When we think of gay-friendly cities across the United States, New York, San Francisco, and Miami come to mind. And certainly West Hollywood, which has LGBT in its municipal DNA, would top any such list.

But – surprise, surprise –  Pasadena almost took the cake this week when the L.A.-based Advocate magazine revealed its annual ranking of “Gayest Cities in America.”

Pasadena, the home of the little old lady? Yep:
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The city that was home earlier this month to the first same-sex wedding at the Rose Parade made No. 2 on the national publication's list.

See also: Rose Parade's Gay Marriage Sparks Boycott.

Pasadena gets credit for having two gay folks on the City Council while being a “bedroom community for gays who like to garden.”

And while the Advocate admits you might be “shocked” not to see L.A. or New York on this list of 15 cities (San Francisco makes number 11, Long Beach comes in at number 14, and WeHo is nowhere to be found), it vows that this was a data-driven ranking and not one that's entirely subjective:

This year's criteria, designed to uncover the hidden factors that give a city its queer cred, include points for a city's LGBT elected officials (and fractional points for the state's elected officials), points for the percentage of the population comprised by lesbian-coupled households, a point for a gay rodeo association, points for bars listed in Out magazine's 200 Best Bars list, a point per women's college, and points for concert performances by Mariah Carey, Pink, Lady Gaga, or the Jonas Brothers. 

By the way, Washington, D.C., with its “17 gay elected officials” and “hot bartenders,” took first place. We're sure some of the closeted, self-hating, right-wing lawmakers there already know the score.

Anyway, the next time you're on Colorado Boulevard digging the scenery, remember you're in one of America's most distinctive and praise-worthy communities.

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