The Big Easy has always been a cultural hub for artists, musicians, and colorful characters, as well as a destination for the gay community.
New Orleans was gay-friendly long before other cities were. America's oldest gay social organization, the Steamboat Club, was founded in 1953, and the Gay Liberation Front of New Orleans was active in the early 1970s. Famous gay residents have included playwright Tennessee Williams and photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston.
Every August, New Orleans hosts Southern Decadence, their Pride festival, which draws upwards of 180,000 people, according to the New Orleans official site. Even though Mardi Gras gets all the attention, this party is the city's fifth-largest tourist attraction, drawing $215 million in revenue for the city.
In addition to festivals, New Orleans is home to gay-friendly bars such as Cafe Lafitte In Exile, The Oz, and Napoleon's Itch — and that's just the French Quarter.