Ask most travelers to name the top LGBT travel destinations in the United States, and Fort Lauderdale will likely appear near the top of the list. After all, this Florida vacation paradise spent years carving its role as a favored getaway for LGBT travelers — especially gay men. And the destination is aiming for an even more diverse appeal within this segment, according to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, which bills itself as the “only CVB in North America with a designated LGBTQ department.”

Stonewall Pride banner © Lee Serenethos | Dreamstime.com
“The rainbow flag flies loud and proud in Broward County, and we are committed to welcoming all segments of the LGBTQ community, as we always have and will continue to for years to come,” said Richard Gray, LGBTQ managing director, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Greater Fort Lauderdale received some 1.5 million LGBT visitors in 2014, according to the CVB. And the destination is expanding its efforts to appeal to a more diverse variety of LGBT travelers; the CVB commissioned surveys to learn more about the travel habits of LGBT families as well as transgender travelers.
The destination packs in a lot of attractions and activities of interest to LGBT travelers: It’s home to the Stonewall National Museum & Archives, which focuses on LGBT history and culture; the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center, described as the world’s first museum dedicated to the topic; and the global headquarters of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, the world’s largest LGBT travel association.
Many of the LGBT businesses and activities center around Wilton Manors, actually a separate city. Dotted with a variety of LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly bars, restaurants and stores, Wilton Drive also hosts events like Art Expo, which takes place on the third Saturday of every month between November and April, and Wilton Manors Stonewall Pride, which takes place in mid-June. Another big event — the 26th annual Southern Comfort Conference, the nation’s largest transgender conference — takes place Sept. 26–Oct. 1 at the Bonaventure Resort & Spa.
Read This Next
Women in Travel
2016
Sep 22, 2016All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Mar 31, 2023JW Marriott Debuts in Spain with JW Marriott Hotel Madrid
JW Marriott makes its way into Spain with the unveiling of JW Marriott Hotel Madrid. The hotel lies within the Canalejas zone, merely steps away from theaters and prestigious art institutions, as well as other popular landmarks and attractions.
Daily
Mar 31, 2023Wynn Las Vegas Debuts Luxury Wine Weekend with Opus One Winery
Wynn Las Vegas and Opus One Winery partner for the ultimate weekend wine escape April 28–30, bringing the Opus One experience outside the Napa Valley estate for the first time. Participants enjoy in-depth master classes, intimate tasting room experiences, food and wine parings from Wynn chefs, and an Opus One Under the Stars outdoor feast.
Daily
Mar 31, 2023Italian Mansion, Winery Locanda La Raia Available for Private Stays
Looking for luxury in Italy’s Southern Piedmont Region? In the wine hills of Gavi, north and west of Genoa, Locanda La Raia offers 10 splendid guestrooms and two apartments on a 180- hectare estate. Once a countryside inn and post station serving travelers journeying through the area on horseback, the space has been meticulously restored by the Rossi Cairo family to showcase original features such as vaulted ceilings and exposed brickwork. Each guestroom has been individually decorated and now features enormous windows overlooking the surrounding landscape of lush gardens, rolling meadows and organic vineyards.
Sponsored Content
Exclusive Savings: Cruise Along the Danube River with Global Traveler
Exclusive Sailing with Global Traveler
Daily
Mar 30, 2023The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach’s Wellness Experiences
The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach offers travelers a new immersive wellness experience: Healing in Hawai’i.
4 Spring Hotel Openings
Daily
Mar 29, 2023Elk Cove Inn & Spa Review
eFlyer Reviews
Mar 29, 2023eFlyer News
Mar 29, 2023Puerto Rico’s Hotel El Convento Unveils Multimillion-Dollar Renovation
Hotel El Convento, one of Old San Juan’s most popular landmark hotels, recently completed a multimillion-dollar design and architectural renovation to its 81 rooms. The renovation blends Old World charm with Puerto Rico’s vibrant and modern energy.
Sponsored Content
Enter to Win $500 and Get Six Months’ Free Access to the New GT App
Now through May 8, sign up for a free six-month trial of the Global Traveler app and be automatically entered for a chance to win a $500 gift card of your choice for Amazon, Apple or American Express.
eFlyer News
Mar 29, 2023Etihad Airways Teams Up with Emirati Chef for In-Flight Ramadan Menu
Etihad Airways prepares a specially curated in-flight menu through the holy month of Ramadan. The menu comes thanks to the airline’s collaboration with Emirati Chef Khaled Alsaadi, in which Alsaadi recreates popular Ramadan dishes blending Emirati recipes with contemporary techniques and local ingredients.
ShareThis