Provincetown has been a gay and lesbian mecca for over fifty years. Located 125 short miles from Boston but worlds apart, Provincetown has been hosting culturally-diverse visitors and celebrating diversity and tolerance since the Pilgrims first arrived in 1620.  A year-round destination nestled along the National Seashore, Provincetown transports visitors into a world that meshes significant arts and culture with America’s best beaches, the historic with the modern, and old-world charm with world-class lodging, dining and entertainment.

Provincetown has a long and diverse history. The gay and lesbian visitors began to appear after Provincetown began promoting itself as a tourist destination to boost the Town's economy after the Great Portland Gale of 1898 wipe out the Town's fishing fleet and wharfs. Among the visitors to Provincetown were artists and other "bohemian types" attracted to the eclectic population, the acceptance of experimental art forms, and incredible beauty of the Province Lands.

However, it wasn't until the 1920s and 1930s that gay & lesbian presence began to grow together with artists, writers, and playwrights from New York City and elsewhere. These newcomers found inspiration in the magical beauty of the "outer Cape" and the freedom to try new ideas. Gradually, contingents of poets, novelists, journalists, socialists, radicals and dilettantes began to visit Provincetown during the Summer months. Later many of these visitors took up permanent residence.

The ability to experiment with their varied art forms without fear of judgment eventually led to an artistic environment that spawned the first American school of art and birth of modern American theater. Many of the artist and their friends who enjoyed the intellectual freedom of Provincetown were gay. And, it was this sense of acceptance and the burgeoning art colony that drew more folks to visit the "avant-garde" town at the outer most tip of Cape Cod

It wasn't long before Provincetown became the place to spend the summer months for gay men and women, artists, and bohemians. They began to purchase guest houses and other businesses as a means of financial support, gradually becoming part of the fabric of Provincetown. Gays and lesbians have had their ups and downs as they gradually assimilated into the diverse community of Provincetown. It wasn't until the 1970's that Provincetown became the gay and lesbian mecca we know today

During that period, gay men were the primary owners of businesses in town. When the AIDs epidemic hit Provincetown, the town lost many wonderful residents and traditions. This began an evolution that saw lesbians buying and running more businesses in town. Today, Provincetown business are owned by gays, both women and men.

But Provincetown is more than Gay owned businesses. Time and again, visitors to Provincetown are heard to say, how special provincetown is. Gay author , Reed Woodhouse, wrote in 1991:

"To such an extent that Provincetown is, for anything, known for us, known for being one of the two or three places on the continent where gay people can be seen in something like their native habitat. It is one of our hometowns"

This seems to sum up the attraction Provincetown has for gay and lesbian. Its a place where you can be yourself without fear of condemnation. It is the only tourist location in the United Sates, where you can hold hands and show affection to one another openly. It just feels like coming home. Provincetown is truly "like no where else".

Now that Massachusetts recognizes Gay marriage, Provincetown has become "the place to get married". Since the marriage in Massachusetts first became legal on May 17, 2004, the Provincetown Town Clerk's Office has issued 1,481 marriage licenses. Couples chose Provincetown, because of its gay symbolism and the ability to have an open and welcoming ceremony and the beauty of the Province Lands.

• Nominated in 2006 as one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations awarded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation

• Two of America’s Best Beaches – Herring Cove and Race Point Beach

• Named Best Gay Resort Town by PlanetOut – May 2006

• Named Best Gay Resort Town by Out Traveler – November/December 2005

• Named Top Five Gay Resort Towns by Out and About Travel Awards – 2005

• Recipient of Women’s Awards:  Inns and Restaurants (Fairbanks Inn and Gabriel’s) by Out and About Travel Awards – 2005 (PlanetOut)

• Named one of the “50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live” (in the book written by Gregory Kompes and published by CareerPress in 2005)

Come and experience Provincetown for yourself!

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Provincetown's GLBT Website

Thinking of getting married in Provincetown?

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508-487-7013
Provincetown Town Clerk's Office