Though Key West failed in its formal claim of independence from the United States, the iconoclastic “Conch Republic” never really took well to dictated conformity and authority. Distance and demure allowed the two-by-four-mile island to evolve as an isolated refuge for those who deviated from supposed societal norms; and by the late 1970s, Key West had become a Mecca for wild times, unadulterated freedom, and unapologetic homosexuality.

 

The concept of “One Human Family” has always governed everyday life in the Conch Republic, where everyone “around the world is entitled to equal rights, dignity, and respect.” Nowadays, this concept has been branded and distributed on 1.3 million bumper stickers, reminding the greater U.S. of the Keys’ exemplary philosophy. Prom King or pariah, everyone is welcome in Key West.

 

While most American cities tend to follow slash and burn trends, Key West’s predictability and reverence for history is a welcomed respite. The gingerbread houses, coconut palms, bougainvillea, and lucid waters that inspired Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway forever remain “Old Key West.” The larger than life, eccentric personalities and unwavering spirit of the island’s residents contrast modern society’s desperation to “fit in.” A drunken stupor through the “Pink Triangle” invariably ends up in a random bed (or the Island House hot tub).  And both the sunsets and sunrises seem to grow more breathtaking over the years.

 

Key West boasts remarkable offerings of quaint gay guesthouses and full-scale resorts. Just recently, Equator Resort (www.equatorresort.com; 305.294.7775) added an upper sun deck for tanning all your Lever 2000 body parts, while Pearl’s Rainbow, (www.pearlsrainbow.com, 305.292.1450) once exclusively female, became all-welcoming. The Island House mayhem rages on 24/7, nary a shortage of foreskin and alcohol taking center stage around the pool. The intense summer heat means fewer reasons for remaining clothed; and summer break means more college cuties breaking through their white-knuckled anxiety, giving into the temptations of the House!

 

One of the island’s top resorts, the Hyatt Key West (www.keywest.hyatt.com; 305.809.1234), has become a new GLBT favorite for those looking to experience the Conch Republic’s latest offerings of modern luxury. While it’s a well-known fact that all of Key West is gay-friendly, the Hyatt Key West has pro-actively courted the GLBT market with pride packages and gay-centric marketing campaigns. Contrasting the palm-tree print/Tommy Bahamas style of most Keys’ hotel rooms, the Hyatt Key West is a blend of contemporary design and Florida color and flavor (delightfully without the overkill). All guest rooms flaunt private balconies, ideal for enjoying the sea breeze with a glass of bubbly or Chardonnay.  The pool is everything and anything you’d expect from a high-end resort and the hotel’s signature restaurant, SHOR American Bar and Grill (www.shorgrill.com) offers sensational, waterfront dining with daily catch direct from the docks!

 

Across the water from the Hyatt at beautiful Sunset Key, Latitudes (www.westinsunsetkeycottages.com/latitudes; 305.292.5300) has unveiled the results of a protracted facelift, revealing a new, sleek, modern edge that spills onto Sunset’s downy sands, doling out even more of the delicious local seafood dishes that originally made this beachfront gem famous. Though the abundance of fresh seafood keeps the island’s top chefs at the top of their game, there’s definitely more than just amazing fruits of the sea to be had around the island. La Creperie (www.lacreperiekeywest.com; 305.517.6799) serves authentic northwestern French delicacies and crepe creations for both breakfast and lunch. Smack in the heart of Fleming Street’s “guesthouse row,” Azur (www.azurkeywest.com; 305.292.2987) has expanded its already vast, mouth-watering Mediterranean menu to include homemade gnocchi, tapas, and more Greek-influenced dishes. The perfectly executed “toasted gnocchi with pine nuts, arugula and truffle oil,” and the divine “charred octopus marinated with garlic, lemon zest and Italian parsley” showcase the diverse gastronomic talents and evolution of chefs Michael Mosi and Drew Wenzel.

 

After dinner, Front Street teems with partygoers and inebriation opportunities, with essentially four main bars and clubs to seek a night of promiscuous fun. Divas rule at Aqua Nightclub (711 Duval Street, (305) 294-0555, aquakeywest.com), where the city’s renowned drag queens take center stage, attracting straights and gays alike. Come 11 p.m. most gay life has converged at the riotous and frisky Bourbon Street Pub (724 Duval Street, (305) 296-1992, burbonstreetpub.com), spread between the two bars in the front and the poolside bar in the back.  Saloon 1 (801 Duval Street, (305) 294-4737), Key West’s only Levi, leather, and uniform bar regularly hosts a weekend contest awarding a prize to the biggest or most attractive shlong in the house. Now, I’ll toast to that!