Enchanting Key West has two mottos that express the truth about this gay paradise at the southernmost tip of the USA. The first is “One Human Family” and the second is “Almost Perfect – Never Normal.”
There is no community on earth that socializes as well as Key West, mixing straight and gay into one fabulous cocktail of fun and frolic. Although Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1819, and Henry Flagler built a railroad that linked Key West to the mainland in 1912, the city has never became fused – at heart – with the rest of the United States. Flagler’s railroad was swept away by the Great Hurricane of 1935, and, in 1982, Key West proclaimed its independence as “The Conch Republic.” This was a brief effort, mostly in jest, yet expressive of the pride it takes in its unique personality. Over the decades, Key West business has evolved from shipwreck scavenging, to military installations, and finally, to tourism, without overly glorifying the workday. Key West continues its constant desire to embrace and enjoy its visitors.
Having dodged the brunt of Hurricane Irma, Key West is up, running and ready to receive you. Pack lightly and get ready to relax on the beach, by a pool, on a Duval Street bar stool or pausing on a sidewalk to banter with the dazzling drag performers luring you into their venues. Jump on a bicycle or scooter, take a boat tour, paddle a kayak or go snorkeling or parasailing. Peruse the many fine shops and galleries, and finally, make the most difficult decision of your Key West day, selecting a restaurant from among so many delicious offerings.
Given the fact that Key West is entirely flat and compact, renting a bicycle is the way to go. Ask your innkeeper or host to arrange this for you. On the first day of your stay, to get the lay of the land, take one of the colorful and live-narrated trolley tours. You’ll want to do a selfie at the Southernmost Point Mile Marker Zero. You’re only 90 miles from Cuba, but don’t try to swim there. It took legendary lesbian swimmer Diana Nyad five attempts before she succeeded, conquering the currents, sharks and jellyfish in 2013! Take a few minutes to visit the AIDS Memorial on the White Street Pier where Key West remembers those lost to the plague. Tour Ernest Hemingway’s gracious home. (Will you spot any of the famous polydactyl cats that roam the grounds?) Climb the historic lighthouse for a spectacular view of the island. Check out the Butterfly Conservatory or the botanical gardens. Join the nightly ritual watching of the sunset over Mallory Square. Book a tour on the BluQ catamaran for a day of sailing, swimming or snorkeling. For the adventurous who don’t mind getting up early, take the ferry to the Dry Tortugas National Park, 70 miles from Key West, where you will tour the 18th century Fort Jefferson. While there, enjoy snorkeling its gorgeous reef.
It’s easy to get lazy in Key West. The leisure-minded love to stretch out on the gay beach at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. The epitome of the ultra-relaxed Key West visitor is the man who checks into the sublime gay men’s guesthouse and spa, Island House Key West. He may sheepishly admit to never leaving the premises for a week! The convivial daily poolside happy hour at Island House attracts a crowd of locals and guests from elsewhere on the island. A short walk from Island House is Equator Resort, an excellent and elegant clothing-optional resort for men.
Do you prefer a quiet time in Key West or would you rather be there when the sequins and feathers are flying? Check the calendar on the municipal website or the calendar of the Key West Business Guild for the annual Key West festivities, including Fantasy Fest, Pride, SMARTRIDE, the Headdress Ball, Bear Weekend and “Bone Island Bare It All”; and choose accordingly. Need help planning your visit? Contact the reliable and experienced professionals at HEtravel. Hanns Ebensten, the founder of this Key West business, was the father of the gay travel industry. HEtravel has been the world leader in gay travel for decades. They can put it all together for you.
The locals don’t slouch when it comes to gay activism. When two Key West bartenders tried to get married at the City Clerk’s office and were refused a license, their suit became the first court case to overturn Florida’s prohibition of same-sex marriage. Proving the Key West “One Human Family” thesis, their lawyer was a straight, female, Republican, Roman Catholic who took on their case without hesitation and won it before a conservative Latino judge!
You’ll find that Key West is a gay visitor’s perfect combination of lazy and lively. No matter what part of the LGBT spectrum you inhabit, you’ll be welcomed in Key West.
— Tony Adams