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Even the cops in Wilton Manors know how to keep it queer. In 2018, the two-square-mile town became the second municipal government in the US to elect all LGBTQ leaders.
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Wilton Manors, a charming city suburb, earns bragging rights as the gayest American zip code outside Provincetown. In 2017, the city made waves by becoming the first metro area to use trans models in travel ads. While nearby Miami dazzles with late-night glitz and muscle-gay glamor, Fort Lauderdale shines with a diverse scene catering to all LGBTQ types. Gay men bare their buns on the shore’s northern section.įort Lauderdale’s visitor slogan, “Everyone Under the Sun,” isn’t a marketing tactic - it’s a way of life. If tan lines aren’t your thing, drive to Haulover Nude Beach, the largest sanctioned naturist beach in the US. For the former, head to SoBe’s 12th Street gay beach, where bikini-clad boys, girls, and nonbinary folks work on tan lines or wade in the electric-blue Atlantic. When Pride hits Miami Beach, close to 200,000 people party in the streets.įestivals aside, most people visit Miami for two things: sun and fun. When Art Basel turns Miami into a contemporary art gallery, the LGBTQ community turns part of South Beach into Art Gaysel - a three-day festival showcasing queer creators.
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There’s Sizzle (a Memorial Weekend meet-up for gay BIPOC men), Gay8 Festival (America’s largest LGBTQ Latinx festival), Sweetheart (a women-centered Pride), Wigwood (a one-day fête of all things lace front), and Winter Party (a winter dance extravaganza favored by gay boys). Festivals throughout the year attract visitors as diverse as the locals. The original gayborhood, established in South Beach (SoBe) in the 1980s and 1990s, now has roots in Wynwood, Coconut Grove, Little Haiti, Little Havana, and beyond. Queer life in Miami is like sand after a beach day - it’s everywhere. Sprinkled on this international soufflé is LGBTQ culture - a key ingredient to the local flavor.
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Cuban, Haitian, Jamaican, and Mexican communities mix with Russians, Jews, and NYC snowbirds - and that’s just scratching the surface. Miami is Florida’s multicultural melting pot. And if suits aren’t your thing, there’s a place for that, too: Island House is a gay resort where boys trade in banana hammocks for all-nude pool parties. Between bear bars, drag shows, and dance clubs, there’s always an after-hours affair to suit your style. The Pink Triangle - a section of Duval Street replete with LGBTQ establishments - sizzles with spring break energy every night.
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In October, the Headdress Ball, a queer costume extravaganza, highlights gaudy LGBTQ artistry. Womenfest, an annual circuit-style weekend in September, calls to queer women and nonbinary folks. Key West’s Caribbean flavor attracts a melange of America’s alphabet mafia. The annual celebration is an Oz-like call to queer folks north of the Florida Overseas Highway: there’s no place like home in the Keys. The city is so proud of its LGBTQ heritage that on December 31st, locals don’t drop a glittering ball to celebrate the new year - they drop a drag queen riding a giant red pump. In 1983, Key West made headlines by electing one of the nation’s first openly gay mayors, Richard A. Gay playwright Tenessee Williams visited and lived here from 1941 until his death. The seven-square-mile island at the southernmost tip of the continental United States became a historic queer haven in the mid-20th century. We hope you love the hotels we recommend! Just so you know, Matador may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay. Join the Sunshine State’s queer community by screaming “gay” from the ROY-G-BIV rooftops of these five rainbow-riffic destinations. Unless Florida falls into the ocean, LGBTQ folks aren’t going anywhere. Most recently, Governor Ron DeSantis signed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill to restrict the discussion of sexuality and gender identity in public schools - an act of social-emotional terrorism against children and educators alike.īut antiquated ideology and hateful legislation can’t snuff out reality. Anita Bryant’s anti-gay campaign in the 1970s led to a repeal of Florida’s non-discrimination ordinance, causing a disastrous ripple effect around the US. In the 1950s and 60s, the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee attempted to eliminate LGBTQ people from schools by demonizing gay teachers and upending their careers. Drive ten hours along the state’s sun-kissed shaft, and you’ll find vibrant gay Florida enclaves centered around rainbow-painted sidewalks, LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and chosen families where all identities are welcome.Ĭonsidering the state’s anti-LGBTQ history, this might come as a shock. Let’s get one thing straight - Florida is not.