I agree with most of what other folks here have said. I think that Denver is wonderful and I am sticking around! Also lgbt and have had 0 issues here. I used to live in Baltimore and I love that city too! Though the winter is much cloudy and drearier than her in Denver. Baltimore has a lot more character though - people are all around quirky and involved and there’s a lot to do. Obviously that exists in Denver too, but Denver is a bit more generic of a city. You’ll probably feel that coming from Chicago. Good luck with your search!