South Florida is gay. How gay, you ask? Award-winning levels of gayness.
Gaycities.com has named its 2024 Best of GayCities Awards and the area is well represented. Readers spent a month voting for their favorites in myriad categories, and the results are in.
Fort Lauderdale took bronze (third) for Iconic American City. Despite a hostile government in Tallahassee and calls to boycott Florida, LGBTQ travelers know Fort Lauderdale is a fabulous exception to the rule.
The 11th/12th Street Beach in Miami took silver (second) for Best Gay Beach. Given the amount of hot guys in thongs, just about every beach in the area is a “gay beach,” but the legendary Dade County sun spot worthy of national attention.
Melissa St. John, OutSFL’s Queen of Queens, got bronze Best Local Drag Queen. She is an icon whose influence and notoriety extends well beyond the borders of South Florida.
Why did she only finish third? We demand a recount!
Bringing home the gold is Key West, winning in the Ultimate Beach Vacation category.
GayCities praised the Conch Republic, saying, “Key West offers a blend of pristine beaches and vibrant cultural charm, with sunsets that turn the sky into a canvas of gold and pink. The shallow waters are perfect for water sports like paddleboarding and kayaking. Visitors can explore coral reefs teeming with colorful fish and sea life. The laid-back island atmosphere and white sands create a unique Floridian paradise.”