Retirement coming up? Concerned about any hassles—or worse—that could lie ahead if the community learns you're gay? Tired of refighting battles that should have been won years ago? As CNBC points out, you're not alone; a 2018 Gallup report found that the gay population in the U.S. isn't small, with about 11 million people—4.5 percent of American adults—identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. In fact, the gay community "skews younger," with only 23 percent age 50 or older. And according to SeniorAdvice.com, statistics on the gay community could actually be deceptive, since so many older LGBTQ people encountered so much hate in the past. With current protections for the community under threat from, of all places, the highest levels of the government, and incidents of hate crimes on the rise, it's probably not surprising that the report also cites more Gallup data that reveals a slight decline since 2012 in the percentage of boomers who identify as LGBTQ. In such a fraught atmosphere, therefore, friendlier cities beckon as retirement havens—but friendliness is not all would-be retirees should look for, especially since there are plenty of other issues to consider when choosing a retirement destination that the straight community may not have to think about. Everything from medical care, attitudes in public places and estate concerns to shared residences in senior developments, regulations on domestic partners, bans on "conversion therapy" and other state and local protections are all elements that can support or destroy a welcoming quality of life. SeniorAdvice took a long look at such factors, including the percentage of LGBTQ population in the area, the city's score according to the Human Rights Campaign Municipal Equality Index (HRCME examines such elements as laws, policies and services for LGBTQ people), LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce presence, the number of gay-friendly senior communities, local and state legislation protecting the LGBTQ community, cost of living (including housing, food, transportation and health care) for the area, the city's SeniorScore and other essentials to a comfortable retired life, and came up with the 10 cities it says provide the most LGBTQ-friendly atmosphere for retirees. Have a look at the slides above and see if any of the 10 cities appeal to you.

Instant Insights /

10 most LGBTQ-friendly retirement cities

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