tampa Bay rather than in Foxborough these days, but that city of Paul Revere and Samuel Adams is still a great destination for LGBTQ+ football fans. And if you get tired of the nightlife, it’s only a 90-minute ferry ride to Provincetown.
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Yes, it may feel as cold as the North Pole during the football season in Minneapolis, but the action is hot on and off the field for LGBTQ+ visitors. Bypass the Mall of America and head straight to the Warehouse District for some great food and fun. And yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to recreate your own Mary Tyler Moore moment by twirling on a snowy sidewalk before tossing your cap in the air, much to the bewilderment of the elderly white women watching you in the background.
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Yes, the City of Brotherly Love can take on a different meaning for the LGBTQ+ community, but only for chosen family we hope. Still, Philadelphia remains a hot destination for the community. It’s also home of the famed Philly cheesesteak, but you’re welcome to find and enjoy a different kind of cheesesteak in the many gay clubs and bars in the Eagles’ hometown.
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Da’ Bears are one of the league’s oldest teams, and Chicago is also one of the country’s great party towns for straight or gay folks. Yes, its lakefront location makes winters especially cold, but that’s just the perfect excuse to stay indoors at one or more of the city’s amazing clubs, bars, museums, and restaurants.
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Yes, the Washington Football Team has rid itself of its old, offensive name denigrating Indigenous people, which is just another reason to visit our nation’s capital.
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