If you’re moving to Michigan, you may be a bit concerned at first. After all, the state isn’t known for being one of the leaders of LGBT rights. However, there are a number of cities in the state that are quite open and progressive. While some of the smaller towns are more conservative, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a gay or lesbian real estate agent in larger cities. Here are some of the most open and welcoming cities in the Michigan.
Detroit
The most well-known city in Michigan and the home of the auto industry, Detroit was once the home to a major LGBT community called Palmer Park. However, it reached its peak in the 1980s. Many of the residents moved out of the area due to the increasing amount of crime. However, now that that is no longer an issue, Detroit is once again home to a good number of gays and lesbians. The city hosts the Motor City Pride festival every year.
East Lansing
Situated to the east of Lansing, East Lansing is one of the few cities to receive a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign. The city was given 100% on the HRC’s Municipal Equality Index in 2014. While it has dropped a few points since then, East Lansing still ranks highly on the list. East Lansing was one of the first cities in Michigan to pass an ordinance banning discrimination in hiring. The city holds many different pride activities every year, too.
Ferndale
Ferndale is another amazingly inclusive city. It’s considered a suburb of Detroit, and when many LGBT people left Palmer Park, they moved to Ferndale. The city has had several openly gay mayors and is home to many LGBT businesses.
Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor made news when it became the first city in the state to have a domestic partner registry. The registry was created in 1991, years before many other cities were considering registries or same-sex marriage. The city was one of the first to have an openly gay elected official. One of the few downsides to Ann Arbor is that housing costs are higher than the state’s average.
Pleasant Ridge
Not all of the most LGBT-friendly cities in Michigan are huge. Pleasant Ridge is a small town of about 2,500. However, it’s also very welcoming. The US Census shows that the town has almost 60 same-sex households per every 1,000. While that may not sound like much, it is the seventh-highest percentage in the state. For those who want to live in a smaller community, Pleasant Ridge is a great option.