Gay Orlando – Your Guide

Orlando Florida. Perhaps the most famous city in Florida. Why? Because it is home to a host of theme parks, hotels and resorts, and a great night life, in addition to Walt Disney World. And if you are gay and traveling to Orlando, you are certainly not left out. Time to explore the best gay and lesbian in Orlando attractions and hot spots. San Francisco has nothing on this vacation paradise! Come and explore with us.

Best Vacation Spots in Orlando for the LGBT Community

Disney World

Of course, this depends on what you want in the way of a vacation. You could have a magical weekend in the Kingdom, if Disney World is top on your list. Or better, visit Walt Disney World during its two-day Pride event, also known as a part of greater Orlando Gay Days, sponsored by a number of local LGBTQIA+ organizations.

Disney Pride has quite a long history and is usually held the first weekend in June. This year, though, it will be held on Tuesday – Thursday before the first weekend in June, because that weekend is The World Pride Festival in Washington, DC, and Disney doesn’t want to conflict with that.

Usually, the first day of Disney’s gay days is also “Red Shirt” day, a tradition that began in the 1990s. Today, the LGBTQ community, their friends and allies fill all of the theme parks with their red shirts to show their solidarity.

Pride Orlando

While the theme parks are a big part of the Pride month in Orlando, they are nothing compared to June in Orlando.

Actually, Orlando has another official Pride month in October, known as “Come Out With Pride.” Come Out with Pride has been an annual event in Orlando for years. For 2025, Come Out with Pride will feature the following on October 18:

• It will begin with a festival at Lake Eola Park, featuring music, food, kids’ activities, and vendors.
• The Come Out with Pride Parade culminates the event in what is called “The Most Colorful Parade” throughout Southeastern US.

This day is considered one of the largest Pride festivals in the American Southeast with a mission to advocate for inclusivity in the LGBTQIA+ community.

One additional note here: Lake Eola Park, located right in downtown Orlando has an amazing lake surrounded by walking paths, recreational facilities, and stunning gardens. Throughout the year if hosts art shows and festivals and has a weekly farmer’s market. If you are in Orlando for fun and nightlife attractions and want a quieter respite while you “recover” and unwind, this park would be ideal.

Pride Orlando in June

Gay Days are alive and well throughout the month of June in downtown Orlando. As mentioned, Gay Days are sponsored by a host of local, state, and national organizations, and there are plenty of activities throughout the month of June.

• Lesbian and gay speed dating events – May 29 and June 12 – Aloft Hotel
• Orlando Bear Jamboree – pool parties, concert, and more, May 29-June 3 – Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort – bear-jamboree.webflow.io.
• Riptide Waterpark Party – beach dance party, day into night. Typhoon Lagoon – May 30
• The Pride Cup – a sports competition – May 31 – June 1 – multiple locations. check http://kindredpride.org/pride-cup for details.
• Sunday, June 1 – Orlando Pride Bar Crawl. Begins at Elixir Kitchen and Bar in the Milk District. Here are some of the potential gay bars on your gay nightclub gay bar crawl:
  • Southern Nights – (20+) Facebook. Southern Nights has a host of activities and live events for anyone to check out on their Facebook account.
  • The Good Vibrations Tattoo Lounge: Yes, this is a tattoo parlor, but it is also a lounge, open until 11:00 pm. Check out their website Good Vibrations Ink #1 | Good Vibrations Ink Orlando
  • If you want a Latin night’s vibe, there is the Cuba Libre Nights Bar – lots of live entertainment, drag shows, and mingling with kindred spirits – Latinos and everyone else welcome.
  • Savoy Orlando: At Savoy Orlando, there is something every day of the week – shirtless go-go dancers, weekend brunches for drag queens and kings, dancing, karaoke, trivia nights, electronic darts, and amazing LED lights. Check out the full schedule on their website. A club for the entire LGBTQIA+ community. You won’t want to miss Savoy Orlando if you visit Orlando
  • Barcodes Orlando– A great gay bar best known with a backyard deck area, including a koi pond. A laid-back club vibe for those who like great dining, and a calmer nightlife experience. Visitors will also find pool tables and a novelty shop. Barcodes Orlando may or may not be on a Disney pub crawl, so check it out yourself.
  • Footlight Theatre at Parliament House – The Footlight Theater has been a part of Orlando’s nightlife scene since 1975 – there are plays, musicals, and female drag/impersonation shows taking place every night. Also home to the Rainbow Cafe, it’s kind of a landmark in Florida’s gay culture. Add a great hotel too – a vacation and entertainment center all in one place. Here’s a trip worth taking, if only for a weekend.
  • Southern Nights – large entertainment complex with a huge video bar, dance floor and plenty of outdoor seating. Drag shows start at 11:30 each night. Laser lights all over the complete the party atmosphere. Go for happy hour and stay for the entertainment. Check it out on their Facebook page.
  • White Wolf Cafe and Bar – great dining, and one of the most popular restaurants with a location in the Ivanhoe village District – a cool Bohemian community. This spot is definitely not a burger joint but is for open-minded people who love being surrounded by antiques and an old-fashioned vibe. Check out White Wolf’s Facebook page. In short, one of the very cool restaurants for dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Hank’s Bar – This has been on the gay scene in Orlando for 30+ years, has a great location, a great vibe with an antique jukebox, pool tournaments, and very reasonably- priced craft beers – very popular with all age groups. It’s not one of the finer restaurants in Orlando – bar food only.
  • Stonewall Bar – the only gay bar in downtown Orlando – chic and trendy with a main bar and an outdoor tropical-themed area. It also Sky Bar on its second floor. Again, not one of the finer dining restaurants – bar food only – but a great site in the downtown area.
  • Winter Park Orlando – This is not a bar – it’s an entire neighborhood, about 20 miles north of downtown Orlando. Winter Park is a great place to explore art, culture, shops, and restaurants. It’s really a type of wonderland for vacationers, although has an older, affluent vibe. Still, the city embraces and supports the LGBTQ population, with a local chapter of the national PFLAG and The Center, another national organization promoting supporting the gay community.
• Ikea Orlando on the first – A full day of fun – party with DJ, scavenger hunt, and flat cart parade. Held at the IDEA store.
• Pride Drag Brunch – 1st of the month – Holiday Inn Universal – features nationally known drag performers.
• Gay Days Orlando – 5th – 9th – pageants, drag queen bingo, foam parties, and other theme park events. Held at the Double Treey by Hilton Orlando at Disney SeaWorld
• Girls in Wonderland – 5th – 9th: lifestyle and great music festival for queer women – concerts, pool parties, comedy shows. Held at Marriott Bonvoy Flamingo Crossing – Winter Garden. A great trip to FL for queer women
• Community Rainbow Run: on the 7th. A 4.9 race to honor all of those in the Pulse Nightclub massacre – those who died, their families, survivors, and first responders. Held at Orlando City Hall.
• Red Shirt Pride Day: Everyone in the queer community and its allies are asked to wear. On the 7th of the month – Disney Magic Kingdom
• Pulse Remembrance Ceremony: On the 12th at 5:30 pm at the First United Methodist Church in downtown Orlando.
• Goblin Market: Pride Edition: on Saturday the 14th – A costume event that features drag, queer bands, a market hall, cosplay, swaps and more; 1 – 7 pm at the Central FL Fairgrounds, just a few minutes from downtown.
• Pride Drag Brunch at the Citrus Club on Saturday the 14th – hosted by nationally known Ranii Ram
• LGBTQ+ Networking Ice Cream Social on the 19th – held at queer-owned Crispy Cones. The purpose is for members of the LGBTQ+ community to network and make new friends.
• Baldur’s Gay Burlesque on the 20th, also known as Anime Fest Orland0 – Rosen Plaza Hotel – great performances and acts.
• Reel Pride: The Birdcage showing on the 21st: starring Robin Williams, Gene Hackman, Hank Azaria, and Nathan Lane – Enzian Theater, just north of Downtown.
• Spikeball: Leather and Spikes: A drag competition with prizes for the best-dressed. Held on the 24th at Will’s Pub by Bitchfist New York
• Outcon Orlando: Held at Central Florida Fairgrounds, Orlando Florida on the 27-28th. This is a full gathering to celebrate pop culture within the LGBTQ+ population.
• Reel Pride: Tongues United. A full day of film beginning at 11:00 am – a collection of great queer films at the Enzian Theater
• Speak With Pride 2025 – held at La Costa Brava Club – an evening of the sharing of stories. Food and drink included with the purchase of a ticket. Meant to inspire confidence and hope for the future.

Gay Disney – Filled with Activity and Fun

If nothing else, you should have a full picture of options for a queer vacation in Orlando, much of them connected to both Disney World and the city as a whole.

Travel anywhere, including Orlando, is not as much fun on your own. It would be a good idea to check in with Taimi, an exclusive and inclusive for the LGBTQIA+ community. Here you have a couple of options if you plan to vacation in Orlando. First you can join some of the social groups that talk about their experiences in the town. But even more important, you can connect with others in the city before you go and have “readymade” partners as you explore all that gay Orlando has to offer.

Exploring Gay Orlando Via Taimi

What does Taimi have to do with gay Orlando. Well, if you have not joined Taimi, then you don’t know. Taimi is not just the largest LGBTQIA+ online dating service on the planet. It is home to a ton of other features including a unique social media platform that other dating sites do not have. Download the Taimi app from the website and then join those social media groups specific to Orlando. You will find all sorts of info about LGBTQIA+ life in Orlando, along with recommendations about where to go and what to do while there. You may even meet some locals who are willing to hook up with you when you arrive.