Tampa, Florida, and the entire Bay Area have seen an influx of new residents in the last few years. People from all over the country flock to the area to experience the beautiful beaches, warm weather, art scene, and more.
As one of the most gay-friendly cities in Florida, it’s become a haven for people within the community to thrive and make a home. Its prime location in Central Florida gives you easy access to other major cities like Maimi, Orlando, and Fort Lauderdale. Before committing to the move, it’s best to know what living there means for the LGBTQ+ community.
How Accepting Is Tampa of the LGBTQ Community?
Tampa Bay has a rich LGBTQ+ history, dating back to the Stonewall riots in 1970, which woke the world up to the many injustices facing gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender individuals. Now, the passionate individuals within the community in Tampa have made a considerable difference in their attitude towards the community.
The city hosted its first Pride Parade in 1982 but then had to deal with several laws that banned the parade and celebrations. Finally, in 2013, the Hillsborough County Commission repealed the gay pride ban, and the community has openly thrived.
Despite the state of Florida not being considered a very safe place for the LGBTQ+ community, Tampa is one of the best and safest cities. While there aren’t any specific anti-discrimination laws for the community, the city has these laws for everyone regardless of gender identity, race, and age.
The attitude towards the community is generally positive, thanks to the large community and many allies. The Tampa area and surrounding locations like Clearwater and St. Pete have plenty of LGBTQ+ organizations. Some in Tampa are:
LGBTQ Welcome Center
PFLAG Tampa
The Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber
Metro Inclusive Health
Tampa is also home to a diverse community hailing from over 130 nationalities. Best Neighborhood gives Tampa a diversity score of 91 out of 100, with the most diverse areas being in the central districts. Even better, Tampa received a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index. You can be assured of finding an inclusive community with unique perspectives wherever you settle in the city.
Tampa’s Gay-Friendly Neighborhoods
The overwhelming majority of Tampa Bay areas are gay-friendly, but there are a few that stand out amongst the crowd. Whether you’re looking for a more urban atmosphere, suburban, or a mixture of both, the Tampa Bay area has a place for you.
Historic Ybor City
Historic Ybor City is known for being the most gay-friendly neighborhood in the Tampa Bay area. The community and others often call it the Gaybor District because of the many LGBTQ+ clubs and gay-friendly businesses lining the streets.
The avenue offers a diverse community with visitors from outside the neighborhood coming from various walks of life. What makes this avenue gay-friendly is the number of businesses supporting the community and all the celebrations the area hosts to celebrate them.
One of the best things about living in Gaybor is that the vibe changes regularly. On weekdays, in the morning and afternoon, it’s fairly quiet, laid-back, and peaceful. Weekends are much more lively than weekdays, with people flocking to the Gaybor district to enjoy brunch and walk Seventh Avenue.
At night, Ybor City comes alive with people heading to the comedy club, the bars, and clubs and enjoying fine dining. Most people who live here do not have kids, but Ybor is also family-friendly.
As the center for the gay community, Ybor City has plenty of things for you to do and see. Some of the best gay bars, like Bradley’s on 7th, are here, as well as venues for live entertainment, like the Ritz.
The avenue isn’t all about partying and dancing, though. You’ll find some of the best restaurants here, like the oldest in the state of Florida, Columbia Restaurant. The neighborhood has several LGBTQ+ events, including the famous Tampa Pride Parade.
Hyde Park & Soho (South Howard)
In South Tampa, there are two Bay areas: Hyde Park and SoHo. While they’re technically two separate neighborhoods, they’re often lumped together due to their proximity and similarities. Both are known for having gay-friendly businesses, even though they don’t have any specific gay bars or clubs.
The neighborhoods are filled with various clubs and restaurants for you to try. Much like Ybor, the vibe of these two districts can change depending on the time and the day. The district comes alive at night on weekends, while weekdays tend to be calmer.
Both areas in South Tampa are known for their tree-lined streets and historic homes. However, you’ll also see plenty of new, modern constructions going up regularly. The district here is very welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community.
The main attraction is the Hyde Park Village because it’s a cute little area filled with shops and delicious restaurants that are bustling even in the middle of the week. As for SoHo, there’s a strip on Howard Avenue lined with different bars that everyone from college students to older adults frequent. You’re in a great location to visit Downtown Ybor or hop over the bridge to St. Petersburg for a Sunday jaunt.
This area hosts one of Tampa’s most famous restaurants, Bern’s Steakhouse. Reservations can take months, but the wait is worth it.
The Heights
Moving a little more north of the previous two neighborhoods, we have what locals call The Heights. It combines three little neighborhoods: Seminole Heights, Riverside Heights, and Tampa Heights.
This has been a major up-and-coming district of Tampa Bay and has evolved into a beautifully welcoming district with a diverse population, including a significant Latino population congregated in Seminole Heights. This region is more laid-back than most of the gayborhoods in the Tampa Bay area.
The Heights is more artsy and boho, with eclectic businesses, unique restaurants, and microbreweries. For those who consider themselves foodies, then you’ll want to live in this area or visit often.
The Heights has some of the best restaurants in the Tampa Bay area. Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe features Southern hospitality and a modern Southern menu that changes often.
This Bay area has all the charm of a historic town with a more progressive attitude towards the LGBTQ+ community. The people who live in this neighborhood pride themselves on creating an inclusive and comforting environment for everyone.
You’ll frequently see businesses hanging Pride flags outside and hosting fun activities like bingo nights with friends, bar trivia, and more to make everyone feel welcome and have fun.
Downtown Tampa
A fun neighborhood you might want to call home is Downtown Tampa. The heart of this coastal city offers an urban vibe without being overwhelming. The city is walkable, but it isn’t so big that you can’t get to one side or the other within a few minutes.
Downtown Tampa is most known for its restaurants and art scene. If you love the fine arts in this Bay area, there are many things to do. There are several museums, like the Tampa Museum of Art Downtown, that you can explore. There’s an annual Passion and Pride exhibit that is a must-see when it rolls around.
Living Downtown means living in a luxury condo or apartment with epic views of the surrounding Tampa Bay coastal areas. Residents here enjoy spending time at the various restaurants and bars nearby on Water Street, walking the Riverwalk, and touring the museums.
The atmosphere here is accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. Many gay and lesbian couples live downtown and even more frequently visit the district, thanks to its many can’t-miss activities.
Curtis Hixon Park is the main green space Downtown, and it regularly hosts festivals and events throughout the year. Some events it’s hosted are Oktoberfest, a Margarita Festival, and a Winter Wonderland during the holidays.
While Downtown nightlife doesn’t have specific gay or lesbian bars, every place is incredibly welcoming to the community.
Things to Do In Tampa Bay Area: Guide to Events, Nightlife, and More
Even though Florida isn’t one of the most LGBTQ-friendly states, Tampa stands out as one of the best cities for the gay and lesbian community. From riding roller coasters at Busch Gardens to driving across the bridges to St. Petersburg and Treasure Island for the beach, you’ll hardly be bored living there.
Events and Nightlife
If there’s one thing you can expect when living in the Tampa Bay area, it’s that your social calendar will never run dry unless you want it to be. There’s always something going on, whether it’s a large-scale event like Tampa Pride or smaller themed night parties at bars. They hold the annual Pride Parade and Festival in March, but St. Petersburg Pride is in June, so you can easily participate in both!
The gay clubs in Tampa are some of the most fun and welcoming places. If you want to frequent the gay bars, some popular ones in the Bay area mentioned above are:
City Side
Bradley’s on 7th
Southern Nights
The Castle
Arts and Culture
If you move there, Tampa has a vibrant arts scene that is worth exploring. Even if you haven’t had the opportunity to explore the arts before, there are unique options for you to get started. A few events or things you can do in Tampa are:
Attend the International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival
Watch a movie or show at the Tampa Theatre
See a musical or orchestra performance at The Straz Center
Tour the Tampa Museum of Art (specifically their Tampa Pride and Passion event, where they collaborate with the LGBTQ+ community and allies)
Parks and Recreation
Tampa is a large city with plenty of green spaces and recreational activities for you to participate in. Finding parks to walk or run at and joining recreational sports teams is a great way to meet more community members and make Tampa feel like your new home. If you need even more recreation, head out to Land O’ Lakes, FL, known for its plentiful parks, or the incredible beaches at Tarpon Springs.
Some great parks or recreational sports you can look into are:
Cypress Point Park
Gay kickball
Washington Street Park
Finding Your Dream Home In Tampa
Moving to Tampa Bay could be the best decision you can make for yourself. That being said, it’s important to understand the housing market if you plan on purchasing a home there. Compared to nearby cities like Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta, the cost of living in Tampa is 2%, 13%, and 3.6% higher, respectively. However, it’s much cheaper than areas like Key West or Wilton Manors while also being closer to many attractions.
The cost of a house in Tampa depends greatly on the Bay area since the city is so big. On average, a home in Tampa Bay costs $430,000. There are several options avialable with minimum down payments of 3% and 5%.
Putting down 20% is the best way to eliminate mortgage insurance and secure good rates, but a price tag of $86,000 can be difficult for many to achieve. Thankfully, Pride Lending has access to a number of different down payment assistance programs, including local, state, and national options.
One choice is the “Dare to Own the Dream” (DARE) program for those purchasing within Tampa city limits; this can offer up to $40,000 for income-eligible first-time homebuyers through a “silent second” loan that only needs to be repaid if you move, sell, or refinance. Nearby counties, including Hillsborough, Pasc, and Pinellas County also have their own down payment assistance programs, and we can connect you to national options as well.
If you are considering a purchase in Tampa, we would love to help you through the pre-qualification process.
At Pride Lending, we’re committed to helping individuals secure homeownership regardless of their race, sexuality, gender, or other identifier. Our team is composed of allies and members of marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ and BIPOC-identifying individuals; we offer support and understanding to every client no matter their background.
We’ll help you review your many mortgage options to find the perfect one for your needs, such as FHA loans, VA loans, conventional loans, and investment loans. Additionally, we’ll match you to great lenders and hunt down special programs that can reduce your upfront costs. To get started with the next step of your Florida dream, call us at 407-885-5444 or email us today.
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