City in Tennessee, United States
Is Memphis LGBTQ+ friendly?
Is Memphis LGBTQ+ friendly?
Midtown is open and has a Pride festival, but Tennessee laws targeting drag and trans people make Memphis more guarded than coastal cities.
LGBTQ+ laws in United States
Very accepting in big cities and coastal states, more conservative in the rural South. Trans rights vary by state; US passports now show birth sex.
| Status | |
|---|---|
| Same-sex relationships legal | Yes |
| Same-sex marriage | Yes |
| Civil unions or partnerships | Yes |
| Legal gender change | Yes |
| Anti-discrimination law | Partial |
The scene in Memphis
Where to go
- Midtown (Cooper-Young)
- Overton Square
Events
- Mid-South Pride (June)
LGBTQ+ friendliness across United States
| Place | Rating |
|---|---|
| New York City | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Los Angeles | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| San Francisco | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Washington, D.C. | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Chicago | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Boston | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Seattle | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Key West | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Denver | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Portland | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Fort Lauderdale | 5/5 · Very welcoming |
| Las Vegas | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Orlando | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Miami | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Honolulu | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| New Orleans | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| San Diego | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Maui | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Austin | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Miami Beach | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Philadelphia | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Atlanta | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Charleston | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Kauai | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Big Island | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Sedona | 4/5 · Welcoming |
| Nashville | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| San Antonio | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Savannah | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
| Memphis | 3/5 · Tolerant, but be discreet |
Quick answers
Is Memphis safe for LGBTQ+ travelers?
Midtown is open and has a Pride festival, but Tennessee laws targeting drag and trans people make Memphis more guarded than coastal cities.
Is same-sex marriage legal in United States?
Yes.
Where are the LGBTQ+ areas in Memphis?
Midtown (Cooper-Young); Overton Square
More about Memphis
Going to Memphis solo?
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Sources
- ILGA World: legal frameworks
- ESTA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- U.S. Department of State, travel
- Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) fares
- Memphis International Airport
- Memphis Travel (Visit Memphis)
- National Civil Rights Museum
Ratings combine national law with local attitudes and the scene. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.