Charlotte is a gay-friendly city, especially compared to the other parts of North Carolina and the American South. The city has dozens of LGBTQ-friendly businesses and organizations, and an annual Pride celebration that features a parade and film festival. It is hard to estimate how many LGBTQ people live in Charlotte, but experts estimate that around 4% of the city’s population identifies as LGBTQ.
Charlotte is North Carolina’s biggest city, and there are estimated to be over 100,000 queer people in the Charlotte metropolitan area. Charlotte is not known for its gay population in the way that San Francisco or New York are, but it is overall a welcoming place for LGBTQ people.
- Gay-Friendly Neighborhoods in Charlotte
- LGBTQ Rights and Laws in Charlotte, NC
- Is Charlotte a Good Place for LGBTQ Families?
- Are There LGBTQ-Friendly Employers in Charlotte?
- What is Charlotte Pride Like?
- LGBTQ Nightlife in Charlotte, NC – Gay Bars and Clubs
- LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly businesses in Charlotte
- References
Gay-Friendly Neighborhoods in Charlotte
For queer people visiting or moving to a new city, the natural question is which neighborhoods are best for LGBTQ people. We suggest starting by exploring the neighborhoods we list below. Read more about each of them in our article about Charlotte’s gayest neighborhoods.
- NoDa – Charlotte’s artsy district, with bohemian vibes. Plenty of breweries and bars, and plenty of queer people.
- Plaza Midwood – A unique neighborhood east of Uptown, near NoDa. Plaza is a mix of residential and commercial, with bars, restaurants, and breweries (yes, Charlotte has a lot of breweries) centered around Central Avenue.
- South End – Charlotte’s busiest dining and retail district featuring tons of breweries and bars. The crowd here tends to be younger, but the neighborhood is still relatively family-friendly.
- Uptown – Charlotte’s city center with a metropolitan feel. Uptown is home to the city’s tallest buildings and a good fit for queer people who want a big-city feel.
- Dilworth – A residential neighborhood with many young and established families, just south of Uptown and just east of South End. Great for queer people who want a quieter neighborhood that isn’t too far from the action.
- Elizabeth – Similar to Dilworth, this neighborhood is mostly residential but not far from the action in Plaza Midwood and Uptown. Elizabeth and Dilworth both have great access to parks and green spaces.
LGBTQ Rights and Laws in Charlotte, NC
Many North Carolina cities, including Charlotte, have passed anti-discrimination laws that protect against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Although the state of North Carolina caught headlines for its misguided bathroom law in 2017, this law has since been overturned.
Charlotte’s anti-discrimination ordinances work to prevent discrimination against gay and trans people in employment, housing, access to public spaces, and other areas of life. The history of anti-discrimination ordinances for LGBTQ people in Charlotte goes back as far as the early 1990s, although the current ordinance was passed in 2021.
Is Charlotte a Good Place for LGBTQ Families?
Charlotte is a very popular place to live for young and established families. LGBTQ families are no exception.
While you will find fewer queer people overall in Charlotte than in hubs like San Francisco or New York City, according to data from UCLA, a higher percentage of queer households include children in North Carolina than in California or New York. This is likely because the cost of living in North Carolina is generally cheaper than in those states, making it easier to afford to raise a family, while still offering a gay-friendly atmosphere in cities like Charlotte.
There are also dozens of LGBTQ organizations in Charlotte, including organizations that focus on assisting LGBTQ families like PFLAG Charlotte. Charlotte is also home to many LGBTQ-affirming churches for those families that value religion.
Are There LGBTQ-Friendly Employers in Charlotte?
There are definitely plenty of LGBTQ-friendly employers in Charlotte. No one should feel forced into the closet at work. If you are looking for a gay-friendly employer in Charlotte, you could start by exploring the companies that sponsor Charlotte Pride. The list is expansive and includes many major employers including major banks, grocery stores, accounting firms, law firms, healthcare companies and more. Charlotte Pride’s biggest sponsors include Bank of America, Lowe’s, PNC Bank, and Truist.
Since Charlotte is a banking hub, identifying an LGBTQ-friendly employer in the finance industry will be especially easy in Charlotte. LGBTQ-allied companies in other industries, like healthcare and retail, are also well-represented in Charlotte.
What is Charlotte Pride Like?
Charlotte Pride hosts multiple events throughout the year, but the main Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade take place every year in August. Compared to pride festivals in other cities, Charlotte’s pride events are relatively family-friendly, but of course remain highly inclusive for all members of the LGBTQ community.
Other events hosted by the Charlotte Pride organization include the Charlotte Pride Job Fair and Reel Out Charlotte, an annual LGBTQ film festival. Pride events are a great place for queer newcomers to get connected to the Charlotte LGTBQ community.
LGBTQ Nightlife in Charlotte, NC – Gay Bars and Clubs
For LGBTQ people who enjoy going out on the town, especially in queer spaces, Charlotte offers a decent selection of gay bars and clubs. Read more about these venues and many more in our guide to Charlotte’s Best Gay Bars.
- Argon – An inclusive gay bar in South Charlotte that bills itself as a video bar. Argon features a dance floor as well as a patio and lounge seating.
- Sidelines – Right next door to Argon you’ll find Sidelines (Gay) Sports Bar. This bar features HDTVs, pool, and darts.
- Chasers – In Charlotte’s NoDa neighborhood, you’ll find Chasers gay nightclub. This club hosts events like EDM night, and is very popular with the gay community.
- Scorpio – A queer nightclub in West Charlotte that features DJs and drag queens, and hosts a mixed crowd of straight and gay patrons.
- The Woodshed – Located in West Charlotte near the airport, this bar caters to the leather, bear, and related communities within the broader LGBTQ community.
LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly businesses in Charlotte
Besides bars and clubs, there are a number of LGBTQ-owned restaurants and businesses in Charlotte, NC. A short (incomplete) list of popular queer owned and friendly restaurants include:
- Lupie’s Cafe in East Charlotte is famous for its variety of chilis.
- Bean Vegan Cuisine offers vegan food in East Charlotte.
- Detour Coffeebar is a queer-owned food truck that serves specialty coffee drinks and pastries.
- The Artisan’s Palate located in NoDa is a trendy café offering food, coffee, and alcoholic drinks, and features regular drag brunches.
- Not Just Coffee is a Charlotte-based coffee chain that proudly waves trans and LGBTQ flags at many of its locations.
Charlotte also boasts a large number of LGBT-friendly professionals, including doctors, lawyers, therapists, and hair stylists.
Overall, Charlotte is a great choice for members of the LGBTQ community looking for a slower pace than in the big coastal cities. It is also a great option for queer people in small towns looking to connect to a larger LGBTQ population.
