A lot of people retire to Florida so they can enjoy the state’s warm weather and gorgeous beaches. But even if you’re not retirement age, you might still want to move to the Sunshine State, especially if you’re a member of the LGBT community. Florida has a number of large LGBT neighborhoods, and many of the cities are very gay friendly.
Fort Lauderdale is probably the top LGBT city in the state. Surveys consistently show that it has over 150 different gay-owned businesses, plus the city hosts two different LGBT pride festivals every year. Fort Lauderdale was once a fairly quiet resort town, but now it’s a huge spring break destination for college students of all orientations. Those who want to move to Fort Lauderdale might take a look at the neighborhood of Wilton Manors, one of the gayest neighborhoods in the U.S.
Miami is another popular LGBT city. While there are a lot of parties held in the city, they don’t really represent what it would be like to actually live in Miami. The city has a growing arts scene, plus many different upscale restaurants. Of particular note is the Wynwood Arts District. This area, located in the southern part of the city, has become very popular with the LGBT community, especially those who are artists or art lovers.
All of the major cities in Florida seem to be very LGBT friendly, and that’s certainly true for Orlando. The home of Disney World and Universal Studios, Orlando is also a major tourist destination. However, there are also a good number of LGBT businesses in the city. There are a few gay bars in the city proper, but most are located in Thornton Park, Orlando’s gay district. Like many LGBT communities, Thornton Park is fairly artsy, but there are some great restaurants and other businesses in the neighborhood.
Key West is a popular destination for gay couples, especially those who are older. The city is perhaps not quite as overwhelmingly gay as it once was, but many like that. It’s still definitely just as eclectic as it was when gay writer Tennessee Williams made it his home. In fact, a large number of writers, gay and straight, visit or live in Key West, and the city holds an annual literary seminar. Key West isn’t a major destination for beaches, which means it’s actually a little quieter than other beach towns.
These are just four of the great LGBT-friendly places in Florida. There are many other cities that have gay neighborhoods, including St. Petersburg, Pensacola, Palm Beach, and Ybor City.