We're getting more fabulous: Houston is a Top 20 LGBT travel destination for the first time

A San Francisco-based market research group has released its 2012-2012 Gay & Lesbian Tourism Report, and for the first time ever, Houston has broken into the Top 20 U.S. destinations for LGBT tourists.

Tied at 18th place with 11 other cities including Austin, Denver, Key West and Portland, Houston is named a draw for its gay nightlife, which includes four new bars catering to the gay community that opened in the last year; its performing arts and centers and museums; and its abundance of TAG-certified hotels, which have official non-discrimination policies in place.

The survey is in its 16th year and collected responses for this year's findings from 6,775 residents in September and October.

The top five destinations are New York (No. 1), Chicago, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Los Angeles. To a view the full report, click here.

The Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau launched a website — MyGayHouston.com —  and built a marketing campaign around attracting more gay tourists and conventions to Houston in 2009.

"This is a strong and lucrative demographic that appreciates the kind of upscale urban experience Houston has to offer," GHCVB president and CEO Greg Ortale said in a statement. "We're glad to see Houston is becoming a more prominent destination for the LGBT community." 

Tell us: What other factors do you think contributed to Houston's high ranking?