Florida has an array of amazing destinations, and many are famously LGBTI-friendly. Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Key West to name but a few. But there’s something special about gay Orlando; a magical draw that sets it apart it from its beachside brothers. If you’re anything like me, you’ve been desperate to go since you were four years old.
It’s known worldwide for being a friendly and welcoming place. Which in part explains why last year’s horrific massacre shocked in the way it did.
Almost exactly one year ago, on 12 June 2016, gunman Omar Mateen stormed Latino night at gay nightclub Pulse. Some 49 people were shot dead and another 58 wounded during the atrocious incident. But one year on, local LGBTIs are defiant, and visitors continue to descend on the city in droves. In fact, last year Orlando celebrated record tourism: 68 million people to be exact. (To put that into perspective, only around 262,000 live here!)
The only logical conclusion is that gay Orlando is, and always will be, amazing. Here are just 8 examples of that amazingness – starting with rollercoasters, obviously.
By Jamie Tabberer – Full Story at Gay Star News