Once upon a time, San Francisco was flying its freak flag high as the gayest city in America, if not the world. After years of resting on its leather daddy laurels, the City by the Bay has been usurped by none other than the plaid capital of America, if not the world, Seattle.
According to data recently released by the Census Bureau — but unavailable thanks to that accursed government shutdown — of the nation’s 50 most populous cities, Seattle has the highest concentration of gay couples.
The 2012 Census shows that 2.6% of Seattle’s households were same-sex couples; San Fran, which has held the top spot since the census began counting same-sex couples in 2000, is nipping at its heels with 2.5%.
The Seattle Times estimates that “about one in every 17 couple households in the city” is gay. In hindsight, it seemed inevitable that Seattle would outgay Frisco — it was, after all known as the “Queen City” before adopting its current, friend-of-Dorothy moniker as the “Emerald City.”
The majority of same-sex couples in most of the top 50 cities are male, but the numbers are more evenly split in Seattle where 46% are lesbian couples. San Fran does, however, have the most gay male couples, though that didn’t keep SF Weekly from throwing some shade over Seattle’s already overcast parade:
“Perhaps incessant rain is a better backdrop for long-term romance.” Coupled with all that Cisco fog, it’s amazing how anyone can see.
Meanwhile, both Seattle and San Francisco can take a backseat if the lovers in Ft. Lauderdale aren’t busy making out in it: 2.8% of the Florida resort town’s households are comprised of gay couples. With a population of only 170,000 folks or so, it seems you can’t swing a pussy(cat) without smacking some queen in the face.
KeninFTL
Wait. Your opening line is Seattle has the highest concentration. But the last paragraph says it’s Fort Lauderdale. So which is it?
Lifepathnine
I would have thought NYC would have made the top 3. Hmmm, I wonder which cities have the most gay singles 😉
Grrrowler
@KeninFTL: That confused me too, until I looked and realized that Ft. Lauderdale is not one of the 50 most populous cities in the U.S.
Spike
Why anyone gay, single or coupled, choose to live in Texas?
2eo
I won’t lie, I only know one thing about Seattle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIuAKXZWPJw
KeninFTL
@Grrrowler It’s a city alright. Although the population within the actual city limits is only 165,000, the County has 1.75 million! (We’re like LA — big sprawl.) Some of the gayest areas around here are Oakland Park and Wilton Manors, which both touch the boundaries of the City of Fort Lauderdale. Wilton Manors is something like 35% gay!
Grrrowler
@KeninFTL: Oh, I know that it’s definitely a city; I used to live there. But, it’s not one of the 50 largest in the country, so I think that’s why Seattle (where I live BTW) is named as the #1, but then Ft. Laud is mentioned in the final paragraph as having a higher percentage of gay couple households.
Dixie Rect
Seattle is a beautiful place, you should visit, but in the summer!