In St. Petersburg, local ice cream and coffee are new additions to the LGBTQ Welcome Center. A recently opened store at the Grand Central District's safe haven for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community members has started serving up Kahwa Coffee and Working Cow Ice Cream, alongside free Wi-Fi.
The store also sells original St. Pete merchandise from LGBTQ artists in the area.
And that's not all. The welcome center has taken its role as a gay-friendly resource and ambassador to the next level by launching a visitor center, where LGBTQ tourists can go for information about what to eat, where to stay and what to see across the region.
"It was our goal to create a safe place for those looking to build a network of friends or find access to LGBTQ-friendly resources," said Metro Wellness & Community Centers CEO Lorraine Langlois in a statement. "Whether someone is just coming out or in a new city looking to make friends, we want St. Petersburg to have a resource for all."
Partnering with tourism agencies like Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, the welcome center is a project of Metro that opened its doors in 2014. Individuals, families and businesses provide operational support through programming like networking and sporting events, discussions, lunches and cultural activities.
"The new LGBTQ welcome center reaffirms St. Pete/Clearwater's reputation as both welcoming and inclusive," according to David Downing, president and CEO of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater. "As the No. 1 destination on the Gulf of Mexico and home to Florida's largest Pride, the center provides the perfect opportunity for travelers to connect with the community."
This article appears in Oct 4-11, 2018.