Gay vacationers love to visit gay-friendly Florida and more specifically, South Florida. Gays in South Florida were instrumental in the establishment of Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Key West as top tourist destinations.
South Florida offers a large variety of gay-friendly attractions, accommodations and activities. Gays in South Florida are truly at home and actively involved [...] [...more]
Gay vacationers love to visit gay-friendly Florida and more specifically, South Florida. Gays in South Florida were instrumental in the establishment of Miami Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Key West as top tourist destinations.
South Florida offers a large variety of gay-friendly attractions, accommodations and activities. Gays in South Florida are truly at home and actively involved in South Florida. South Floridians respect and welcome members of the gay community. The gay-friendly Florida attracts gay travelers from all over the world thanks to an intense and torrid nightlife and the organization of gay events such as Fantasy Fest in Key West and The South Beach Gay and Lesbian Festival. Key West and Miami Beach have many well-known nightclubs while Fort Lauderdale has some very popular bars.
Fort Lauderdale Sebastian Street Gay Beach
There are many gay destinations in South Florida. For instance, South Beach Art Deco District is pretty popular and Wilton Manors District in Fort Lauderdale, as well. In South Florida, you can find many gay accommodations, clubs, and a gay friendly service. Amongst gay accommodations, you can choose between exclusively gay tropical resorts and hotels or gay-friendlyFlorida holiday rentals.
It was great to be young and gay in Miami in the 1970’s. Laws prohibiting “known” gays to be served liquor or hang out in a tavern were overturned and AIDS and other serious diseases were not an issue at the time which allowed gays to feel free and sexually expressive. Plus, at the [...] [...more]
It was great to be young and gay in Miami in the 1970’s. Laws prohibiting “known” gays to be served liquor or hang out in a tavern were overturned and AIDS and other serious diseases were not an issue at the time which allowed gays to feel free and sexually expressive. Plus, at the time, the legal drinking age was 18, which was perfect for the young gays who just came out. Naturally, Miami’s lesbian and gay bar scene was booming.
There were more gay bars in Miami Beach and Miami in 1974 than there are today. A 1975 bar rag, “Where the Action Is” listed 13 Miami bars and 6 Beach bars. This did not include some gay bars in Miami or other spots where gays socialized such as the 21st Street and Virginia Beaches, Danny’s Book Store, Florida Pharmacy, Rio Theater, Bayfront Park, the Club Miami and Regency Baths, Downtown YMCA and the Greyhound Bus Station.
The Cactus Lounge: Up until a couple of years ago, the Cactus Lounge on Biscayne Boulevard was the only South Florida 1974 gay bar still around.
The Nook: Coral Gables’ only gay bar. Here, gentlemen dressed in dark suits and sipped martinis while the sounds of Judy Garland or Barbra Streisand records played from the jukebox.
The Warehouse VIII: Where 1974’s real gay action happened. It was located on S.W. 8th Street and 36th Avenue. The joint had an enormous dance floor, a Levi-leather bar in the back, a cruise bar upstairs and a rooftop area. “The Gay Insider USA” described the Warehouse as a “Huge place; [with a] suspended horse-drawn cart; [and] pool tables. Upstairs is a swinging bar, but not too friendly to outsiders.” The bar closed at 5AM.
El Carol: A “mixed” bar on LeJeune Road, a block South of Calle Ocho.
The Second Landing: A gay bar on the second floor of a building on the S.W. corner of 8th Street and LeJeune. The Second Landing was previously known as Step Mother’s and Bachelor’s West. This late bar was also open till 5AM. It was the spot for young Latinos looking for older men (and vice versa).
Bachelors II: A piano restaurant and a cruise bar on Coral Way between S.W. 28th and 29th Avenues.
The Hamlet: A daytime or early evening gay hangout on Main Highway in Coconut Grove.
The Tony Candlelight Club: A members’ only restaurant and lounge in Coconut Grove. Wealth was a requirement for membership but others can attend as a guest. Later, in 1976, it became the place of the early meetings of the Dade County Coalition for the Humanistic Rights of Gays.
The Rack and Ramrod: (later known as the Double R) were Downtown Miami’s Levi-leather bars.
Mayflower Lounge and Basin Street were two small gay bars on Alton Road.
Keith’s Cruise Room in Hallandale, Tee Jay’s in Hollywood, and Tacky’s and Venture Inn in Fort Lauderdale were a few of Broward’s small gay bars.
It was reported by the New York Times that U.S. Senate candidate, Caroline Kennedy, fully supports human equality including marriage rights for gays and lesbians.
Wishing to visit Miami? If yes, you can find affordable accommodations with a click of your mouse, including gay Miami Beach hotels and gay-friendly Miami Beach vacation rentals.
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It was reported by the New York Times that U.S. Senate candidate, Caroline Kennedy, fully supports human equality including marriage rights for gays and lesbians.
Wednesday, December 10th, was “Day Without a Gay.”
The day was invented to show the nation how much gays and lesbians contribute to their communities and the importance of their existence in society. People were encouraged to “call in gay” to work and spend the day volunteering and refraining from spending money.
The boycott was to protest [...] [...more]
Wednesday, December 10th, was “Day Without a Gay.”
The day was invented to show the nation how much gays and lesbians contribute to their communities and the importance of their existence in society. People were encouraged to “call in gay” to work and spend the day volunteering and refraining from spending money.
The boycott was to protest against California’s recent passing of Proposition 8 which prohibits gay marriage.
Several non-profit organizations posted volunteer opportunities on the website of Sean Hetherington and boyfriend Aaron Hartzler, creators of Day Without a Gay.
Some activists were hesitant to participate in the boycott due to the current economic situation, job market and the uncertainty that sparks thoughts that the effort may be counterproductive for the gay community.
Additionally, calling in gay may have been difficult for those who may not be openly gay to coworkers or employers.
