LGBT+ Travel  

Greater Fort Lauderdale: Florida’s LGBT+ Capital  

HRC logoOne of the most progressive and welcoming destinations in the United States, Greater Fort Lauderdale champions diversity and inclusion every day, in every way. Our goal is to make everyone in the LGBT+ community feel seen, supported, comfortable, and safe. Simply put, Greater Fort Lauderdale is meant for everyone under the sun.

Here are just a few of our favorite spots where love is love is love.

Landmarks

Wilton Manors

Colorful storefronts lining Wilton Manors Drive, featuring bright-painted shops, outdoor seating, and parked cars along a wide street under a blue sky with scattered clouds.

Known as South Florida’s most famous “gayborhood,” Wilton Manors is lined with gay-owned businesses built on a foundation of love and acceptance.

Stonewall National Museum & Archives (SNMA)

One of the largest gay archives and libraries in the United States, SNMA presents year-round exhibits centered on LGBT+ themes, including author presentations, films, panel discussions, and other events.

Exhibit wall at Stonewall National Museum & Archives displaying books and printed materials mounted in clear panels around large text sections, with the year ‘1970’ centered in bold lettering on a white background.

World Aids Museum & Educational Center 

Chronicling the history of HIV and AIDS through art, multimedia and artifacts, this thought-provoking museum and educational center seeks to promote dialogue that eliminates the HIV/AIDS stigma.

Island City Stage

Often exploring LGBT+ culture, this professional theater is committed to sharing stories of universal interest through entertaining and inspiring productions.

Shopping

Out of the Closet

Interior of Out of the Closet store featuring rows of colorful clothing racks, a suspended silver mannequin with outstretched arms wearing a rainbow cap, hanging garment displays, and signage for testing services in a brightly lit retail space.

With three locations in Greater Fort Lauderdale, this national thrift store chain proudly donates profits to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

The Wilton Collective

Interior of Wilton Collective featuring a boutique retail space filled with shelves and tables displaying home décor, candles, ceramics, and decorative objects, with clothing racks, artwork on the walls, and industrial-style lighting overhead.

An upscale thrift and consignment store, proceeds benefit Julian’s Fountain of Youth - a non-profit organization working to provide opportunities for LGBT+ youth.

Beaches

Sebastian Street Beach

Nestled along the corner of Sebastian Street and A1A in Fort Lauderdale, Sebastian Street Beach is one of the country’s top-rated gay beaches. The popular gay resort The Worthington Resorts is located nearby.

Dining, Drinks & Entertainment

Aquaplex 

Lips. The ultimate in drag dining, this iconic Fort Lauderdale destination features spectacular shows six nights a week, including a can’t-miss drag brunch on Sundays.

The ultimate in drag dining, this iconic Fort Lauderdale destination features spectacular shows six nights a week, including a can’t-miss drag brunch on Sundays.

Hunters Nightclub

Hunters

Located at the center of gay nightlife on “The Drive” in Wilton Manors. They serve up quality drinks, karaoke, cabaret, dancing and entertainment daily. Stop in for happy hour, special events and loads of fun!

Rosie’s Bar & Grill

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Sunday Funday is always a mood at this delicious brunch hangout.

Scandals Saloon

Country music, line dancing and bourbon cocktails are mainstays at this unique gay bar.

Wilton Drive
Sidewalk view along Wilton Drive featuring colorful storefronts, outdoor planters with flowers, parked cars, and a sunny blue sky in Wilton Manors. Outside DRYNK Bar.

For unforgettable nightlife options, Wilton Drive delivers with DrYnk Bar & Lounge, Hunters Nightclub, and The Manor Complex.

Greater Fort Lauderdale is home to 31 municipalities and is renowned for its welcoming, authentic vibe.  Here you’ll find a thriving local LGBT+ community with the highest concentration of same-sex couple households in the country and hundreds of gay-owned businesses, many of which are centered around the Wilton Manors neighborhood. Sebastian Beach, the top-rated gay beach in the United States, is nestled in Fort Lauderdale beach.

With a vibrant collection of cultures and activities, Greater Fort Lauderdale is the ultimate, inclusive LGBT+ destination where everyone comes together, under the warm embrace of the sun. You are welcome to fly your flag high, make an impact and radiate life – because you are you, and you are worth celebrating. LET'S CELEBRATE YOU!

Bars

Experience the ultimate bar and nightlife scene here in Greater Fort Lauderdale.