Category Archives: Gay News
Gay Pride 2011 Kicks off With Celebration in New Zealand
Out in the Square, Wellington’s gay and lesbian fair, will paint the city’s Civic Square all the colours of the rainbow on Saturday 12 March.
The fair has been running in Wellington for 26 years, since before being gay was even legal in New Zealand. Its aim then was to raise awareness, which is still one of Out in the Square’s main goals today.
Out in the Square will feature fabulous entertainment of the widest variety including some of the country’s top drag queens and popular local bands and singers. Top that off with some fabulous food, colourful carnival attractions, loads of arts, crafts, clothing and other stalls, plus gay anthems pumping out all day — Out in the Square promises to be a glorious day in the Capital.
The festivities kick off at 11am with an official opening by Wellington’s new Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, plus local MP Grant Robertson. Performances, stalls, and food will keep everyone busy until things wrap up at 5pm. (I wonder if they light the Fern Ball sculpture pink??)
OUT IN THE SQUARE
(In the US, Gay Pride kicks off in April in Phoenix Arizona !)
Gay Friendly Curacao Voted TOP SPOT for 2011
IT WAS
one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.
Not anymore! Curacao is a treasure trove of surprises and selected as one of the ‘Top 21 Places We’re Going in 2011’ by Fodor’s, one of the ‘Hottest Destinations for 2011’ by AOL Travel and one of the ‘Destinations to Watch in 2011’ by SmarterTravel.
Curaçao also took home two awards from Scuba Diving magazine’s “Top 100 Gold List”, for the “Best Dive Operation” (Ocean Encounters) and for the “Best Dive Site” (Superior Producer). “Tiny in size, yet bustling with vibrancy and allure, this captivating island offers a unique escape. We like to think of ourselves as the Caribbean’s hidden gem.”
TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE! CHECK THIS OUT!
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Escape to the Caribbean’s hidden treasure.
Fall in love with Curacao’s world-class diving and beaches, invigorating outdoor adventure, and welcoming culture.
Make your Curacao Caribbean travel arrangements today !
Cambodia and Gay Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the country’s capital, commercial, economic and political hub. It is situated at the confluence of three great rivers, Mekong, Tonle Sap, Bassac rivers. Getting to Phnom Penh is relatively easy, as they have a nice International Airport that services most major international carriers. Plan on at least 3 nights there to get around and explore. There are several gay owned hotels and guest houses to choose from. There is a lot to see and do there. Many of the restaurants serve some great gourmet experiences, for a very good value.
The gay scene is very open and many of the pubs and clubs have cabaret shows . A night stroll along the Sisowath Quay, can possibly lead to a meeting of some of the local Khmer community. For a romantic evening try a Dinner River Cruise at sunset.
Just recently, a gay nightclub has opened in Phnom Penh. Called GQ NIGHTCLUB , the gay community here has been waiting for a nightclub for ages and it is now up and running. Located on street 172 in Phnom Penh. Comfortable and stylish, they offer monthly parties, drag shows, ladies night, international DJS and more in a lounge setting.
Once the heart of a magnificent kingdom that stretched from Vietnam through Thailand, Cambodia is home to a true world wonder — the jungle-tangled ruins of Angkor and its complex of Hindu and Buddhist temples, palaces, and sanctuaries that, in its day, dwarfed any city in western civilization.
Today, having survived centuries of war and strife, the land and its people are once again at peace and no tourist to the region should miss a chance to explore its historic relics and lush green countryside, home to unspoiled nature and unforgettable encounters.
There’s a vibrant emerging gay scene in the capital city, Phnom Penh, that should not be missed by travelers who are tired of the slick and predatory scenes that can be found elsewhere in the region. Cambodian gays are not opressed by colonial law or anti-gay religious traditions, although many are pressured to get married and they enjoy their gay nature after work and before going home to their families.
CAMBODIA OUT is a great resource!
(Insider tip – Find out about the Bonus Discount and Specials Card !)
As well as Utopia Asia .
(Insider tip – going to Asia? Get your Utopia Discount card !)
The Best Gay Travel Guides
Worlds Biggest Gay Cruise…Leads to Drug Bust
A California man was arrested in the U.S. Virgin Islands after federal agents searched his cabin onboard what was billed as the “world’s largest gay cruise” and found a plethora of party drugs that he was allegedly selling to fellow passengers.
Steven Barry Krumholtz, 51, of West Hollywood was busted aboard Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas as the cruise ship was docked in St. Thomas, a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson says in a statement to AOL Travel News.
Along with the drug stash, agents recovered $51,000 in cash from Krumholtz’s room.
There were 5,4000 passengers aboard the cruise ship which was charted by Atlantis.
The Allure of the Seas is currently the largest cruise ship in the world.
Atlantis has also chartered the ship for another cruise in 2012.
Uber Sexy Fitness Blogger Davey Wavey Travels to Sundance
Before there was
Scott Herman ,
there was Davey.
Unless you have been
under rock the last 5 years,
you should know
who DAVEY WAVEY is.
The gay fitness hottie is more delicious than Mom’s Apple Pie! And his blog Break The Illusion is uber popular.
The 27 year old says, “I assumed this physical form to embark on a journey of peace and love.
Though I’m a bit of a nomad, traveling the world from city to city and town to town, my current location is Rhode Island, USA. For a career, I’m a certified personal trainer and have a fitness blog, Davey Wavey Fitness .
My life’s mission is to 1.) share my love with the world 2.) teach others about the pervasive oneness of this perfect universe and 3.) learn, grow and develop from all my experiences and all my teachers.”
It is his Videos which are getting international attention now. And I predict, this attention could bring him much deserved fame. You have to love the whole Web 2.0 movement. When I grew up, and I am dating myself (gasp!) we didn’t have YouTube, Twitter or even the Internet! The world is an oyster now. Anyone can be their own PR agent and get seen by millions. Bloggers and Vloggers are becoming the stars of today.
YouTube invited Davey to Park City Utah for the week, for the Sundance Film Festival, because one of his video clips is being used in Kevin MacDonald and Ridley Scott’s documentary, Life in a Day .
Life in a Day is the result of director Kevin MacDonald’s plea to the YouTube community to record one day of their lives – July 24th, 2010 – with the ultimate aim of patching them all together. The call was heard, and 80,000 videos were submitted for selection, totalling 4,500 hours of raw footage.
Produced by Ridley Scott, the footage was eventually cut down to the 90 minute feature that is garnering raves from reviewers and audiences for it’s moving and poignant scenes harnessed from everyday life, by everyday people. Encompassing the most mundane daily activities to the most exhilarating and saddest experiences, the film operates with a kind of rhythm that can change mood on a dime, and can elicit a broad smile as quickly as it can have the viewer choking back the tears .
The movie premiered at Sundance this past week and streamed live on YouTube. And you can watch his MEET THE FILM MAKER interview . The actual film will be released sometime in 2011.
Congratulations Davey!!
When traveling, Davey says, “Staying healthy and fit while traveling is always a challenge. But here are my top 6 tips for making it happen: Calorie counting never takes a vacation; skipping the gym is not an option; use your feet; bring your own snacks; and be flexable.” Read all the tips in detail on Daveys Fitness Blog . He also gives some pointers for hotel stays .
He says, “Being a frequent traveler doesn’t need to be a death sentence for your fitness program or a prescription for obesity. Keep your game face on—and I think you’ll be pleased with the results: more energy, better sleep and increased immune system performance, just to name a few.”
Davey on YouTube Davey on Facebook
Best Gay News and New Gay Travel Guide
American Airlines Leads the Way to Give Customers Better Choices
The whole thing sounded odd and New Information comes out today!
It iseems American Airlines is moving to use new technology for selling flights, and is running into resistance from companies using outdated systems. The conflict is about American wanting to move to a new technology that will evolve the way airlines sell flights so that customers have the best, and most, travel choices. Makes sense, right?!
So Why would two travel websites walk away
from one of the biggest airlines in the world?
Both Expedia and Orbitz no longer offer American airlines flight information. And now two companies lurking in the background say they want to raise the fees they charge the airline, and change how American flights are displayed to travel agents.
Although Orbitz and Expedia have been the names in the forefront of this debate, two other companies — Travelport and Sabre, which act as middlemen between airlines, travel agencies and consumers — are behind the issues American Airlines is really fighting. In the airline industry, this is big drama.The conflict is about American wanting to move to a new technology that will eevolve the way airlines sell flights so that customers have the best and most travel choices.
American Airlines wants to eliminate unnecessary costs from middlemen that are no longer needed because of American’s “direct connection” technology. It is a technology that allows travelers to compare schedules, fares, products and services … all of which allows consumers to make better and more informed purchase decisions for their travel … and which is not available with outdated, inefficient systems used by some companies including Sabre and Travelport.
More details soon, from the number one airlines !
Hotspots for Gay LGBT Travelers to Consider
A recent survey by Community Marketing, Inc. — the gay travel research experts for nearly 20 years –shows that lesbian and gay travelers are planning on doing a lot more traveling this year than they did during the last two. With all this pent-up demand, U.S. LGBT travelers will be heading near and far to spend those restless pink dollars. This year, put these five hot spots on your gay travel radar, and venture beyond the tried and true.
South America Rising
Rio de Janeiro has long been an important stop for in-the-know gay travelers who flock here during their summer (our winter). This South American New Year’s is one of the most exciting celebrations for LGBT locals and visitors alike. But this year, plan on going farther a field. Florianopolis, on the coast Brazil south of Rio, attracts droves of sun-seeking gay and lesbian Brazilians. It was a stop on a recent Atlantis cruise and it’ll be host to the IGLTA’s 2012 convention. This holiday hotspot is renowned for its long spans of beautiful beaches, quaint fishing villages and fresh, delicious seafood. The atmosphere is one that’s relaxed and languid with no rush for anything. Comprising a city scape and an island, both are often referred to as Ilha de Santa Catarina or Floripa for short.
Buenos Aires — long and justifiably a gay-popular stop — should be coupled with a visit to Mendoza (wine country) or a quick jaunt across the Rio de la Plata to Uruguay for a visit to the romantic colonial town of Colonia or a jaunt to the much-improved beach resort Punta del Este, the South American jetsetter’s version of St. Tropez..
The Venice of the North
The Scandinavian countries have long been light years ahead of the rest of the world in their treatment of gays and lesbians, offering civil unions and other rights before many Western nations. They’ve typically done so in a decidedly low-key manner, until now.
Sweden is (finally and justifiably) tooting its horn. The country offers same-sex marriage and recently ran a contest culminating in several same-sex couples tying the knot in the air during a flight by SAS, the national airline. This is one reason to reward Sweden with your pink travel dollars, but it’s certainly not the only reason. Once you visit Stockholm, you’ll instantly understand the appeal. It’s a gorgeous city, which like its Italian twin sister, is built on islands. Sailboats, ferries, and other vessels punctuate the vibrant harbor, which is ringed by gorgeous historical buildings, dotted by lush green islands, and bathed in endless light in the summer. In the winter, it’s dark and cold, so pair your visit with a trip to the Ice Hotel , located in Lapland (120 miles north of the Arctic Circle) where you may actually get to see the Northern Lights.
Las Vegas
Las Vegas has grown to be a very popular gay hot spot in recent years. Continuously reinventing itself, Vegas seems incapable of keeping itself from adding rooms, casinos, theaters, shopping, and attractions. This travel hot spot is up to nearly 150,000 rooms. That’s almost 55 million heads-in-beds annually. Their overcapacity is a bust for developers (the much ballyhooed Fountainbleau Hotel didn’t even get off the ground), but a total boon for travelers. Rooms can often be had for a steal. Even truly fabulous properties, like the brand spanking new Cosmopolitan, built for the Champagne crowd, is eagerly welcoming the beer-can set. It is not just because Vegas offers very affordable luxury that it’s sizzling again. It’s also because it’s one of the most authentically gay welcoming destinations in the U.S., much to the surprise of many people.
The Wynn and Encore (which holds more five star awards than any other casino resort, thank you!) has not one, but five gay packages on their website: EncoreLasVegas.com/Pride .- and they have a full time gay concierge . PLUS, they host the homoerotic LE REVE , which is a MUST SEE show! Similarly welcoming hotels include the Mandalay Bay, the Paris, and MGM Grand.
Gay Middle East
Three words you probably never thought you’d read together. While it’s true that the vast majority of the Middle East probably won’t be actively marketing to the LGBT travel segment any time soon, there are a couple of very notable exceptions. Israel, which is the strongest democracy in the region, has a pretty decent track record with respect to rights for their same-sex citizens. Just one example: Legal same-sex marriages performed outside the country are recognized here, thanks to a case brought about, in fact, by the man included below who runs a terrific in-bound travel agency that can help you put together an amazing visit to the region. Tel Aviv, which celebrated its 60th anniversary this summer — it hardly looks a day over 25! — is actively courting the queer dollar. There’s much to love in this destination aside from the hot local women and men, including fine hotels, dining options, and warm stretches of beach lapped gently by the turquoise Mediterranean waves. Beirut — yes, in Lebanon — has also started to reach out to lesbian and gay travelers, with a recent symposium, and at least one out, proud, and highly competent tour operator (listed below).
Singapore
Singapore , nestled in the island-country of Malaysia, has a reputation for religiously strict adherence to rules that would put the Pope to shame. Problem is: That’s no longer true. It’s been slowly changing. Deputy PM Wong Kan Seng emphasized in 2009 that Singapore is a “stable society with traditional, heterosexual family values, but with space for homosexuals to live their private lives and contribute to the society.”
Singapore has a lingering PR problem from its years of threatening gay citizens with the rotten rattan of its buggery-obsessed former colonial masters. Let’s lay that nonsense to rest: these days you won’t be arrested for sharing a bed with your lover. You don’t need to withhold your pink dollars in a vote against the dinosaur technocrats because pink dollars are fueling a renaissance of gay-owned and managed businesses across the island. The tourist area of Chinatown already has several dozen rainbow venues filling up heritage buildings and attracting a steady flow of local clientele and in-the-know regional visitors. Have a look, sir.
Singapore is a sophisticated, educated, modern city with all the amenities you’d expect as a Westerner. There are charming old neighborhoods, friendly, helpful locals, and a shockingly big and developed (well for a socially conservative society) gay scene. Singapore actually has Asia’s hottest gay scene going these days. Homo sex is technically illegal (a legacy of British colonialism), but there are plenty of gay nightlife venues in the historic Chinatown section. Throughout the city, you’ll find the best of the best cuisines from this part of the world, be it Thai, Chinese, or Indian.
This destination also offers great shopping, inexpensive world-class hotels, and some of the friendliest service anywhere in the world. This great experience starts in the air on Singapore Airlines, which boasts one of the world’s safest and highest-rated service records of any airline. Spend four days here and a restful long weekend in nearby Bali, Indonesia, another gay-popular Asian/Muslim destination. Stay in the mystical, natural, yet luxurious highlands of Ubud and visit the nearby beaches.
So step outside the box this year and try something new!
Boutique and Luxury Gay Hotels for the LGBT Traveler
small B&Bs and Inns
and a handful of resorts
from Key West to Palm Springs
have labeled themselves
as “gay hotels” and/or
“gay resorts.”
In the 90’s we saw many big name hotels courting the gay travel dollar labeling themselves “gay-friendly” and providing gay perks to gay travelers. From W to Wynn, Marriott to Kimpton, major hotel chains have been targeting lesbian and gay travelers for some time now.
Some estimate that the LGBT travel market is worth an annual $63 billion in the U.S. alone. “There have always been gay inns and B&Bs,” says Lords founder Brian Gorman. “This is the time to take this concept to a far larger scale.”
When the Lords South Beach Hotel opened last month in Miami, its brightly hued decor, trio of plunge pools and Absolut Vodka–partnered bar looked much like any other higher-end Miami resort. But the 50+ room Art Deco confection, which is located a block from South Beach’s main gay beach, is billing itself as the country’s first large-scale, design-driven gay hotel. Not just gay-friendly, but gay through and through. The hotel worked with Out magazine to develop a Concierge App listing top local LGBT hot spots, asked Levi’s to custom-design its gray and white jean uniforms, and is preparing to launch its own social network.
Although the Lords may be the first, it’s not the only LGBT-focused hotel brand opening its doors in the U.S. In January, Fort Lauderdale’s Royal Palms will reopen after expanding from a 12-room gay-friendly guesthouse to a 62-room boutique hotel that caters to an all-male clientele who prefer a clothing-optional environment. With a spa, café, bar and gym, Florida’s Royal Palms Resort and Spa is marketing itself as North America’s biggest “full-service” gay retreat, but it won’t retain that title for long.
Later in 2011, Manhattan will finally usher in the Out NYC, a massive, 90,000-sq.-ft. (8,400 sq m) “urban resort” close to Times Square. This has been in the news for over a year now and quite an exciting project.
The industry trailblazer is Axel Hotels, a Spanish hospitality group with stylish, midrange LGBT-focused properties in Barcelona, Berlin and Buenos Aires. The chain is cheekily billed as “hetero-friendly,” says Axel president Juan Julia, who notes that in the off-season, upward of 30% of the guests at its properties are straight. The five-year-old company is considering additional sites in London and Paris, but first it must tackle New York City — where an estimated 7 million LGBT tourists pump $16.4 billion into the city each year. Axel will manage the 127-room hotel for the Out NYC, whose other components include an 11,000-sq.-ft. (1,000 sq m) disco, upscale restaurant and men’s spa.
Calling itself a luxury lifestyle resort collection, G Worldwide intends to launch properties in New York, Florida, California, and Las Vegas, according to its website. The hotels are described as being “uber high-tech facilities” operated by “some of the most innovative, creative people in design, food & beverage, nightlife, events, and hospitality.
Is there enough money and travelers to go around?
It appears so. Look at all the gay cruises. While many LGBT travelers do not wish to “ghettoize” themselves by staying in gay-only establishments, gay cruises have proved that there is a certain kind of gay consumer who wants to travel among a like-minded crowd. I for one, would much rather stay in an all gay hotel, than a mixed hotel where straights may roll their eyes at me as I walk by in my pink kaftan!
“These places provide a concentrated feeling of community,” said Thomas Roth, president of Community Marketing, a company in San Francisco that specializes in gay and lesbian market research. “Especially for the many people who don’t otherwise have the opportunity to be the majority.”
At a time when acceptance of gay people seems to be increasing, such resorts might seem superfluous. But Mr. Roth said his company’s research indicated a strong interest in them.
“We can’t assume there is a ‘gay customer’ anymore,” he said. There is a lot of diversity among people who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, he said, and “some want all gay all the time — especially if they’re from, say, Omaha. So something like the Out NYC could be extremely successful.”
Barry Diller – Gay Travel Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
IS SOMEONE REALLY WORTH?
The saying “the rich get richer and poor get poorer” is so true these days. I have countless friends being forced to accept jobs at $10 an hour, because that’s all they can find. Here in Chicago it is next to impossible to find jobs in the $40,000-$60,000 a year range. Meanwhile, company execs continue to rake in $MILLIONS PER YEAR with lavish expense accounts. How special are they? Are they THAT talented??
Take Barry Diller, for example. Closet case IAC top man, who just recently steeped down as CEO, and is known for his lavish spending habits, usually at his companys expense.
Private jets, private yachts, island hopping and more , and as GAWKER stated , “All in good fun, it would seem. “But given IAC’s lackluster stock performance, shareholders must be wondering whether they should subsidizing Diller’s holiday temptations. Employees certainly are; wrote one, cheekily, “Barry loves to spend time with his boys. Let’s face it, that costs money and IAC employees must understand these sacrifices.” – REALLY?!
So Friday, came sort of surprising news – that Barry Diller is stepping down as CEO of the company.
“I never thought I was a very good manager,” Barry Diller told Fortune yesterday, explaining why he stepped down as CEO of IAC, his internet business conglomerate. “I mean I am decent, but I want to go back to what I am good at, which is looking for opportunities to grow the business.”
Still, you have to wonder why, if Diller is such a mediocre manager, he deserved to be the second-most-richly-compensated CEO in America over the past decade.
As GAWKER points out , “It’s clear that resentment over Diller’s management style has been brewing at IAC for some time. And his private life has come under an uncomfortable spotlight around here for some time, as well. Still, this is rather sudden.”
Will the BBC Three series Lip Service Bring Lesbians to Glasgow?
A Glasgow tour company is looking to cash-in on the city’s fame as the location of BBC Three series Lip Service by offering special lesbian-themed travel packages.
The series, which follows lesbian life in the Scottish city, has highlighted the attractions of the city’s gay-quarter for tourists, and a specialist travel company is looking to capitalise on the success with gay-friendly tours and civil partnership breaks.
Glasgow hopes Lip Service will do for Glasgow what the The L Word has done for West Hollywood, with lesbian travellers flocking to see places shown in the series. According to Scotland on Sunday, some of the locations featured in the show, such as The Trans-Europe Café, have already seen an increase in lesbian customers.
As reported by the newspaper, among the tours being offered is the Lip Service Valentine’s Special. The two-night package including dinner at the restaurant where the characters Cat and Sam have their first date, and VIP passes to gay club the Polo Lounge.
Ruth Cochrane says “It shows the city off. So often on television it’s seen as dingy and dark, but this shows off the architecture and makes it look like a cosmopolitan place to be.
Cochrane also believes that local lesbians live up to the stunning looks of stars of the series Ruta Gedmintas and Laura Fraser. “I think there are girls that look like that around,” she said, and describes Glasgow as having “great nightlife”.
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and represents one of the oldest settlements in Western Europe.
A visit to Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city and the third largest in Britain, is a cosmopolitan delight with about a million dining choices, great museums, impressive shopping, and wide streets that throng with people. There’s a big-city attitude and a big-city ambience here that is softened by the quiet burr of Scottish voices, and by the seemingly ever-present mist. Occasionally, that mist will lift (if you’re lucky), revealing a sun that never gets too hot but casts its magic on the Victorian splendors of this very chic and buzzing city.
Passport magazine gives an in depth look at Gay Lesbian Travel to Glasgow !
A Battle for the Pink Gay Travel Dollars… Beirut vs. Tel Aviv
We all know,
Gay tourism is a multi-billion-dollar industry.
EVERYONE wants our money. And is this economy, it’s amazing how many cities have decided GAY IS OK! And are rolling out the red carpet for us!And two Mediterranean cities are both angling for a piece of the action.
The two hotspots, each boasting trendy nightlife, warm climate and carefree attitude, are vying for the pink dollars of the world’s gay tourists. Tel Aviv, Israel’s cultural and business capital, has already earned its place as a must-go destination for globe-trotting gays, and now Beirut is making its pitch, too.
“Western travelers come to us to feel the Arabian spirit,” Bertho Makso, Lebanon’s first and perhaps best-known gay travel operator, told The Media Line . “And Arabs have come to feel more comfortable.”
Beirut and Tel Aviv are less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) apart on the Mediterranean coast, but two-city package tours for gays are not going to be offered anytime soon. Israel and Lebanon are officially at war.
Lonely Planet puts Tel Aviv in top three cities in world . Israel’s party capital wins praise for its tolerant attitudes and thrivings arts – ‘a kind of San Francisco in the Middle East’. AND Tel Aviv has the advantage of being in a country where the laws are favorable and homosexuality is widely accepted. In Lebanon, homosexuality is officially illegal, even if the law is seldom enforced.
Once known as the Paris of the Middle East until the country’s devastating 1975-1990 civil war, Beirut is home to posh gay-friendly nightclubs, glitzy bars and restaurants. Many report that Beirut has become much more tolerant of gay culture and nightlife over the last 10 years. The International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association held a symposium in the city for the first time earlier this month.
LebTour travel agency opened in 2005. By night, he escorts visitors to Beirut’s gay clubs and bars; by day, he leads them around the country to learn about its history and culture.
In the five years Makso has been operating LebTour, he says his client base has grown five-fold to over 500 gay tourists a year, mainly from Europe but increasingly from the US as well. He says also runs gay-themed tours to Syria and Jordan, bringing tourists to gay bars in Damascus, and Amman, without difficulty.
Human Rights Watch , said Beirut isn’t as tolerant towards gays as some make it out to be. Lebanese gays with enough money enjoy a margin of freedom, she said, but it is restricted to men. Those from working class and poor backgrounds face discrimination and many times are not accepted by their families.
“Once you leave that bubble it’s a very different situation,” Moumneh said. “The tourism industry is painting a very rosy picture, but it’s very small and narrow.”
Makso acknowledges Beirut isn’t New York or London, and he warns his clients to avoid certain behaviors.
“I explain to them certain things they shouldn’t do, like showing public affection and taking pictures of political figures,” he said. “In general there’s no problem, but this is not the West.”
100 miles down the Mediterranean coast, Tel Aviv’s gay tourism industry is taking off, as well. The city is internationally known for its gay nightlife and carefree attitude. Thousands of gay tourists flock to the city every year, said Yaniv Poria, professor in the Department of Hotel and Hospitality at Israel’s Ben Gurion University and an expert on the subject.
Although the country is not immune to homophobia either, as exemplified by the shooting last year at a gay community center in Tel Aviv that left two dead and at least 15 others wounded, Poria said Israel has a very positive image among the global gay and lesbian community.
“This is considered the hotspot for the Middle East,” he said. “In no other country, can gays walk publicly and be out.”
The Tel Aviv Tourism Association recently launched a campaign to market the city to gay communities around the world in a campaign called “Tel Aviv Gay Vibe.” Last year, the city in conjunction with the Israeli Gay Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender Association distributed gay-themed maps of the city around Europe.
Read More from Benjamin Peim
The Best Gay Travel Guide
Kent Connecticut Is Becoming The Place For Nuptials, Hiking, Camping and Sking
GUEST AUTHOR LYNDON EVANS
shares his take on Kent, Connecticut.
When folks think of travel and tourism in Connecticut most think of the southeastern part of the state from Essex/Deep River over to Mystic and up to the casino area of Uncasville and Mashantucket. But I’d like to tell you about my part of Connecticut the western side.
Recently the Litchfield County Times ran an article by Kathryn Boughton about same-sex marriage and how the village of Kent is becoming the place to celebrate nuptials.
A quiet revolution has been taking place in Kent as same-sex couples have made their way to the beautiful little town to solemnize their marriage vows. Town Clerk Darlene Brady said that the number of marriage licenses issued in the town has more than doubled since a New York State minister started to promote Kent as a location for gay and lesbian weddings. She reports there have been 161 gay marriages in Kent since 2008 and another 13 civil unions performed before that.
Also boosting the number of same-sex marriages are the occasional unions between current town residents and weekenders, she added. But the largest number of weddings comes through the Rev. Sara Henderson of Pawling, N.Y., who has reached out to the gay community through her Web site, gaylesbianweddings4u.com. Ms. Henderson is an interfaith minister and a graduate of The New Seminary in New York City. She was ordained at St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City. On her Web site she defines “interfaith,” as a “spiritual philosophy [that] honors and values the fundamental beauty and wisdom in all religious traditions/spiritual paths.”
While Kent may becoming the “Rainbow Wedding Capitol of CT”, Kent and the surrounding area has a great deal to offer those wishing to escape the hustle and bustle of other tourist areas of Connecticut. Kent (and similar small towns in Litchfield County) has long been a getaway, second home or primary residence for many writers, actors, artists, singers and politicians. Sorry no name dropping .. okay just one, Henry Kissinger.
Kent is a reasonable drive from New York City time wise and once you get off I-84 in either Danbury or Brookfield, you traverse Route 7 in the northerly direction (Route 7 begins in Norwalk, CT and ends at the Vermont/Canadian border) towards New Milford. As you’re driving up Route 7 to Kent those of you who enjoy antiquing will have the time of your life. When you get to New Milford be sure to get off Route 7 long enough to take a ride around the village square and it’s quaint New England setting. Back on Route 7 make a quick stop at one of the couple of shops in Gaylordsville and then it’s onto Kent. Route 7 in spots runs parallel to the Housatonic River and up in Bulls Bridge be sure to check out the covered bridge.
As far as places to stay, once you get away from Danbury which has the usual prolifera of hotel chain accommodations you’ll find bed and breakfast inns. One of these is The Inn At Kent Falls (photo at top) which is listed at the website Purple Roofs, is gay owned & operated, and has been voted Best B&B for 2010 by Connecticut Magazine. A photo at the Inn’s website taken during winter looks like something right out of the Miller or Budweiser Christmas holiday commercials. Speaking of winter you skiers will like staying in Kent and skiing at nearby Mohawk Mountain.
Campers and RVers will find the Kent area a place to stay with Macedonia Brook State Park in which the Macedonia Brook traverses the picnic and campground with some pools of water deep enough to sit in or swim and cool off on a hot summer day. A bit further up Route 7 and almost into Sharon is the Housatonic Meadows State Park which shoulders the Housatonic River. No trip to Kent is complete without taking in the cascading Kent Falls and driving up to West Cornwall and taking a photo of probably one of the most famous covered bridges in New England, the West Cornwall Bridge. Auto racing enthusiasts will enjoy Lime Rock Park in Sharon with its winding race course and picturesque Connecticut background. For those who just like to drive there is no better and scenic road than Route 7 going into Massachusetts and onto Vermont.
So nuptials or not, with the fall foliage season coming soon why not take a trip to Kent Connecticut and see what the western side of my state has to offer. By the way you antiquers may what to consider renting a U-haul trailer to take home the goodies you’ll buy.
Travel Around The World….in Hamburg Germany
DOES THIS TRAIN MAKE ME LOOK GAY?
WOW!
This is pretty incredible!
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany and the eighth-largest city in the European Union. The city is home to over 1.8 million people and these Two German Brothers have put this TRAIN SET together.
This is the world’s biggest train set, which Covers 1,150 square meters / 12,380 square feet.
Features almost six miles of track and is still not complete!!
Twin brothers Frederick and Gerrit Braun, 41, began work on the ‘Miniatur Wunderland’ in 2000
The set covers six regions including America , Switzerland , Scandinavia , Germany , and the Austrian Alps…The American section features giant models of the Rocky Mountains, Everglades , Las vegas, Grand-Canyon …
The Scandinavian part has a 4ft long passenger ship floating in a ‘fjord’.
It is expected to be finished in 2014, when the train set will cover more than 1,800 square meters / (19,376 sq ft) and feature almost 13 miles of track, by which time detailed models of parts of France, Italy and the UK will have been added. It comprises 700 trains with more than 10,000 carriages and wagons. The scenery includes 900 signals, 2,800 buildings, 4,000 cars – many with illuminated headlights…
The 250,000 lights are rigged up to a system that mimics night and day by automatically turning them on and off …The whole system is controlled from a massive high-tech nerve centre. In total the set has taken 500,000 hours and more than 8 million euro to put together, the vast majority of which has come from ticket sales.
Gerrit said: “Our idea was to build a world that men, woman, and children can be equally astonished and amazed in.”
Frederik added: “Whether gambling in Las Vegas, hiking in the Alps or paddling in Norwegian fjords – in Wunderland everything is possible.”This 4-minute video is worth watching for this amazing stuff.
Southwest and AirTran Merger a “Big Win” for Gay Lesbian Travel
The DC Gay Travel Examiner, Troy Petenbrink, reports that the pending merger of AirTran and Southwest airlines (announced this week) appears to be a big win for gay travelers.
While AirTran has generally remained invisible when it comes to marketing to gay travelers and supporting the gay community, Southwest has been flying sky high. Southwest is a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and has been a supporter of many gay events, including Washington, DC’s Capital Pride.
In addition, Southwest operates a corporate-wide gay-specific micro-site: SouthWest GayTravel . On the site the company states, “Southwest Airlines is a Company that works hard every day to provide Positively Outrageous Customer Service, regardless of race, religion, and sexuality. It’s in our DNA and goes to the heart of our Culture of Freedom, inclusiveness, and living and practicing the Golden Rule.”
Assuming that Southwest retains AirTran’s current gates, the merger will result in Southwest serving some new popular gay-friendly destinations and expanding its presence in others.
BUT O M G – Check this news out!
Starting on October 10th, Continental Airlines will no longer provide complimentary meals and snacks to economy class passengers on domestic flights shorter than 6.5 hours and some international flights. Instead, Continental will start charging for food, ending its holdout as one of the last major carriers to serve free meals in economy class. The airline’s new menu will include an Asian-style noodle salad, gourmet fruit plates and other a la carte items. Prices will range from $1.50 for Pringles potato chips to $8.25 for grilled chicken spinach salad. Just bring your own!
On the flip side of the coin, American Airlines announced that beginning Friday, it will offer free wine, beer and spirits to visitors at its domestic Admirals Clubs. American also announced that it was equipping its Admirals Club locations with new Hewlett-Packard computers for visitors, and it now offers free Wi-Fi in the airport lounges. – They must be doing good. Although an insider told me it’s contract time and a strike is brewing….
Gay Weddings Planned on SAS Scandinavian Airlines in December
Scandinavian airline SAS plans to host the first-ever in-flight gay wedding in December, and is searching for a suitable couple to walk down the airplane aisle.
“It will be a very traditional wedding,” SAS spokesman Anders Lindstroem told AFP. “There will be wedding cake and dancing in the aisles.”
SAS has 100 gay couples in the running, with the winning entry will be chosen by an online vote . The ceremony itself would need to take place in Swedish airspace, where gay marriage is legal.
As part of SAS Airlines’ big new social media contest campaign titled “Love is in the Air” on December 6, the winning gay or lesbian European-based couple get flown via SAS from Stockholm to New York, and on the way they’ll take over an entire business class cabin and have their same-sex nuptials performing in-flight by the plane’s captain.
Once they land, the newlyweds will enjoy a glam U.S. honeymoon, staying two nights at one of NYC’s finer W Hotels and then jetting off to L.A. for three nights at the hip new Andaz West Hollywood hotel.
But Americans can get in on the wedding-tastic prize package , too! On December 7th, a flight will transport a winning U.S. based same-sex couple from New York City to Stockholm (in SAS Business Class), and then on to Kiruna way up in northern Sweden, where the pair will be wed at the stylish and otherworldly IceHotel. They’ll stay there for two swank nights, and then head down to Stockholm for three nights at the brilliant Hotel Skeppsholmen, smack dab in the center of the city. Plus, the newlyweds will receive a VIP package from Stockholm Visitors’ Board, full of perks.
Linstroem said SAS was playing catch-up to US airlines, who have spent years courting gay, lesbian and bisexuals in the United States with targeted marketing and sponsorship campaigns.
The wedding couple and their guests would have the entire business class section closed off, in part to avoid offending any other customers who might not approve of the mile-high matrimony.
“We don’t want to offend anyone. We hope we won’t offend anyone. It is the year 2010 after all,” Lindstroem said.
Gay Lesbian Travel Guide
Gay Travel to Mexico City is About to Get a Big Boost
Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled last week, that a law allowing same-sex marriages in Mexico City is constitutional, rejecting an appeal by federal prosecutors who argued it violated the charter’s guarantees to protect the family.
The justices’ 8-2 ruling handed a legal victory to hundreds of same-sex couples who have been married in Mexico’s capital since the landmark law took effect March 4. When approved last December , it was the first law in Latin America explicitly giving gay marriages the same status as heterosexual ones, including adoption.
NOW EVEN MORE NEWS! Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled yesterday THAT ALL 31 states MUST recognize same-sex marriages performed in the capital, though its decision does not force those states to begin marrying gay couples in their territory.
In a 9-2 decision, the tribunal cited an article of the constitution requiring states to recognize legal contracts drawn up elsewhere.
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Travel…What Does It Mean To You?
GAY TRAVEL…..what does it mean?
Everyday I scan countless news headlines, blogs and story leads, looking to see who is saying what, and looking for things that are interesting. Today I discovered LANDLOPERS . It is a general travel site written by Matt Long, who happens to be gay. It’s not a “gay travel” site, like this one. He says, “My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I super wealthy. I am just an average person who has managed to travel the world efficiently and without spending a fortune.”
His post today No Respect for the Gay Traveler , really got me thinking about how my partner and I travel, compared to how other gay people travel.
When I travel, I look for “gay friendly” signs and symbols. Rainbow flags. That way I know, they are accepting and are not give me strange looks if I kiss my husband in public. I can safely assume the staff is going to be accepting of us and they welcome my gay dollars.
Matt says, “why do we need separate things? Expedia recently launched a GLBT Travel Lounge offering gay friendly travel options. That sounds fine on the face of it, but why does there need to be a GLBT search listing? Would you have a separate search criteria for African-Americans or Christians? That’s absurd. Furthermore, the gay city guides on Expedia seem to highlight a lot of clubs, bars and design stores. Not feeding into any stereotypes there, are we? If they advertised stereotypical listings to other minorities, there would be a national boycott.
I do not need to be segregated with other gay people. I am an independent traveler and am quite capable of handling myself in most situations around the world and can interact with people of all backgrounds. I’m not looking for everyone to get who I am and do not need to travel in a homogenized bubble.” – I disagree with Matt. I WANT separate listings. And to compare us with African-Americans or Christians does not make any sense. Of course, you would not have separate listings for those groups. But what about separate listings for families? or seniors? It comes down to a group having certain needs and wants.
And as gay travelers, I think many of us want different things. Some people want the gay, gay, gay experience. While others just want to blend in. Matt says, “Drop the rainbow flags and instead educate your staffs that 1) gay people do exist and 2) that you treat them like any other guest. This revolutionary concept would go well beyond any promise of techno parties or the excessive use of glitter. The same goes with gay-friendly itineraries. I don’t even know what this means: clubs and brunch only restaurants? We don’t need that, our travel interests are usually the same as anyone else when visiting a new place. When I go to Paris I want to visit Montmartre or the Louvre, not a drag club. What we need is respect and not segregation.”
The rainbow flag is like a big welcome sign. You can’t drop that. It demonstrates that a place is gay or at least gay-friendly. Matt says our travel interests are usually the same as anyone else when visiting a new place. I disagree. When I was in Paris last year I went to the Louvre sure, but I also hung out every night in the le Marais, the gay district and went to a drag bar, a sauna and gay restaurant! I think we all want different things when we travel. And while Matt isn’t necessarily looking for the “gay experience” when he travels, many of us are.
I was out with a gay friend last night who commented he loves to go on cruises, but has never taken a gay cruise. I asked what he liked about it, and he said he enjoys picking up the bi-married men! That’s not my thing. It’s too much work for one thing. I would rather be on a boat with all gay men!
This whole issue brings into question just how gay friendly are certain countries that tend to be popular with gay tourists? No doubt if we boycotted every country that didn’t have a Clone Zone or gay club we’d be limited to a very dull itinerary. But many gay people may not be aware that their well-earned holiday dosh is going into the coffers of governments who oppress homosexuals and refuse them to live their lives openly, and in some cases in fear of imprisonment.
Egypt
It’s got plenty to recommend it on the romantic front; cruises down the Nile, sun basked shores and experiencing the Pyramids at sunset etc. But Egypt also happens to be one of the most unsympathetic countries relating to human rights especially over homosexuality. Recently gay websites were closed down by the authorities and used as evidence to secure jail sentences for Egyptian gays.
Morocco
Like many Islamic / Muslim societies that view homosexual acts strictly as precursors to marriage, being openly gay and in love with someone of the same sex is a big no, no. Algiers may appear wild and louche but it’s unlikely you and your lover will be able to sign a ‘civil partnership’ there for many years to come.
Jamaica, Dubai….do I really want to go there that bad? Not so much.
So I am curious, how do you travel. What do you want? What do you look for?
Leave us your comments!
Derrick Sorles
Michael Snell
New Gay Travel Guide and Best Gay Cities
Vote For Michael Snell As The Next Top Gay Travel Guru
OK, so I have a BIG FAVOR to ask.
I have applied for a very cool job with GayTravel.com
Out of hundreds of applications, after the first cut last week, they have narrowed it down to 54 finalists. And I have made it to the top 54!
From here, on August 1st, they will pick their top 8 finalists to go to New York City for the final selection of the winner.
The winner gets a 6 month paid job with GayTavel.com and will fly all over the US helping them build their brand with Social Media and blogging and Networking!
So here is my favor. I am asking to PLEASE go to GayTravel.com and sign up for a free profile/account for yourself. It just takes a minute.
THE VOTING HAS JUST BEGUN! And runs for 2 weeks. Till July 30th.
Look for MICHAEL – Scoll down and vote 5 STARS~!
Any help you can give me, would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
Michael Snell
America’s Next Top GAY TRAVEL GURU!
Gay Man Wins $1 mill in Air Travel Lawsuit
A jury has awarded a Buxton man more than $1 million in a discrimination case based on sexual orientation — the largest such award to date in Maine.
Edward Russell’s attorney, Guy Loranger, argued in Cumberland County Superior Court that his client was repeatedly passed up for promotion because he is gay. In late June, a jury agreed after hearing three days of evidence and deliberating for six hours.
The jury found that Russell’s former employer, Express Jet Airlines, had violated Maine’s Human Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on sexual orientation. Jurors awarded Russell $500,000 for emotional distress, $500,000 for punitive damages and $47,000 in lost wages.
“This guy was completely qualified to do the job,” Loranger said. “The jury said it didn’t matter his color, his race, his national origin or his sexual preference — he was qualified to do the job and you should have allowed him to do it.”
Read the full story at Press Herald .
Gay Travel to Argentina – The Next Gay Wedding Hotspot?
Gay travel to Buenos Aires really won’t be affected by this, but YESTERDAY, Argentina’s Senate voted in favor of legalizing gay marriage by 33 votes to 27 with three abstentions, making Argentina the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage.
The bill, which grants same-sex couples all the rights, responsibilities and benefits of heterosexual marriage, including the right to jointly adopt, was debated in the Senate for around 14 hours. The legislation has become a flagship piece of legislation for President Cristina Fernandez’s center-left government though the debate in fact split both major political parties. The president is expected to sign the bill into law within the next few days.
But it’s really for residents and tourists won’t be able to tie the knot here.
Same-sex couples from other countries will need to live in Argentina before becoming eligible, and the necessary residency documents can take months to obtain.
This shows how far a predominantly Catholic country can come, from dictatorship to true democracy. TEXAS, well, that’s another story ! They are moving towards dictatorship!!
With the bill signed, Argentina joins Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland in allowing gay marriage.
Nepal looks set to be the next country to legalize same-sex marriage as lawmakers are busy hammering out a new constitution that will grant a broad set of rights and protections for gay and lesbian couples.
But, for today, congratulations to Argentina!
