Plan an LGBTQ+ Getaway in Orlando

Orlando hosts special celebrations throughout the year, gourmet food and beverage festivals, theme park events, and more — and everyone is invited to the party. What’s more, many of our events are of special interest to the LGBTQ+ community, perfect for a spring or summer getaway to Orlando.

A highly inclusive destination, Orlando has been a pioneer in LGBTQ+ tourism dating back to the original Gay Days in 1991. A winning destination in the 2023 “Gay Travel Awards”, Orlando promotes inclusivity through events, nightlife, and activities that welcome all. The “city beautiful” has even earned a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index in 2022, which measures the LGBTQ+ inclusiveness of cities' laws, policies, and services.

Must-See Events

• SeaWorld Orlando’s Seven Seas Food Festival (through May 7) features exquisite global cuisine, an ocean of local craft beers and diverse live entertainment.

• Universal’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval (through April 16) features Cajun and Creole dishes, and performances by some of the biggest names in music.

• EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival (March 1 – July 5) boasts impressive Disney-inspired topiaries and colorful gardens and delicious fresh flavors around the World Showcase.

• Fiesta in the Park (April 1-2) located in the heart of downtown Orlando, is a traditional celebration that returns for its 34th year to showcase the beauty of springtime at Lake Eola.

• The Pride Prom (April 28) at the Orlando Science Center is an adult-only (21+) Prom hosted by Come Out with Pride. The theme this year is Planet EVO: Evolution is Inclusion.

• GayDays (May 31 – June 5), is comprised of multiple events staged at world-famous attractions; gay and lesbian clubs; and unique venues that create a renowned gay and lesbian vacation experience.

• Girls in Wonderland (June 1-5), the counterpart to

GayDays, caters to female members of the LGBTQ+ community featuring parties, special performances and celebrity appearances.

• One Magical Weekend (June 1-5), always on the first weekend in June, is one of the largest LGBTQ+ pride and music festivals in the world.

Nightlife and Live Entertainment

Vibrant live entertainment and dance clubs in and around the downtown area, combined with our welcoming nature, have helped make Orlando famous among LGBTQ+ travelers.

• Savoy Orlando is an LGBTQ nightclub with themed events ideal for any mood, such as Flashback Fridays and Martini Mondays. It contains a cabaret venue called the Starlite Room that hosts stand-up comedy, musical acts and more.

• Southern Nights Nightclub presents numerous opportunities for guests, like drag nights and GIRL The Party, which is a popular Saturday-night celebration for lesbians.

• Stardust Lounge near Lake Eola Par in downtown Orlando is an actual underground bar decorated with “retro”-chic Vegas stylings like red leather booths and chrome lamps that transport patrons “back in time to the ’60s and ’70s”; Special events include a monthly burlesque show called Peek a Boo and DJ Jevi on Fridays and Saturdays playing 80's, Old School HipHop and Dance.

• Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, located in downtown Orlando, hosts a number of musicals, plays, ballets, and concerts throughout the year.

• SAK Comedy Lab offers improvisational comedy with a hearty dose of audience participation – guests may even get called on stage to participate.

• Mango’s Tropical Café on International Drive is near every major theme park and offers a unique Latin restaurant experience. The world-famous Mango’s Dancers adorn elaborate costumes while dancing to the upbeat music.

Oases in the Caribbean

Gay Friendly Resorts of the Caribbean

Just as you can always find an oasis in a desert, you can always find a gay friendly resort in the Caribbean.

The Caribbean may not be known for its progressive attitudes when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights as a whole, but - representing different colonies from around the world - some of the Caribbean islands can be surprisingly gay friendly when it comes to attracting some of those diverse visitors. As such, you can always find resorts catering to the budding LGBTQ+ traveler with just that little bit of research. IGLTA (The International LGBTQ+ Travel

Association) membership always shows that not only is a place gay friendly, but they´ve also gone the extra mile to make it welcoming for the LGBTQ+ community.

So, whether you want to just lay back and listen to the lapping of the waves or dive right into a personalized Caribbean adventure, here are five of the best gay-friendly resorts found on the smaller islands out there in the Caribbean – with varying levels of luxury and affordability - for those who like a touch of sassiness with their sun and sand.

Zemi Beach House – Anguilla

Boasting some of the best beaches in the world, the British colony of Anguilla is certainly easy on the eye and is encircled by unbelievably gorgeous turquoise waters. Anguilla has a few resorts that are IGLTA members, but Zemi Beach House in Anguilla stands out as being one of the most luxurious.

The resort is nestled on one of Anguilla´s best beaches, Shoal Bay, with its fine qualities being further amplified by the resort's beach hut vibes, whilst still gushing with opulence. Their guestrooms, suites and penthouses all offer picturesque views over either the beach or tropical gardens from private balconies and terraces. Zemi Beach House has a wealth of restaurants and bars serving international cuisine with a Caribbean focus and you´ll find an infinity pool and a private spa - within a 300-year-old Thai house imported directly from Thailand. There's even a “Rhum Room” - a space dedicated to drinking copious amounts of rum. Would a trip to the Caribbean be complete without rum?!

Thuishaven Gay Boutique Resort – Curacao

Curacao is famous for being one of the most gay-friendly islands in the Caribbean. The Netherlands has a reputation for being open and inclusive and this mentality extends to its island territories. Curacao is a melting pot of over 55 different cultures, proving all are welcome and it goes far beyond simply being tolerant. It even has the most hotels and attractions with IGLTA memberships in all the Caribbean. One of the best is Thuishaven Gay Boutique Resort in Wi, which is a small, yet well situated by all the best beaches, adults only resort. Whilst sold as a gay resort, all genders and sexualities are welcome – they do however have men only weeks in March and April.

The resort straddles the line between being a collection of luxury apartments and a guest house by having gorgeous little shared gardens between the apartments, which offer the opportunity to meet other guests – or some late-night flirting. Furthermore, to end those pesky tan lines, there's a clothing-optional pool with attached bar and lounge areas.

Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort – Aruba

Aruba - like Curacao - is one of the islands that is part of the “Dutch Caribbean”. Also, like Curacao, it is ravishingly beautiful and brimming with jaw dropping beaches. Amsterdam Manor Beach Resort is a family-owned business found on one such beach, which shows its alliance with the LGBTQ+ community both by flying a pride flag, posting positive social media during Pride and – appealing to our own hearts - by serving a Passions Rainbow cocktail at their main bar.

The building is inspired by Dutch Baroque architecture and the hotel is clean, ultra-modern and highly renovated. There´s rooms, suites and studios which offer comfort at an affordable price and free access to sun loungers to either while away the day at their pool, or on the characteristically beautiful Caribbean beach in front of the resort. Amsterdam Manor Beach resort is a true Caribbean oasis on Aruba and an ideal secure base to explore the rest of the island.

Rosewood Le Guanahani - St. Barths

Saint Barth is an island simply drenched in luxury and European sophistication. The French Caribbean Island is a land of high-class bars, restaurants, cafes and designer stores overlooking perfect white sandy beaches with yachts bobbing on crystal clear waters. There are no gay hotels per se, but same sex marriage is legal and it is extremely popular with gay celebrities such as Calvin Klein and Ricky Martin. Rosewood Le Guanahani Resort capitalizes on this and recently hosted the honeymoon of power couple Simon Huck (founder of Command Entertainment group) and Phil Riportella (cofounder of Snif fragrance brand).

Rosewood Le Guanahani stretches over its own peninsula over 18 tropical acres along Marigot Bay and Grand Culde-sac Lagoon, which is as beautiful as it sounds. They are a real study in luxury with a grand pool, multiple bars and restaurants serving Mediterranean themed cuisine. You can even splash out on your own private suite complete with your own private pool should you be lucky enough to have the funds.

Sand Castle on the Beach - St.Croix

Saint Croix is the biggest of the United States Virgin Islands. For such a big island it is not as popular with tourists, which is surprising given how drop-dead gorgeous it is. Sand Castle on the Beach is a cute and quietly stylish resort in St. Croix that is not only gay-owned but its owners have also been key players in the push for LGBTQ+ rights across the Caribbean islands.

Sand Castle on the Beach is aptly named as it melds effortlessly into the beach in front of it. The whole resort has a tranquil tropical environment and is perfectly placed to help you just relax and take in the beauty around you. It also sports not one but two freshwater pools – including an adult only clothing optional pool. For the adventurous they also offer complimentary kayaks, snorkeling gear, and onsite scuba diving classes. So, dive right in . . . or don't. It's really up to you.

15 short-term vacation rentals

1 & 2 bedroom apartments

Walk to Wilton Drive

Heated resort pool

Free parking

Woof! dog friendly

Free high speed wi-fi

Free on site gym

Visit Lauderdale

Mobile Ale Trail Passport

Experience 12 craft breweries throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale

Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale in South Florida, is debuting the new mobile-exclusive Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport. The “Yachting Capital of the World” welcomes everyone under the sun to experience a curated collection of 12 craft breweries throughout the region. This is the first time the destination is showcasing its offerings with a mobile pass.

“Greater Fort Lauderdale is a beer aficionado’s dream vacation. After you’ve experienced our beautiful beaches, explore beyond and step into our breweries packed with local flavors, unique ambiances, and gracious hospitality,” says Stacy Ritter, CEO and President Visit Lauderdale. “With our Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport, we’ve made it easy to indulge and savor some refreshing brews during your escape to our tropical paradise.”

Visit Lauderdale has partnered with the technology company Bandwango to launch the passport, a free mobile-exclusive digital pass that all locals and visitors can sign up for. With many breweries tucked away, this passport makes it easy to discover Greater Fort

About Visit Lauderdale

Lauderdale’s thriving brewery scene and to go where the locals go or to create your own tour.

Visitors and locals visit a dedicated mobile passport landing page where they can sign up for the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport by providing their name, email address, and mobile phone number. A link is then sent via text to their mobile phone, which opens the passport and directs the user to add the button icon to their home screen, where they can access it at any time. There is never anything to download and no bulky apps take up space on a user’s phone.

As locals and visitors work their way through the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail, they will be automatically checked in and collect points to redeem limited-edition Visit Lauderdale swag, including hats and beer bottle opener keychains. They will also enjoy exclusive deals and discounts at Ale Trail stops.

To sign up to receive your link to the Visit Lauderdale Ale Trail Passport, go to visitlauderdale.com/ale-trail. For more details on all the breweries in the Greater Fort Lauderdale region, visit visitlauderdale.com/nightlife/breweries/.

Visit Lauderdale is the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale and serves as the tourism department for Broward County, Florida. Visit Lauderdale promotes the area’s 31 municipalities to a global audience of leisure and business travelers as the ideal place for Everyone Under the Sun in recognition of the area’s diverse and welcoming vibe, and books conventions into the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center and Area hotels and resorts. @VisitLauderdale on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Choosing a destination for your next vacation can be challenging, especially if more than one person is involved in making the decision. If choosing the perfect place to travel isn't challenging enough, questions about safety and acceptance like, “Will I feel safe?” “How will samesex couples be treated in the destination I’m considering visiting?” or “Is same sex marriage even legal there?” are often top of mind for LGBT+ visitors.

That’s where Greater Fort Lauderdale comes in. Known as Florida’s LGBT+ capital, this diverse, inclusive, and cosmopolitan destination makes addressing these concerns easy. In fact, they’ve been proudly courting and celebrating the LGBT+ community for decades and currently welcome more than 1.1 million LGBT+ visitors each year.

Beyond the power of pride, LGBT+ leisure visitors spend $1 billion collectively while here, making them a significant economic force. When it comes to business ownership, the neighboring cities of Fort Lauderdale and Wilton Manors are home to hundreds of gay-owned hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, and shops. In Greater Fort Lauderdale’s luxury real estate industry, LGBT+ buyers are highly sought after, as their household income is approximately double the national average. According to 2021 U.S. government census data, the LGBT+ community is the fastest growing minority segment in the U.S., with close to $1.4 trillion spending power making it a sector that most destinations cannot afford to exclude.

The vision and enthusiasm for being a world-renowned, diverse, LGBT+ travel destination comes in large part from Visit Lauderdale, the official destination marketing organization for Greater Fort Lauderdale, which realized long ago that embracing the destination’s diverse, LGBT+ population is not just the right thing to do, but is also good for business.

“Back in 1996, we were the first convention and visitor’s bureau in the world to actively court LGBT+ travelers, with a dedicated gay marketing representative and budget devoted to gay tourism and travel,” recalls Richard Gray, Visit Lauderdale’s Senior Vice President of Inclusion and Accessibility. “In those days, we were unsure of how our messaging would be received by stakeholders in the mainstream travel industry. We did not have the confidence to come right out and say gay, so we used rainbow imagery instead.”

Fast forward to October 2022 when, with conviction, creativity and bold action, Visit Lauderdale unveiled its vibrant, new brand campaign “Everyone Under the Sun,” highlighting Greater Fort Lauderdale’s authentic welcoming vibe and its inclusive community. The destination’s commitment to inclusion is evident in tourism ads starring locals of all ethnicities, disabilities, and members of the area’s LGBT+ community showcased against a backdrop of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s natural assets. The new brand campaign also goes a step further, to incorporate transgender models into its mainstream tourism ads.

“We are exceptionally proud of our new brand campaign, ‘Everyone Under the Sun,’” said Stacy Ritter, president and CEO of Visit Lauderdale. “This is so much more than just a campaign; it is a revelation of who we really are - a brilliantly diverse and welcoming community.”

Glorious weather meets progressive thinking

From the time Greater Fort Lauderdale embraced the destination’s diversity almost 30 years ago, LGBT+ travelers have been receptive to the message and it shows with record-setting visitation. Because they feel safe and welcome here, many not only return for multiple visits but put down roots, buying homes and becoming full time residents. Today, Greater Fort Lauderdale is recognized as Florida’s LGBT+ capital and home to the largest percentage of same-sex couple households in the U.S. The destinations’ progressive thinking, warm weather, and 3,000 hours of annual sunshine are just a few of the reasons why.

Yet, beyond the obvious benefits of abundant sunshine, tropical beaches, lively nightlife, and comparable affordability, the ability to live and work authentically in a community where you are valued and can live safely out in the open has been invaluable. Explosive growth in the area’s gayborhoods of Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale has been attributed to new residents opening and operating businesses, paying taxes, and contributing to Greater Fort Lauderdale’s impressive growth.

“We became more confident in our stance, becoming braver and gutsier in our marketing efforts,” said Gray. “As the vanguard in global gay travel, we were mindful of including both gay travelers and our destination’s core travel base, in other words, Everyone Under the Sun.”

A resilient oasis

According to Ritter, the evolution of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s LGBT+ destination marketing has been an asset for not only gay-friendly hotels and restaurants, but for Greater Fort Lauderdale as a whole. She credits the resilience of LGBT+ travelers with helping Greater Fort Lauderdale, as well as other destinations, emerge from tough times. For example, after the tragedy of September 11th, travel came to a standstill throughout the country. It was a precarious time with growing uncertainties surrounding the safety of air travel. The LGBT+ community with its love of travel and Double Income No Kids (DINK) household income was the first sector to resume travel post-9/11 and contributed greatly to the rebound and recovery of the hospitality and tourism industry.

“Had it not been for the fearless gay community, hotel rooms would have remained empty and many of our local businesses could not have survived,” Ritter said.

Whether battling AIDS, hostile political challenges, or discrimination, the gay community has a history of coming together against all odds and prevailing on the side of fairness and equality.

“The world is filled with destinations that feature beaches, ecotourism, shopping, dining, and entertainment. Our destination has all of that, but what really sets us apart from all the others is the enormous diversity and inclusiveness of our community. It’s who we are that makes us what we are,” said Ritter.

In April 2022, Visit Lauderdale took another bold stance — becoming the only destination marketing organization in the state of Florida to speak out against the controversial Parental Rights in Education Act or Don’t Say Gay law, touted by Governor Ron DeSantis. Ritter and her team at Visit Lauderdale took unprecedented steps to stand alongside the LGBT+ community. Days after the controversial bill was signed into law, she released a statement which read in part, “Travel transcends politics, and decisions made at the Florida state level do not always align with the mission and values of Visit Lauderdale.”

Anticipating the inevitable backlash and economic fallout from Don’t Say Gay, Visit Lauderdale produced a courageous promotional video entitled “We Are…” in an effort to inform the world that Greater Fort Lauderdale remains an oasis of acceptance and continues to be an inclusive and welcoming destination.

The “we are welcoming everyone with an open mind, open arms and open hearts” messaging was backed by a $250,000 paid media commitment. Ritter stressed that visitors to Greater Fort Lauderdale can be assured they are in a place where diversity, inclusion, and acceptance is actively championed as an established way of life among people throughout the community.

“We encourage you to stand with us in support of the more than 88,000 tourism industry employees who work in our hotels, restaurants, venues, and attractions by booking your trip now,” she said. “The Visit Lauderdale slogan, Everyone Under the Sun, reflects the open and welcoming nature of our community. When we say, ‘Everyone Under the Sun,’ we mean it.”

A “majority minority” county with a large Hispanic and Caribbean-American population, Greater Fort Lauderdale has earned recognition as one of the most progressive destinations in the U.S, with people from 170 countries, speaking more than 147 languages calling the area home.

“Historically, we’ve been an inclusive destination where people commingle,” Gray said. Among our population of about 2 million residents, we truly are a melting pot with more people of color, including more Latinos, and more Asian people here than white people.”

Continuously striving to develop multicultural relationships and make constructive inroads with the accessibility and multicultural travel and tourism industry, Visit Lauderdale believes its Everyone Under the Sun campaign epitomizes what makes Greater Fort Lauderdale truly special. The underlying hope is that authentic and honest marketing will bring about real and lasting acceptance.

“I’m privileged to utilize Visit Lauderdale’s platform to amplify our message of acceptance, inclusivity, and accessibility for all,” said Gray, who was born in Great Britain and has family and friends around the world. “It’s my personal goal to help make the world a better and more accepting place for all.”

Visit Lauderdale considers Everyone Under the Sun to be much more than a traditional advertising initiative. It raises the bar on inclusiveness for other travel markets who can observe and learn from the progress Greater Fort Lauderdale has made over the last three decades. Ritter and Gray understand that they can’t take the progress they’ve made for granted, recognizing that it could fall victim to hostile political forces. And that’s why they stay committed to speaking out in support of equal rights in travel and tourism, whether the issue is race, gender, disability, or any other unjust barrier that favors one group over others.

“Nothing we do at Visit Lauderdale is more important than respecting the rights of all people and making them feel welcome here,” Ritter said. “Diversity enriches us all with new knowledge and experiences, and that’s really what traveling is all about.”

To learn more about Visit Lauderdale’s Inclusion & Accessibility efforts, check out www.VisitLauderdale.com/diversity.