Asbury Park says leave the city, join the community
There is something about the gay world that encourages a certain amount of feisty back-biting that really should have been left in high school. If you’re looking for a temporary reprieve, look no further than the beach resort town of Asbury Park, New Jersey. There you’ll find a homosexual community that strives to embody the full sense of community. And don’t worry—it’s also super gay.
Asbury Park sits along the Atlantic coast, just 55 miles from New York City. Though it was once known as the “Duchess of the Jersey Shore,” girlfriend fell on some hard times. Prior to , Asbury Park was looking pretty tragic, heavy on the tragic. But no longer. She is getting work done, and a full-on renaissance is underway. Gays and lesbians are moving in, sprucing up the place, and remaking it in their image.
There are so many LGBT-owned-and-operated businesses, the place can seem prefer one big rainbow flag. In fact, the first gay couple to unite in New Jersey chose Asbury Park for their ceremony. Due to the temperament of its residents, there are few places in the United States that feel as supportive. That, along with the current restorati
*Cue John Hammond’s booming voice* Welcome to Asbury Park! Just swap dinos for crowds of happy beachgoing gays and you’re position. If you’re looking for the ultimate LGBTQ Asbury Park guide, you’ve appear to the right place—this is one of the gayest and most unapologetically queer destinations on the East Coast.
Nestled on the Jersey Shore, about an hour from NYC and hours from Philly, this is the go-to getaway spot for queers in the Garden State looking to soak up the sun, sip on a colorful cocktail, and honor together. From renowned LGBTQ+-owned businesses to its larger-than-life Pride parade, Asbury Park is a proven place for inclusivity.
And while the buzz this October might be around the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic(hello, Jeremy Allen White!)—which, fittingly, was filmed in Asbury Park, the very town that helped launch Springsteen’s career and shaped the spirit of his music—the actual story? This town’s wealthy queer history is the true headliner.
Spending summers with friends and family on Asbury Park&#;s beautiful beaches, I’ve seen firsthand what makes this place so special—and why its story deserves to be shared.
A Pride-Forward Stop on Your LGBTQ Asbury Park Gu
LGBTQ Gay Guide to Asbury Park in
Asbury Park, nestled along the picturesque New Jersey coastline, has earned its reputation as one of the top gay beach towns for a weekend getaway. This vibrant and welcoming seaside destination has become a haven for LGBTQ+ travelers (especially from New York City), thanks to its rich history, inclusive atmosphere, and a thriving homosexual community.
Once a famed Victorian-era resort town, Asbury Park has undergone a extraordinary revival in recent years. Its diverse and open-minded population has embraced Diverse visitors with open arms, making it a trustworthy and inviting haven for all.
The iconic Asbury Park Boardwalk, stretching along the Atlantic Ocean, is a hub of LGBTQ+ tradition, where you can detect a plethora of LGBTQ+-owned businesses, from boutique shops to lively bars and restaurants.
On my most recent visit, I counted nearly 20 gay pride flags just within a 5 minute drive to the beach. Asbury Park is one of the gayest beach towns I’ve ever been to!
Asbury Park’s pristine beaches are not only sun-soaked havens but also sanctuaries for self-expression, where visitors can feel relaxed and free to be themselves. The town&rsq
How the LGBT community saved Asbury Park
In Asbury Park, you'll find terrific restaurants, hipster hotels, crowded beaches, a vibrant downtown.
You can recognize one group for all of this: The LGBTQ community.
Years before the city's current boom in mainstream popularity, complete with fawning write-ups in the likes of the New York Times, the LGBTQ crowd found a home in the City by the Sea.
$1 billion rebirth: The changing face of Asbury Park
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“It has always been here,” former mayor Ed Johnson said of the LGBT community. “There was a time when Asbury Park, in the ’60s and ’70s, had numerous LGBT bars, for lack of a beat word, gay bars, in Asbury Park. There were a tremendous amount."
The genuine revitilization, though, started at the end of the s into the s, he said.
“At the shift of the century we never looked back,” he recounted.
“And it was that generation that decided to invest their money in buying homes," said Asbury Park historian and storyteller Kathy Kelly. "Because they said, ‘This is where we’re hanging out. This is where people are inviting us.’ ”
The LGBT collective has been shown to have driven redevelopment
