About Gay Bloomington

Find out why Bloomington is known as the gay capital of the Midwest! Here you'll find interesting facts and figures about this progressive community.

• Bloomington is home to the nation's fifth largest per capita population of same-sex households, many of whom chose Bloomington after a nation-wide search of gay-friendly communities. (source: 2000 Census)
• The Advocate named Bloomington the “#4 gayest city in America” in its February 2010 issue:

  “This forward thinking college town is a magnet city for gays in the Grain Belt. It’s also home to Indiana University, where Miss Gay IU – said to be the first student-sponsored drag competition held on any campus – is in its 20th year. The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction is also here, inspiring the entire town to be heteroflexible.”

• Both the City of Bloomington and Indiana University offer health benefits to domestic partners, regardless of gender.
• Both the City of Bloomington and Indiana University include gender identity protection among their human rights ordinances.
• The Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction is located at Indiana University. The facility is free and open to the public; it includes a gallery with rotating exhibits from what is said to be the largest collection of erotic art in the world. The signature annual event is the Kinsey Juried Art Show, held in June and July in the School of Fine Arts Gallery on the IU campus, attracting artists and visitors from around the world.
• Advocate.com and OutTraveler.com named Bloomington the “#1 surprisingly gay small town destination” in October 2008:

  “Why it's on our gaydar… This accepting, forward-thinking, progressive college town (population 70,000) is home to Indiana University and the famed Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction (itself home to one of the world's largest porn collections). Filled with hip cafés and funky stores, Bloomington markets its many merits to lesbian and gay travelers.”

• Bloomington is home to Indiana’s only “out & proud” radio show – bloomingOUT, every Thursday evening at 6 pm on 91.3 FM.
• The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students ranked Indiana University as one of the top 20 gay friendly college campuses in July 2007.
• Bloomington’s annual PRIDE Film Festival is held every January and attracts crowds of over 3,000 attendees over the course of the three-day event. The weekend also serves as the annual Homecoming Weekend for the IU GLBT Alumni Association.