Key West dangles from Florida like a gorgeous appendage offering gay indulgence despite a hetero body. Miami and Fort Lauderdale might argue otherwise, but historically, the bohemian city was the first to stake the Pride flag no matter who it alienated.
Slather yourself with sunscreen and follow Queerty to the southern tip of the US, where the real world is left in the rearview mirror, and everyone becomes ‘one human family.’
An IDGAF attitude liberated Key West
The geography of the Keys has safeguarded its relaxed and carefree culture, with dozens of tropical islands connected to South Miami first by the aptly named Seven Mile Bridge and then 41 shorter bridges.
Of course, you can fly here, but Floridians appreciate the scenic drive merging into the tropics, transporting your state of mind from urban to Caribbean living. Arriving, you’ll notice the roads are governed by bicycles, and clothing becomes an afterthought.
There’s a reason 250,000 LGBTQ+ travelers specifically vacation in Key West yearly. There’s an unmistakable laissez-faire spirit that shapes the social law of the land. Simply put, you do you, honey – and whoever you want.
Yes, many conchos (locals) embrace a leather pigmentation, but they’re too busy catching sun to mind your business. Don’t fret for attention, though! You’ll find plenty of gays with wandering eyes at Smathers Beach (keep in mind it’s unofficially nude-friendly but still against the law).
The birth of queer visibility in the Florida Keys
As seen with resort towns like Fire Island and Palm Springs, past generations of gays gravitated towards Key West because it was an out-of-the-way, unbeknownst destination that beckoned with potential. Gay authors like Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, and James Merrill led the pack in the 1940s and spread the word of the live-and-let-live vibes with their art.
It wasn’t until 1967 that a concho David Wolkowsky built the first real resort on the island, the Pier House, located on Zero Duval Street. The 1970s rolled in with Key West boasting 30 same-sex guest houses catering to gay men.
During this time, metropolitan cities crevice with gay culture, but you had to be in the know to find it. Key West wasn’t afraid to tell you where and became the first American city to advertise pink tourism.
In 2003, the city decided to make history for Pride and mobilized 2,000 volunteers to carry a 1.25-mile-long Sea-to-Sea Diversity Flag, stretching the longest-running rainbow across the entirety of Duval Street. The community bridged the gap between the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean with queer love.
Key West also adopted the “One Human Family” slogan to cement its inclusivity.
Duval Street continues to flourish with gayness, rocking 4 rainbow crosswalks at the intersection with Petronia Street. Today you’ll find five gay and lesbian bars. However, the rainbow decorates the small island’s cobbled streets. You can bet the Victorian homes have been renovated for the fabulosity of the 21st Century.
Come for vibes; stay for the nudity, drag, sunsets, and marine tourism
Despite the lewdness of “Don’t Say Gay” and other homophobic bills happening across the state, Florida will feel like a distant draconian dystopia when you’re sunbathing in Key West.
Nakedness is casual, drag is for everyone. If you want to be controversial, your liberal propaganda won’t raise eyebrows. The attitudes truly change with latitude, and mellowness flows through the air like a breeze.
We know the gays need a little scandal, and you can look for it in libidinous men-only resorts and pool parties.
Boners aside, you won’t forget experiencing the sunset here. Locals and visitors make an event of it daily to appreciate hues of orange, red, and pink dance into the night.
Lastly, don’t be a noob and think you’re too gay to enjoy the scuba diving adventure of a lifetime, exploring the coral reef, marine life, sea canyons, historic shipwrecks, and sunken submarines.
But wait, there’s more
Thought we were done with all the fun? Our friends at Visit Florida helped us fill your calendar year-round.
Care for a peek at Key West’s gay scene?
And, of course, the best part about Key West will be immersing yourself in gay culture.
Conchos are not the only people who play well with others
Dive in, hon, the gays don’t bite unless you ask
The only attitude you’ll find in Key West
More drag, more boys, more fun
Why so serious? Key West is still here, and queer
The secret has been out on the no-frills culture of Key West, which has brought an influx of heterosexuality seeking that same reprieve, and the NY Times even questioned in 2005 if Key West was going straight.
The estimated 1,700 self-identifying LGBTQ+ residents living here will tell you otherwise (in 2021, the total population was reported to be around 26,527). Homosexuality has never been the majority voice in a room, but we’ll always be the loudest – and most accepting.
Regardless, you won’t find many cities that advertise unadulterated clothing-optional fun for queer tourists. Seriously, it’s in the pamphlets!
So relax and take it easy… you’re about to join the (human) family.
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dwick
Why in the world are you all pushing a place in Florida right now? It doesn’t matter how queer friendly Key West is. It’s still part of Florida.
abfab
Artyfishal Intellajancts
bachy
Key West is a magical island all its own!
abfab
A No DeSantis Zone
RoyM
The majority of Floridians are rabidly anti-LGBT who would like to see us all exterminated. Why does this site, as well as other LGBTQ sites and periodicals, continue to push this hate driven, neofascist state as a gay destination?
RIGay
Hard pass. F*ck Florida.
We spent a week in Montreal. It is a country of just… beautiful people. Inside and out. American diversity has become nothing more than a check box, something to make the $hitbags feel like they support something, when inside, they do not.
In Canada, the diversity is organic – it’s just there like air and water. People just are. No stink-eye, no special communities. Just acceptance. Period.
abfab
Vancouver is our home away from home. I want to move there.
O2BNSF
Here’s the thing with the gay boycotts of Florida, they only hurt gay businesses. One gay tourist can make a difference to a gay bar / resort, but the lack of that money is meaningless to DeSantis & Co.
I went to Key West in April to help a friend and was shocked to see how gay friendly it still is. I used to live in Miami and visited Key West many times over the years. (30+ years ago) It was a gay paradise. I had heard how it had changed. Sure, there are fewer bars and resorts, but I suspect most of that business migrated to Ft. Lauderdale.
I am going down to Key West at the end of October and catch the last of Fantasy Fest and the Key West Bear weekend. I will stamp my cash with “Gay Tourist $” to circulate within the state. I’m not going to harm the businesses that need our support by boycotting DeSantis.
abfab
I hear you. And what’s going to be so interesting and a huge Gay blast is when the asshole and his disgusting wife get voted out and loses his bid there is going to be a torrent…a TSUNAMI of GAYS flooding into Florida. For now tho, I’m gonna sit this one out and wait for the coast to be clear. Too many bad vibes.
This too shall pass.
wikidBSTN
I’ll take my dollars to P-Town instead.