Join us in celebrating Key West Pride this year, as there’s no other destination quite like it to embrace the moment and express yourself freely. With a rich history of backing the LGBTQ community, Key West has maintained a strong and vibrant gay pride scene that still thrives today. Let your inner self shine and come be a part of the festivities!
Key West’s Pride Week History
The gay community began to discover Key West in the 1940s. Urban gay men discovered that they could come to Key West, soak up the sun and enjoy life without discrimination. It was here that people could come, vacation, and be themselves.
In those days people were glad that Key West was a little bit hard to get to. They felt isolated from their daily lives where jobs, families, and society, in general, were intolerant of their sexuality. In 1967 a gay Key West native, David Wolkowsky, opened the first real resort on the island.
He was also instrumental in the architectural preservation that is still so prevalent on the island to this day. Guest houses catering to the gay community, art galleries, and gay businesses flourished.
Businessmen of Key West banded together in 1978 to market the island to the LGBTQ traveler and formed the Key West Business Guild.
It was the first organization in the country with the objective of encouraging gay travelers. The following year was the first Fantasy Fest – a celebration founded by gay men to party in paradise for Halloween. Fantasy Fest is one of the many Key West events that everyone likes to participate in.
In 1983 Richard Heyman was elected mayor of Key West and became the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. City. Since then there have been many prominent politicians and civil servants in the area.
During the 1980s gay men with AIDS came to the city when they were shunned at home. Here they were cared for, often by the lesbian inhabitants of Key West.
Today Key West’s pride remains strong. The motto of the city is “One human family.”
Plan for Pride Week in Key West
This year’s pride week Key West goes from June 6 until June 11. There will be lots of Key West events for pride every day. Pool parties, pajama parties, underwear parties, and come-as-you-are parties go on throughout the day and evening.
There will be queer theater, musicals, and drama, as well as drag shows and lots of dancing. Don’t miss the laser show, the sunset pride sail, or the vibrator race for charity.
Annual Pride Parade
The Pride Parade will start on Sunday, June 11 at 5 p.m. It starts at the Quay on the Truman waterfront and ends on the corner of Duval and United Street. This will be an amazing raucous celebration. You can contact the organizers to walk in the parade or to volunteer. But just watching and cheering is an exciting time that you will remember forever.
This year is a celebration of 20 years of the Sea to Sea Diversity Flag. In 2003, to celebrate the 25th year of the rainbow diversity flag, Gilbert Baker (the original designer of the rainbow flag) oversaw a bunch of volunteers who constructed a 1.25-mile rainbow flag and unfurled it as part of the pride celebrations.
It is considered to be the largest pride flag ever. Sections of the flag have been displayed and flown during pride events all over the world.
After the parade, the festivities continue. The closing ceremonies will be at 8 pm on the corner of Duval and Petronia St. But after that, there will be a Beach Party and a Tea Dance at the Lateda. Of course, people will keep celebrating throughout the night. It’s gay pride all the time in Key West!
Daily Activities
There will be a pre-pride charity event on June 6 at the Aqua. It’s called “Real Men Do Drag” and it benefits SMART Ride. SMART Ride has been fundraising in Florida since 2003 to raise money for people affected by HIV and AIDS.
The kickoff luncheon at noon on June 7 at the Marriott Beachside will feature a presentation on the making of the Sea-to-Sea Diversity flag. This is preceded by some pride fun at 801 Bourbon Bar at 11 a.m.
At 5 p.m. there will be the official kick-off party. Drag shows will happen at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. at the Aqua Night Club and at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. at 801 Bourbon Bar. These Drag shows will be happening throughout the week.
Plan Your Key West Vacation!
Celebrate Key West Pride, join in the festivities, and let your true self shine! Book a waterfront Key West vacation rental and start planning your trip today!
There will be two productions of live theater. The Gulf, a new work will show at the Fringe Theater at 7 pm. Hedwig and the Angry Inch will be performed at the Waterfront Theater at 8 p.m. You will have a chance to see both these shows throughout the week if you miss these performances.
Thursday through Saturday has various pride Rainbow specials, pride anthems, and LGBTQ+ movies at 801 Bourbon Bar all day and night.
On Thursday you can also take part in the Pride Wine Tasting at the Gardens Hotel from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and at 6 p.m. take the “Tea on the Sea” sunset sail. The vibrator races for charity also begin at 6 p.m. at Mary Ellen’s. The local bartender competition will be at the Bourbon St Pub at 9 p.m. and the “Come as you are” Party starts at 10 p.m. at 801 Bourbon Bar.
Also happening on Thursday are the Drag shows and the theater performances.
In addition to the drag shows, events at Bourbon Bar, and live theater the “Are You Wet” pool party kicks off on Friday at noon. At 6 p.m. there will be a sunset cruise. The laser light show is on Duval Street from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The light show also happens on Saturday night. Club 502 hosts a pride glow party at 9 p.m. and there is a pajama party at 801 Bourbon Bar at 10 p.m.
New events on Saturday include a 5K race that starts at 8 a.m. The Pride Street fair all day along Duval Street, a pool party at the Bourbon St. Pub, and another sunset cruise. Saturday night sees a Dance party at Mary Ellens’, a “Purgatory All Welcome Party” at Bourbon St. Pub, and an Underwear Glow party at 801 Bourbon Bar.
On Sunday there are services in the morning and brunches and a tea dance during the afternoon. The parade starts at 5 p.m. and the closing ceremony is at 8. Then the after-parties start.
These are just the official Pride activities, there will also be museums, land activities, and water activities going on all over Key West during Pride week.
Stay with Key West Vacation Homes
Key West Vacation Homes have Key West vacation rentals that can serve as your home base during pride week. Our Key West rentals have great views, full kitchens, expansive balconies, and spacious rooms.
We have Key West condos that sleep from four people to eight people and we have Key West vacation homes that sleep 10 or more.
Call us and ask about our white glove service. Make your reservation for pride week today!
