'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly?

USA Today

20-06-2025

'Don't know how we should behave': Is the US South LGBTQ friendly?
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Organizers say political pressure is motivation to continue celebrating Pride
Organizers say political pressure is motivation to continue organizing and celebrating Pride, although some corporate support dwindles.
LGBTQ+ travelers are taking extra precautions, especially in the South, due to a perceived increase in hostility.
Resources like IGLTA, Everywhere is Queer, and LGBTQ+ friendly travel advisors can help travelers find inclusive spaces and plan safer trips.
Despite challenges, experts and travelers emphasize the diversity of the South and encourage researching destinations and engaging with local communities.
When Madeline Gregg and her wife, Bryn, drive to Florida for vacation, they consider more than just road safety.
In certain parts of the South, the 33-year-old certified sex educator said, it feels less risky for her to get out and pump gas while her wife, who is transgender, stays in the car. 'We don't even have to talk about it anymore,' she told USA TODAY. 'It's just assumed.'
The couple has also learned which businesses have family or gender-neutral bathrooms conveniently located along the route from their home in Louisville, Kentucky, including in states with restrictive bathroom laws. Even in the Melbourne, Florida, area – where they typically visit three to five times a year and Bryn's family has a beach house – they are cautious about showing public displays of affection.
'We want to enjoy where we are, and if we draw more attention to us, we probably won't enjoy it as much,' she said.
As a native Kentuckian, Gregg is accustomed to those kinds of precautions. However, she is among a number of people who have found traveling in the American South more fraught as the federal government targets the LGBTQ+ community.
Even within the region, though, LGBTQ+ visitors' experiences can vary widely. Here's what to know when considering a trip to the South.
'I don't know how we should behave'
While the South is varied and diverse, the region tends to be less LGBTQ+ friendly than some other parts of the country. Six of the lowest-ranked states on Out Leadership's 2025 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index, which gauges the impacts of government policies and attitudes towards the community, were in the Southeast.
Gregg said there were previously some areas where the pair felt they had to be more aware during their Florida road trips, but after the 2024 presidential election, it was 'vastly, vastly different.'
'People were more inclined to say things,' she said. 'A lot more stares.' She remembers a passerby even made a disparaging remark about gender identity while they were walking their dog in Florida.
The couple has only been to Melbourne in the last six months.
The Greggs are not the only ones. Omie, who makes travel content with his fiancé, Davey, under the moniker Traveling Boyfriends, similarly feels a 'level of paranoia' when visiting the region more now than ever before. The 34-year-old said the couple visits the South at least once a year for work or to see friends and family. They asked to be identified by only their professional names due to privacy and safety concerns.
They spend much of their time abroad, but are based in Chicago when they're in the U.S.
'Driving from Atlanta to Charleston, you go through places that you're just like, 'I don't know how we should behave,'' he said. 'Like, you have to almost act as friends. You have to look over your shoulder in some ways.'
Davey echoed that. The 37-year-old, who is originally from England, said visiting New York comparatively 'feels very, very open, very accepting.'
'It doesn't feel to me like that mentality changes depending on whatever the political sway of the country is at that moment,' he said. 'The South is just not as familiar and feels more uncomfortable. It may be (that) part of that, if I'm being honest, is a bit of ignorance, because I don't know it as well … but also because ... there are stories almost every day of some level of more integrated hate around these parts of the U.S.'
Tips for traveling in the South
Even so, there are plenty of inclusive spaces to be found.
'The South is incredibly diverse and very nuanced,' said Andy Knowles, a travel advisor with Fora Travel based in North Carolina. He said travelers have to make their own risk assessments before visiting a destination, and recommended doing 'as much research as you feel comfortable doing' on the front end.
Getting to know the legislation on the books is a good idea. 'You can't dictate the entire state's sentiment based on their laws, but I think that that is a pretty good starting point,' Knowles said.
A queer-friendly travel advisor can help walk clients through the planning process, too.
John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) suggested connecting 'with local LGBTQ+ groups or trusted travel networks, and choose accommodations and services known for their inclusivity and care. This way, you can focus on enjoying your trip and feeling truly supported.'
Travelers can find a database of accommodations on IGLTA's website. Knowles also noted that Expedia has an 'LGBTQ welcoming' search filter.
Gregg recommended reaching out to tourism boards or following them on social media. 'The whole reason that they're there is because they want people to come, so they want you to feel as safe as possible in their city,' she said.
She and her wife have also used the Everywhere is Queer app to find welcoming businesses. Once there, they have asked for their recommendations, as well.
LGBTQ+ friendly destinations in the South
Knowles said there are some 'really magical destinations for LGBTQ, travelers' in the region, including popular cities like Key West, Miami and Atlanta.
'New Orleans is, generally speaking, very diverse, very LGBTQ friendly, even in a state that's typically not,' Knowles added. He also recommended Savannah, Georgia, which has a thriving arts scene and more of a gay presence than some other Southern cities.
Omie and Davey enjoyed a May trip to Charlotte, North Carolina. Tanzella also highlighted places like Tampa and Dallas, which 'have built warm, welcoming communities with year-round events and genuine allyship.'
He advised travelers to look for 'signs of genuine commitment' from destinations, such as those that support LGBTQ+ events and community organizations and have clear anti-discrimination policies. 'Truly inclusive destinations don't just talk the talk during Pride Month, they show up year-round,' he said in an email.
Still, during an April trip to San Francisco, Gregg was struck by the affectionate public displays of couples and the widespread use of rainbow flags. In contrast, she and her wife took down their pride flag back home in Louisville because passersby yelled slurs when the couple sat on the porch.
'It's extremely normal for us, but until you experience traveling to other places, you don't really realize how in the closet and how quiet you have to be in public in the South,' she said. She emphasized, however, it's important not to generalize, and attitudes and experiences can vary widely – even by neighborhood.
'I will say that the South has its stereotypes,' added Knowles, who was born and raised in California and moved to Asheville about three-and-a-half years ago. 'And I would just say, do not write off an entire region of the country based on some of the headlines that we see.'
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [e-mail].