Advocate taps Salt Lake City as America's Gayest City

This year's survey of America's Gayest cities by the Advocate focuses on less likely locales - like who would have thought that Salt Lake City is this country's gayest city?

That's the conclusion that the Advocate came to, but with this criteria: "Instead, in our third annual accounting of the gayest places in America - according to our totally accurate if decidedly subjective criteria - we look at the per capita queerness of some less expected locales."

This criteria includes LGBT Elected officials (1 point for each official); WNBA teams (1 point each); International Mr. Leather competition semi-finalists (1 point for each city that sent a competitor to the finals); Imperial Court chapters (1 point each); Softball teams that competed in the Gay Softball World Series (1 point for each team); LGBT bookstores (1 point for each); Nude yoga (1 point each); Transgender protection (1 point for every city with laws prohibiting discrimination); and concerts by the Gossips, the Cliks and the Veronicas (1 point for each performance since 2009).

Missing are such markers as the number of Gay Reparation clinics (perhaps next year after Marcus Bachmann expands his empire); number of Log Cabin Republican and GOProud chapters (hey, there gay too); Gay bowling teams (1 point each); Concerts by Gavin Creel, Margaret Cho and cast members from Glee (1 point for each performance since 2009); and tribute concerts to Stephen Sondheim on his 80th birthday (1 point each).

Okay, here are the Advocate's choices, from 15 - 1:

15. Denver

"Denver is simultaneously outdoorsy and a rapidly growing metropolis, and its attitude is exceptionally laid-back and gay-friendly. (Screw the antigay zealots in nearby Colorado Springs.)"

14. Long Beach, Calif.

"Its pride celebration is one of the country's biggest, and the Long Beach Pride float seems to make its way to every other Pride event within 500 miles!"

13. Austin

"No amount of backwoodsiness from previous and current statehouse residents George W. Bush or Rick Perry can taint the cosmopolitan, countercultural, and friendly nature of this capital city."

12. Portland, Ore.

"Bisexual Sleater-Kinney alum Carrie Brownstein has fun on Portlandia ("Put a bird on it!") playing with the rep of the city's hipster, hyper-locavore, hyper-literate, boycott-ready, feminist, fleece-clad denizens."

11. Little Rock, Ark.

"... But not all LGBT life happens in a bar: According to GayChurch.org, nine of the city's churches advertise as LGBT-friendly. Amen!"

10. Grand Rapids, Mich.

"The heart of western Michigan LGBT life is in Grand Rapids, with dancing, drinking, and bingo at the Apartment (ApartmentLounge.net), which has been in operation for over three decades; karaoke at Diversions video bar (DiversionsNightclub.com), and drag shows and go-go boys at Rumors (RumorsNightclub.net)."

9. Atlanta

"We won't fault you for trying to forget Real Housewife Kim Zolciak's dip into the lesbian pool - but don't blame Atlanta if everyone there wants to sample the fun LGBTs have all over town."

8. Knoxville, Tenn.

"... Knoxville has defiantly produced a robust gay scene, including the University of Tennessee's Commission for LGBT People; a welcoming spot for queer, trans, and other marginalized teens at Spectrum Caf� (SpectrumCafe.org); gay-affirming churches; and thriving nightlife."

7. St. Paul and Minneapolis

"... These two cities can't get enough of each other: There's the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus (TCGMC.org), Twin Cities Pride (the 40th annual is June 23-24), and even Quorum: The Twin Cities GLBT and Allied Business Community. Sheesh, just get domestic-partnered already!"

6. Ann Arbor, Mich.

"You don't have to be big to have it going on, as this sixth largest city in Michigan does. The area has one of the few clubs in Michigan catering to dykes: Stiletto's (technically in nearby Inkster) draws in every lesbian in Detroit."

5. Seattle

"When Forbes named Seattle the most miserable sports city in the nation, many of us felt a twinge of empathy... TheStir.com noted that Seattle ranks among the top cities for residents who list "casual sex" as the type of relationship they're seeking."

4. Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"... The area is teeming with gay bars and restaurants, and a ton of guesthouses and spas that run the gamut from mild to spicy. Lesbians are finally starting to move to Fort Lauderdale too, though most girl bars, like New Moon (NewMoonBar.com), are in nearby Wilton Manors."

3. Cambridge, Mass.

"... the town is right next to a little hamlet named Boston, where allegedly LGBT stuff sometimes happens."

2. Orlando, Fla.

"Besides hosting Gay Days at Disney World, where 50,000 LGBT folks and their kids dressed in red T-shirts invade the theme park the first Saturday in June (and spend $100 million in town), Orlando has more gay softball teams than you can shake a Louisville Slugger at. "

1. Salt Lake City

"While those unfamiliar with the Beehive State are likely to conjure images of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, far-less-oppressive-than-it-used-to-be Salt Lake City has earned its queer cred. There are more than a half-dozen hot spots for men and women, including the eco-friendly nightclub Jam (JamSLC.com), though the sustainable bamboo flooring is perhaps less of a draw than the packed dance floor."

The Best of the Rest
Our Honorable Mentions

16. Washington, D.C.
17. New Orleans
18. San Francisco
19. Pittsburgh
20. Salem, Ore.
21. Madison, Wis.
22. Eugene, Ore.
23. Oakland, Calif.
24. Boston
25. Kansas City, Mo.