The votes are in for the Best of GayCities 2014, and oh what a great gay world it is.
GayCities members tapped Toronto for the coveted title of “City of the Year.” Savannah won for “Hidden Gem,” while Tel Aviv earned the unusual distinction of best pride parade in a country lacking full marriage equality.
San Francisco was the biggest winner, taking the crown in “Best Gayborhood,” while managing top honors in both “Marriage Mecca” and “Singles Scene.” One thing leads to the other, as they say.
Here’s the complete list of categories, winners and nominees…
- City of the Year: Toronto bested Berlin, London, Rio, Philadelphia, Bangkok
- Pride Without Marriage: Tel Aviv finished in the lead over Austin, Rome, Tokyo, Prague, Dallas
- Sultriest City: Barcelona beat out Bali, Miami, Las Vegas, Bangkok, Mexico City
- Foodie Paradise: Paris narrowly beat out New Orleans, followed closely by Chicago, Austin, Lima, San Francisco
- Fun in the Sun: Puerto Vallarta triumphed over San Diego, Montego Bay, Miami, Cancun, Key West
- Culture Experience: Artifacts in Athens won over Street Art in Melbourne, Ballet in New York, Opera in Vienna, Theatre in Chicago, Jazz in New Orleans
- Layover City: New York was the winner with runner ups London, Miami, Singapore, Chicago, Hong Kong
- Hidden Gem: Savannah over Omaha, Albuquerque, San Antonio, Columbus
- Singles Scene: San Francisco won in a large margin over London, Toronto, Portland, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo
- Marriage Mecca: San Francisco overcame Buenos Aires, Sydney, London, Paris, Madrid
- Honeymoon Hotspots: Hawaii over Costa Rica, Bali, Puerto Rico, Phuket, Provincetown
- Shopping District: Bond Street, London defeated Ginza, Tokyo; Union Square, San Francisco; Paris, Magnificent Mile, Chicago; Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich
- Best Gayborhood: San Francisco took top honors in a landslide over New York, Puerto Vallarta, Philadelphia, Wilton Manners, Chicago
One GayCities member who voted in Best Of GayCities 2014 will receive a trip for two anywhere in the United States where Hyatt operates a hotel for a three night stay, compliments of Hyatt and GayCities. Stay tuned…
jwtraveler
What’s unusual about having the best pride parade in a country without gay marriage? How are the 2 related? Frankly, one would expect that people have MORE reason to take to the streets in a country where they are still demanding equal rights. And let me take this opportunity to reiterate: GAY RIGHTS IS NOT ALL ABOUT GAY MARRIAGE!!
jwtraveler
Is Wilton Manners an etiquette advice columnist?
lykeitiz
@jwtraveler: Lol! Is jw not much of a traveler? Wilton Manors is the Fort Lauderdale FL suburb which has the highest percentage same-sex households in the country, beating even San Fran.
corktownboy
Wow – my hometown is first. There is not much of a gaybourhood now since it is changing, but that’s everywhere. We have a few areas which are quite gay: Leslieville, West Queen West (Queer West), Riverside has a bar or two. It’s really quite comfortable to live free as a gay person here. Cheers.
Sweet Boy
Not Montreal?
Mon Dieu !!!!!!
Billy Budd
In the movie Yossy and Jagger, they mention “Tel Aviv Fairies”. It seems the city is very diverse and gay-friendly. Even in the midst of more primitive societies. My straight brother went there and said the guys were very handsome.
oz1967
How in the fuck is Sydney a Gay Marriage mecca??? Our government is anti gay marriage, civil union or any other form of homosexual union. Prime minister Tony Abbott is an extreme homophobe and has been quoted as saying that gay men scare him. So yeah come and get married down under only if your str8. WTF
kayakriver
Toronto is great and safe if you are gay, but Tel Aviv is miles ahead in terms of day life and nightlife. There’s beautiful beaches, guys are hotter, warmer, and parties and djs are much, much better.
Blackceo
Not surprised at all Tel Aviv won best pride. Its like NYC with a beach. Its way more progressive than u think.
Also agree with Barcelona as most sultriest. If I ever moved to Europe, Barcelona would be in my top three cities to move to. Gorgeous city and the men are so beautiful and friendly.
balehead
“Tel Aviv earned the unusual distinction of best pride parade in a country lacking full marriage equality”
This not that usual in many countries and Cities…More Passive Antisemitism??
Toronto has nothing on Tel Aviv..More Attractive Men and less full of themselves…
redcarpet30
Wish they had a Best Cities for Bears.
Merv
@oz1967: I have to agree. Why was Sydney even in the running when it has no marriage?
As far as the Castro being the best gayborhood, I might have visited at the wrong time, but when I went there it was a ghost town. I snapped a few pics and was gone within half an hour.
JustBob
Don’t care how many categories Tel Aviv is nominated under, I’d never set foot in the country and support Israeli apartheid. Nor should LGBT people if they support freedom and human rights.
semtex
@balehead: We are not all full of ourselves, I for one try to keep enough space in there to accommodate out of town guests.