Miami Beckons to Gays: Visit the Gay Riviera

Orlando Sentinel ^ | 2/13/02 | Maya Bell

[JoeFromCA]

I spend a lot of time in south Florida, including Key West, which many bill as a gay mecca. The reality is that gays aren't present in significant enough numbers anywhere to even be noticed. Bad drivers (many tourists) and thousands of people being dumped from cruise ships are the biggest hazards.

[GrandMoM]

and spend more than the general population.

....my husband told me this a long time ago. They never question price and always buy high end merchandise.

[Seruzawa]

It'd be a good idea the get as many of them as possible in the same place. Then a couple of daisycutters.....just kidding.

[marshmallow]

Great tippers too, according to what I've heard.

[TightSqueeze]

I for one applaud the effort, discerning adults now have been given information to help them make suitable travel arrangements, sort of the way people react when confronted with Martin Luther King Boulevard… some of us are glad to have found it, others sense they have gone too far. Either way all have the information necessary to make informed decisions.

[Savage Beast]

If there are not enough gay guys in Key West to notice, just drive on up to Savannah. And if you want to notice some gay gals, just continue on to Asheville. If Miami's advertising campaign is a success, we could witness the wholesale depopulation of Asheville and Savannah in our lifetime.

[Tall_Texan]

Many years ago, I had family take me to one of the beaches around Pensacola on the Gulf Coast in the panhandle region. The fine white sand there takes on almost a snow-like quality and it is still, today, the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The last time I visited the area, I mentioned to family that I'd like to go to the beaches there.

"Don't go there", my sister warned. "They're overrun with gays now."

When I visited my brother in Hollywood, FL a few years ago, we also talked about going to the beaches around South Beach.

"I wouldn't go," said my brother. "It's a gay hangout." I later got a similar warning when I asked about Key West. Politically, both of them are more liberal than I so their opinions are not a "conservative" thing.

It seems as if Florida has already become a popular place for gays. Fortunately, the state also has miles and miles of beaches so there should be enough room for everybody.

The question becomes: how much in tourism money are various locations *losing* from straights and their families who are warned to avoid the "gay beaches"? As appealing as gay dollars may be to some business, they may be silently losing just as much from the rest of us.

[eastsider]

Great tippers too, according to what I've heard.

Might have something to do with the sexual demography of the people they're tipping.

[Right Wing Professor]

"I wouldn't go," said my brother. "It's a gay hangout." I later got a similar warning when I asked about Key West. Politically, both of them are more liberal than I so their opinions are not a "conservative" thing.

I visit the Keys fairly frequently. I'm not a big fan of Key West for other reasons, but it's not that bad, certainly nothing like Castro Street. You have a few stores that obviously cater to a gay clientele, and a few very odd looking people on the street, but mostly it's a hard-drinking, touristy kind of place. And some of the historical monuments are well worth visiting.

[Tall_Texan]

We wound up visiting Key West anyway and it was generally a fun time. But we didn't go to the beach. Since we travelled with my macaw, it was nice that so many businesses were accepting and accomodating to parrots.

[oyez]

A lot of Parrot Heads vacation in Key West. Key West was the inspiration for "Margaritaville." When your not diving or fishing there is little else to do but drink and the devices of person. Face it, KW is an island in the middle of nowhere. Its where the weather fits one clothes.

[HennepinPrisoner]

Thank you for posting this significant story. I always like to keep informed....wars, the economy...and gay subjects. Thank you for taking the time to post this story on FR.

In fairness, I'd also like to compliment the Orlando Sentinel journalist who took the time to research this story, write it, and submit it to his editors.

Can't all of you just get a life?????

[marshmallow]

That narrow strip on the right side of your monitor is called a scroll bar. Click on it and it will carry you past subjects which you feel are of no interest.

That way, you'll be happy and the rest of us "no lifers" won't have to listen to your whining.

[JoeFromCA]

I was in Savannah in 1999. I must be blind, because again all I saw was a bunch of other tourists (and a beautiful old town; much better than Charleston). I'll have to be more aware, I guess.

[Revolting cat!]

Miami Beckons to Gays: Visit the Gay Riviera

Heraldo a homo? No wonder he likes Afghanistan. And it puts a new meaning into the name Miami Heraldo!

[Tall_Texan]

**In fairness, I'd also like to compliment the Orlando Sentinel journalist who took the time to research this story, write it, and submit it to his editors.**

Yes, I'm sure folks in Orlando want to do everything possible to promote tourism in Miami. Yep. Why see DisneyWorld when you can watch a bunch of guys kissing and fondling each other on the beach? Yessiree, those Orlando folks would certainly want to encourage that type of reputation for Miami. No conflicts there...

[white trash redneck]

Gosh, I read this quickly and thought it said "Visit the Gay Rivera."

[FormerLib]

"The amendment has created a climate that encourages the promotion of tourism based on sexual behavior," he said. "We don't do it for polygamists or bigamists. We don't do it for people who cheat on their spouses. Why should we do it for homosexuals?"

Good question.