Understand
[edit]Even before gays and lesbians were out to their families, in their communities and at work, there were gay-friendly vacation destinations. In the United States, starting in the 1950s, Fire Island, New York, Provincetown, Massachusetts, Stinson Beach, California and Key West, Florida all gained reputations as gay-friendly beach destinations. In Europe, Brighton, UK, Sitges, Spain and Mykonos, Greece were popular with gays. Often these destinations featured a nude beach nearby and were known for being hard to reach.
As society became more accepting of gays and particularly after the Stonewall Riots of 1969, gay travelers became more evident and even more beach destinations on more continents catered to the LGBT demographic.
Today, there are hundreds of beach resort destinations that actively market to the LGBT demographic. The other hallmarks of these destinations include gay bars and nightclubs, restaurants that cater to gays and lesbians, shops and gyms with large gay clientele, and a cluster of gay guesthouses--often small or medium sized with clothing optional pools.
Destinations
[edit]Africa
[edit]South Africa
[edit]Asia
[edit]Indonesia
[edit]Israel
[edit]Thailand
[edit]Europe
[edit]France
[edit]Greece
[edit]Spain
[edit]United Kingdom
[edit]North America
[edit]Canada
[edit]Costa Rica
[edit]Mexico
[edit]United States
[edit]- Fire Island, New York
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Key West, Florida
- Laguna Beach, California
- Miami Beach, Florida
- Ogunquit, Maine
- Provincetown, Massachusetts
- Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Saugatuck, Michigan