Well there’s a reason this sunny beach city is Florida’s gay capital, she’s filled with queers! As one of the first areas to legalize protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation, Broward County was also the first school district to support LGBT History Month this past October.
Outside the legal wins and historical moments, Fort Lauderdale’s suburb counterpart, Wilton Manors, was named the No. 2 city with the largest percent of same-sex couples—with about 140 per every 1,000. There also are more than 200 gay-owned hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops in the Greater Fort Lauderdale, among other establishments, and the main gay streets, like Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, are filled with rainbow flags and couples holding hands as they shop at places like Gay Mart or eat out at Gaysha sushi.
Over 30 gay watering holes to choose from between Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors, locals always have a different cocktail to try, new party to scope out, and of course fresh meat to cruise—the area welcomed 1.1 million LGBT visitors just last year. Popular hotspots include mega nightlife complex The Manor and the new kid on the block, Village Pub, which has been becoming a local favorite.
Gay beaches popular to both locals and tourists include the Sebastian, the bigger of the two and loaded with men, and Terramar Street beach, which is closer to the gay stays like the Grand Resort and Villa Venice.
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With all this and countless food choices from New American to Mexican to Thai, plus a burgeoning arts scene and underground indie music hub, are there really any more questions why so many gays are both living and visiting Fort Lauderdale?
Ajs33308
true we have a lot of LGBT living here in Fort Lauderdale/Wilton Manors… Which is great, but there is really no culture. It’s fun to visit, but stifling culturally. Not much to do but beach, drink and outdoor sports….
Thad1527
This reads like an ad. But that’s OK…Fort Lauderdale is a lovely city. Now if my ex didn’t live there now…I’d plan a visit. (And it has an interesting arts scene that just needs a little encouragement.)
Dixie Rect
It’s getting very dumpy these days. Increase in crime and robberies have been reported. It’s not full on ghetto yet, but it will be there in a few years….just wait and see…..
cody j
Nice beaches,and shops, but ,as in most ‘gay friendly-accepting- areas, you gotta be fairly well off to live there,same as Key W,or P twn.
Evji108
Fort Lauderdale is a perfectly fine town on the South Florida coast, but the incorporated city of Wilton Manors, several miles inland, is a drab gay ghetto. It mainly consists of a number of tacky bars, supported by a heavy drinking/bar-hopping culture, a fair number of gay-oriented businesses and restaurants and a mix of mostly old, but some new apartment buildings and homes. It’s a big spot for gay retirees and those who enjoy the company of older white men, which is fine, but if you want a cultured, artistic atmosphere this is not it.
Evji108
Fort Lauderdale is a pleasant smaller city on the South Florida coast, but the incorporated city of Wilton Manors, several miles inland, is a drab gay ghetto. It mainly consists of a number of tacky bars, supported by a heavy drinking/bar-hopping culture, a fair number of gay-oriented businesses and restaurants and a mix of mostly older, but some new apartment buildings and homes. It’s become a big spot for gay retirees and those who enjoy the company of older white men, which is fine, but if you want a cultured, hip, or sophisticated city, this is not it. The gay guest houses in Fort Lauderdale, near the gay beach, 15-20 minutes drive away from Wilton Manors are another totally different universe, almost exclusively touristic in nature.
GayTampaCowboy
I really don’t understand all the FTL bashing i’ve read in these comments. I’ve lived in FLA since 2000 and even back then FTL was a popular gay destination – and clearly it’s continued to be one – and even growing larger. With hundreds of gay and gay-friendly bars, restaurants, shops and beaches, there IS something for everyone! So why all the bashing?
You don’t like FTL? Don’t go. Many of us liking hitting FTL because it’s EASY to get to by car and plane, and the cost to visit is much less than more “popular” gay destinations like Key West, San Fran, NYC, Provincetown, etc.
And to those who say FTL is too cliquey, i say – show me a city with ANY gay community and you’ll find cliques! Sure, FTL has it’s reputation for being a harbinger of health-conscious and muscular men (of all ages) but whats wrong with that? NOTHING! I have a friend who moved to FLT last year. He wasn’t FAT by any stretch of the imagination, but he confessed that being surrounded by so many inshape guys gave him the motivation to get back in the gym, watch his diet and be more health-conscious. Oh, and he moved there with his partner of 5 years and they are still together and very happpy. So, he didn’t make that decision to “blend in” or to avoid being looked down on by the other “gym rats” he did it because it was about living a healthy lifestyle – not find a trick or BF.
So, can we lay off on bashing FTL already? It’s a great example of what can happen when LGBT dollars flock to a location and how those dollars can impact and improve a community!
PumpTheBrakes
This entire article reads like advertorial.
I wish FTL was that glamorous. I have to agree with @Evji108, Wilton Manors is a “drab gay ghetto,” a Twilight Zone, much of it feels like Stonewall meets Studio 54. Everyone is trapped in the past. The community in its entirety is MUCH older (40+) and there’s nothing wrong with that but FTL’s nightlife and cultural scene is far from eclectic or current. I feel it would be paradise for those who are retired, married or have been in a relationship for an extended time as driving through the neighborhood is a gay pleasantville of gay couples doing lawn work but other than that, FTL is pretty run down. I’m not sure what year @GayTampaCowboy visited FTL, saying it’s “Cliquey” is giving the area far too much credit, and “harbringer of health conscious”….absolutely not, half of the community is in a treatment program or have had HIV for 30+ years. FTL is where copious gay men flocked amid the AIDS crisis…and stayed.
Bob LaBlah
My question is based on what I read in the article (as in between the lines)……….are there ANY jobs down there that pay a living wage? “Couples” could also mean roommates who live together because neither can afford the rent on their own.
*
A loudmouth, know-it-all queen at one of the bars here in NYC has said it is the BEST place to go if you want to start your own “twink” bareback porn video site. I hope that isn’t true but based on what I read in the article it sounds a LOT like West Hollywood, Calif, back in the 80’s.
TVC 15
It’s tacky, like the rest of Florida.
Rex
I just moved to FTL from Cbus Ohio. So far it’s ok. I will say that it’s very hard to make friends down here (I’m no longer 23), but I did move from Columbus where I lived for 18 years. The weather is great! The beaches are great and I have a great job. FTL is a great city if this is what you are looking for. Every city has it’s ups and downs, and every city fits for some people. I just wanted to be surrounded by palm trees and great shopping. NYC is great, LA is great, hell even Canton Ohio is great, but FTL fits me.
jaclyn_ann
I’ve read thru the comments. However I call FTL my home, I can relate to those who only have positive things to say about the City of Wilton Manors, after my relocation some years ago, I found that this community offered the most close knit environment amoung the sea of transients and tourists. I love Wilton Manors and the “Old Florida” Lifestyle that this community is preserving. It will not become some run down ghetto. In fact just today I commented on how the arts in the community are rising, especially along Dixie N, don’t listen to these haters that shouldn’t be using some bitter relationship experience that they now hate and relate to one of the handful areas of LGBT communities in our country. Think about it.