As the birthplace of the modern-day LGBTQ civil rights movement, New York State is a hub for LGBTQ culture and experiences, with inclusive and diverse communities that welcome people of all identities to be their authentic selves.From the big cities of Albany, Rochester and Buffalo to the small towns of Hudson, Kingston and Corning, discover some of New York State’s LGBTQ-friendly neighborhoods where you can shop LGBTQ-owned businesses, visit historically significant sites, show your Pride at festivals and events year round, and more. Photo Credit: @gmandle1 on Instagram.

Greenwich Village

As the birthplace of the modern LGBTQ rights movement, Greenwich Village, or simply The Village, is one of the New York City’s most prominent LGBTQ communities and one of the world’s most iconic Pride destinations. Today, you can visit the site where history was made at the Stonewall National Monument, the first national park dedicated to LGBTQ history. The site includes the Stonewall Inn, the Gay Liberation Monument in Christopher Park, and the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, which honors the legacy of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising and the ongoing fight for equality through engaging exhibits and programs. Learn the personal stories of LGBTQ pioneers, listen to the soundtrack of Stonewall on a replica jukebox like the one that once stood in the bar in 1969, and more. Also, in The Village you’ll find Julius’, the oldest continually running gay bar in NYC, and other longtime institutions like Cubbyhole and Henrietta Hudson.  

Hell’s Kitchen

Credit: Anna Pakman

While The Village is the place to go for LGBTQ history, Hell’s Kitchen is the place to dance into the night at one of many LGBTQ nightlife options, like Flaming Saddles, a Western-themed dive bar where you can see your bartender dance Coyote Ugly-style, and Hardware with half-priced drinks daily before 8:00 PM and evening events like Broadway Monday and Trivia Wednesday. Equally lively during the day, the neighborhood is home to a number of LGBTQ-owned and/or allied restaurants, such as the Pan-Latin La Pulperia, which hosts a raucous drag brunch, West Bank Cafe, where you might spot a Broadway celeb or two, and beloved neighborhood darling The Marshal, which offers farm-to-table cuisine and a wine list sourced mostly from New York State farms and vineyards in a cozy setting. The neighborhood is also home to exciting off-Broadway theaters, like Playwrights Horizons, which periodically feature productions from LGBTQ identifying creatives as part of their line up.

Fire Island Pines and Cherry Grove

Photo courtesy of Discover Long Island

Long Island’s 32-mile Fire Island, home to a historic lighthouse and enchanting Sunken Forest, has long been a popular LGBTQ summer destination thanks to two communities that were the one of the first places in the country to welcome all, Cherry Grove and the Fire Island Pines. They’re also totally car-free! Wander on foot along the boardwalks, enjoy the laid-back vibe, and party at the Ice Palace nightclub or legendary “low tea” at The Blue Whale. Catch rays and waves on pristine white-sand beaches and grab an al fresco meal at Top of the Bay, Cherry’s or the Sand Castle. Mark your calendar for the July 4th Invasion of the Pines, when drag queens board the ferry to the island in an Independence Day tradition dating back to 1976.

Beacon

Dubbed “an art lover’s version of Brooklyn upstate” by Big Gay Hudson Valley, Beacon embraces diversity with its vibrant arts scene that spans galleries and the contemporary art museum Dia Beacon, regular LGBTQ-focused events like film screenings, art shows, dance parties, and performances, and charming Main Street, full of inclusive and welcoming spaces. Pop into the queer-friendly Roosevelt Bar inside the Hudson Valley Food Hall for a Friday night drag show or play your favorite retro games at the LGBTQ-friendly Happy Valley Arcade Bar. Explore the area’s natural beauty with a hike up Mount Beacon and venture over to Bannerman Castle for movie nights, walking tours, and theater in a unique summertime setting.

Kingston

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Home of the Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center, New York State’s first capital is a welcoming destination with a rich history and vibrant cultural scene spanning three lively and diverse districts bursting with award-winning restaurants, unique museums, historic sites, and breathtaking views of the Hudson River. Every year, Kingston kicks off Pride month by bringing the community together to repaint the Rainbow and Trans crosswalks located outside the Community Center and hosts the annual Hudson Valley Pride March + Festival. Stop in for queer line dancing, burlesque, queer trivia and more at Unicorn Bar or scope out unique gifts, art, and stationery at the queer- and trans-owned Everywhere Shop.

Hudson

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This posh and welcoming riverfront city, often called the “Brooklyn of upstate New York,” offers a culture rich and inclusive escape for those looking for a metropolitan feel in a small town setting. Lined with boutiques, galleries, cafes, and restaurants the antiquing haven of Warren Street is its beating heart and pulses with community spirit every June during the lively annual Pride Parade. Throughout the year, OutHudson hosts meetups and special events at local LGBTQ-friendly spots like Return Brewing and Avalon in nearby Catskill. For foodies, Hudson delivers. The James Beard-nominated Lil’ Deb’s Oasis, named one of America’s best gay bars by Esquire, serves up tropical comfort food in a colorful setting and the New York Times favorite Cafe Mutton features a creative meat-centric menu and hosts a queer night on the first Monday of every month. Art lovers can explore nearby gems like Olana and the Thomas Cole House. Slow-fashion fans will love Made X Hudson, who made the 125-foot long Transgender Pride Flag for 2025’s Pride in the Sky event on the Walkway Over The Hudson.

Ithaca

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Ithaca is “gorges” thanks to its 150-plus waterfalls, but did you know this college town was also named one of The Advocate Magazine’s first “10 Best Cities for Gays and Lesbians to Live”? Stroll through Downtown Ithaca Commons where you’ll find public art, vibrant restaurants like the world famous Moosewood, and independent shops from Buffalo Street Books to Alley Cat Cafe that are committed to being inclusive and welcoming spaces for LGBTQ+ people and families (just look for the Ithaca Is Inclusive window decals). Take a free self-guided LGBTQ Local History Walking Tour to 32 stops throughout the city that have been sites of LGBTQ resistance and resilience and don’t miss Ithaca Pride celebrations every June. Looking for a night out? Check out drag bingo, burlesque shows, and dance parties at Lot 10 Bar and Lounge on Thursdays or catch a concert at the State Theatre.

Corning

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Nestled in the southern Finger Lakes, just a short drive from picturesque Seneca Lake Wine Trail vineyards, the Crystal City was named one of the best small LGBTQ-friendly cities in the U.S. by Vacationer in 2025. Home to the Smithsonian affiliate Rockwell Museum and the esteemed Corning Museum of Glass, both of which feature works by LGBTQ artists in their collections, you’ll also find galleries, boutiques, stunning streetscapes and architecture, and culinary delights like a chocolate trail in the Gaffer District. If you’re visiting in June, Southern Finger Lakes Pride hosts an annual festival featuring a dance party, live performances and more.

Syracuse

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Earning a perfect LGBTQ equality rating by the Municipal Equality Index for two years in a row, Syracuse is a lively college city with a burgeoning downtown and thriving art and music scene. Hawley-Green is considered one of its most welcoming neighborhoods with a strong LGBTQ community. It’s the perfect spot to walk around sampling shops and restaurants and taking in 19th century architecture and admiring the charming collection of pastel-colored Victorian homes known as “painted ladies.” Explore the city’s cultural hub in Armory Square, catch beloved Broadway shows at the Landmark Theatre, visit the Everson Museum of Art, or grab a pint at Seneca Street Brew Pub (Syracuse’s first LGBTQ+ brewery, located in the suburb of Manlius). In June, don’t miss the CNY Pride Parade and Festival and Syracuse Mets Pride Night.

Rochester 

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Home to suffragist Susan B. Anthony, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and Kodak founder George Eastman, Rochester has long been a bastion of innovation and social change. Previously named America’s 11th Gayest City by Advocate, Rochester holds New York’s largest collection of LGBTQ+ library materials, the ImageOut Festival is one of the largest LGBTQ film and video festivals in all of the state, and Rochester Pride, held annually in July, is New York’s second-largest Pride celebration. The city also boasts the longest running drag pageant in the country. While in town, explore galleries, shops, and foodie hotspots in the South Wedge neighborhood, home to popular LGBTQ+-owned businesses like Equal=Grounds coffee shop, Hedonist Artisan Chocolates & Ice Cream, and Crisp Rochester serving southern comfort food with a modern twist. For nightlife, standout spots include The Bachelor Forum, Roar Rochester, and The Avenue Pub— a community staple since 1975 dubbed  the “gay Cheers.” LGBTQ families can find fun all year round at attractions like the National Museum of Play at The Strong and Seneca Park Zoo, both of which host Pride celebrations every June.

Woodstock 

Photo Courtesy of Woodstock New York Pride

While the famous music festival of the same name was actually held in Bethel, this free-spirited town nestled in the Catskill Mountains is still all about peace, love, music, and art. Celebrate love, diversity, and community spirit at Woodstock New York Pride events that include a flag raising, parade, and tea dance, all organized by Queerly Inc., which regularly hosts drag bingo, queer trivia, and other gatherings at the Pearl Moon restaurant year round. A stay at the LGBTQ+ and woman-owned Herwood Inn, a boutique inn with rooms named after iconic female musicians, puts you right in the middle of all the shopping action on Tinker Street. It’s also minutes away from Overlook Mountain, the Bearsville Theater, and the Woodstock Playhouse, so if you’re into nature, music, and theater you can easily do it all!

Albany

Photo Courtesy of Capital Pride

New York’s Capital stands as a historic, diverse, and welcoming hub for the LGBTQ+ community. Albany has long been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ rights in the state, with landmark legislation such as marriage equality and the Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Acts reaching their culmination in the Capitol building. The city also holds a personal connection to gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, who attended the New York State College for Teachers (now the University at Albany). Venture to Center Square, brimming with cobblestone streets, colorful row houses, and historic brownstones. This LGBTQ+ favorite neighborhood is just steps from Lark Street, the city’s vibrant main street. It is thriving with eclectic venues, Pride events, and advocacy organizations like In Our Own Voices and the Pride Center of the Capital Region, the longest continually operating LGBTQ community center in the country. Fuel up with coffee and a treat at Jacob Alejandro, or dive into delicious donuts at Bitchin Donuts. For nightlife, head to OH Bar and enjoy the jukebox, pool table, darts, and a picturesque patio. Waterworks Pub is “Albany’s Original Gay Bar,” which hosts weekly Drag shows, karaoke, and dance parties. Just 15 minutes away is Troy, a small city big on inclusivity. It’s home to Cafe Euphoria, a trans and gender non-conforming worker-owned and operated cafe, and Bard & Baker, a board game and dining venue which regularly hosts queer book club meetings and Drag bingo. 

Buffalo

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Nicknamed “The City of Good Neighbors,” it should come as no surprise that the home of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and Buffalo wings is a welcoming place with a thriving LGBTQ scene. Nothing beats shopping in Elmwood Village, catching a show at Ani DiFranco’s Babeville or Shea’s in the Theater District, or bar-hopping in Allentown, the heart of Buffalo’s LGBTQ community boasting popular gay bars 26, Fugazi, and Underground Nightclub. Buffalo also honors Pride month with a series of events ranging from flag raisings, to a parade, to a waterfront concert at Terminal B, but throughout the year you’ll also find dance parties, gay bingo, and sports leagues that welcome all. Just 30 minutes away, you can see Niagara Falls (the site of New York State’s first same-sex marriage) lit up for Pride several nights in June.

Sharon Springs

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Natural sulfur springs made this charming town a sought after spa destination, catering to 19th century luminaries like Oscar Wilde. A serene escape amid picturesque rolling hills, today, Sharon Springs is an alluring destination for fans of Schitt’s Creek, due to the town’s resemblance to the show’s fictional setting, and Beekman 1802, the popular goat milk skincare brand owned by The Fabulous Beekman Boys. Stay at the historic nine-room American Hotel, where guests can enjoy a cooked-to-order breakfast and relax in the garden. Head out and visit the flagship Kindness Shop or say hello to the goats behind the Beekman brand on a farm tour, treat yourself to a biscotti or brownie at Brimstone Bakery, pick your own flowers at the Slate Hill Lavender Farm, and venture into nearby Cooperstown, where culture lovers can enjoy opera by the lake at the Glimmerglass Festival and admire the extensive collections housed within the Fenimore Art Museum. Make sure to add the Cooperstown Pride Block Party to your calendar, happening in August 2025.

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