Gay Guide to Asbury Park
New Jersey legalized same-sex marriage in 2013, but Asbury Park has been a queer haven on the Jersey Shore since the 1930s, and it was the gay community that revived the faded seaside town in the early 2000s. Its LGBTQ+ history runs deep, including one of the country's earliest Pride events.
The scene is the walkable stretch between the boardwalk and downtown, where beloved spots like the dive bar Georgie's, locals' beloved gay Cheers, sit near the multilevel nightclub inside a landmark hotel. The QSpot LGBTQ Community Center anchors the community, and the beach, the music venues, and the restored Victorian architecture round out a town that wears its comeback proudly.
Compact and creative, Asbury Park makes an easy summer escape from New York and Philadelphia.
The town hosts Jersey Pride, one of the largest LGBTQ+ celebrations in the state, drawing thousands to the shore each June for a parade and festival.