Dayton, Ohio Is The Queerest City In America?

By no means is this an expected list of LGBT-friendly cities. (You won’t find New York or Los Angeles on here!) Rather, The Advocate's “Queerest Cities in America 2015” discovers queerness in more surprising locations.

How did the voting work? The cities were given points in six possible categories, including trans-inclusivity, the number of pro-equality mosques and LGBT-friendly synagogues, and if tours of Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Kinky Boots were playing, among a couple others. The points were then divided by the population to provide a ranking based on a per capita LGBT quotient.

From Atlanta, Georgia, to Tacoma, Washington, the results span the country in every direction. Though the cities vary in climate, terrain, and history, this diversity keeps the LGBT communities and cultures thriving.

What tops the list? Surprise: It’s Dayton, Ohio. The Midwest-spot is home to a lively theater scene, a host of LGBT nightlife locales, and various queer outdoor recreation groups. There’s also a transgender-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance that should inspire many other cities around the country.

See the full list below and at The Advocate:

1. Dayton, Ohio
2. Atlanta, Ga.
3. West Palm Beach, Fla.
4. Lansing, Mich.
5.Madison, Wis.
6. Salt Lake City, Utah
7. Erie, Pa.
8. Tacoma, Wash.
9. Davenport, Iowa
10. Boulder, Colo.
11. Spokane, Wash.
12. Boise, Idaho
13. Cambridge, Mass.
14. Washington, D.C.
15. Carlsbad, Calif

And of course, the honorable mentions:

16. Costa Mesa, Calif.
17. Columbia, Mo.
18. Peoria, Ill.
19. Springfield, Ill.
20. Ann Arbor, Mich.
21. Allentown, Pa.
22. Gainesville, Fla.
23. Orlando, Fla.
24. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
25. Buffalo, N.Y.