1. Lexington, Kentucky
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While residents enjoy a vibrant LGBTQ+ community, Lexington is also a must-visit destination for queer travelers. Inclusive hotels can be found in the “Fruit Loop”—a walkable area of LGBTQ+ bars, venues, and clubs. A huge, historic bar The Bar Complex hosts professional drag shows, then head for a quiet breakfast at the queer-owned Lussi Brown Coffee Bar, a coffee shop and cocktail bar—best of both worlds! A self-guided 1-mile walking tour called “Lexington’s Pride of Place LGBTQ History” brings you through more than a dozen sites associated with the struggle for equality, including rainbow crosswalks and a three-story-tall mural to local trans icon, Sweet Evening Breeze. In June, the Lexington Pride Festival draws over 50,000 people to the city, this year taking place on June 24.