The website islands.com recently released their list of cities and towns in North Carolina deemed as tops for LGBTQ+ folks. Among them are Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Carrboro, Charlotte, Durham, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Wilmington, Cary and the Outer Banks. Though the article didn’t rank the cities, Charlotte placed fourth on the list as one of the areas that queer folk felt represented.
The Queen City’s growing population has inevitably brought with it an ever-increasing queer scene. Charlotte’s various LGBTQ+ organizations create plenty of opportunities to keep us busy. More than 200,000 people attend CLT Pride annually. Pride-related events, like the LGBTQ+ film festival, are big draws for local and surrounding communities. Charlotte also has a rich history of LGBTQ+ clubs and bars, popular restaurants and community events.
Of particular note is Chapel Hill, known as a progressive college town and for its welcoming environment. Rainbow flags can be seen along Franklin Street. And the official town website doesn’t hide its queer history. In 1987 and 1991, the city elected the first openly gay councilman, Joe Herzenberg. The town’s inclusive history has led to many opportunities for queer people, like UNC Health’s gender affirming care.
With the third highest population in the state, Greensboro was consistently ranked as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly cities in North Carolina. The Guilford Green Foundation & LGBTQ Center plays a large role in queer life. By creating support groups, space for events, and access to health care, Greensboro ensures that LGBTQ+ lives are taken care of and valued. In 2025, the town got a perfect score of 100 (for the fifth year in a row) on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index.
Oddly missing from the list? Asheville. Considering the city’s large queer population and progressive politics, it’s a mystery why the town wasn’t include.
Though state legislation continues to restrict queer rights, cities and towns like Charlotte and others listed here continue to support and protect their communities with NDOs that provide welcoming environments. Any of the towns and cities chosen by Islands.com are well worth a visit as well as a potentially great place to call home. And so is Asheville!
For more details visit the Islands website at https://www.islands.com/2087316/most-inclusive-north-carolina-cities-lgbtq-people-welcoming-communities-comfortable-living/
This ranking of North Carolina’s LGBTQ-friendly cities is a vital resource for our community in 2026. It’s encouraging to see cities like Greensboro and Chapel Hill maintaining their perfect MEI scores, while Charlotte’s progress reflects the strength of our local organizations. Local journalism like QNotes is essential for highlighting where we are thriving and where advocacy is still needed. Thank you for keeping the Carolinas informed and connected on these critical issues!
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