Visit the New Meccas of Marriage Equality: Maryland, Maine, Minnesota and Washington

Yesterday was a historic day for the marriage equality movement in America. All four states with ballot measures regarding same-sex marriage came in victorious. And it doesn’t hurt either that we have our friend in the White House for four more years.

In Washington, Maryland and Maine, voters passed measures guaranteeing marriage equality for same-sex couples. In Minnesota, voters turned down a measure to ban gay marriage. It was a cross-continental sweep for equality!

There is no better time to visit those four states and thank our brethren and allies for voting on the side of history. Here is some of the emerging gay meccas travelers ought to check out:

Although the gay scene in Portland, Maine may not be so in your face, that is what is part of the city’s charm. There are a few gay dive bars and gay-friendly cocktail lounges, but over all locals here makes no fuss about LGBT mingling at any bar, restaurant or hotel in town. For those looking for a more colorful vacation, Maine’s inexpensive gay resort town of Ogunquit should do the trick. Spend the day at the picturesque Ogunquit Beach and continue with a night out at a piano bar and lounges scattered nearby the intersection of Main Street and Shore Road.

There’s a reason why queer quirky filmmaker John Waters has so many movies based off his hometown of Baltimore: the Charm City has always been a welcoming hotspot for the LGBT community. Mount Vernon is where you’ll find all the bars and clubs. And now that same-sex marriage is legal in the state, lovebird shouldn’t miss sightseeing Baltimore’s romantic waterfronts.

Progressive travelers can’t miss the opportunity to visit the liberal hub state of Washington now that same-sex marriage has been legalized. Seattle gay life revolves around Capitol Hill, whereas in Tacoma, the gays hang out in St. Helens District. For a more indie, queer scene escape to the capital, Olympia.

Minneapolis was one of the first cities in the country to ban anti-gay discrimination  yesterday the entire state banned a measure to enforce marriage between a man and a woman. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Minneapolis along with nearby neighbor St. Paul are emerging as mini gay meccas, whether Michelle Bachmann likes it or not.

Photo: Brett Curtiss

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