Recession forces lesbian-only Pearl's Rainbow resort to open doors to men
Oh man! Recession forces lesbian-only resort to open its doors to everyone (including guys) for the first time
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Over this Thanksgiving weekend, Key West's only lesbian-exclusive resort is going 'all welcome' for the first time.
The decision was made public around the same time Pearl's Rainbow resort was honored in October by Curve, the best-selling lesbian magazine, as the guesthouse that had the greatest impact on lesbian culture in the past 20 years.
Pearl's Rainbow's lesbian owner, Heather Carruthers, said it was a business decision based on tough economic realities and requests of some lesbian guests who would like to bring male family members or friends.
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Policy change: Heather Carruthers, of the female-only Pearl's Rainbow lesbian guesthouse, says economic hard times forced the 'all welcome' decision
She said lesbians were being more accepted and felt more comfortable in the mainstream these days.
She said: 'They can hold hands wherever they want to. It's really the world we want to have. We don't necessarily want to be segregated.'
But her 'all welcome' decision is not sitting well with all gay and lesbian businesses in the area.
Tinlin, who runs three of Key West's nine major all-men gay guesthouses, replied 'certainly not' when asked if he would be allowing women onto his premises.
He added: 'Our business is down because of the economy and BP oil spill, but it's very important for this destination to maintain its all-gay reputation.''
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Idyllic setting: Miss Carruthers said Pearl's enjoyed initial popularity because of the guesthouse's central Key West location and relaxing amenities
Key West, with a population of around 25,000, has a gay police chief, gay president of the Rotary Club, more than 400 members of its gay chamber of commerce and several elected gay officials - including Miss Carruthers, a Monroe County commissioner.
Stephen Smith, sales manager for the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, said exclusively gay and lesbian resorts were under pressure because gay travellers had far more options than they did a decade ago.
He said: 'More and more hotel chains, car-rental companies and destinations are reaching out to the gay and lesbian market.
'And why wouldn't they? It's a $1 billion-a-year market.'
Mr Smith said many gay visitors to Key West now chose to stay with a mainstream resort chain like the Westin, Marriott or Hyatt.
Unique themes: Each of the 38 rooms has an individual theme. Miss Carruthers said some guests had requested that gay men and male family memebers be allowed in the resort
Some want to use their chain loyalty points, while others are looking for big resorts with more amenities than they might find at a guesthouse.
All-female guesthouses have never been common in the U.S. - in part because lesbians have been accepted more in American society than gay men.
Miss Carruthers said she knews of only one other exclusive all-women's resort in the U.S. - the 19-room Highlands Inn on a farm in Bethlehem, New Hampshire.
Miss Carruthers and her late partner, Leslie Leonelli, bought their 38-room Key West resort in 2000.
Even then, they had mixed feelings about keeping the inn all-female.
For a few years, the resort's business grew - as women flocked to avail themselves of the uniquely themed rooms and the Pearl's Patio pool bar, the only all-female bar in Key West.
But in 2006, Miss Carruthers said business leveled off and actually began to drop in 2007.
Pearl's Rainbow will still have women-only weeks - notably Pridefest, Womenfest, Fantasy Fest and the Kelly McGillis Classic, an annual female flag football championship.
But it seems male guests will be a necessary evil from now on - a move that is not being welcomed by all guests.
Elizabeth Villanueva of Vancouver said: 'I like it the way it is. I have nothing against men, but we feel comfortable here.'
Mesha and Paula, elementary school teachers from Alabama who did not want to give their last names, have been coming to Pearl's for six years.
Mesha said: 'In Alabama, it's not one human family. It's don't ask, don't tell. The culture here in Key West is so different from back home. People don't realise what a treat it is for us. Pearl's is our little bit of heaven.'
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