Miami area LGBT business group to open visitor center in South Beach

Ocean Drive, South Beach

As the 600-member strong Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (MDGLCC) packs up its rainbow flag to prepare for a move to the historic Old City Hall in Miami Beach, plans are being finalized to open one of the first gay business group-sponsored LGBT visitor centers in the United States.

“We envision the new visitor center becoming the nucleus of LGBT activity for visitors, locals and our business community,” says Steve Adkins, president, MDGLCC.  “Other cities have LGBT community centers or general tourist information places, but we’re aware of no other city in the country that has a permanent, central location run by a gay chamber that serves the needs of both LGBT and gay-friendly visitors and locals.”

The center will be housed at the MDGLCC’s new headquarters. The Chamber aims for it to be a place of community, information, resources and business networking for the 1.2 million LGBT people who visit Miami-Dade County each year and the estimated 183,000 LGBT residents who call Miami and Miami Beach home, says Adkins.  The target date to open is on April 15. A dedication celebration will mark its opening.