As LGBTQ+ History Month ends, we look back at how Greater Fort Lauderdale has been at the forefront, blazing a trail with progressive laws that protect and empower the LGBTQ+ community. It is no wonder that the cities of Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Oakland Park, and Wilton Manors have received perfect scores on the municipality equality index by the Human Rights Campaign. One of the first major moments for the LGBTQ+ community was in 1935 when the very first gay bar opened in Greater Fort Lauderdale. Club Ha-Ha touted itself as a place where gayety knows no restraint with female impersonators and people whose sexual orientation was outside what was considered the norm at the time. But the community’s real emergence on the scene didn’t come until the ‘70s and ‘80s. Spring Break fever was in full swing, and gay men got the memo that Fort Lauderdale was a place with bars, beaches, and boys. The classic collegiate movie filmed on Fort Lauderdale beach named “Where the Boys Are” hence holds value. Today, there’s an endless list of LGBTQ+ establishments, from nightclubs for bears to bars with drag performers, leather nights, pool parties, tea dances, and karaoke to belt out tunes by the divas. Visit Lauderdale boasts this grand history and invites you to this land of pride where queer celebration goes on 365 days of the year. Visit Lauderdale, everyone under the sun.
