[mateo384]

So I'm here in Daytona Beach still, and have plans to move at the beginning of the year. Originally, and still near the top of the list, is St. Pete (and the surrounding area). But now I have a roommate scenario which could elevate things to different places regarding price and quality of life.

2 guys, both gay.

While we both like St. Pete, we have a little bit of time to check out other possible places as well.

We are thinking about SEFL, anywhere from WPB to Miami Beach. These are our checkpoints:

01 St. Pete
02 Fort Lauderdale
03 Hollywood
04 West Palm Beach
05 Miami Beach
06 Boca Raton
07 Delray

in no particular order.

as two gay guys, where would be the most desirable and suitable place? Money is an object, probably couldn't go above 1200 rent right off the bat. Safety is a concern, and don't want to be priced out of nice areas and live in a bad area just because.

Opportunity and potential jobs are a key issue. I'll be going the server/bartending route (and I know they are a dime a dozen), while he is aiming long term for video production. That's why SEFL might be a better fit than Tampa Bay.

where in SEFL is the best and most affordable at the same time, with safety as a concern? And how does St. Pete rank among the cities on the East coast?

Hopefully the gay guys comment, and others who know the areas well.

[CravingMountains]

As a gay guy who parties a lot in the scene around Florida I think Fort Lauderdale is the best for you. Unless if your roommate does video production for pornography he probably won't find much work in the Tampa Bay area. St. Pete has a similar gay scene to Ft. Lauderdale only there won't be work for your roommate. You will probably also find yourself traveling to Tampa a lot as the gay scene in St. Pete is geared towards an older demographic. The younger gay guys only tend to go over there on Sundays for the beach activities. And those don't really go on until May-October.

Boca Raton I have heard nothing but awful things about for gay people. The things I hear remind me of my hometown of Naples, Fl. Lots of old conservative people and not very gay friendly or gay entertaining.

Hollywood beats out Delray in my opinion as they are kind of just the same thing only Hollywood is closer to entertainment and work opportunities.

Miami Beach. If you can afford it, then yeah. Go for it. I would still live in Ft. Lauderdale though. Living in Miami Beach might make you hate it. It seems like it is such a better place to visit with friends when people want to get wild. The gay scene is much better in Lauderdale too, but not nearly as young.

[mateo384]

Boca Raton couldn't be any more non gay-friendly than Daytona Beach tho, and I have not had a bad time here. Just....no one to talk to really.

[CravingMountains]

Well, Ft. Lauderdale offers every single thing that Boca does and it is cheaper, more gay friendly and has a larger gay population. Honestly, I don't see why places like Delray, Hollywood, West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton are even on your list. When you go to Ft. Lauderdale (and you will often go to Ft. Lauderdale if you choose any of those cities) you will probably be kicking yourself for not living closer to where you can meet other gay people.

[OptimusPrime69]

South FL anywhere from Boca and Delray south toward Ft Lauderdale and Miami, you'll be fine. I find that delray has a cute downtown with art galleries, shops, restaurants, nice nightlife, etc. Boca is cool too, more family oriented tho. Fort Lauderdale is trashy IMO, but it's not all bad. It's just like..... kinda depressing. The ppl seem so desperate sometimes. Like, ugh

[TriMT7]

Wilton Manors is pretty much gay central for Broward County.

More vid production work likely to be had in Broward and Miami-Dade than elsewhere in the state, besides Orlando.

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by TriMT7

Wilton Manors is pretty much gay central for Broward County.

More vid production work likely to be had in Broward and Miami-Dade than elsewhere in the state, besides Orlando.

Miami is busier if you get in the right circles but it's also saturated, in tampa you get a lot of Orlando work plus you cover Sarasota down to ft Myers which is pretty underserved, video production wise

[kyle19125]

Being gay myself I would ask what your lifestyle is like. Many assume we all live the stereotypical lifestyle which I won't delve into, but think we all know what that entails. If you find you're closest to that I think some of the SE Florida options, particularly Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood or Miami Beach would be the best fit. If you're not so much inclined I think Delray Beach, Boca Raton and to a lesser degree West Palm Beach would be good options.....and if the work situation can be overcome St Pete would probably be your best choice. Given that it's already you best choice indicates to me you're most likely not so much into the textbook lifestyle, and think you might find much of SE Florida a bit much in that respect.

[gypsychic]

I agree with Kyles ^^^ comments. Having read your posts (Mateo) posts all this time I still believe St. Pete is your best choice. The whole Tampa Bay area should offer opportunities in video work, even here in Sarasota where I live there are companies, (we have the Ringling College of Art and Design here as well). Living is more laid-back and far less expensive than the SE coast. Good luck!

[TriMT7]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Being gay myself I would ask what your lifestyle is like. Many assume we all live the stereotypical lifestyle which I won't delve into, but think we all know what that entails. If you find you're closest to that I think some of the SE Florida options, particularly Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood or Miami Beach would be the best fit. If you're not so much inclined I think Delray Beach, Boca Raton and to a lesser degree West Palm Beach would be good options.....and if the work situation can be overcome St Pete would probably be your best choice. Given that it's already you best choice indicates to me you're most likely not so much into the textbook lifestyle, and think you might find much of SE Florida a bit much in that respect.

If not commuting to Broward/Dade, and not particularly interested in gay-centric "night life," the majority of gay folks in Palm Beach County seem to live in West Palm Beach and Lake Worth. Large gay communities in those cities, more mature in general and more couples....on my block alone -- that I know of -- there are four gay households. (I live in a historic district, so there's often an apparent correlation!)

Lake Worth, though transitional in the majority of the city, has also attracted large numbers of gay people to the classic Florida cottages and renovation opportunities of very affordable mid-century Florida ranch homes. Counterintuitively, life in both West Palm proper and Lake Worth proper can seem much more relaxed and less hectic than the traffic and suburban sprawl to those cities immediate west.


Delray would probably be the next city to suggest, with Boca not anywhere near the top of any list for anything having to do with "gay" lol.