LGBT seniors will find retirement more pleasant, perhaps, in these cities. Here's why. (Photo: Fotolia)
And increasingly, with efforts to pass "bathroom laws" and other measures by Republican-led state and city legislatures pushing communities backward, some of those challenges are actually growing instead of receding.
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This occurs even as the LGBT population is on the rise as a demographic.
According to the American Psychological Association, among the more than 39 million people in the U.S. who are 65 years old or older, some 1.5 million identify as LGBT. In addition, as the boomer generation ages, the senior population will increase from 12.8 percent to an estimated 19 percent in 2030.
With those factors, as well as numerous others, in mind, senior housing referral service SeniorAdvice.com evaluated critical aspects of living conditions to find the 15 best cities for LGBT seniors.
One hundred variables within the categories of health and safety, recreation and leisure, finance and general quality of life that contribute to a successful retirement went into SeniorAdvice.com's evaluation for its SeniorScore, a scoring system specifically designed to identify and measure the livability of locations for seniors—and now to identify what it dubs the top gay-friendly cities.
While most of the variables considered pertain to the overall senior population, those variables and conveniences specifically for LGBT seniors include non-LGBT acceptance of the LGBT community; gay-friendly bars, clubs and other establishments; LGBT festivals and other recreational activities; level of legal protection for gay, lesbian, and transgender residents; and the presence of gay senior groups.
Here are the top 15 cities:
15. Houston, Texas
Relatively affordable, Houston is a good retirement site thanks in part to low overall taxes.
And while it does have the Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce, as well as widespread support for gay and lesbian owned businesses, many of which are concentrated in the very gay-friendly Montrose neighborhood, the city's big drawback is its lack of strong legal protections for the LGBT community.
In 2015, the city's voters rejected an antidiscrimination bill, and its very conservative suburbs can make for very uncomfortable neighbors.
14. San Francisco, California
San Francisco has the largest per capita gay population in the country, and has stood at the forefront of legal protections for LGBTs and have numerous groups supporting their senior community.
The city boasts multiple community groups such as Openhouse, Lavender Seniors, and the Castro Senior Center that specifically serve older members of the LGBT community. Finally, the city has numerous assisted living and retirement communities that are gay or gay-friendly.
Where it doesn't excel is its cost of living—which will quickly drain the assets of nearly all seniors, unless they happen to have made millions in Silicon Valley or some other fountain of cash and decided to retire early.
13. Las Vegas, Nevada
Just from a purely practical retirement standpoint, Las Vegas boasts world-class health care, as well as lots of quality senior-living facilities and home health care services.
It's also relatively affordable, has no state income tax, and low overall property taxes.
For LGBT seniors, it also offers a large overall LGBT community and gay-friendly accommodations throughout the city.
There are also multiple LGBT retirement communities in Las Vegas, as well as services like New Horizons Nevada seniors can use to access community support, housing help and gay-friendly events around town. And don't forget the many LGBT advocacy groups, such as Las Vegas PRIDE and the Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Nevada.
12. Dallas, Texas
Senior living amenities, great health care and an affordable cost of living combine in Dallas with a surprisingly strong and growing gay community.
But be warned: protections for LGBTs are not as strong here as they should be, especially in conservative suburbs, with the Dallas Morning News recently calling protection for LGBT residents a "patchwork."
Still, the gay culture in Dallas is centered around the Oak Lawn and Cedar Springs areas, where many LGBT-owned businesses can be found, and the city has the North Texas GLBT Chamber to support these business. The city even hosts an annual Gray Pride event specifically celebrating and supporting their local LGBT senior community.
11. Salt Lake City, Utah
Surprisingly enough, Salt Lake City is rising in the ranks of LGBT-friendly cities. Nearly 5 percent of the metro area population identify as gay and Salt Lake has been very progressive on employment and housing protection for LGBT residents in an otherwise conservative state.
Add to that the Utah Pride Center and a fairly active gay social scene, says SeniorScore, much of which is centered in the "gayborhood" of Marmalade District, and "world-class health care from one of the more than 20 area hospitals, including some that are nationally ranked," as well as low property taxes, high average incomes and a stable housing market.
10. Columbus, Ohio
Laid back and progressive, despite its understated reputation, Columbus has a large and active gay population focused largely in the vibrant Short North and German Village neighborhoods.
But Columbus also won its chops via medical care and the cost of senior facilities. It not only has a high number of Medicare-licensed doctors and top-notch area hospitals, but in addition there are also plenty of senior living communities, with nursing home costs well below those in other large cities.
Housing itself is also relatively affordable, as is the overall cost of living, and the city boasts low property taxes to go along with the state's moderately low income tax.
9. Seattle, Washington
Seattle's LGBT community, at nearly 5 percent of the city's total, is one of the most concentrated such communities of any large city. It stands to reason; the city has led the way for legal protection for gay, lesbian, and trans residents, and tops San Francisco for active gay social scenes.
Plus it can be a great place to retire—no state income tax and a thriving economy both help somewhat to offset a very high cost of living and the high cost of assisted living and other senior care in particular.
8. Portland, Oregon
With the second largest per capita LGBT population in the country, behind only San Francisco, Portland has been a protecting haven for same-sex families. Seniors retiring here can rely on SAGE Metro Portland, a community group that offers education, advocacy, and outreach to older members of the local gay community.
The city is also health-oriented, with respect to both food and outdoor activities, with its residents tending to live longer than in other cities of comparable size, and relative to other big cities on the west coast, has a lower cost of living.
7. Tampa, Florida
Seniors love the Tampa area and surrounding communities—St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and Sarasota, among others—thanks to the beaches, golf courses and overall climate.
But there's also the financial factor: low taxes, low overall cost of living, and very affordable assisted living costs.
And while it may not have specifically gay areas, Tampa does have diverse neighborhoods that are generally tolerant. And gay senior groups in the city, such as Prime Timers of Tampa Bay and several LGBT-focused meetup groups, make it easier to build a social milieu in retirement. In addition, the city has numerous gay-owned businesses, supported not just by the community but also by the Tampa Bay Diversity Chamber of Commerce.
6. Orlando, Florida
Despite the tragic events at the Pulse Nightclub just one year ago, Orlando is a gay-friendly city, with low taxes, 250 days of sunshine annually and home to one of the largest gay chambers of commerce in the country; there is ample support for LGBT-owned businesses throughout the city.
There's also The Center, a community program that hosts health and wellness outreach and social activities for LGBT residents over 55.
And for sheer recreational choice, it's tough to beat the abundance of golf courses, city parks, and even Disney World as options for ways to pass the time with friends.
5. Phoenix, Arizona
Low tax rates, affordable property values and 300 days of sunshine make Phoenix a great retirement destination. But it doesn't stop there, of course.
While here are no specifically gay neighborhoods in Phoenix, more than 1 percent of households throughout the city are now gay, and generally accepted. Despite the state's conservative politics, Phoenix itself is more progressive, having recently opened Q High, one of the region's first LGBT-specific schools.
In addition, the city also has a Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce that supports and promotes local gay-owned businesses found throughout Arizona's capital city.
4. Atlanta, Georgia
The Gay Capital of the South has LGBT-owned businesses scattered throughout the Midtown, Kirkwood, and Candler Park neighborhoods, as well as the Atlanta Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and one of the largest Pride Week festivals of any large city in America.
Then there are its health care facilities, a critical factor for older residents. There's an abundance of top-quality healthcare from highly-ranked facilities like the Emory University Hospital system.
Last but not least, relatively mild weather, more than 100 golf courses in the area and not just a low cost of living but some of the lowest prices for senior living services of any major American metro area.
3. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota
Both cities' scores were so similar that SeniorScore ranked them the same, with progressive and tolerant environments and high LGBT populations—both having just under 4 percent.
And there's plenty of entertainment in the area, with gay-friendly restaurants and bars. According to SeniorScore, "The Advocate even went as far as to call Minneapolis 'The Gayest City in America!'"
It's also relatively affordable, with excellent senior access to health care services from one of more than 25 area hospitals. There's also an abundance of assisted living and retirement communities throughout the Twin Cities, and the average life expectancy is almost five years higher than the national average.
2. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale has most of the same gay-friendly accommodations and nightlife as Miami, according to its SeniorScore, but in a more laid-back and affordable environment.
In addition, the city has the highest concentration of gay couples of any major American city, with about 3 percent of all households.
More affordable than many other beach havens, it also offers an income-tax-free environment—remember, Florida doesn't have one—and the city also boasts many gay-friendly bars and clubs around the Wilton Manors area. But if you'd rather be out in the sunshine, there are also more than 100 area golf courses and dozens of city parks and public beaches.
1. Austin, Texas
With more than 5 percent of Austin's population identifying as gay, the city is known as a political hub for LGBT advocacy.
And that's not all; not only are gay- and lesbian-owned businesses supported by the overall community, there's an Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, a "thriving social scene" as well as "an abundance of gay bars and a Pride Week that rivals those in many large coastal cities."
And then of course there are the city's other attractions, such as outdoor recreation, a focus on wellness and relative affordability despite rising prices.
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