Where The Boys Are

North of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and its surrounding cities attract their share of lesbian and gay tourists. This is especially true of Wilton Manors, an “island city” surrounded by canals located north of Fort Lauderdale that boasts a large gay population and a gay majority on the city council.

Unlike SoBe, which attracts young singles, Fort Lauderdale appeals to same-sex couples, older gays, leathermen, and bears. And while Lauderdale cannot rival Miami’s scenic attractions, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, from viewing the traveling exhibits at the Museum of Art to shopping on Las Olas Boulevard or at the Sawgrass Mills Mall. Some tourists visit both Miami and Fort Lauderdale, going back and forth as the spirit moves them.

Unlike some gay tourist spots, Fort Lauderdale lacks a large gay-identified hotel or resort. Instead, there are scores of small gay or gay-friendly guesthouses, most of them equipped with Jacuzzis and warm water, clothing-optional pools. Many of them, such as the Blue Dolphin, Coconut Cove, Dunes, Grand Resort & Spa, Royal Palms, Villa Venice, are on Fort Lauderdale Beach, within walking distance of the “gay beach” on Sebastian Street. Those who don’t want to stay by the Beach can stay in mainland accommodations like the Cabanas, the Schubert Resort, or InnLeather, with “a sling in every room.”

Much of the local gay activity clusters around Wilton Drive in Wilton Manors, know locally as WilMa, home of that city’s Arts and Entertainment District. There within walking distance are shops of distinction like GayMart USA, Bottoms & Tops, Zoo Too Clothing Company and Daddy’s Closet, a leather shop; restaurants like Chardee’s, Galanga, Food Among the Flowers, and Hamburger Mary’s; and clubs and pubs like Boom dance club, Tropics piano bar and Georgie’s Alibi, a sports and cruise bar which started WilMa’s gay boom back in the 1990s. Lesbians gather at the New Moon bar, near Five Points.

Those who abstain from liquor can enjoy the company of others over coffee at Java Boys or over tea at One Tea Lounge.

The City of Fort Lauderdale has its share of gay watering holes. While the famous Copa is no more, a victim of Hurricane Wilma, other clubs and pubs have come forth to take its place. Just a block away from the Copa site is the Coliseum, a mega dance club. Locals and tourists alike flock to neighborhood bars like Bill’s Filling Station, the Corner Pub, the Cubby Hole, and Club Cathode Ray. Though the city has a very strict law that bans both frontal and rear nudity, this does not prevent stripper bars like the Boardwalk, Dudes and Torpedo from drawing crowds with their boys in tighty whities.

The leather crowd gathers on Fridays at the Ramrod and on Sundays at Jackhammer, home of a popular T-Dance that attracts crowds of leathermen, bears, muscle bears, and other masculine gay men. (For more info about the local leather scene, visit Mauro Montoya’s column in leatherpage.com.)

All in all there is enough to do in Fort Lauderdale to keep even the most jaded visitor coming back for more.

Jesse Monteagudo is a freelance writer and a South Florida resident of more than 40 years. Write him at jessemonteagudo@aol.com