June may be Pride month, but potential LGBTQ+ attendees may not be feeling the love right now — and may even not feel that it’s safe to travel to attend a U.S. meeting or event, even if they reside in the U.S. Here are some ways to help your LGBTQ+ attendees feel both safe and welcomed, starting with the choice of host city.

The current U.S. administration has made several moves in the past few months that may have made the LGBTQ+ community more hesitant to travel to U.S.–based meetings and events. Even WorldPride, a three-week celebration that started May 17 in Washington, D.C., appears to be drawing less of a crowd than anticipated.

Many LGBTQ+ International travelers have taken the U.S. off their lists entirely, especially trans folks, who may be feeling particularly reluctant due to President Trump’s executive order to restrict U.S. passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroads to those that have an M or F sex marker that matches the traveler’s biological sex at birth.

The larger LGBTQ+ community also has been shaken by other recent executive orders. The administration’s demand that the National Institute for the Arts deny grants to projects that promote what the president calls “gender ideology,” its directing agencies to limit gender-affirming care, and its implementation of a ban on transgender individuals from serving in the military, all have the LGBTQ+ community feeling that the U.S. may not be as safe, much less as welcoming, as it once was.

Selecting a host city known for being LGBTQ+-friendly can be a foundational step in making LGBTQ attendees feel safe and included. To help LGBTQ travelers, including both U.S.–based and international attendees, determine where it will be safest for them to go in today’s political climate, a group of LGBTQ+ hosts and hotels called misterb&b recently released its annual misterb&b Queer Safety Index (QSI). The index ranks cities using a weighted model that includes most booked cities on misterb&b, state policies, local protections, legislative risks such as ACLU anti-LGBTQ bills, community support such as PFLAG presence, and safety indicators including FBI-reported overall hate crimes.

At the top of the list is Chicago, which features established gay neighborhoods like Boystown and Andersonville, a rich history of LGBTQ activism and a visible, active community. Also at the top of the list is Seattle, a hub for LGBTQ activism, with welcoming neighborhoods and annual Pride celebrations; San Francisco, which is renowned for its LGBTQ history, activism, and inclusive culture; and Portland, Ore., and San Diego, both of which are known for being trans-friendly, progressive and open-minded, with a range of LGBTQ-owned businesses and events.

And don’t rule out cities in states not known for being LGBTQ+-friendly. Several cities in deep red states also made the list, including Tampa, Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, and Dallas, Houston and Austin in Texas.

For a comprehensive assessment, a good resource to consult is the Human Rights Campaign’s State Equality Index, which rates legal protections in each state.

There are a number of other strategies that can help as well:

• Vet venues for explicit diversity and inclusion policies, staff inclusivity training, and availability of gender-neutral restrooms.

• Partner with LGBTQ-owned or affirming vendors and suppliers.

• Publicize a clear non-discrimination and zero-tolerance policy for harassment or biased behavior, both in pre-event materials and on-site signage.

• Designate a visible point of contact for attendees to report concerns or incidents.

• Use gender-neutral and inclusive language on all forms, badges and communications.

• Allow attendees to specify their pronouns and preferred names, and display these on badges if they wish.

• Offer a range of gender identifiers, including non-binary options, and a gender-neutral title such as “Mx.”

• Ensure the venue has at least one clearly marked gender-neutral restroom and communicate restroom policies that affirm attendees’ rights to use facilities matching their gender identity.

• Walk through the venue before the event to check for inclusion and accessibility gaps.

• Train all staff, vendors, and speakers on inclusive language and respectful engagement.

• Encourage speakers to use gender-neutral greetings and avoid assumptions about attendees’ identities.

• Include LGBTQ voices in speaker lineups and panels in a meaningful, non-tokenistic way.

• Host networking mixers or social events that celebrate LGBTQ culture, such as featuring queer artists or collaborating with local LGBTQ organizations.

• Provide information on local LGBTQ-friendly establishments and resources.

• Use imagery and language in event materials that reflect diverse genders, relationships, and families.

• Advertise in LGBTQ media and include LGBTQ symbols or rainbow icons in collateral.

• Establish a clear protocol for addressing disrespectful behavior, including microaggressions and misgendering.

• After the event, solicit feedback from LGBTQ attendees to identify areas for improvement and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing inclusion.

By thoughtfully selecting your host city and implementing these on-site best practices, meeting planners can create a genuinely safe, welcoming and affirming environment for LGBTQ attendees, regardless of broader political climates.

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