United States
Chicago, the Midwest's greatest city, punches well above its weight as an LGBTQ+ destination. Its North Side is home to Boystown — one of the oldest officially recognised gay neighbourhoods in the US — and the leather-and-bear scene around Andersonville. The city's Pride parade, one of the largest in North America, marches through Lakeview each June, drawing over a million spectators.
Boystown (officially Northalsted) along Halsted Street between Belmont and Addison is the historic heart of Chicago's gay community. The strip is lined with bars, clubs, restaurants, and rainbow pylons, and has been a recognised LGBTQ+ district since 1997. Key venues include Sidetrack (video bar), Hydrate (nightclub), and Crew Bar + Grill.
A few miles north of Boystown, the Andersonville neighbourhood has a more relaxed, lesbian-friendly and queer vibe. It's home to community bookshop Women & Children First and a cluster of queer-owned businesses, bars, and restaurants.
Chicago has a long and proud leather tradition. The International Mr. Leather (IML) contest, held annually over Memorial Day weekend, is one of the most important leather events in the world, drawing competitors and attendees from across the globe. The Eagle Chicago is the city's premier leather bar.
Chicago Pride Parade (June) marches through Lakeview and draws over a million attendees — one of the largest in North America. IML (Memorial Day weekend) is the other major annual draw. The city also hosts several bear and leather events throughout the year.
Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) are both major airports. The CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) 'L' train is an excellent and cheap way to get around — the Red Line runs directly through Boystown. Rideshares are plentiful.
Chicago is very safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ travellers, with strong city and state protections. Illinois has full marriage equality, anti-discrimination protections, and is generally progressive on LGBTQ+ rights. The North Side neighbourhoods of Boystown and Andersonville are among the safest in the city.
Chicago is very safe for LGBTQ+ travellers. Illinois has full marriage equality, strong anti-discrimination protections, and trans-inclusive healthcare laws. Boystown and Andersonville are among the most LGBTQ+-affirming neighbourhoods in the US.
The United States varies significantly by state in terms of legal protections and cultural attitudes. Same-sex marriage is federally protected. Federal anti-discrimination protections apply in employment. However, state-level legislation varies considerably — particularly on transgender rights, where several states have enacted restrictive laws since 2023. Major cities (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Seattle) are very welcoming; rural areas and some states can be significantly less so. Trans travellers should research the specific states they plan to visit.
24.9km away
1.1km away
1.0km away
