Louise Lopez expertly guides queer individuals to vibrant, inclusive U.S. and North American neighborhoods with 15+ years of dedicated experience, ensuring they find not just a home, but a community where their authenticity is celebrated and protected.
If you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community, the decision to relocate to a new state can be daunting, especially when you’re unsure of the level of acceptance you’ll receive. It’s a legitimate concern to have, and unfortunately, in this day and age, it’s still a reality that not all places are equally welcoming. However, with the rise of queer-friendly cities and states, the process of moving can be made more comfortable and reassuring.
By conducting research and tapping into resources, queer people can identify places where they can live their lives authentically and thrive. So, if you’re thinking of relocating, don’t let the fear of not being accepted hold you back. With some planning and support, you can find a new home where you’re celebrated for who you are.
To help queer folx who are considering moving to Gay Louisiana, we have put together this guide from experts on the ground, considering the pros and cons of life here, discussing LGBT rights in Louisiana and whether Louisiana embraces our community.
We also take a look at the most gay-friendly cities in Louisiana and LGBT community organizations in Louisiana that you should be aware of!
Louisiana is a unique and vibrant state with much to offer to the LGBTQ+ community. As a southern state, Louisiana is known for its natural beauty, rich culture, and delicious cuisine, as well as its many festivals and events that take place throughout the year. There’s a reason why Louisiana is also known as the Festival Capital of America!, some of which are focused on the LGBT community or at least very popular with them!
The state of Louisiana is renowned for its unique Creole and Cajun cultures and is considered the birthplace of jazz music, ensuring a vibrant and fun-filled environment with a diverse community, including a welcoming LGBT scene. Shreveport, Louisiana, embodies this spirit in its own distinctive way. As a hub of cultural diversity in the northern part of the state, Shreveport offers a rich blend of music, arts, and culinary experiences influenced by Creole and Cajun traditions. In addition to its cultural richness, Louisiana boasts a growing job market and a relaxed, slow-paced lifestyle.
The state also has affordable education options and a relatively low cost of living, making it an attractive destination for LGBTQ people looking to settle down. But what about the acceptance and protections for the LGBTQ+ community in Louisiana? While the state has come a long way in recent years regarding LGBTQ+ rights, there is still lots of progress to make.
In this guide, we’ll also explore the history and current climate for LGBTQ+ people in Louisiana, as well as the availability of gay hangouts and the presence of a vibrant queer community. Whether you’re considering a move to Louisiana or want to learn more about the state’s LGBTQ+ scene, this guide has you covered – and hopefully make your life easier!
To reduce the stress of your potential relocation further, we recommend engaging a gay realtor in Louisiana early in the process to help you find your new perfect home there. They will have up-to-the-minute information on the best cities and areas for LGBT people, and be able to match your needs to a neighborhood most suited to you.
You can just start with a no-obligation conversation, and if you decide to continue with your move to Louisiana – they will not only have your best interests at heart but also ensure you are treated with dignity and respect throughout the entire process.
In this article we will cover...
Highlights Of Moving To Gay Louisiana
It’s hard not to get enthusiastic about the unique and tempting proposition that moving to Louisiana presents – especially once you get chatting with residents and long-time locals in the know about all their state’s hidden gems and best-kept secrets. After all, this is why many chose to live here.
Once you move here, you should quickly befriend locals, let them ‘spill the tea’ and then spend your free time discovering the best sights, food, nature and culture Louisiana has to offer. On top of this, thanks to an offbeat yet deeply engaged LGBT community – which congregates at a few fabulous queer hot spots – securing a relocation to Louisiana should allow you to meet local queer people with similar interests.
We are certain locals will have many more to add, but to get you excited, here are just a few highlights to look forward to as you become Louisiana’s newest denizen.
Mardi Gras!
Mardi Gras isn’t entirely a gay event, but there’s something about the colors, activities, and vibrancy that makes this event so attractive to the LGBT community. In Louisiana, people prepare weeks in advance for Mardi Gras. Preparation for Mardi Gras goes on for weeks before the big day, and once the day is finally here, we bet like just like everyone else that shows up, you will lose your mind.
Mardi Gras features colorful costumes, cross-dressing, parties, vibrant parades, and lots of beads. This event is no doubt the climax of the year in New Orleans, where it’s celebrated. There’s something to be said about that, considering there’s no shortage of gay events or festivals in this wonderful city.
Mardi Gras is celebrated through more than forty parades, balls, and by more than 70 social organizations, some of which, are gay. Celebrating Mardi Gras is an excellent time to explore New Orleans and have a kick-ass time with other locals or visitors.
Fun Cities
There’s no doubt that some of Louisiana’s cities are loads of fun. If you’re a couple, you might want to consider living in Baton Rouge. The capital city of Louisiana promises numerous opportunities when it comes to education and jobs. It also has many friendly neighborhoods littered with shopping centers, parks, and restaurants.
Lafayette has lots of families, pleasant weather all through the year, and is home to excellent schools. If you love outdoor activities like biking, hiking trails, fishing, or golf, this might be the city for you. Single people will love the atmosphere and experiences that come with a city like New Orleans. It is a diverse, populous city with numerous food options, excitement, and plenty of amenities.
LGBTQ+ Rights In The USA
The laws governing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people have altered considerably over time in the United States and vary from state to state. In many ways, LGBT rights are some of the best in the world – but the devil is in the detail, and some places are much more hostile to queer life than others.
While same-sex marriage has been legal in every state since the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges ruling on June 26, 2015 (before Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex marriage was legal in 36 states and Washington, D.C. ), LGBT people are still treated differently in different states – both societally and as inequality under the law.
Over half of all states still allow discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, while counties and cities within states often have distinct laws as well. While some states permit adoption by all couples, others forbid it for all unmarried couples.
This is all to say what most of us already know is that LGBT rights and equality differ greatly across the USA, and the specifics of family, marriage and anti-discrimination laws are different in every state.
Thus, while it is comforting to know that you can choose to marry whoever you love across the USA (and have it recognized as such) and are protected against hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity (which can be punished under Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009), there are still many questions you will likely have about moving to Louisiana and what you can expect of LGBT life there.
Does Louisiana Embrace The LGBTQ Community?
Queer people lived in Louisiana before it was even founded. However, the LGBTQ political movement and groups grew towards the end of the 20th century. Compared to other states in the country, this was a little late, but there’s a good reason for it.
The delay in the growth of the LGBT political movement in the state was because of the holdover of tradition influenced by the Creole and French that maintained that queer behavior was tolerated as long as it remained private and non-political.
Gay politics was considered a no-go zone in society during the 1970s since same-sex acts were pronounced illegal in 1805. Even so, there was an awakening at the grassroots level in 1977 when singer and anti-gay spokesperson Anita Bryant sparked a gay protest after her visit to New Orleans.
LAGPAC, or Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Action Caucus, offered the state its premier sustainable political gay group. The state’200-year-old law criminalizing same-sex came down in 2003 after the country’s Supreme Court revoked sodomy laws throughout the country.
In May 2022, a problematic bill that could forbid teachers in public schools from addressing gender identity and sexual orientation in class was revived by the Louisiana House following an odd move. After being defeated by the House education committee following this in a split vote of 7-4, many believed the Louisiana “Don’t Say Gay” bill was doomed for the current legislative session.
Even so, in Louisiana, how you are treated actually reflects on your treatment of others. Yes, there are bigots of all kinds here, but generally, people in Indiana will treat you with respect if you do the same for them.
Is Louisiana An Expensive State To Move To?
Depending on where you choose to reside in Louisiana, the cost of living is slightly lower than in other parts of the nation. However, the price of healthcare, housing, food, and utilities is rapidly increasing. State prices for goods and services are 10.9% lower than the national average. Here’s a closer look at some expenses:
Housing
The average home in the state is valued at $157,800, which is less than the national median of $204,700. Homes built in 1939 and earlier cost, on average, $193,200, while those built in 2014 and later are worth, on average, $236,000. Louisiana renters typically pay $850 per month for housing, less than the $1,023 per month average national median rent. In Louisiana, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $720 per month, while the average rent for a home with five and more bedrooms is $1,139.
Transportation
You can anticipate spending $828 on gas alone each year, based on the average price of gasoline. Compared to the $1,516 national average, the state’s average vehicle insurance premium is $984.
Healthcare
The average cost of health care is $4,265 for a single adult. The country’s average is $4,706 annually. A family of four would expect to pay around $14,213, which is more than the corresponding average of $12,950 nationally.
Food
A family of four should expect to spend, on average, $9,005 per year, whereas a single adult should expect to spend, on average, $3,118. For comparison, the average yearly food expenditure in the United States is $9,350 for a family of four and $3,238 for an adult.
LGBTQ+ Community Organizations In Louisiana
Wherever you live, it is essential that you support LGBT organizations in any way you can so that they can keep reaching out to and assisting other, more vulnerable members of the community. After all, we are stronger when we work together, and each of us will likely have a time in our lives when we require a little extra support.
Thankfully, Louisiana has a supportive and diverse LGBTQ community, which has helped the state become more gay-friendly in recent years.
As a result, there are a variety of LGBT resources available to community members, their allies, friends, and families – and you ought to feel free to utilize them or consider giving your support as needed to keep your new home state moving forwards! They are also great places to meet new people and find your queer chosen family in Gay Louisiana.
The goal of the LGBT Archives is to encourage people to keep and preserve artifacts that document the culture and history of the LGBT community in Louisiana. Their main goal is to inform the public about the value of preserving LGBT+ historical records and making them accessible to upcoming generations so they can research and study them.
The archives seek to encourage regular care and conservation of historical LGBT+ materials and then catalog, publish and retain a full list of these resources and where they are by creating financial resources to aid in the preservation and accessibility of specific LGBT+ compilations.
The LGBT human rights group Forum for Equality works to abolish prejudice in society and promote ethical governance in the state. Their firm belief is that community organizing, education, and effective political engagement are the best and most effective ways to accomplish their objectives. Forum for Equality has worked to enhance the civil rights of the LGBT community in the state since 1989.
PACE (People Acting for Change and Equality)
The LGBT human rights group Forum for Equality works to abolish prejudice in society and promote ethical governance in the state. Their firm belief is that community organizing, education, and effective political engagement are the best and most effective ways to accomplish their objectives. Forum for Equality has worked to enhance the civil rights of the LGBT community in the state since 1989.
Most Gay-Friendly Cities In Louisiana
In Louisiana, there are many wonderful areas to live in, but when relocating to LGBTQ Louisiana, you should be cognizant that there are a few cities and gaybourhoods that are nearer to the queer hubs of life. Knowing them will allow you to pull your U-Haul up to your new house in a gay-friendly neighborhood or town that is best suited to your needs.
If you’re a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise queer person seeking a welcoming neighborhood with facilities you’ll cherish, start with these top gay and gay-friendly Louisiana cities to discover your perfect new home, each with its distinct personality.
Give yourself enough time to acquaint yourself with Louisiana’s diverse personalities, and remember that there is no one perfect answer when it comes to the most gay-friendly places in Louisiana… and just because it does not make our list doesn’t necessarily make it a bad option.
We recommend speaking to a local LGBT real estate agent for a more detailed understanding of the best options today. Now, let’s take a look at where these fabulously gay-friendly cities in Louisiana are and why you might want to consider them!
New Orleans
New Orleans, noted for its famed French Quarter, is a hub for the LBGTQ+ community because of it is gay-friendly. The city has an abundance of gay clubs, and also hosts an annual LGBT festival and parade called Southern Decadence during Labor Day. New Orleans is reported to have one of North America’s greatest populations of LGBT people.
Gay homeowners, families, and renters make up a sizable portion of the populations of the Faubourg and French Quarter neighborhoods. The live and let live sentiments in New Orleans differ from those of the state and the Deep South, making it something of an outlier. Most neighborhoods in the area are welcoming to LGBT families wishing to relocate there.
The Upper French Quarter, amid a concentration of gay pubs and dance clubs, located around St. Ann and Bourbon Street, also hosts many LGBT inhabitants. However, families with children might prefer to live somewhere a little more calm, such as Marigny and Bywater.
If you have a family, the Garden District will make you feel right at home thanks to the abundance of lovely homes that are close to excellent schools.
LGBT families with kids will receive quality healthcare thanks to the fact that there are a number of healthcare professionals in the city that are affiliates of the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association. In addition to decadence, New Orleans is a well-known cultural hub. It is the birthplace of vampires, jazz, ghosts, and voodoo. It’s rumored that many of the old buildings are haunted.
Lafayette
The city of Lafayette, located in southern Louisiana, has the fifth-highest population in the state. It is also one of the cities with the highest population growth. People are moving here in droves because of the affordable housing, high standard of living, and rich heritage that is mostly derived from Creole and Cajun history.
Lafayette is home to numerous universities, such as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and offers its citizens excellent food, festivals, events, museums, and much more. Lafayette’s residents are quite accepting of their LGBT counterparts. The city has in the past hosted the Acadiana Pride Festival, offering the locals an opportunity to show off their rainbow flags.
The Cité des Arts, a community arts center, has served as the focus of previous events. Lafayette also boasts a thriving gay restaurant and bar scene. Despite being located in a politically conservative region of the world, Lafayette has a substantial LGBT community. The city has also always been rather accepting when it comes to social concerns.
Gay nightlife in the city has a somewhat turbulent past because clubs and bars have come and gone quickly since the scene can be unpredictable.
Baton Rouge
You should definitely consider Baton Rouge if the city hasn’t been on your list of potential cities to call home. With a population of around 802,000, Baton Rouge is the second-largest metropolitan area in Louisiana. Baton Rouge is a genuinely diverse area, with more than half of the residents being African American or Black and a thriving LGBTQ culture.
Baton Rouge has a diverse range of people with a number of LGBTQ+ owned and runs companies, many of which have been present in the city for more than 50 years. The vibrant international restaurant culture in the city, which offers a wide range of cuisines such as Cajun, Thai, French, Italian, Mexican, Indian, and Mexican, was made possible by the city’s diversity.
Baton Rouge Pride is expanding beyond its annual festival. The organization now has a brand-new, constantly expanding LGBTQ+ business directory for the neighborhood, multiple meets for various community members, and regular events, and is transitioning to family-friendly activities with youth programs.
The city is a regular college town with tons of events and festivals all year round, and its LGBTQ community is a big part of the fun, too. Several nearby churches are accepting of LGBTQ+ people. If you choose to move here, you should definitely check out the culinary scene and promote some of the LGBTQ businesses you come across.
Finding Gay Realtors In Louisiana
When looking for the ideal realtor, why would you consider someone’s sexuality? This may seem strange at first, but there are several reasons why contacting a gay realtor in Louisiana is a great way to find your dream house.
After all, when it relates to one of life’s most significant transactions, it’s not unreasonable to expect fair, equal, and honest representation from someone who understands the queer community’s particular needs and wishes.
Furthermore, unfortunately, many people (up to a third of Americans) believe that our community does not deserve protection and dignity in housing, adoption, employment, and other areas of life.
So it’s no surprise that LGBT people who use mainstream realtors often describe feelings of discomfort, unnecessary trouble, unenthusiastic representation, or even antagonism or outright contempt. Everyone deserves a pleasant, stress-free home buying or selling experience while being adequately represented, and this is why we feel you should hire a gay realtor to assist you in finding your future home.
LGBTQ realtors are more likely to be familiar with the diverse communities in their area and know which ones may be best suited to you when looking for a home.
That’s not to say a heterosexual realtor isn’t capable, but they’ve probably never had to address many of the issues LGBT people face. Rather than just being concerned with how bustling, fashionable, or up-and-coming a neighborhood is (or what it may appear like), gay realtors conduct extensive research into the neighborhoods in which they sell homes to ensure that clients are safe.
It used to be challenging to locate professional LGBT-friendly real estate agents in Louisiana, and it was virtually impossible to find one if you were relocating here from out of state and didn’t have access to a local referral.
You no longer have to search for a realtor without knowing whether or not they are accepting of others because you can use a list of gay, lesbian, and gay-friendly agents in Louisiana to do all of your homework for you.
Simply go to the page, and you’ll be presented with a free list of gay, lesbian, and gay-friendly agents who can help you with your relocation as well as other useful information like LGBT+friendly schools, shopping, storage firms, tradespeople, and more.
Read the biographies of LGBT real estate agents, then choose the one who is right for you. It’s critical that you find someone who will be by your side and support you and your family during one of life’s most exciting occasions.
Even better, there is no hidden motive, cost, or obligation whatsoever!
