Manatee and Sarasota County have diverse elements of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered people in the community. Below you will find many businesses, support groups, social clubs, athletic teams, and religious centers with a warm and welcoming membership.

Additionally, we list valuable resources, performing arts, and service organizations whose hard work provide a higher standard of living for the residents of the Gulf Coast.

The Southwest Florida Business Guild was organized to promote the business interests of its members as well as foster understanding between GLBT people and the community. The Guild is a private nonprofit corporation with a charitable focus which maintains two funds exclusively for the benifit of others: the Student Assistance Fund which grants money to all types of students, and the Community Outreach Fund.

The Guild regularly co-hosts events with many other groups in town, and enjoy strong relations with ALSO for Gay Youth, AIDS Manasota, Church of the Trinity MCC, Community AIDS Network, the Federal CLub of the Human Rights Campaign, the Florida Triangle Democratic Caucus, GALA, the Gulf Coast Men's Chorus, the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association, Palms of Manasota, PFLAG, Pridefest, and the Suncoast Cathedral MCC. Call (941) 953-8419 for more information.

Manasota GLBT Virtual Community Center is a non-profit organization started by the GLBT community leaders. The site lists all activities, organizations, and social events in the Sarasota/Manatee area.

North Lido Beach with its Australian pines and sea oats is a very popular Gay and Lesbian beach, particularly on the weekends. Crescent Beach on Siesta Key also attracts a varied crowd. South Turtle Beach off of Midnight Pass Road attracts those looking for some privacy, romantic strolls or a beautiful Siesta Key sunset. Just south of Venice Avenue is Casperson Beach. Casperson Beach is known as the Gay Beach for those living in the south Sarasota county area.

Gay Friendly Churches
Center for Positive Living. Sarasota. (941) 907-2824
Church of the Trinity (MCC) - 7225 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd. (941) 355-0847
Dignity of Sarasota. 6905 Country Lake Cir. (941) 359-9504
Manatee Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Bradenton. (941) 746-0067
St. Boniface Episcopal Church. 5615 Midnight Pass Rd. (941) 349-5616
Suncoast Cathedral MCC. Venice. (941) 484-7068
Temple Sinai. 1802 Kenilworth St. (941) 924-1802
Unitarian Universalist Church. 3975 Fruitville Rd. (941) 371-4974

Gay Friendly Media
Watermark Media SW Florida's distinctive gay and lesbian publication.
Tampa Bay Gazette Tampa Bay Gay and Lesbian News.

Community Resources
AIDS Manasota. 1844 17th Street. (941) 954-6011
ALSO. 1970 Main St. Suite 2B. (941) 951-2576
Bethesda House. P.O. Box 1706. (941) 366-1886
BiLight. Educational support group for bisexuals. (941) 378-4974
Community AIDS Network, Inc. 1231 N. Tuttle Ave. (941) 366-0461
Gay AA Sarasota / Bradenton. (941) 951-6810
Infoline. 4546 Forest Wood Trail. (941) 923-4636
Manasota Alliance for Dignity. Sarasota. (941) 953-2721
PFLAG of Sarasota. Sarasota. (941) 378-3536
Planned Parenthood of SW Florida. 1958 Prospect St. (941) 365-3913
Positive Expressions. Sarasota. (941) 358-9082
Positively Woman. HIV positive Woman's support group. (941) 379-0195
PrideWorks/Gay Sarasota. 944 N. Beneva Rd. (941) 366-0361
Sarasota County Health & Human Svcs. 2200 Ringling Blvd. (941) 861-2900
Southwest Florida Business Guild. Sarasota. (941) 953-8419
USF New College Diversity Center. 5700 N. Tamiami Tr. (941) 359-4642

Gay Friendly Entertainment/Music
Gulf Coast Men's Chorus. Sarasota. (941) 358-9082
Sarasota Ballet of Florida. 5555 N. Tamiami Trail. (941) 359-0099
Sarasota Film Festival. 508 Central Ave. (941) 364-9514
Sarasota Film Society. 1551 Oak St. (941) 364-8662
Club Heat - Wednesday nights are drag nights. 5520 14th St. West (US-41). Bradenton. (941) 727-2789

Gay Friendly Political Organizations
Gulf Coast Log Cabin Club. (800) 818-2472
Fl. Triangle Democratic Caucus. Tallevast. (941) 920-1521

Gay Friendly Social Clubs
A League of Our Own. Sarasota's GLBT Bowling League. (941) 359-3236
ARTarget. Sarasota. (941) 953-2482
Manatee County Womyn's Link. Bradenton. (941) 746-6003
National Lesbian & Gay journalists Association. (941) 955-5131
PrimeTimers (Mature men and their admirers). (941) 359-8212
Romeo's (Retired Old Men Eating Out). Sarasota. (941) 952-5022
Sarasota Pride. Sarasota. (941) 364-2115
Women over 45. Sarasota. (941) 351-3389