Miami Beach Heads Over the Rainbow

(Photography by Felix Becerra)

This month, Miami Beach gets a little gay(er).

First, on April 15, the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce unveils its new headquarters and Miami Beach’s first LGBT Visitor Center. Located in Old City Hall at 1130 Washington Avenue, the Chamber and Visitor Center will continue promoting business opportunities and highlighting Miami as a gay-friendly tourist destination.

It’s raining men.

Saturday, April 17, is a day of celebration as Miami Beach holds its 2^nd Annual Gay Pride Parade. Starting at noon on 5^th Street, the floats will shake and shimmy their way up Ocean Drive to 15^thStreet. Last year’s inaugural parade brought out over 24,000 people from all over the world, proud to enjoy an inclusive celebration in one of America’s most popular cities. This year, Sharon Gless, the actress best known for her TV roles on “Queer as Folk” and “Cagney & Lacey”; and Lt. Dan Choi, Iraq veteran and gay advocate serve as Grand Marshals of the parade. Following the parade, the festivities continue at Lummus Park, along Ocean Drive between 10^th and 14^th Streets with performances, vendors and a gay expo.

And the beat goes on.

Along the parade route on 12^th Street, Ocean Drive’s favorite gay spot, the Palace Bar features “Drags Gone Wild” showcasing over 20 of Miami’s favorite Divas from 2pm-7pm, with a special presentation honoring Mayor Matti Bower, Commissioner Michael Gongora and Babak Movahedi at 3:30pm.

Getting a little hot for you? Cool off at Hotel Victor’s Gay Pride Pool Party at 1144 Ocean Drive, open to VIP from 11am-1pm ($40-$50) and General Admission from 1pm-7pm ($25-$30). The Hotel Victor’s pool deck looks out on Ocean Drive and the Parade so you could not be in a better spot to enjoy the show.

Don’t stop ‘till you get enough.

Immediately following the Parade and expo bop over to the official Miami Beach Gay Pride Closing Party at Dolce on 1500 Ocean Drive, featuring music from DJ/Producers Yinon Yahel and Abel. The party starts at 7pm and goes deep into the next morning.

All the single ladies can enjoy the Women’s PRIDE Event Fling at Score on 727 Lincoln Road from 9pm-4am.

If we took a holiday… took some time to celebrate.

Want more? The first official “Pride Celebration at Sea” sets sail on a four-night cruise to the Bahamas on Monday, April 19. Relax, unwind and extend your celebration aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s “Norwegian Sky.”

So let’s dance, the last dance.