Make It Here, Just As You Are

Make It Here, Just As You Are

By Governor Ned Lamont

When I think about what makes Connecticut so special, it’s more than our quaint towns, the nation’s best pizza, and championship banners flying in the XL Center, what really sets us apart is the welcoming nature of the people in our state.

At a time when too many people are being made to feel like outsiders in their own homes, Connecticut is doing something different. We’re choosing inclusion and dignity. I proudly say we’re the most welcoming state in the country because anyone can live, work, and visit freely, fully, and safely.

It Starts With a Visit
Connecticut is the only U.S. state that’s a member of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association. That’s not just symbolism, it’s a commitment. From rainbow-painted crosswalks in towns like Stamford and Ridgefield to vibrant Pride events in Middletown and West Hartford, we’ve built communities where LGBTQ+ travelers can feel recognized and celebrated.

Planning a weekend getaway? Sure, you can enjoy the many things to do in towns like New Haven or New London, but you can also steep yourself in queer culture from one end of the state to the other. 

Visit Troupe 429 in Norwalk, one of our premier LGBTQ+ nightlife spots. Unwind at a queer-owned B&B in the Quiet Corner. Catch a show by the Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus. In Mystic, drag brunches by the Sea Queens at The Port of Call are local legends. At the Mashantucket Pequot Museum, visitors can learn about Indigenous history in a place that values inclusive storytelling.

When you visit Connecticut, you’re not just welcome—you’re wanted.

Make Your Home—and Your Future—Here
Annie and I chose Connecticut to work, live, and raise our three children here, because it’s a place where people build strong careers, loving families, and lives that feel true to who they are.

We were the second state in the country to legalize same-sex marriage. Today, we’re ranked #2 for LGBTQ+ business climate by Out Leadership. That recognition isn’t accidental. It’s the result of decades of work to pass firm anti-discrimination laws, ensure inclusive healthcare access, and expand protections for youth and families.

In 2011, Connecticut became one of the first states to pass a comprehensive anti-bullying law that included protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity. In 2021, I proudly signed the Connecticut Parentage Act, ensuring legal equality for all families regardless of how they’re formed or who’s in them.

We’ve also worked to right historic wrongs. We restored state benefits to veterans who were unjustly discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” We banned the so-called “gay and trans panic” defense—a shameful legal loophole that should never have existed. 

Connecticut will never excuse violence nor prejudice. We don’t diminish lives because of who someone is, or who they love.

Why It Matters
Across the country, we’re seeing a troubling wave of rhetoric and policy designed to exclude, erase, or harm LGBTQ+ people. In some places, they’re banning books. In others, they’re banning the word “gay.” In Florida, they even removed LGBTQ+ content from the state’s tourism website.

We have responded with a simple message: Come to Connecticut. It’s where you belong.

I’ve always believed that government has a moral obligation, not just to protect rights, but to affirm dignity. That’s why we keep showing up—for the student who doesn’t feel safe at school, the parents navigating systems that weren’t built for their family, and the workers and entrepreneurs who just want to build a life without having to hide who they are.

Connecticut is that place and we’re trying to be better every day by being more even more welcoming and living up to what it really means to say, “You can make it here.”

We believe what happens in a community, state, and a nation starts with how we treat one another. So, whether you’re visiting, relocating, or just looking for a place that sees you for who you are, know this: you can make it here, just as you are.

Always have. Always will.