Miami Beach: Where LGBTQ+ history and glamour unite
Haulover Beach on the north end of the isle.)SoBe’s 12th Street is considered the gay section, especially for tourists. But that’s enough about oceanfront geography.
What lured gayness into the area was the bohemian lifestyle adapted to modern living. Miamians speak Spanglish, have their own slang, kiss on the cheek instead of shaking hands, and the culture feels like a nation within a nation.Miami’s tourism and population has multiplied since the pandemic (welcome to rush hour from hell), but the “golden age” of gayness started in the 1970s.
Actually, a gay nightlife scene can be traced in Miami Beach as far back as the 1930s. But it was during the 1970s when the LGBTQ+ community took its identity and fun by the horns.
The culmination of many societal factors contributed to the newfound widespread queer empowerment across the city. Here’s a quick timeline of notable moments curated by the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
