Chicago is a fun and welcoming city for the gay and lesbian community throughout the year. The city is the hub of gay life for much of the Midwestern heartland, drawing visitors for nightlife and weekend getaways from throughout Illinois and neighboring states. Chicago is also considered one of the premier gay and lesbian travel destinations in the U.S., especially during major annual events such as Market Days, Pride and International Mr. Leather (IML).

Chicago's active and politically powerful lesbian and gay community has roots back to the 1920s, when Henry Gerber founded the "Society for Human Rights," which was focused on educating the heterosexual community about homosexuality and the laws that criminalized it. Gays and lesbians were very visible at the time, especially in "Towertown," a neighborhood of artists, poets, lesbians and gay men close to the Water Tower at Chicago and Michigan avenues. Chicago's Mattachine Society chapter was founded in the early 1950s, and is credited with developing a handbook of gay and lesbian legal rights with the help of lawyer Pearl Hart. Hart and Gerber are remembered as important community leaders at the Gerber Hart Gay and Lesbian Library (1127 W. Granville, 773-381-8030).

After the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, Chicago's gay and lesbian community became more politically active and demanded equal rights. Activists founded the Chicago Gay Liberation, which led political activities and hosted a forum attended by a large number of gay rights organizations in 1972. In the 1980s, the gay and lesbian community emerged as an important constituency in Chicago politics which continues today.

The epicenter of gay life in Chicago is Northalsted - also referred to as Boystown - where a concentration of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses line North Halsted, Belmont, Clark and Broadway. Head to North Halsted and Roscoe to place yourself in the middle of it all. Take the Red Line to the Belmont stop to start at the southern end of the strip, or the Addison stop to land on the northern end. Don't be surprised when you see Wrigley Field pop up at the Addison stop. The famous ballpark and rows of sports bars are just yards from the gay neighborhood. The Number 8 bus also runs up Halsted.

Northalsted is more than bars and clubs - it is a microcosm for the gay and gay-friendly, and a true center for the community. The lively strip of shops, nightlife and restaurants is surrounded by a beautiful residential neighborhood that, like so many LGBT areas, has experienced a magnificent renaissance. Quiet neighborhood-style pubs, leather bars, late-night dance clubs, piano bars and drag show lounges meld in with art galleries, bed-and-breakfasts, fine restaurants and eclectic shops.

Chicago offers more than one gay-friendly neighborhood from which to choose. North on Broadway from Northalsted between Lawrence and Foster is Uptown, a growing neighborhood that offers a smattering of bars, restaurants and shops.

Further north is Andersonville, a charming neighborhood where its historically Swedish influence mixes well with a growing gay and lesbian population. Clark Street - between Argyle and Bryn Mawr - is lined with a tapestry of shops offering antiques, housewares, Swedish gourmet foods and jewelry, alongside gay-friendly restaurants and bars. The main strip is five blocks west of the Red Line's Berwyn or Bryn Mawr station, or can be reached by the Number 22, 36 or 92 bus lines.

The gay-friendly village of Oak Park is famous as the home of author Ernest Hemingway and architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and the site of more Wright-designed houses than anyplace in the world. Take the Green Line from Downtown to visit Wright's home and studio, the Hemingway Museum and Unity Temple, and shop and dine in one of Chicago's most welcoming suburbs.

Chicago may be known as "Boystown," but the city's neighborhoods and nightlife cater to lesbians as well. Women can be found in most of the bars and clubs, but The Closet in Northalsted, and T's and Stargaze in Andersonville are popular lesbian gathering places. Andersonville is also a popular residential neighborhood for lesbians.

As you prepare for your trip to the "Big Easy," you are sure to look forward to exploring the gay and lesbian characteristics of the city. The city's past and present are based on diversity - it's a true melting pot that serves as the foundation of the unique New Orleans experience. Individuality and self expression are societal norms, which perhaps is why writers, artists, musicians and actors have flocked to the city and region.

For an in-depth look into New Orleans' gay history and community, book a Gay Heritage Tour with The Bienville Foundation, which has educated visitors about the city's role in gay history for a decade. The two-and-a-half hour tour covers the Clay Shaw trial, the New Orleans Liberation Front and gay Mardi Gras traditions, as well as Tennessee Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston and other prominent GLBT New Orleanians. Reservations are required (504-945-6789).

Traditionally, the French Quarter has been the center of gay life in New Orleans. Like America's other gay friendly cities, it offers creative and alternative-lifestyle freedom to its residents. The downriver end remains the center for high-profile nightclubs attractive to national and international GLBT visitors. At the epicenter are Bourbon and St. Ann streets, but many of the nightclubs, businesses and restaurants that cater to the GLBT community may be found from North Rampart to Decatur streets, and from St. Louis downriver towards the Marigny.

During the past decade the adjacent Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods have emerged as the residential center for gay and lesbian New Orleanians. About one-third of the businesses catering to them have relocated there. Many of the city's gay-friendly bed & breakfasts are located here, where proprietors can provide an insider's view of the community and the city. New Orleans' Southern hospitality is only enhanced in the gay community, where living like locals is encouraged. Stop into the Lesbian and Gay Community Center of New Orleans (2114 Decatur Street in the Marigny) for information about local events and organizations. The biweekly newspaper Ambush (www.Ambushmag.com) contains entertainment and event listings to help you plan your visit.

The city's GLBT community is an important part of New Orleans history and continues to play a leading role in the city's rebirth. Some of the city's largest gay events that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors annually began as private parties within the community. The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, Reel Identities: LGBT Film Fest, Southern Decadence (Labor Day weekend), Halloween in New Orleans, the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival/New Orleans, and Gay Pride New Orleans provide plenty of cultural and festive motivations for locals and out-of-towners alike.

While not strictly a gay event, what could be considered more gay-friendly than Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras has plenty of GLBT heritage dating back to the 1950s and some specific gay components, including celebrations by the community's Krewe of Petronius and the Krewe of Barkus Parade, a beloved canine pageant originated by the gay community. The pageantry and tradition of Mardi Gras are a living demonstration of pride for the local GLBT community.

Philadelphia is known around the world as the birthplace of American independence and democracy, but the city boasts a long gay civil rights history as well. Some of the nation's first gay rights protests took place here in 1965, predating the landmark Stonewall Riots. The "Annual Reminders" were staged in front of Independence Hall through 1969 with increasing numbers. These pioneers chose the symbolism of Philadelphia as the site to stage what is now recognized as the beginning of the U.S. and international gay civil rights movement. Courageous Philadelphians continued to advance the causes for the LGBT community into the 1970s and 1980s. Activist Mark Segal founded Philadelphia Gay News in 1976, one of the first gay and lesbian newspapers in the country. Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and other national organizations trace their roots back to Philadelphia.

Today, the Philadelphia LGBT community is active and influential in business, politics and social circles. The community is represented in city and state government, corporate boardrooms and civic organizations. Gay-owned businesses thrive not only in the Gayborhood but also throughout the city and region. Various professional, social and recreational groups foster a strong and healthy network that makes Philadelphia a great place to live and work for LGBT individuals and families.

Philadelphia has also become recognized as a leader in gay meetings and travel. National associations including the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association and the National Gay & Lesbian Law Foundation have met in Philadelphia. The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation's award-winning "Philadelphia - Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay ®" campaign and the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau's international tourism campaigns continue to attract visitors from around the world to experience gay-friendly Philadelphia for themselves.

Pittsburgh is a popular regional destination, and a new hot spot for gay travelers worldwide. The city is home to a diverse and friendly population, an active gay community and plentiful gay nightlife.

This is the childhood home of Andy Warhol (from 1928-1949) and the museum that bears his name. The movie Boys on the Side was filmed here as was Silence of the Lambs. This is where the Renaissance City Choir raises its voices to create change and energize the gay and lesbian community; and Proudly Present Productions produces mainstream Broadway-style shows to benefit community charities.

The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill (412-422-0114, www.glccpgh.org) serves the GLBT communities and community-at-large through a spectrum of services, a library of more than 2,000 GLBT-related volumes, and social "OUTrageous Bingo" parties held monthly. The free community newspaper, Pittsburgh Out (www.outpub.com), is published monthly and can be picked up at local bars, coffee shops and large bookstores.

A progressive town in a progressive state, San Diego has long been considered a great place for gays and lesbians to live and visit. The city has boasted the country's first openly gay district attorney, as well as several out city officials, including a lesbian mayor. Gay and lesbian city residents enjoy laws that grant benefits to domestic partners and protect against discrimination. The epicenter of San Diego's LGBT community is the neighborhood of Hillcrest, located just north of Downtown. Visitors are greeted by the famous neon sign bearing the neighborhood's name at Fifth and University Avenues. Once you arrive, you'll have no question that Hillcrest is a great place to live and play. And while the neighborhood caters to the LGBT community, you will find it's "straight friendly" too.

From sidewalk cafes to outdoor bars to rainbow draped store windows, there's no doubt you are in good company. Hillcrest has been the heart of the community since the 1970s, but a growing number of gay and lesbian bars, restaurants and shops have expanded into neighboring University Heights and North Park. Without a doubt, San Diego boasts one of the largest gay and lesbian districts in the U.S. The San Diego LGBT Community Center, "The Center" for short, has been supporting the gay and lesbian community since 1973. Located in Hillcrest off University Avenue, the magnificent Centre Street building serves as the hub of the community.

If you are looking for fresh and creative performances, Diversionary Theatre is one of the oldest and most respected gay and lesbian theatres in the country. Opened in 1986 and located in University Heights, Diversionary Theatre produces critically acclaimed dramas and musicals with gay, lesbian and bisexual themes and characters. For the ultimate tanning experience, head to the famous clothing-optional Black's Beach. Located in La Jolla, it is enjoyed by gay and straight men and women. Black's was named one of the "10 most gorgeous gay beaches on Earth" by Out Traveler magazine. Please, don't forget the sun block. Community news and event listings for Southern California can be found in a number of newspapers and magazines such as Buzz Magazine, the Gay and Lesbian Times and IN Magazine. For a complete listing of gay-friendly businesses, pick up the Greater San Diego Business Association's annual Directory. And grab a copy of the HillQuest Urban Guide for a detailed look at San Diego's iconic LGBT neighborhood.