The rankings are based on factors such as whether a city prohibits discrimination against gay and lesbian people, whether city services are offered to the LGBT community and whether the city has leaders who publicly support pro-equality legislation.

When Payal met Kanchan, back in 2017, she had no idea she would fall in love with her fellow trainee. That year, India's Supreme Court had ruled that gay sex was no longer a criminal offence, overturning a previous judgement that upheld a colonial-era law. But age-old customs and regressive attitudes survived, making it difficult for same-sex relationships to be accepted by larger society.

Danny Lavery welcomes Kyle Turner, a queer freelance writer based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Turner is a contributor to Paste Magazine, and his writing on film and culture has been featured in the Village Voice, GQ, Slate, Vanity Fair, and the New York Times. Lavery and Turner tackle two letters. First, from someone who's not sure if they should identify as a lesbian given their history. Another letter writer is wondering how to support a close friend who is moving far, and also not get in her way.

Slate is now asking those who read the most to support our journalism more directly by subscribing to Slate Plus. To get advice from Prudie, send questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. Join the live chat every Monday at noon. Or call the Dear Prudence podcast voicemail at 401-371-DEAR (3327) to hear your question answered on a future episode of the show. When first I met my husband, I was really excited to find someone else who liked to have sex at least 10 times a week.

A Hawaii appeals court ruling that a bed and breakfast discriminated against a couple by denying a room to two women because they're gay will stand after the state's high court declined to take up the case.