Throughout the years, LGBTQ+ locals have found each other through nightlife, whether that be in a club with booming speakers, a drag show with high-kicking queens, or a cocktail bar over casual conversation. Stars like Grace Jones, Sylvester, and Divine were regulars at the iconic Copa Club in Fort Lauderdale, and the warm weather and lively local community made South Florida a coveted home for folks from all walks of life. South Florida’s history as a gay Mecca dates back decades. And in Miami, a city that already lends itself to that mindset, nightlife remains at the center of the LGBTQ+ life. For decades, LGBTQ+ nightlife has brought people together, creating a place where everyone can be themselves, no matter who they are or how they identify.
