Atlanta, the Georgia state capital, is often considered the unofficial gay capital of the southern USA.

Key West is a popular, year-round destination to relax in the warm Florida sun. It’s long been a welcoming place for LGBT travelers, artists and freethinkers.

The annually updated SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index offers one of the clearest overviews of how welcoming — or restrictive — the world is for LGBTIQ+ travelers. Covering 217 countries and regions (plus a dedicated U.S. breakdown), it reflects both legal frameworks and real-world social conditions shaping queer lives today. More than just a ranking, it acts as a bird’s-eye view of global equality, safety, and visibility.