One of the last places you might expect to be a major LGBTQ hub is Eureka Springs. Hidden away in the Ozark Mountains in Arkansas, this little town of some 2,000 residents features a large statue of Jesus, a number of road signs featuring religious messages, and is near the Ku Klux Klan national headquarters. Despite all of this, the town is considered the gayest place in Arkansas. It’s one of the few places to have passed anti-discrimination laws and civil rights ordinances that protect its LGBTQ citizens. If you’ve never been to Eureka Springs before, you might wonder why it’s such a gay haven and why people travel from around the country to visit.
An Historic Community
While some towns have a few buildings or monuments on the National Register of Historic Places, the entire town of Eureka Springs is classified as a historic district. The old buildings, including the library, courthouse, and many of the other buildings, are well-preserved examples of the Victorian style. Many were built using old stone from the area and still look nearly the same as when they were built.
The winding streets, live entertainment shows, unique hotels, and cute boutique shops draw in thousands of visitors every year. The winding roads and gorgeous views also certainly don’t hurt tourism any.
Connection with the LGBTQ Community
Eureka Springs has been a strong supporter of the LGBTQ community for years. In addition to passing protective laws, it was the first town in the state to provide same-sex couples with marriage licenses, doing so in 2014. In 2015, after Arkansas passed a state law that invalidated all civil rights ordinances at the city level, the mayor of Eureka Springs said the city would fight if challenged.
So far, that has not occurred, but a similar citywide anti-discrimination ordinance passed in Fayetteville in 2015 was. The Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the ordinance, which protected individuals based on both sexual orientation and gender identity, went against state law. The legality of the ordinance passed in Eureka Springs, along with similar ordinances in Little Rock and Hot Springs, weren’t addressed.
In addition to laws protecting its citizens, Eureka Springs has a number of events celebrating them. It holds four LGBTQ Diversity Weekends every year plus a Pride Festival every June. Many other events, including the annual Mardi Gras Extravaganza and the city’s Halloween Festival, are very popular with LGBTQ citizens and visitors alike.