That’s where you’ll find many hot spots like Twist and Palace, as well as the LGBT visitor center. Ask a local where it’s at and they’ll likely tell you it’s between 10th and 15th Streets from Ocean Street to Washington Avenue. While it’s true that the entire eight-mile stretch of barrier island on Miami Beach is home to a large percentage of gay residents and businesses, the actual gayborhood is in a concentrated stretch of South Beach. Ocean drive and 12th street in Miami Miami Beach is home to the gayborhood Since Miami sees such a high volume of LGBT tourists each year, the choice for this first location seems like a no-brainer. And now Axel is set to makes its domestic debut this summer, and the first outpost will be in South Beach. When many jet-setters in the LGBT community travel abroad to cities like Barcelona and Berlin, many opt to book rooms at an Axel Hotel, a “hetero friendly” collection of boutique hotels catering specifically to the queer community (gay men, in particular, make up most of the clientele). During Pride week only, swing by the Nobu Miami and cool off with its signature “Froze” cocktail where 5% of sales from the drink will directly benefit the Out Miami Foundation. This year’s Miami Beach Pride takes place throughout the first week of April. More than 130,000 people attended last year’s festivities, which evolved into a week-long celebration.
More than 15,000 spectators showed up for the inaugural parade (exceeding organizers’ expectations), and it’s gotten bigger ever since. Bonus: This building is just steps away from the World Erotic Art Museum, where the collection easily rivals the bronzed bodies lounging on area beaches.Įven though queer culture in Miami has been out and proud for decades, the first official Miami Beach Pride Parade made its inaugural march in just 2009. Stop by the Center at the beginning of your trip to get the inside scoop on events happening around town and the staff will even hook you up with discounts at Miami’s various cultural institutions. The Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce recently opened the Miami Beach LGBT Visitor Center, which happens to the be the first of its kind in the US. Yep, Miami is so gay-friendly that it’s one of the few cities in the world where the community has its own official chamber of commerce. RELATED: Visit our LGBTQIA travel hub for welcoming hotels, the ultimate queer events calendar, inspiration, and more! The LGBTQ community has its own chamber of commerce Here are 10 things you might be surprised to learn about LGBT Miami. And these days, LGBT destinations and culture exist well beyond Ocean Drive. The Miami gay nightlife scene dates back to the 1930s, but things really took off in the ‘80s and ‘90s when Miami Beach became the city’s hub for Speedo sunbathing during the day and hitting up the glitzy nightclubs at night. With more than 1 million LGBT travelers flocking to Miami each year, it’s certainly safe to call this steamy Florida city a gay mecca.