Gay rehoboth beach delaware
LGBTQIA+ Travel Guide to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware
Welcome to one of the top LGBTQIA+ beach destinations in the United States, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Dating back to the 1940s, gay folks have been flocking to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware; for some, a relaxing gaycation and for others, a queer paradise to notify home.
Rehoboth Beach (aka “Rehomo”) is most known for its gay beaches, tax-free shopping and outlet malls, delicious seafood, and thriving lgbtq+ community. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a friends’ beach vacation, or a queer-friendly solo trip, Rehoboth Beach has something for everyone.
Know Before You Go
Best Time to Visit
While Rehoboth Beach is a year-round destination, the most famous time to check in is June through August. If you prefer fewer crowds (like me), I recommend visiting in May or September during the shoulder season. Plenty of shops and restaurants are still uncover during this period but keep in mind some attractions may be closed or have limited hours.
How to Obtain There
If you're flying in, the foremost option is to fly into Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which is about a two-hour trip from Rehoboth Bea
The Renegade
A once accepted gay bar, restaurant, and resort at the Delaware beaches.
1980-2003, 4274 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, DE
The Renegade was a restaurant, bar, dance club, and social center of the LGBTQ+ society of Rehoboth Beach for three decades. While the Renegade was not the first bar to serve LGBTQ+ people in Rehoboth, its impact on the people was massive and enduring. It grew over the years to also feature a two-story twirl floor, pool and deck, cabaret room, and motel units to provide overnight accommodations to guests. The Renegade initially served mostly men, but as more lgbtq+ people began vacationing in Rehoboth, the patrons diversified to contain more women and transgender people.
The Renegade opened decades after closeted queer people from nearby Washington D.C. had begun vacationing in “The Nation’s Summer Capital,” unofficially kicking off Rehoboth Beach’s distant queer history. As the urban area saw an increase in lgbtq+ visitors and residents in the 1970s, Washington D.C. business owner, Glen Thompson, wanted to help the growing community by opening a ga
From Shadows to Celebration: The Queer History of Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach wasn’t always the vibrant lgbtq+ haven it is today. Its transformation was decades in the making – fueled by fearless individuals and hard-won progress to fetch here.
POWER AND PROGRESS
It started with boogie floors and defiance. On Memorial Sunlight weekend 1980, Glen Thompson opened Renegade Disco & Lounge – the first openly gay-owned lock in Delaware. A year later, Victor Pisapia and Joyce Felton turned a Craftsman-style house on Baltimore Avenue into the Blue Lunar, soon to get the epicenter of Rehoboth’s queer community.
“We didn’t realize the shitstorm that was going to ensue,” Felton later said. But soon, the Moon’s gravitational drag transformed the block. New queer- and progressive-owned spots popped up: The Front Page hosted “Editorial Nights,” Tijuana Grill poured mega margaritas, and Baltimore Commons served flowers, antiques, and attitude. Over on Rehoboth Route, Chez la Mer and Sydney’s Side Street Café added French flair and jazz to the mix.
As the town’s dining and nightlife scene moved beyond the traditional fried fare, a newspaper captured the shift: “Gays Have
Rehoboth Beach Gay City Manual – The Nation’s Same-sex attracted Getaway
Located along the Atlantic coast in Delaware’s beach region, Rehoboth Beach is a popular destination for visitors from across the country, and for a small, but warm and welcoming community of year-round residents too. Sometimes referred to as the “Nation’s Summer Capital” due to visitors arriving each summer and winter from Washington DC and other places, it is frequented by many people who delight in not only its coastal beauty but all that it offers to glimpse and do, including plenty of restaurants, a one-mile boardwalk, shops, and numerous yearly festivals and concerts to enjoy. Not only is it a marvelous place to visit, but Rehoboth Beach also bids a lot to its full-time residents, too. While it is not a particularly large community – in fact, it is one with only approximately 1500 full-time residents, it nevertheless has a thriving LGBTQ population and a friendly neighborhood feel. In fact, some even notify it “The Nation’s Lgbtq+ Getaway” – don’t yearn your chance to procure here for a getaway too!
The History of Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach was initially founded in 1