The SF of Florida, Gay Key West, takes an international stage for New Year's

Gary Marin, AKA "Sushi" descends down to Duval Street

Gay Key West will take center stage again this year for New Year's Eve.

Since 1996, the centerpiece of the city's celebration of New Year's is Sushi, the island's best-known drag queen, descending from a giant high-heel shoe. She is lowered from a balcony of the gay bar, the Bourbon Street Pub, to the cheering crowed on Duval Street below. Since 2004, CNN has covered the event live. This year will be no exception.

Key West has long been gay welcoming. It was one of the first cities in the world with an openly gay mayor. Richard Heyman served from 1983-85. But Key West's reputation for being a gay great escape began long before then.

In the 1800s, Key West was one of the richest cities in the world because of the shipwrecking industry. By the 1930s, a combination of the better navigation systems and the Great Depression drove the city from riches to rags. By the mid 1970s, in large part to gay tourism, the island was well on its way back to recovery. Now, its real estate prices are comparable to San Francisco's.

Lower fuel costs and consequently lower airfares make flying from the Bay Area relatively inexpensive. For a great list of things to see and do when you get there, check out www.gaykeywestfl.com.  Also visit www.visitflorida.com and type in "gay" in the search engine.

 Below:   Video of Sushi's descent