Austin has a long history with the LGBTQ+ community. This beautiful southern Texas city has become a hotspot for people from all walks of life looking for a fresh start. The city is vibrant and inclusive, with gay-friendly neighborhoods.
Despite Texas's reputation for being less welcoming to the community, Austin has been a hub for the LGBTQ+ movement across the decades. The first gay bar in the city, The Manhattan Club, opened in 1957. The first public meeting for gay men and women was held in 1970, when the Gay Liberation Front was born. The city’s first Pride parade was held in 1971: just one year after the first Pride parade in the world, held in 1970 in New York City.
In 1979, the Chispas formed a community seeking to support gay and lesbian Latinos, showing that the city has a long history of supporting folks from all backgrounds. Austin was also one of the first cities in the country to enact anti-discrimination legislation that ensures LGBTQ people have the same access to housing as their peers.
Through the years, Austin has become one of the safest and best places for LGBTQ+ individuals. With a score of 100/100 from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s MEI scale, the whole city has a liberal attitude, but some neighborhoods have developed an even greater reputation for being gay-friendly than most.
Hyde Park
Hyde is a welcoming neighborhood north of Downtown. It’s one of the city's most charming and gay-friendly neighborhoods. Most people here have a progressive attitude and value a sense of community.
On July 1, 1972, a few hundred people marched from Hydemto Trafalgar Square, advocating for lesbian and gay rights. This pivotal event in LGBTQ+ history is a significant chapter in the story of Speakers' Corner, an area of the Park used by protestors since the mid-1800s.
People love the tree-lined streets and laid-back vibe of the community. It’s still lively, though, so it’s a great place if you’re looking for balance.
Best Spots and Events in Hyde Park
Hyde is more of a residential spot, so while there isn’t an abundance of bars to visit, some great things to do here are:
See a live performance at the Park Theatre
Spend time outdoors at Snipe Neighborhood Park
Enjoy festive markets and ice skating at Winter Wonderland during the holiday season
See top music acts at British Summer Time Hyde Park in the summer
Our Favorite Spot in Hyde Park
If you’re looking for a great place to eat in this gay-friendly community, you should check out Lutie’s Garden Restaurant. It's a gorgeous restaurant that is LGBTQ+-friendly. The unique menu filled with fresh seafood is a huge draw for people.
Moving to Hyde
The homes here average around $607,000. Since this is a more residential area of the city, the schools are generally good, and you’ll find a lot of families here as well as younger people. It’s not far from the city center, making it an excellent neighborhood for commuters.
Downtown Austin
Downtown is the epicenter of the gay and lesbian community in Austin, Texas, especially around 4th Street. It's where you’ll find a majority of gay clubs and bars, including the world-renowned Oilcan Harry’s. It’s exciting and urban, and there’s always something to do. You’ll also find important gay activist centers, such as Atticus Circle and Equality Texas, nearby to serve as a reminder of how important LGBTQ life is in Austin.
The main attraction of this neighborhood is the nightlife and restaurant scene. Fun mixers and events are constantly happening, making it perfect for those who want to live in an urban area. Those who want a quieter home life surrounded by luxury homes might choose Travis Heights, which is right across the river but still close enough to enjoy all the sights.
Best Spots and Events in Downtown Austin
The city center of Austin has more than enough things to do to keep you entertained. A few of the top things locals love doing are:
Celebrate Pride with the Austin Pride Parade
Hit the dance floor at Cheer Up Charlies
Experience lively drag shows and a friendly vibe at Oilcan Harry's
Toast to LGBTQ creativity at the OUTsider Festival
Our Favorite Spot in Downtown
Our favorite spot in this gay-friendly neighborhood is The Iron Bear. It’s one of the best locally owned and operated gay bars. We love the friendly and exciting atmosphere, karaoke nights, and happy hour specials.
Moving to Downtown Austin
Many gay men call this area of Austin home, but living Downtown comes with a price. If you want to buy a condo or house Downtown, be prepared to spend around $852,000 since there are a lot of luxury homes and condos here.
South Congress
Better known as SoCo, it’s another popular gay neighborhood and, some say, one of the most gay-friendly neighborhoods in the city. It blends urban and suburban, offering historic homes, great shopping options, and iconic venues like The Continental Club. Beautiful murals splashed across the street remind visitors that this is a place where diversity is treasured. This area trends a little older, with the median age being around 37, and has a large Latino population.
SoCo has a more artsy or boho vibe, but you don’t have to fit that mold to live there. The welcoming attitude and sense of community throughout make it a gay-friendly district.
Best Spots and Events in South Congress
SoCo is a beautiful community with many fun things going on. Some of the best are:
Catch a show at the historic Continental Club
Attend South Austin Summer Fest
Dance the night away at Rain on 4th, a well-known LGBTQ+ nightclub in Austin, featuring themed nights and drag shows
Celebrate LGBTQ+ culture at the annual Austin International Drag Festival and Queerbomb event
Our Favorite Spot in South Congress
We’re huge fans of the restaurant Ovenbird in SoCo. While we love the delicious breakfast items they serve, the biggest reason we love them is that they host a drag brunch every third Saturday.
Moving to South Congress
SoCo is filled with mid-century homes and happens to be one of the most affordable gayborhoods in Austin, Texas. Homes here average around $454,000. It’s not far from Downtown and still has streets lined with plenty of things to do outside that area.
East Austin
This area is popular because it has a weird, offbeat vibe. Its diverse population accepts people for their differences and has built a great community.
What we love about this area of town is its diversity. It’s artsy but also has a vibrant nightlife. You’ll find low-key spots like breweries, excellent street art, and dance parties. It’s great for experiencing urban life without being directly in the heart of the city center.
Young gays and lesbians love that they can bar-hop or stroll to the coffee shop with confidence, as the area is quite safe and the neighbors are welcoming. Additionally, its strong history of Black American and Latino heritage is represented in institutions like the George Washington Carver Museum and Hermanos de East Austin, sharing stories of East Austin’s unique past and working to imagine an even more welcoming future.
Nearby University Hills is an excellent choice for families, with a great park to play in and tons of community events. Both East Austin and University Hills have a Niche rating of A for diversity, ensuring you’ll always feel right at home.
Best Spots and Events in East Austin
This gay-friendly neighborhood is a great place to enjoy entertainment. Whether you like being outside, admiring art, or trying restaurants, some of the best things to do are:
Spend the day on Lady Bird Lake
View artwork at East Austin Street Art
Our Favorite Spot in East Austin
Even though this district is close to the best bars and restaurants, our favorite spot is The Little Gay Shop. This adorable shop is dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. You can shop for everything you need for Pride and buy LGBTQ+-written books and apparel.
Moving to East Austin
East Austin is where a lot of the gay and lesbian population live in Austin. It’s close enough to Downtown nightlife without being constantly immersed in the scene. Homes here average around $560,000, making it one of the more affordable
gayborhoods in Austin.
Be a Local to One of Austin’s Best Gay Neighborhoods
Moving to Austin offers you many opportunities to live in gay-friendly neighborhoods that support one another. It offers something for everyone; with historic homes, luxury condos, and everything in between, you can find a place for yourself or your family.
Many homeowners will need to provide a down payment to secure a loan, but this amount varies. It’s common to see a down payment option of 3% or 5%. However, many homeowners opt for a 20% down payment when possible.
The average home sells for around $570,000 in Austin. If you want to provide a 20% down payment and avoid private mortgage insurance, this means you’d need to save up around $114,000, which may seem quite difficult. However, Pride Lending is here to help: we’ll get you in touch with local, state, and national down payment assistance programs that can ease the cost. We’ll search for national programs that you may also qualify for, as well as look at different loan options that might meet your needs.
For example, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation offers both a 0% interest loan and a shared equity DPA program, which can provide funding for anywhere from $1,000 to $40,000, depending on your eligibility and income. The Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation also provides down payment assistance as either a forgivable second loan or a grant. Your eligibility will depend on your income, credit score, and where you are purchasing.
Regardless of the neighborhood and loan product you think will be the best for you, you’ll find welcoming and LGBTQ+-friendly communities in this Southern belle of a city.
If you are considering buying a home in Austin, we can help you through the pre-approval process and show you all the loan options and programs available to help you get your dream home in the perfect location.
Pride Lending is the premier mortgage broker for LGBTQ and BIPOC individuals; we help people from all walks of life get the funding they need to afford their needs. Our staff is made up of allies and members of marginalized communities, all striving to provide excellent customer service to every client regardless of their background. We’ll match you to the right programs for your needs, including FHA loans, VA loans, conventional loans, and specialized investment products.
To get started on your homeownership journey, call us at 725-231-0192 or email us for further details. You can also apply online to see exactly how much you can afford!
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