MIAMI AND  SOUTH BEACH. What can you say? Isn't it funny, how the gays can go in and clean up a neighborhood or town, increase all the properties values, then all the heterosexuals want to run there?!

That's exactly what happened with South Beach, about 20 years ago. And it was cool, chic, and hot for a while...late 1980's till  mid 1990's. Gays and chic Europeans ruled  the town.  But the last few years, it's lost
some of that gay magic it once had. It can still be fun, don't get me wrong, especially for a  gay party
weekend, when all the gays come in and take over South Beach.  But  on  most Saturday nights, you have
to be careful in South Beach. It's not real gay friendly on the streets.

Every Thanksgiving weekend,  South Beach hosts the  WHITE PARTY - the granddaddy of all circuit
parites. Gay flock in from all over the world. As well as  MTV,  VH1, and E! enetertainment, mind you.

It was in 1984 that Frank Wager and Jorge Suarez planned the first event which they hoped would
increase understanding and awareness about the HIV virus. Having already lost many of their friends
against the struggle with AIDS, their plan was simple: to raise some money as well as people’s perceptions
about the fight against the virus.

The first White Party was advertised by dropping flyers outside the gay bars and clubs of South Florida
and local businesses were urged to donate alcohol and food in support of the cause. The venue was the
glamorous Vizcaya Villa, set on the banks of Miami’s Biscayne Bay amidst the spectacular 30 acres of
 beautiful gardens. 1,600 people attended that first event. This year, 25,000 are expected. Many celebrities 
that have attended over the years include such A-list stars as Calvin Klein, Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Gloria
and Emilio Estefan, Eartha Kitt, Patti Labelle, Rosie O'Donnell and Yoko Ono.

  

 

Miami is truly a unique place. Combining a cosmopolitan flair with a tropical Caribbean atmosphere.  With strong roots in Latin American culture, Miami offers the gay and lesbian traveler a unique experience for culture, dining, recreation, nightlife and shopping.. Miami is a city that revels in its diversity offering a mix of cultures that can be found no other place. South Beach is an entirely different kind of gay destination from the more traditional gay resorts.  Gay South Beach attracts a fast-lane crowd, including a lot of gay and lesbian New Yorkers who commute down on winter weekends, muscle boys, circuit queens, lipstick lesbians, and everyone in the fashion business. The South Beach/Miami club scene is cutting-edge, and the beach scene looks like the Undergear catalog come to life. But I still  advise going on a gay specific weekend, or you might be disappointed. It has changed over the years. But they can still throw a great party!