It’s easy to get swept away by Key West’s charm. Walk down Historic Old Town roads lined with picturesque conch-style houses, and you’ll stumble upon the stomping grounds of Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, Leonard Bernstein, just to name a few.Key West has long been known as a place where queer people can enjoy a peaceful vacation as their authentic selves.
This is why more than 300,000 LGBTQ visitors flock to the island each year. With annual events like Fantasy Fest and Womenfest, it’s not hard to see why.
It has become one of the most popular destinations for the “L” in LGBTQ.At the helm of this ship is Teri Johnston, Florida’s very first openly lesbian mayor.
Teri tells GayCities that it is the “one human family spirit” that draws folks in. “We are one big accepting, diverse family,” she explains. “We argue, disagree, laugh, cajole but at the end of the day, we are there for each other, as well as any guest to our island who wants to contribute and join this big loud family.