Following are Gayrealestate.com’s picks for the top 5 most affordable LGBT beach communities in 2014.
Long Neck, Delaware ~ Long Neck is located along the Atlantic Ocean within easy driving distance of Rohoboth, a popular LGBT vacation destination during the summer months. Long Neck features miles of coastline with sandy beaches. According to City-Data, the cost of living in Long Neck is lower than the national average with a rating 80.0. the United States average is 100.
Same sex marriage became legal in Delaware on July 1, 2013. Title 13, c 1 §§ 101-129 of the Delaware Code. The state also has a law that goes into effect November 1, 2014 prohibiting employer discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Title 19, c. 7 §§ 710-719A of the Delaware Code.
Westport, Washington ~ Westport Washington features 18 miles of ocean beaches. It is located by Port Chehalis peninsula on the Pacific Ocean. According to City-Data, the cost of living was lower than the national average with a rating of 88.4. Westport is one of the most affordable beach towns in the state of Washington.
Same sex marriage became legal on December 6, 2012. RCW § 26.04.010.
Bolivar Peninsula, Texas ~ Bolivar Peninsula lies along the Gulf of Mexico. The city is actually a barrier island rather than a peninsula. It is accessed by crossing a bridge from the mainland. According to City-Data, the cost of living was lower than the national average with a rating of 83.9.
Same sex marriage is not legal in the state of Texas. That states same sex marriage ban was ruled unconstitutional by a federal district court in the case of DeLeon v. Perry. The Texas attorney general appealed that decision on July 29, 2014 to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and it is currently pending.
Cape Charles, Virginia ~ Cape Charles is located along the eastern shore of Virginia on Chesapeake Bay. It features a public beach on the bay. According to City-Data, the cost of living was lower than the national average with a rating of 89.1.
Same sex marriage is not legal in the state of Virginia. On July 28, 2014, a federal appeals court, the 4th Circuit, held in Bostic v. Schaefer, III, that Virginia’s same sex marriage ban was unconstitutional. The ruling will not take effect until August 18, 2014 to allow the state time to decide whether to appeal the decision.
St. Augustine, Florida ~ St. Augustine is located in Northeast Florida on the Atlantic Ocean. It features miles of coastline and numerous sandy beaches. According to City-Data, the cost of living was lower than the national average with a rating of 91.7. A beautiful site for you to consider calling for that Oceanfront hotel booking.
Same sex marriage is not legal in the state of Florida. Several lawsuits are pending in courts challenging the same sex marriage ban. Two different Florida state courts ruled in July, 2014 that the ban was unconstitutional. Huntsman v. Heavilin and Pareto v. Ruvin. The state attorney general has appealed those rulings to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.
All of the cities listed above are LGBT friendly. While not all them recognize same sex marriage or have other laws in place to protect those of the LGBT community, they are affordable beach communities to live in. Looking at the result of lawsuits in other jurisdictions, it seems to be only a matter of time before same sex marriage will become legal in states that do not currently recognize them.
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