Category Archives: Gay Pride
Gay Travel to Maui: The Gay Side of the Valley Isle
Paradise is a strong word.
But ask anyone who has been to Maui, Haawii and they say it
is truly a paradise in every way.
For the gay/lesbian couple seeking a romantic haven, the island of Maui is waiting to welcome you with bright rainbow leis.
From snorkeling to whale watching and lounging and relaxing on a remote gay beach, Maui is paradise found.
With a population of less than 150,000 people, the gay scene is much smaller on Maui than in Oahu but there’s a small, tight knit LGBT community and a lot of great activities geared toward the gay tourist. The gay population is mainly concentrated
around the Kihei area in South Maui, but gay people live all over the
island.
Whether you want to surf, canoe or kayak, opportunities abound on gay Maui for the outdoor enthusiast. (which I am not! However, Maui was the perfect place for me, to unplug, and RELAX!). There are several companies that offer visitors outdoor equipment and training.
If you’re looking for something lower impact, Maui is the leading whale-watching center in the Hawaiian Islands. Head to the beach and try to spy a Humpback, dolphin or sea turtle. Stick around and be sure to catch one of the most amazing sunsets you’ll ever experience. No Ka Oi Adventures offers nature-based excursions organized for LGBT travelers. The operator specializes in nature-based excursions and offers the queer traveler small group tours featuring off-the-beaten-path destinations on the island.
The first step in planning your memorable jaunt to the Valley Isle is finding the right accommodations. Luckily there are several gay and lesbian owned or friendly hotels and resorts on the island. Some of these properties, like the Maui Sunseeker, offer LGBT specific packages and host commitment ceremonies. In 2012, Hawaii became the seventh US state to legalize civil unions. What better place to be married and have your honeymoon at the same time?!
Industry insiders have said they expect that the law legalizing civil
unions, which took effect Jan. 1, 2012, will lead to a boost in tourism among
same-sex visitors. Hotel executives said they’re actively reaching out
to the gay and lesbian community with promotions and packages aimed at
couples who are eager to make their commitment official.
The amazing coastline is one of the main reasons to visit Maui and Little Beach is the most popular gay beach on the island. You’ll find this nude beach in Makena State Park, South of Wailea at the end of Wailea Alanui Road. It’s a little tricky. You’ll have to walk past the Big Beach and over the lava-flow trail to get there. It’s a great place to meet and greet the local gay set and gay tourists from all over the world.
After a day of fun in the sun, you’ll want to experience the local gay nightlife. Don’t expect to a wide variety of dance clubs and other gay venues like you’d find in Honolulu, but you’ll definitely have a great time.
One of the most popular bars for gays and lesbians on the island is Ambrosia. Named by Maui Time Weekly as best bar (two years in a row), Ambrosia offers daily entertainment and eclectic décor. If you want to try some exotic local drinks, you’ll fall in love with Ambrosia. Their wide varieties of specialty martinis are extremely popular and are the perfect way to cap off an adventure-packed day. There are also great drink specials and a happy hour every night from 6pm to 9pm.
Betty’s Beach Café is also a great place to eat, drink and be Mary! Their Sunday brunch is out of this world, featuring amazing omelets, egg scrambles and signature cocktails. No trip to this tropical venue would be complete without trying one of their “Betty” drinks. From the Bettie Paige (red wine, peach schnapps and pineapple) to the Betty Rubble (a Blue-beri Hawaiian), there’s truly a vice for everyone. Happy hour is always a blast at Betty’s. Every afternoon from 2pm to 5pm enjoy $3 Mai Tais and $4 Longboard Kona Beers. Stay or come back later in the evening for Betty’s evening happy hour, from 9pm to 11pm every day.
October is a great time for gay travelers to experience Maui. Maui Pride is October 5-7, 2012 and it’s always a celebration to remember. The festivities begin that Friday with an Aloha Reception at the Maui Sunseeker. This mixer is a great opportunity to get to know the local queer community and hobnob. But space fills up fast! Book as early as you can.
The main event will be held at the Maui Tropical Plantation on Saturday, October 6. Entrance is free and there will be a wide variety of vendors and activities. That morning the Pride committee will also be sponsoring drag races and other fabulous events. Saturday night, return to the venue to hula your ass off! DJs will be spinning and live performances (including the local Deborah Vial Band) are scheduled to entertain the masses. The final day of the Pride festivities kicks off at Stella Blues for breakfast (8am to 10am). Cap off the final day with a snorkel tour or hidden waterfall hike.
Before you leave Maui, during Pride or any other time of the year, you MUST take a helicopter ride overlooking the island. Air Maui and other operators offer flights for tourists and it’s only about a 45-minute flight. The sea cliffs are breathtaking! The waterfalls, awe-inspiring.
When the luau is over and you’re depressed that you have to leave the dream vacation of a lifetime, take solace, when you say “aloha” it means goodbye and hello. The friendly islanders will be there to welcome you back with sweet, sun-kissed smiles!
Guest Author Jon Fairbanks – Gay Travel Team Member
For more information about Maui or other LGBT destinations please visit www.gaytravel.com
Photo credit Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson
Police Refuse to Allow Budapest Pride to Happen This Year
The gays in Budapest have struggled for years, for their freedom and acceptance. It’s a gorgeous city and a great value for travelers.
We were there last year for their gay pride, which had been on again, off again during the planning months. Police were unsure they wanted to provide the protection needed. In the end, the pride parade and march did happen – but over 1400 police were on hand to make sure no skinheads or fascists bothered or harmed the marchers.
The Budapest Pride is Hungary’s largest annual LGBT event. It has historically been known under several names, including Budapest Gay Dignity Procession (Hungarian Meleg Méltóság Menet) or simply “happy parade” (Hungarian Meleg Méltóság Menet). The parade has taken place each year since 1997, usually on the first Saturday of July, proceeding along Budapest’s most expansive thoroughfare, Andrássy Avenue, between the City Park (Városliget) and Elizabeth Square (Erzsébet tér). Though much smaller in scale than similar gay pride parades in Western Europe and the Americas, between a thousand and two thousand marchers typically participate in the Budapest procession. Radical right-wing demonstrators and hooligans have severely disrupted the Budapest gay parades held in 2007 and 2008, casting concerns with the Police in Budapest.
In
the past, sometimes anti-gay groups threw eggs, smoke bombs and bottles
into the crowds. Several years ago, Gábor Demszky, Budapest’s mayor
from the Alliance of Free Democrats party, condemned the violence
against the event for which he had expressed unambiguous support.
However, three non-governmental organizations accused the
government-supported police of doing little to stop the fascists.
Last year’s parade went off just fine, other than some anti-gay people yelling at us. But I am guessing the city feels the cost to have 1400 police on high alert was too much?
We received this press release today –
The Budapest Police Department has refused to grant permission for this year’s Budapest Pride march. The march had been announced for July 7, 2012, with a route from City Park to Alkotmány Street along Andrássy Avenue, by the festival’s organizers, the Rainbow Mission Foundation. This is not the first time the police have tried to prevent the march, and this year they again justified their decision to restrict our freedom of assembly with the claim that it is impossible to redirect traffic to another route. With the help of the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (TASZ), we are filing a petition for review of the ban. We look forward to the Budapest Metropolitan Court repealing the police’s decision, which is expected to be announced in the next few weeks.
Banning the march is one of the means used to silence the LGBTQ community. The last two years have seen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law threatened in Hungary, and through its actions, the government has infringed upon the rights of many groups. The Basic Law, passed in April 2011 and in effect since the beginning of this year, the “family protection” law voted on last December, and the Hungarian Society for the Science of the Family founded in February all severely violate the rights of LGBTQ people. Banning the Pride march would only exacerbate the social marginalization of this community.
One of the themes we are highlighting in this year’s festival is the diversity of the LGBTQ community in Hungary. Given that the community is often invisible, our diversity of identities and experiences often goes unrecognized even within the community. For example, bisexual, queer, and trans people frequently find themselves marginalized and their voices unheard. LGBTQ people who are members of other marginalized groups as well (disabled people, national, ethnic, and religious minorities, etc.) are hardly ever allowed the opportunity to express their full identities. Mainstream society’s view of the LGBTQ community is restricted to a very narrow segment of the group, primarily gay men and lesbian women, and this picture is often based on explicitly homophobic and transphobic stereotypes.
Kudos to the gay community! They are not backing down and plan to march with or without a permit!
The campaign video against the ban
2012 Budapest Pride for news and updates
If you love architecture, Hungary is STUNNING! It is a gorgeous city. And there a dozen or so gay bars and clubs. They have a couple saunas. There is lots to see and do and it is so inexpensive to eat and drink and sleep there. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
Gay Thailand – Phuket Pride Week April 23-28, 2012
Phuket, formerly known as Thalang (Tha-Laang) and, in Western sources, Junk Ceylon (a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang, i.e. “Cape Salang”), is one of the southern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from north clockwise) Phang Nga and Krabi, but as Phuket is an island it has no land boundaries.
Phuket, which is approximately the size of Singapore, is Thailand’s largest island. The island is connected to mainland Thailand by two bridges. It is situated off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea.
Pride comes to Phuket – April 23 to 28, 2012. Phuket Loves You (PLU)
Club is the organization selected to produce this year’s pride
celebration.
The goal for this year’s pride celebration is to create a
stronger sense of community within the Thai and Farang communities in
Phuket which is why this year’s theme, chosen by the Phuket Pride
committee, is “Join our Family”
PHUKET
is an international destination attracting visitors
from Asia, Australia, Europe and the United States.
With 17 sandy beaches, access to the amazing Pha Na
Bay with its dramatic rock formations, and numerous
smaller islands, PHUKET has vaulted to become one of
Conde Nast’s Magazines top ten tropical resort
destinations in the world.
And no wonder. From fantastic food, to world class
water sports (a top world snorkeling and scuba diving
destination), from fabulous shopping to a vibrant night
life, Phuket has something to offer every traveler.
And your money goes a lot farther here than in other
places. (You can life the high life in Phuket for weeks
for the same amount of money one week in Hawaii or the
Caribbean would cost you.) There are countless smaller
boutique hotels and guesthouses – both stylish
and inexpensive – as well as the usual array of
the world’s top hotel chains.
Get details for pride at Phuket Pride.
Gay Pride March is Canceled and Banned in Belgrade Serbia
Over a hundred people were hurt including around 90 police officers, two seriously. “We are shocked,” he said. “With this the state capitulated … a democratic state should be able to guarantee two hours of security to its citizens.”
LAST YEAR, Serbian riot police fought running battles in Belgrade with mobs of ultra-nationalist youths who tried to disrupt a gay pride gathering that was addressed by the country’s top EU official.
It’s sad. I think many of us who have the luxury of celebrating in cities like New York City, Chicago, Toronto, West Hollywood, Amsterdam and even Sao Paulo, forget how good we have it. Other countries, it can be very scary…
Traditionally conservative societies across the Balkans have been slow to accept open homosexuality and many gay rights events in the region have ended in violence.
Goran Miletic, a human rights activist and an organizer of the pride parade, condemned the decision as a capitulation to hooligans, but said the rally would not go ahead.
We personally attended the Gay Pride in Budapest this year. Government officials were worried there as well. But they deployed 1500 officers in riot gear, to protect the 2500 gay pride marchers for 4 hours. And while there were hostile protesters in the crowd, no one was seriously injured. I think this shows that a city was able to eat the cost, to make the event happen, for the good of LGBT people, and it sent a message to the city, saying violence would not be tolerated in Budapest.
Gay Pride Around The World
Top Pride Festivals Around The World In honor of National Gay Pride Month!
The following list will help travelers decide what European pride festivals they won’t want to miss this summer:
Sao Paulo , Brazil
The Sao Paulo Gay Pride Parade is still the largest of its kind on the planet.
The Parada do Orgulho GLBT de Sao Paulo, in Portuguese, has grown from 2,000 participants in 1997 to 3 mi. the 2000’s. They made to the Guinness Book in 2006 for the world’s biggest Gay Pride celebration. 4 million people are expected for 2011! Main event is June 26th. GAY PRIDE BRAZIL.
Amsterdam is probably one of the most exciting!
Gay Pride Amsterdam is the yearly highlight for gay Amsterdam. This year the main Amsterdam Pride weekend will be from August 4-7th, 2011.
Amsterdam Pride is one of the biggest and most special gay prides around the globe! With street parties all weekend long, the best club circuit parties and of course the famous Canal Parade on Saturday.
The Red Light District doesn’t hold a candle to the debauchery that is the Amsterdam Pride Festival. G, L, B, T, whatever you are, there’s a party going on during the festival that celebrates every person flying under the rainbow flag.
Berlin Germany.
Berlin Gay Pride 2011:in Germany called CSD (Christopher Street Day). Destination of the parade and closing event at the world-famous Brandenburger Tor. Events take place the last weekend of June.
Traditionally, there have been gay areas in the districts of Schöneberg and Kreuzberg (both in the western part of Berlin) as well as in Prenzlauer Berg (eastern part). Recently, the district of Friedrichshain developed as another area with a couple of gay-friendly clubs and restaurants. Most of the gay hotels, bars, cafes and shops in Berlin are located in the Schöneberg district (which had dance halls for men already back in the 1920s).
Stolz ist höchste. Pride is supreme—that’s the feeling anyone traveling to Berlin might have if visiting during the second half of June. It can be a zoo (quite literally, as Zoo Berlin hosts a gay night with a swing dance party during the event). In addition, the Schöneberg district doesn’t disappoint with dancing in the streets throughout the festival. Berlin Pride.
London
London is a Mecca for pride festivals. The calendar of events is measured in weeks, not days, and it’s jam-packed with fun. This year, Soho will come alive with an open-air dance floor, and in 2012, London will host the third World Pride event just before the Olympic Games held July 27th thru Aug 12th.
Pride London aims to promote equality and diversity through all of its campaigns. The Pride London festival uses theatre, music, debate, art and entertainment to raise awareness of discrimination and the issues and difficulties affecting the lives of LGBT people around the world. The Parade is an explosion of Pride in the heart of the capital, attracting over 1,000,000 people in a celebration of diversity. Pride London.
Rome Italy
Hundreds of thousands of people marched through central Rome in a gay pride parade earlier this month, and was capped by a brief Lady Gaga performance in the ancient Circus Maximus stadium.
With scores of GLBT fans, it only seems fitting that Lady Gaga performed at the closing ceremonies for Rome Pride. Rome has a complicated history with gay rights (it’s proximity to the Vatican doesn’t help), but things are becoming more and more liberal. Gaga’s performance came at the end of a week of club parties and parades. Euro Pride Roma
NEW – UP AND COMING!
PRAGUE!
This year Prague will have its first pride festival. The Czech team is confident they will put Prague on the map as Central and Eastern Europe’s capital of diversity, even though Prague is the last capital in the European Union to organise a pride. The organizing team is preparing a programme covering five days of events from August 10th to 14th that will be interesting for all, not just the LGBT community. Everyone is invited to participate in the event.
I think this is one Pride which will really grow into something big! Prague is an amazing city.And Pride should attract a big international crowd.
TRAVEL TIP – The official currency of the Czech Republic is the Czech crown (koruna), abbreviated as Kč, with the international abbreviation CZK. Most businesses will accept EUROS, but you DO NOT want to pay with EUROS. Convert your currency to CZK. It will go MUCH FURTHER.
GAY TRAVEL AROUND THE WORLD
Budapest Pride Declared a Success Despite Problems with the Police
We went specifically for their Gay Pride March.
The Budapest Pride is Hungary’s largest annual LGBT event. It has historically been known under several names, including Budapest Gay Dignity Procession (Hungarian Meleg Méltóság Menet) or simply “happy parade” (Hungarian Meleg Méltóság Menet). The parade has taken place each year since 1997, usually on the first Saturday of July, proceeding along Budapest’s most expansive thoroughfare, Andrássy Avenue, between the City Park (Városliget) and Elizabeth Square (Erzsébet tér). Though much smaller in scale than similar gay pride parades in Western Europe and the Americas, between a thousand and two thousand marchers typically participate in the Budapest procession. Radical right-wing demonstrators and hooligans have severely disrupted the Budapest gay parades held in 2007 and 2008, casting concerns with the Police in Budapest.
In the past, sometimes anti-gay groups threw eggs, smoke bombs and bottles into the crowds. Several years ago, Gábor Demszky, Budapest’s mayor from the Alliance of Free Democrats party, condemned the violence against the event for which he had expressed unambiguous support. However, three non-governmental organizations accused the government-supported police of doing little to stop the fascists.
I will say this, this year, we saw Police stopping people dressed in all black clothes, asking for ID and detaining them somewhat, from certain areas.
This year, nearly 1500 Police! protected the marchers. It is estimated that 2500-3000 marched. It was wild to see. Side streets were being blocked off with fences and there were 20 police here, 30 police there…it looked like soimething out of a movie, like we were under attack or something.
Police effectively sealed off streets and protected the route. I am surprised, this much money was spent “protecting gays”…perhaps the fear of bad press? if another bad incident was to occur??
We did not want to participate in the entire 3 hour event. We had a previous appointment that day, but planned to join the marchers at the Opera House. Police told us at 4pm, we could join in. At 4:30 Police told us we could NOT join in, and they began “sweeping” the streets, clearing and pushing everyone away from the oncoming parade. – I am told that over the last 2 months, Police kept chaging the plans and even up to the final hour of the march, police kept changing the rules.
We thought perhaps we could cut through the park, and meet up with marchers at the stage at the end. So we ran over to the ending spot, and found a fence up, with another 30 Police keeping eveyone back. As marchers came into the blocked off area, protesters began gathering around us! Yelling DIRTY GAYS, DIRTY GAYS. We decided it best to leave!
So unfortunately, we got to see nothing. But we are told the event was successful and was the biggest turnout they have had yet!
However, news reports online say there fights and attacks right after the event.
According to the latest information, the attack that took place on 18.6 at Gay and Lesbian Pride in Budapest was well planned and prepared for. Those involved were obviously members of the right-wing extremist organization 64 Burgkomitate Youth Movement (HVIM), which organized and registered the counter-demonstration at Oktogon, as well as the representative of Hungary’s right-wing extremist party Jobbik, Gyula Györyg Zagyva, and Jobbik’s lawyer, Andrea Borbély. The right-wing extremist demonstrators had already had violent confrontations with the police during the parade and attempted to disrupt the parade with homophobic and anti-Semitic chants.
In addition to an attack with an irritant spray, which was carried out by two women, there were verbal and gestured threats, such as non-verbal death threats and Nazi salutes by members of 64 Burgkomitate. In spite of the previous attacks, the right-wing extremists posed as victims, and from then on the police treated the group from Vienna as suspects, obviously due to intervention from the Jobbik representative. Jobbik systematically implements this reversal of guilt as a legal strategy.
I think many of us take our freedom for granted. Walking around Budapest I always felt safe. And we met many young straight men who were nice to us and offered us directions when lost.
Budapest has a significant gay and lesbian community, whose social status has seen great improvements since the fall of Communism. While there’s no specific gay neighborhood in Budapest, the city has plenty to offer the gay visitor. Budapest has a wide selection of bars and clubs, restaurants and cafés and baths and saunas, which are gay-friendly or frequented mostly by gays and lesbians. Budapest is one of the most popular cities in Central and Eastern Europe for gays and lesbians. The city is also seeing a revival of the monthly gay parties attracting gays and lesbians from neighboring countries.
One must always be aware of their surroundings and never take things for granted, no matter what city you are in.
Gay Travel to Amsterdam Pride Discount Packages
Amsterdam Pride is one of the biggest and most special gay prides around the globe! With street parties all weekend long, the best club circuit parties and of course the famous Canal Parade on Saturday.
Last year Amsterdam Gay Pride drew in a record amount of visitors. Some 500,000 people watched the Canal Parade, where a record 80 boats took part.
Our friends at Travel Leaders have negotiated amazing rates for an 8-day/6 night package running from August 1-8th.
Roundtrip airfare from Boston (other departure gateways available, pricing upon request)
6 nights hotel – a deluxe hotel in the city center near all attractions
Roundtrip airport/hotel transfers
All taxes and surcharges
Local escort from Travel Leaders to show you around
The price is $1998.00 per person based on double occupancy.
This is an awesome way to experience Amsterdam and Pride!
Call David for all of the details 1-800-942-1280 or email him.
Join DAVE for an unforgettable 8-day/6-night getaway to exciting and beautiful AMSTERDAM, a city that is easy to get around by bike, canal boat or on your own two feet! You will be impressed with its eclectic architecture, excellent museums, mazes of canals, great shopping and its SERIOUS PARTY SCENE! The mix of people and cultures is like no other in Europe.
Come with me and be introduced to the unique history, PARTY SCENE and spirit of Amsterdam – from the historical city center to the heart of the famous RED LIGHT DISTRICT to the many “COFFEE SHOPS” to the AMSTERDAM PRIDE festivities – you will be amazed at its unique, laissez faire attitude. You won’t be disappointed.
$1998!
AUGUST 1 – BOSTON – AMSTERDAM: Depart Boston’s Logan International Airport aboard your overnight, transatlantic
flight to Amsterdam with full meal and beverage service available. (other departure cities available).
AUGUST 2 – AMSTERDAM: Morning arrival at Schipol airport in Amsterdam where we board our private motor coach for
the drive into Amsterdam. We will check into deluxe hotel in the heart of Amsterdam.
AUGUST 3-7 – AMSTERDAM: Buffet breakfast is included at our hotel each day and all other meals are on your own. All days
are at leisure to explore Amsterdam. Dave can assist you in choice of activities. Enjoy the many Amsterdam PRIDE festivities
– throughout the city and the famous Canal Parade on Saturday, August 6. Thousands from around the world flock to
Amsterdam for the many parties, street festivals and other special events.
AUGUST 8 – AMSTERDAM-BOSTON: Buffet breakfast and hotel check-out. Transfer to the Amsterdam airport to board our
return flight to Boston with full meal and beverage service.
This is an awesome way to experience Amsterdam and Pride!
Call David for all of the details 1-800-942-1280 or email him.
First Gay Pride Celebration Comes to Prague!
GAY PRIDE COMES TO PRAGUE!
This year Prague will have its first pride festival. The Czech team is confident they will put Prague on the map as Central and Eastern Europe’s capital of diversity, even though Prague is the last capital in the European Union to organise a pride. The organizing team is preparing a programme covering five days of events from August 10th to 14th that will be interesting for all, not just the LGBT community. Everyone is invited to participate in the event.
“We want to show the general public and of course visitors from abroad, Prague can host a complete pride festival. Prague is one of Europe’s main LGBT travel destinations and we are organising a festival the city can be proud of” the organizing team explains. “By now we already know there will be a wide variety of events organized by our many partners.” All of the five days promise to be full of interesting happenings. From corporate workshops on diversity in human resource management to a sports event, theatre performances, exhibitions, cinema, a kids event, guided city tours, disco and circuit parties etc. “It is really great to see organizations and venues from the community, as well as mainstream bars and clubs, really want to make it work. They all plan to organize something interesting to add to the programme” the director of the festival says.
The highlights of the festival are the parade and concert on Saturday the 13th of August. There will be a festive parade through the city centre in the early afternoon. Individuals, companies and organizations will all join the celebration. The route will take the participants to Střelekcy Island where many local and international stars will perform. The line-up is still a secret but we promise it’s impressive. “The parade is new for Prague and we expect about 1500 people to take walk with us, many more people will be interested in the concert and festival venue, where we hope to receive thousands of guests.” the organization tells us.
On the organizers’ PRAGUE PRIDE and their Facebook profile there is a preliminary overview of the programme; more informations can be found soon.
NEED A PLACE TO STAY?
We highly recommend – The Temple Club and GuestHouse!
Central Queensland to host First Ever Fair Day
I have never been to Australia…yet.
So when I read about The very first Central Queensland Fair day will raise its rainbow flag this weekend on the 21st of May. – I Googled it.
I came up with 2 VERY DIFFERENT photos! So I am not sure which is more accurate!
The very first of its kind for Central Queensland, the CQ Fair Day is a chance for locals to celebrate the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender communities. Head of the organising committee Ric Stumpf has commented the celebration of the LGBT community will be the running theme of the day, and he hopes it attracts crowds from all over central Queensland.
Live entertainment, including hosting duties from drag diva Vanessa Wagner, market stalls and fun activities will be set for the course of the day with the Rockhampton Campus of CQ University playing as the hosting ground.
With the Tropical Alternatives Film Festival (TAFF) already a key event in Rockhampton for the gay community, organisers are no doubt hoping the CQ Fair Day is a success so the Central Queensland LGBT community have two key events on their calendars, as well as bringing awareness to local gay-friendly businesses, health services, performers and entertainers.
QAHC Health Promotion Officer Tim Spratling welcomes the new event. “For the first time in Central Queensland, in one spot, the opportunity exists to raise awareness of local gay-friendly businesses, health services, performers and entertainers. The CQ Fair Day will allow the LGBT communities to gain access to information on health, sexuality and support services.
Central Queensland Fair Day takes place on Saturday 21st of May at the CQ University, Rockhampton campus. Let us know how the day goes! And take some photos!
Budapest PRIDE 2011 will Go On June 11-19
Earlier this year, Police gave Budapest Pride and it’s organizers a little bit of drama! But everything has been ironed out and all events are moving full speed ahead!
WE are very excited, we’ll be attending and covering the main events this year!
Our friends at Budapest – gay.com can help you with your stay!
Hungary offers easily affordable restaurants and bars, making this the perfect place to go for a bachelor party or wild weekend away. Expect to pay around $13 for a meal out with drinks and $3.50 or so for a pint of beer. Do look out for restaurants without prices on the menu, however — this is a known tourist trap and should be avoided at all costs. Budapest isn’t only great for night owls; as it also offers a great cultural scene — most of it cheap or free, such as the Danube River, Buda Castle and Fishermen’s Bastion. Before you leave, make sure you pay a visit to the Szechenyi Turkish Baths, which you can get for $4 if you take less than two hours.
We’ll be giving you some more reports, as it gets closer!
More details and information at BUDAPEST PRIDE!
Tel Aviv Israel Gay Pride 2011
National Geographic named Tel Aviv the 9th best beach city in the world in 2010.
Tel Aviv is known as one of the hippest, hottest, funnest and friendliest destinations for GLBTs!
Every June for the last 11 years, the gay community in Israel celebrates gay pride in the streets of Tel Aviv. The city of Tel Aviv is bedecked in the rainbow colors for a week with the pride flag weaving from the flagpole all over the city.
This year the 11th of June will be the highlight of Tel Aviv’s pride month, with the biggest parade ever. The parade will be accompanied by various events and parties, and is a must to participate. Join the party and enjoy, because everyone else will.
The upcoming parade will take place on June 10th 2011. A few weeks before the parade itself, the organizers will publish a full list of events which usually take place before and after the parade. As soon as this list is available, it will be published by Tel Aviv Pride.
The vibrant scene is alive year-round, with dazzling nightlife, hip restaurants, stylish boutiques, and busy streets hopping with clubs and cafés: perfect for people who love to get out and about. Catch lesbian and gay film festivals, GLBT Pride celebrations and arts and culture festivals. What more could you want? Experience the pride of Tel Aviv Israel today.
Tel Aviv is famous for it’s neverending beach-line. A magnificent 14km of blue sea, open horizon, sun and lots of people, make the Tel Aviv beach a perfect place for spending many hours of your vacation.
Along the seashore you will find a promenade which is always busy with people around the clock. Take a bike ride, jog, go for a swim, or enjoy the dozens of restaurants, cafe’s, pubs, discos and more, there is always action at the beach.
Tel Aviv, the 24hour non-stop city, has actually a population of only 400,000 people, most of them are young in age. With the #1 gay scene in the whole mediterranean area, amazing beach, good weather and other attactions in the country like Jerusalem and the Dead sea, Tel Aviv is definately a place you should check out on your next trip.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 Travel and Gay Pride Around The World 2010
As summer winds down so do the gay pride parties.
Here is a sampling of Gay Pride 2010 from around the world!
Looking for a Friendly Gay Hotel During Amsterdam’s Gay Parade? Here are the Top 5:
By Guest Author Yuli Linssen-Kaminitz
Amsterdam’s Gay Parade has always been one of the most spectacular events in Europe. What makes this parade so special and popular among gay and straight people from all over the world, is the fact that the entire event takes place in Amsterdam’s stunning canals. The parade starts on the 5th of August and last until the 8th. Not only the canals will be packed with more than 100 extravagant decorated boats which will play pumping dance and house music, the whole city will transfer itself into a gigantic street party!
Amsterdam is known to be an extremely open minded city which accepts and embraces gay people and that is why the city offers plenty of gay friendly hotels. Here are the top 5:
1. Hotel the Golden Bear- Address: Kerkstraat 37, 1017 GB Amsterdam
This super cozy hotel is located just few steps away from the beautiful flower market and next to Amsterdam’s lively gay area which includes quite a few bars and some trendy clubs. Because the Golden Bear Hotel is situated in a historic building from 1737, the general feeling is very unique and warm. An additional benefit to this lovely hotel is the fact that breakfast is being served between 8:30- 12:00 which allow you to sleep late- for sure you will need a lot rest during the parade weekend!
Some guest reviews:
- “Good location to various activities. The atmosphere felt more like home than a hotel. Was pleased with having my own shower and toilet. Breakfast service was very tasty and filling!”
- “The staff was very professional and friendly. The room was private, quiet, and clean. You could not ask for a better location.”
2. ITC hotel- Address: Prinsengracht 1051, 1017JE Amsterdam
This hotel will surly make you feel quickly like you are at home. The building is basically an old monumental canal house- extremely authentic and with a lot of personality. For those of you who arrive mainly for the gay parade this location is more than perfect: exactly on one of the most central canal: the famous Prinsengracht. The room prices are relatively low and you can be certain you will get great value for money.
Some guest reviews:
- “ITC is well-situated, quiet + a perfect base. Most of the staff is very helpful (5 gold stars to Michel). Our room was small + simple but we loved it as our pod. Luxury shops around the corner + many good restaurants + corner coffee houses.”
- “Nice location, friendly staff, beautiful view on the channel”
3. Freeland hotel- Address: Marnixstraat 386, 1017 PL Amsterdam
This lovely little hotel is owned and managed by Pascale and Rick- open minded and welcoming couple. Located in the centre of the old city makes it very easy to get to the:”Jordaan” area- maybe the nicest area in Amsterdam. The “Jordaan” district has plenty of small cozy cafes, unique restaurants with extraordinary dishes, designer’s shops and vintage boutiques.
Some guest reviews:
- “Wonderful and helpful staff and nice breakfast. I chose this place based on my desire to have a non commercial, family type place and this was just that.”
- “The owners welcomed my partner and I on our 16h anniversary with open arms. We couldn’t have been more comfortable with our stay.”
4. Mauro Mansion- Address: Geldersekade 16, 1012 BH Amsterdam
One of the nicest looking hotels in the city- a boutique style accommodation with extra attention to the little details. The property is located in a traditional 16th century canal house and it is owned by Berry and Marcel, an unbelievable pleasant duo. Each one of the hotel rooms has its own modern decoration and striking interior.
Some guest reviews:
- “Excellent location, hosts are extremely hospitable and helpful. Breakfast each morning was excellent with fresh breads, cold cuts, cheese, yogurts, cereal and special treats.”
5. Hotel Orfeo- Address: Leidsekruisstraat 12-14, 1017 RH Amsterdam
This is another brilliant located hotel; short walking distant from the: Leidseplein, Vondelpark and Amsterdam museums square. Whenever you get too tired from all the partying you can easily find a chilled out restaurant where you will be able to enjoy a good meal in a relaxed, quiet atmosphere.
Some guest reviews:
- ” Cheap and cheerful *sports bar round the corner which was quality”
- “Staff is helpful”
The above list indicates all the top hotels in Amsterdam for gay people. We have gathered this information from review exports we collected in the year May 2009 until May 2010. The famous gay parade is approaching quickly; make sure to book your hotel in advance.
Gay Travel Deal to Iceland’s Gay Pride in August
Reykjavik Excursions is offering a special package for revelers visiting Reykjavik ICELAND next month for gay pride. The Icelandic gay society is small but very active and a ‘gay scene’ exists only in Reykjavík. Last year over 40,000 turned out for Pride! The official program for this years event can be viewed online .
Reykjavik gay pride is expected to be especially prideful and extravagant this year as it celebrates Iceland’s recently-approved gay marriage law. The parade and festival takes place over four days, August 5-8.
Book travel now to be a part of this historic event. The travel deal includes a three-night stay at the chic Hilton Reykjavik Nordica hotel and A Sense of Reykjavik tasting tour. The Hilton Reykjavik Nordica hotel is situated in the city’s financial district and just minutes from the city center by complimentary shuttle bus. It features a traditional Nordic spa and gourmet dining in its VOX restaurant. – Iceland is all about Spa’s, Wellness and the famous Blue Lagoon!
The tour, managed by Reykjavik Excursions , includes a guided walking tour of the city center and stops at three light gourmet shops. The tour ends by the often-busy fishing harbor.
Iceland’s gay marriage law went into effect last month and replaces the country’s system of registered partnerships for gay and lesbian couples first enacted in 1996. Lots of Gay Iceland News and Resources can be found at GAY ICE .
New Gay Travel Guide
Euro Pride in Warsaw Poland This Year
For the first time, in a bold move, EuroPride was held outside of Western Europe and organizers chose Warsaw as its host city for 2010. The very Catholic Poland is not known for it’s accepting attitude towards the LGBT community.
According to the AFP, “opinion surveys show that 80 percent of Poles oppose gay marriage and 93 percent believe gay and lesbian couples should not have the right to adopt children. Two out of three Poles oppose gay demonstrations.”
The AP reports on the parade:
The parade, part of the EuroPride gay rights festival, is meant to give a boost to the fledgling gay rights movement in Poland. Gay rights were strongly repressed during the communist era, and gays and lesbians have struggled since communism fell 20 years ago for acceptance in a society still strongly influenced by the church. “We feel like they are 20 years behind the Netherlands,” said Ad Bakker, a 39-year-old from Holland who traveled to Warsaw to show solidarity with Polish friends. “But the atmosphere is good and we hope that EuroPride will help.” A Polish friend of his, Sebastian Blaszczyk, 36, said the situation in Poland “gets better and better every year,” but the country still has far to go in accepting gays.
Gay Pride Comes in All Sizes Around The World
As the world’s biggest gay
hotspots gear up to celebrate Gay Pride this month, lets not overlook the small steps, smaller cities, states and countries are making as well.
Last month 3.5 million gathered in Sao Paulo for Gay Pride !
This month 1 million will gather in Toronto and half a million will celebrate in Chicago !
2 small and short Gay prides took Moscow by surprise last month. Two Gay Pride “parades” were held without arrests in Moscow, the first time the notoriously intolerant Russian authorities have not intervened since the inaugural attempt to hold the event in the capital in 2006.
The activists’ spokesman claimed that the absence of harrasment, beatings and detentions was due to their “military planning” rather than any kind of warming toward non-traditional orientation among officials.
Moscow riot police typically disperse such gatherings with brute force, emboldened by declarations from city Mayor Yury Luzhkov equating homosexuals with the devil. About 25 activists held a short demonstration, about 10 minutes, on The Arbat, a pedestrian street lined with shops and cafes that is one of Moscow’s main tourist draws.
One of the world’s smallest queer coolspots: glacier-bound Greenland, which just a few weeks ago quietly marked a major LGBT milestone by pulling off its impressive Pride debut.
The May Pride event in Nuuk, the capital, drew over a thousand participants — which may not seem like much, until you know that only 57,000 people actually live in Greenland. (Put another way, that’s like five and a half million Americans showing up for the first New York City Pride.) Reps from the country’s gay-friendly Democratic Party marched at the front of the parade, and Greenlanders of all ages and persuasions joined in, turning it into the second largest demonstration in the nation’s history.
It was a watershed day for Greenlandic gay history . “This was the first [LGBT] event that was widely publicized,” says Jesper Kunuk Egede, a Greenlander by birth, who, like many of his countrymen, now lives in Copenhagen. Despite a recent push toward full autonomy, Greenland is still officially part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and it’s here that many Greenlanders spend at least a few years away from their sparsely populated island.
Thanks to its relationship with Denmark (which pioneered registration of same-sex unions in 1989), Greenland was actually the fourth country in the world to establish a registered domestic partner law in 1996. Surprisingly, Egede says the law hasn’t necessarily translated into openness for Greenlandic gay couples. ” I know only of one couple who have actually had their same-sex union in Greenland,” he says. “But I’ve heard of others who were married in Denmark and moved to Greenland.”
IN BIG CITIES, we take Gay Pride for granted. We have to remember, just because we are out in large numbers for that one day, we have NO RIGHTS! And there are people who still hate us.
I applaud the marchers in Bratislava last month. About a thousand marchers in Slovakia’s first Gay Pride parade in Bratislava came under attack by several Neo-Nazi skinheads last month, which thwarted the event, despite the presence of approximately 200 (?)police to protect the marchers.
According to Slovakia Today, the gay rights supporters had come together for a festival they called “Rainbow Pride Bratislava 2010”. Organizers were quick to defend themselves, saying that despite the parade being thwarted, their festival would continue through Saturday night and Sunday morning with a series of concerts.
Prior to the planned parade, extreme Neo-Naxis and some Catholic groups had tried to prevent the event. About 80 skinheads descended on the marchers, hurling stones, tear-gas cans, rocks and eggs.
The large police presence was mostly unable to protect the marchers from the attack, despite warnings that an attack was imminent and eight skinheads were eventually detained by police. Eight? seriously? and you 200 Police??
Discrimination against GLBT people continues to this day, in ways that are both overt and subtle. We started this journey 40 years ago and there are far too many countries in the world where lesbians and gay are still oppressed and denied rights based upon their sexual orientations. Even here in the US – we still have no equal rights from our government! We must continue to celebrate our diversity and stand up proud and be counted. And don’t stop until we have the equal human rights, we deserve.
While we celebrate pride as a world-wide gay community once a year, we need to live with pride and self-esteem as individuals all year around!
Happy Pride!
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Travel in Sao Paulo Brazil…Biggest Gay Pride in the World June 3 – 7 2010
It doesn’t matter what you like, São Paulo is big enough to welcome every kind of people and she really does it with a wide-ranging of entertainment options. The largest city in Latin America and the fourth in the world, it is the cosmopolitan center of Brazil, from where all innovations and ideas are spread to the rest of the country. For that reason, the government and private institutions give some support to sexual, and also religious, ethnical and cultural diversity. Welcome to the heart of Brazil, welcome to the city that never sleeps, at least she does not do it alone, did you get it?
Through the blood vessels of this heart which carries all the Brazilian diversity with a social seasoning of foreigners from all over the world who come to the city for different reasons, and are able to realize the Brazilian receptive way and in addition, the importance of treating everybody well on a globalized world. The city has over 17 thousand kilometers of streets and avenues where there is a flow of 3.5 million people every day. The city looks like a worldwide metropolis and is part of a circuit which includes London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Berlin due to the fact of being a cultural melting pot.
Important museums are located in the city and there are ten of them in Ibirapuera Park . Such museums are seen as significant spaces to divulgate arts and cultural production, e.g, Modern Arts Museum (MAM), Afro-Brazilian Museum, Contemporary Arts Museum and Astronomical Observation Planetarium. MASP, São Paulo Arts Museum, is one of the main museums of the city and the country, located on Paulista Avenue, it is a rendezvouz spot of musicians, poets, dancers, writers, actors and actresses and all kind of people as many as its free space can shelter.
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo is a prominent headquarters of arts, located in the surroundings of Luz Station and a venue of great exhibitions such as Tarsila do Amaral, Henri Matisse. Estação Pinacoteca, close to the main Pinacoteca building, hosts an Andy Warhol exhibiton until the end of May, his largest exhibition in Latin America. Across the street you have the Portuguese Language Museum, information center of Brazil’s mother tongue and a place of Brazilian writers and poets exhibitions who contributed to what is so called Brazilian Portuguese nowadays. The masterpieces are presented in a creative and intriguing way, making use of LED, screens, interactive models placing the audience into them in an updated dynamic.
Its cultural variety can be seen in its many theaters and drama spaces in the city. Being the cradle of the most renowned Brazilian theater groups, such as Centro de Pesquisa Teatral (CPT), Teatro Oficina, Os Satyros, and Parlapatões. The convergence point is Roosevelt square, known as a place where the biggest concentration of theaters per square meter in the city is located. It is a microcosm with its characters, stories, dramas.
GLBT network is in charge of much of the tourist business in the city, mainly during the Pride Parade, which takes place every June on a Sunday after Corpus Christi celebration. That is the second largest event of the city and over R$ 189million are circulated in less than a week, behind the Formula 1 race competition which income is more than R$ 200 million. That is the result of a partnership between government and militancy.
There are over 100 Gay Pride Parades and celebrations each year in Brazil – but the biggest in the WORLD takes place in Sao Paulo June 3rd – 7th, 2010 . (3.1 million people in 2009!)
The whole city supports Gay Pride. Through the Coordenation of Sexual Affairs (CADS), the city hall guarantees R$1 million funds in infrastructure. The state government through the Sexual Diversity Policy Coordenation aids on the structure and schedule carrying out. The Federal government backs up the initiative with a sponsorship of R$ 320 thousand.
The private sector also makes investments due to the income provided by those who take part of the parade and it is not only on the parade week or day, but all over the year. Hotels located on Paulista avenue have an increase of 20% of occupation during the parade, increasing the general occupation to 90%, according to SPTuris. In order to organize all that flow, the city hosts Brazil GLBT Business Chamber, an organization founded to help entrepreneurs make their services and products to GLBT customers better and better, putting up bars, pubs, nightclubs, saunas, restaurants, NGOs and press together. Aiming to offer good service and products, being all set to receive tourists.
When a visitor goes for a tour in the city, he/she can count on a LGBT Tourist Information Center established since the beginning of 2010. The service network includes 17 tourist agencies, a change and exchange office and a gay hotel – the 155, located downtown.
According to SPTuris (São Paulo Tourism Office), the official Tourist Office, during the Parade, around 350 thousand people visit the city – 70% of them come from the state of São Paulo, 25% from other states and 5% are foreigners. They guarantee an income of R$189 million in just a week.
The city watches new ideas in different areas popping up, such as a Brazilian LGBT Sports Committee, in charge of arranging gays, lesbians and transsex volleyball and soccer championships. The organization carried out the first Uniliga with volleyball and indoor soccer matches with the city hall’s support, promising to export the idea to other Brazilian states such as Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro.
Want to dance?
There are also two GLBT samba schools . One of them is the brand new Monalisa Paulistana that first appeared during 2010 Carnival and aims at a place on the special samba school group. The other one is Arco-Íris, part of the main group and has its show with a lot of transsex, gays and lesbians taking part of it, and also friendly people who love the festival.
Another group which makes the city more exciting is one organized by drag queens from a nightclub called Blue Space , known as the best nightclub for drags’ shows. Every year on São Paulo’s anniversary there is a soccer match on the street – drags X employees of the nightclub, a dispute which has the
objective of making people laugh and strengthen the relationship with the neighborhood.
When traveling to any big city that is strange to you, be cautious and use common sense.
Don’t take the risk of having fake beverage, known as “bebida batizada”. It is better to buy the ones you know with sealed bottles. Buy them at establishments and not from people who sell them on the streets.
Don’t take much money when you leave your hotel and don’t forget your ID. In case you are stolen, the damage will not be that big.
Leave backpacks and purses at home. Only take them if they are really indispensable and keep on the front of your body in order to watch them.
Brazil has a hot weather, so use light clothing.
Prefer to be with a group of people. Bad intentioned actions may be avoided. The hint is also worthwhile if you want to take shots or record something. Be careful with your electronic devices.
If you have any unpleasant problem, call the Police. They are able to protect you and give you some advice on what to do.
The subway (Metrô) is the safest means of transportation. Buy your tickets in advance in order not to handle money many times.
If you drive somewhere, give preference to park in private parking lots. Car keepers on the street are not reliable.
Keep your wallet into a pocket or in a difficult place to be found.
Pay attention when using the cell phone. Most cases of robbery occur when a person is making use of a cell phone.
Be careful with beggars on the streets asking for help or talking about some of their diseases.
São Paulo has an excellent gay life. Over 40 bars, clubs and saunas.
Please note, that some saunas are frequented by rent boys so agree a price before you have fun.
Play Safe! Wear condoms!
Thanks to Alex Bernades of Revista Via G Magazine in Brazil,
our Guest Author and Travel Partner this month!
New Gay Travel Guide
