Fort lauderdale gay neighborhood

Fort Lauderdale Gay Capital Guide: Florida’s LGBTQ Capital

A progressive and diverse culture has earned Fort Lauderdale one of the top 100 places to live in America. An inclusive and safe destination, it’s a welcoming place to dwell and work. Famous for its beaches and boating canals, there’s everything from upscale restaurants and boutiques to luxury hotels and housing.

How Did The Town Come to Be?

Originally settled for two thousand years by the Tequesta Indians, Spain changed all of that in the 16th century.  Before the 20th century, the Fort Lauderdale area was known as the "New River Settlement.” In the 1830s, there was only 70 people settled in the city.

Until 1961, the beaches were segregated, so a lot about the area has changed. Today, Fort Lauderdale is a major yachting town and one of the nation’s largest tourist destinations.

Stats on Fort Lauderdale

  • The municipality is 36 square miles.
  • There is a huge LGBTQ marketing spend here.
  • It has a relatively little population (only 170k).
  • It’s 28 miles from Miami.
  • Fort Lauderdale receives over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.

Here are some more fun proof about Fort Lauderdale.

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Fort Lauderdale Gay Neighborhood Guide 

Welcome to Florida’s gay capital! With a gay mayor, the highest population of same-sex couples in the mention, and year-round Parade events, Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors earned their title of Florida’s lgbtq+ mecca. 

If you crave to move here, you’ll find a city that discarded its reputation as a Spring Destroy party town and became a protected and welcoming haven for LGBTQ+ singles, couples, and families to call home. 

A Very Brief History of Fort Lauderdale 

Named after Major William Lauderdale and several United States military forts from the Second Seminole War, Fort Lauderdale was settled in 1838 and incorporated in 1911. 

Heavy development happened during a 1920s land boom, and the first of Fort Lauderdale’s 165 miles of inland canals were manufactured, earning it the nickname “Venice of America.” Despite its history of segregation, today, the municipality is one of the most diverse and progressive in the country. Its people come from 170 different countries, and 147 diverse languages are spoken here, making the city truly in a league of its own when it comes to welcoming people from all over the world.

Fort Lauderdale’s LG

LGBTQ+ Life in Wilton Manors

The City of Wilton Manors is a place where diversity is not tolerated, but embraced. Inquiries regarding LGBTQ+ life in Wilton Manors can be directed to community@wiltonmanors.com (for the LGBT+ Community Liaison in the City Manager's Office).

Second Gayest City in America

As a result of the 2010 US Census, the City of Wilton Manors was named the “Second Gayest City” in the United States. With a large percentage of the population identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, Wilton Manors has been a progressive place to live, work and play for many years. In 2012, and again in subsequent years, Wilton Manors was named by South Florida Gay News (SFGN) as the Optimal City in its “Best Of" competition. You can read the story here. Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America Second Gayest City in America&n

Wilton Manors: An LGBTQ Travel Mentor to Florida’s Gayest City

Wilton Manors, also known as “The Island City”, is an internationally-known LGBTQ destination. This Greater Fort Lauderdale city is known as the “Second-Gayest City” in the Combined States next to Provincetown in Massachusetts, with 140 gay couples per 1,000 residents. Its epicenter, Wilton Drive, is also place to more than 40 LGBTQ-friendly and LGBTQ-owned businesses. South Florida Gay News has even named Wilton Manors “Best City” twice.

Its walkable, urban atmosphere, coupled with the most renowned gay bars in the country, outdoor activities, and a rich art scene, makes it fit for LGBTQ travelers with eclectic tastes. 

Discover everything Wilton Manors has to provide in this guide! 

Wilton Manors’ Inclusive Legacy 

Wilton Manors’ reputation as a “gay city” gained traction partly due to the revival of Wilton Drive as the Arts and Entertainment Overlay District in March of 1997. 

When Georgie’s Alibi, the first of many LGBTQ businesses, opened in April of 1997, the city’s demographic alter started taking place. It became a “welcoming, inclusive, and diverse place – one that is open to everyone regardless