The U.S. Cities With the Highest, Lowest Percentage of LGBTs

San Francisco continues to be a gay mecca, counting 6.2 percent of its population as LGBT -- the highest rate of any urban area in the nation, according to new numbers from Gallup that were reported by The New York Times.

The 15 American metro areas with the highest rates of LGBTs are spread across the nation, including the Midwest (Columbus, Ohio with 4.3 percent) and the South (Jacksonville, Fla., also with 4.3 percent). But the West, especially the coast, continues to be a hub of gay life. The second highest LGBT rate is found in hip Portland, Ore, with 5.4 percent. Seattle is fifth with 4.8 percent, and Los Angeles comes in 10th, with 4.6 percent (tying it with Denver and Hartford, Conn.).

Austin, the liberal, tech-influenced capital of Texas, was third with 5.3 percent. Resurgent New Orleans was fourth with 5.1 percent. Meanwhile, Mormon-dominated Salt Lake City had a higher rate of LGBTs than even Los Angeles, with 4.7 percent. Surprisingly, New York City, Chicago, and Miami did not rank in the top 15.

The South and Midwest did dominate the lowest slots among the 50 most populous U.S. metropolitan areas. Birmingham, Ala., was at the bottom with 2.6 percent, with Pittsburgh (3 percent), Memphis, Tenn., (3.1 percent), Raleigh, N.C. (3.2 percent), and Cincinnati (3.2 percent) rounding close behind.

Nationally, 3.6 percent of the population identifies as LGBT.

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