Category Archives: News and Happenings
QueerTrip.com Gives Away Gay Las Vegas Package
Queertrip.com consists of dedicated LGBT travel specialists teamed up to bring you the best gay and lesbian travel worldwide. Queertrip.com is gay owned and operated.
“Our goal is to make travel better and easier for the gay and lesbian traveler. At Queertrip.com, we believe in giving back to the LGBT community, so that’s why we are giving back a portion of the proceeds to LGBT charities.”
What sets Queertrip.com apart from other gay and lesbian travel sites? Technology, service, and user friendly web site allows users to search every airfare, hotel, car, and cruise company available.
Best of all, you’ll find all the gay and lesbian travel information on destinations including gay owned and operated hotels, bars and clubs, attractions, shopping, restaurants, and more all in one conveniently located site.
Queertrip.com searches for fares listed in the GDS’s (Global Distribution Systems), negotiated contracted rates, sale fares, as well as web fares on the internet. Our search engine finds them all in one easy to use system delivering you all the fares.
QUEERTRIP.com
Italy All Gay Travel Event June 11-25th
Wanted…………16 Men Who Love To Travel, Savour Food, Experience Wine Just half an hour from noisy, bustling Milan, Lake Como is a jewel-like oasis of tranquillity, a magical combination of lush Mediterranean foliage and snowy alpine peaks. One of the best vantage points for this breathtaking view is in Piazza Cavour, on the banks of the lake in the town of Como. Most people speed through the Veneto on their way to our favorite Italian city, Venice. From the train, the landscape sometimes looks flat and unappealing, yet its small cities are fascinating treasure troves of art and beacons of fine living, and only a few miles to the north the Alps begin, their foothills dotted with charming towns and lined with picturesque world-class vineyards. If Tuscany is a legend, Umbria is a little-known medieval fable, its green heart beating in the shadow of its more famous neighbor. Beautiful Tuscan hills, vineyards and Renaissance cities with a journey through the bucolic landscapes and enchanting lakes of Umbria. Savor private tastings of Chianti and Sagrantino wine, olive oil and honey, explore the glories of Siena, Assisi and Orvieto, discover awe-inspiring frescoes and visit the hill-top treasures of Cortona and Montefalco.
& Want to do it all in Italy!
The Italian Lakes & Umbria/Tuscany June 11-25th, 2011
This 15 day holiday combines The lakes and vineyards of Northern Italy
With the hill towns of Umbria & Tuscany!
Holiday Includes….
– Private Airconditioned Vehicle and Driver
– Transfers
– 7 Nights Umbria – Double Room
Apartment Accommodation Torale
– 4 Nights Lago di Como –
Double Hotel Room Villa Stupenda
– 3 Nights Veneto –
Double Room Corte dei Soave
– Specialties of the region Umbrian Dinner
– Veneto Dinner Villa Perez-Pompei-Sagramoso
– Private Boat Tour Lago di Como
– Dinner and tour Isola Comacina, Lago di Como
– 7 Breakfasts Lago di Como & Veneto
– Private BBQ Lago di Como
– 2 Hands On Cooking – Dining Experiences
– Wine Tasting in Montefelco (Brunello Wines), Chianti, Soave
and Valpolicella (Amarone Wines)
– Complimentary Italian Mobile Phone for your personal use
– Tour hosted and escorted by Jack Clement, Love To Travel With Pride
EARLY BOOOKING BONUS RIGHT NOW!
Save $200.00 per person
Pay Your Deposit By 31 March 2011
Join us on this small intimate tour of Italy!Call today for
your perfect holiday
1 800 565 2238 or email jclement (at) lovetotravel.ca
Benefits of Using a Travel Agent or Agency
Many people think booking their trips can save them money. Possibly. But probably not.
Many agencies have strong working relationships with travel suppliers and they have the latest in computer reservations technology enabling travel agents to access the most up-to-date information on how to get you the best value.
Planning a trip today can be confusing and time consuming – especially to a foreign land. A travel agent not only arranges the various modes of transportation, but a travel agent also may be able to save you money with early booking discounts, special fares, hotel deals and travel advisories. People who book their own trips online, may not have access too all of the current travel promotions and deals.
From advising you of all the options and sharing insider tips on destinations to understanding travels little complexities, we can provide you with the personal attention, expertise and exclusive advantages for all of your travel needs.
David Hodgkinson at Travel Leaders says “The more your agent knows about you, the better they will be able to pull together the best options and provide you with a perfect trip. Talk to an agent and be sure to share your:…
Interests – Share your interests, such as scuba diving, art or unique foods with your travel agent, and ask your agent to combine those interests into your trip.
Budget – It’s a travel agent’s job to keep within your budget. Provide them with a figure and they will work to stretch your travel dollars.
Travel preferences – If you favor a certain airline or hotel, or prefer nonstop flights, be sure to tell your agent so they can arrange your trip to meet your preferences.
Schedule – Let your agent know your preferred dates of travel. Also let them know how to contact you while traveling in the event they need to relay important information.
Travel companions’ needs – Inform your agent if your travel companion requires special accommodation, such as in-flight meal preferences or making arrangements for someone with a disability.
A good agent will go the extra mile! Agents work for YOU and will do everything they can to meet your travel needs.”
Travel Leaders
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 !)
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
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 !
American Airlines and Orbitz in Dispute
As of December 21, 2010, schedules and fares for flights on the super gay-friendly American Airlines and American Eagle are no longer available on Orbitz.com or websites powered by Orbitz.com. (Expedia’s travel website is now hiding airfares for American Airlines after the third-largest US carrier pulled data from Orbitz Worldwide Inc as part of a legal dispute).
Tickets for travel already purchased through Orbitz remain valid, but changes must be made through American Airlines Reservations by calling 1-800-433-7300.
According to information posted on American Airlines’ website, the company was “unable to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with Orbitz. As a result, Orbitz is no longer authorized to display our schedules or sell tickets for travel on American Airlines or American Eagle.”
In an MONEYCNN.com article posted today, Brian Hoyt, a spokesman for Orbitz, is quoted as saying, “It is unfortunate that as of Dec. 21, American Airline flights will no longer be available on our Orbitz.com and Orbitz for Business sites.” The article also reports that American Airlines accounted for about 5% of Orbitz’ worldwide revenue for the first nine months of the year, according to Hoyt.
American Airlines customers can still choose from a wide range of online and traditional travel agencies to search for and purchase tickets, including AA.com .
American Airlines and Orbitz are both members of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and have a long history of supporting and marketing to the gay community.
TSA Wants to See You Naked
WHOOPSIE!
Planning to fly this holiday season? You’ve probably already braced yourself for long lines, delays and extra fees just to check your luggage.
Unfortunately, you can also expect another hassle at the airport this year. 70 airports around the country are now using controversial body scanners—also known as “naked scanners.”
These machines use low-dose radiation to produce strikingly graphic images of passengers’ bodies, essentially taking a naked picture as passengers pass through security checkpoints.
Authorities at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) say you can opt out of the naked scan. But doing so will subject you to new and highly invasive manual searches of your body, including your breasts, buttocks and inner thighs.
The Denver Post, in a front-page story Thursday morning, captures the entire debate over intensive hand-pat searches with one shot: a TSA employee with his gloved hand firmly in the junk zone of a passenger who remains–for his sake–happily unidentifiable. The TSA worker even seems to be struggling–his face fixed in a disturbing grimace.
The debate over hand searches launched into the top slot of most cable newscasts Monday with the camera-phone-captured encounter between TSA workers and a flyer who compared the searches to “sexual assault,” and advised agents not to “touch my junk.”
Now if the agent is really hot…….
Lesbian Travel and Festival at Eressos on Greece’s Lesbos island
It’s September and for a 10th year, the village of Eressos on Greece’s Lesbos island has drawn lesbians from across Europe to a unique international festival for women.
In a country strongly influenced by the Greek Orthodox church and where roughly half the population is against same-sex marriage, the lesbian-run event has been quietly growing in this corner of the Aegean Sea.
Over the past decade, attendance at the two-week International Women’s Festival has jumped from 30 to hundreds of women – mainly German, British, Dutch and Scandinavian, but also Greek and Italian.
Lesbians began to visit the island in the 70s, and have been coming back ever since. Tensions have been high at times and trouble has brewed in the past. Three Lesbians (natives of the island of Lesbos) submitted a legal challenge in an attempt to stop the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) from using the term “lesbian”. The use of the word to denote a sexual preference derives from the island’s association with Sappho, the ancient poet who wrote about her love for women. But according to Dimitris Lambou, editor of the rightwing publication Davlos (Torch), and two female colleagues, using lesbian in this way “disgraces them around the world”; islanders, they say, are suffering “psychological and moral rape”. SERIOUSLY?! A Greek court dismissed a lawsuit!
Lesbian holiday and gay travelers are attracted by the island’s association with
Sappho, the seventh century Greek poet who wrote about her love for women and was born in Eressos.
Sappho lived from the late 7th to the early 6th century B.C. and is considered one of the greatest poets of antiquity. Many of her poems, written in the first person and intended to be accompanied by music, contain passionate references to love for other women! Just get over it already!
Dimitris Lambrou one of the litigants in the case said Sappho was not gay. “But even if we assume she was, how can 250,000 people of Lesbian descent – including women – be considered homosexual?”
“The word lesbian has been associated with gay women for the past few decades but we have been Lesbians for thousands of years,” he said.
According to an LGBT holiday and travel agency in Greece, lesbians now make up 60 per cent of visitors who come to the village, rising to 90 per cent in September when the lesbian festival takes place!
As the economic crisis continues to pinch Greece hard, Greek holidaymakers spent less this summer and many are grateful for the extended season brought by lesbian tourism.
“People in the village have got used it, especially the young people, but the old people still discuss it among themselves,” one agent says.
Gay Lesbian Travel Guide
State Department Worldwide Travel Alert
The Christian minister of a small church in Florida canceled on Thursday his plan to burn copies of the Quran that had been scheduled for Saturday, the ninth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. The planned protest had sparked angry demonstrations by Muslims around the world.
The Reverend Terry Jones announced his change of heart at a news conference late Thursday in front of his church in Gainesville, Florida.
Jones said he called off the Quran burning protest because he had secured an agreement with Muslim leaders in New York City to move the location of a controversial planned Islamic center and mosque away from the site of the 2001 terrorist attacks known as Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.
“The American people do not want the mosque there and, of course, Muslims do not want us to burn the Quran,” said Terry Jones. “The imam has agreed to move the mosque. We have agreed to cancel our event on Saturday. And on Saturday, I will be flying up there to meet with him.”
But the New York imam behind the Islamic center project issued a written statement saying there was no deal to move the Islamic center and mosque slated to be built two blocks away from Ground Zero.
The State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert, in the wake on this controversy.
“U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert,” the State Department said in a statement.
U.S. government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
As the Department of State continues to develop information on potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program documents, such as the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as Country Information, which are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at travel.state.gov/. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, outside the United States and Canada, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except U.S. federal holidays).
LGBTQ Gay Travel to Virgina! Rainbow Over Richmond
Richmond Businesses Launch
“Rainbow Over Richmond”
With more than 30 Events in 60 Days, Richmond, Va.
is a must-visit for LGBTQ travelers
Local businesses have announced “Rainbow Over Richmond,” a series of events taking place from August to October, exploring and celebrating LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly culture and community.
With more than 30 events in 60 days , LGBTQ travelers will have a chance to participate in a variety of activities, from movie premiers to VA PrideFest.
“We’ve seen the Richmond community grow for the past 30 years,” said LaDifference owner and Rainbow Over Richmond supporter Andy Thornton. “It’s a great, friendly and inviting place for LGBTQ travelers to explore and visit.”
Rainbow Over Richmond kicks off on August 29 when the Richmond Triangle Players present Gen Silent, a documentary focusing on how many LGBTQ seniors, with the threat of discrimination from the healthcare industry, consider going back into the closet. Several events follow throughout September, including Pride-themed events every Friday hosted at local businesses, including Barcode and the 2300 Club.
Virginia’s annual Pride festival, PrideFest, will be on Sept. 25 from 6-10 p.m. at Kanawha. Attendees can take advantage of Pride festivities with PrideBus, a free shuttle service running from Shockoe Bottom to Carytown, with a special LGBTQ-themed club route until 2 a.m. PrideBus is presented by GayRVA.com, Richmond’s premier LGBTQ news resource.
Several ongoing events will take place during Rainbow Over Richmond, including the Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals 1933-1945 exhibit at the Gay Community Center of Richmond and a handful of new and unique showings at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Art fans also can checkout The Linden Row Inn, a TAG-certified boutique hotel centrally located in Richmond that will showcase the Ironisense Art Exhibition beginning Sept. 3. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will feature several events including the Rose Fest, informal tours with performances by the Virginia Opera and tango lessons on Sunday.
LGBTQ travelers also are encouraged to check out the Second Street Festival, a festival celebrating Richmond’s African-American community October 2-3. One week later, music lovers can check out the Richmond Folk Festival, a free event featuring music and dance from across the world.
Travelers can choose from a variety of TAG-certified hotels including Maury Place, The Linden Row Inn and the Crowne Plaza Downtown. For more information, an events calendar or additional LGBTQ-friendly accommodation recommendations, please visit Rainbow Over Richmond , or call 1-888-RICHMOND.
New Gay Travel Guide
Burning Man 2010 – Still Has a Gay Edge
Nearly 20 years old,
and growing bigger every year
the Burning Man Festival
is an annual liberal festival that takes place the last week of August/week before Labor Day. In 2010 Burnin’ Man begins August 30th and finishes September 6th. The theme for 2010 is Metropolis.
Larry Harvey sort of started Buring Man in San Francisco in 1986. And In 1990, an event was planned by Kevin Evans and John Law on the otherworldly, remote and largely unknown dry lake known as Black Rock Desert, about 100 miles north of Reno. Evans conceived it as a dadaist event with temporary sculpture to be burned and situationist performance art. He asked John Law, who also had experience on the dry lake and was a defining founder of Cacophony Society, to take on central organizing functions. In the Cacophony Society’s newsletter, it was announced as Zone Trip #4, A Bad Day at Black Rock (inspired by the movie of that name).
Trying to explain what Burning Man is to someone who has never been to the event is a bit like trying to explain what a particular color looks like to someone who is blind! There are no rules about how one must behave or express oneself at this event (save the rules that serve to protect the health, safety, and experience of the community at large); rather, it is up to each participant to decide how they will contribute and what they will give to this community.
THIS IS NOT A RESORT! You “rough it” at Burning Man. Water is precious and the sun is NOT your friend. Besides packing the usual suspects; toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, lube….you need sunscreen (LOTS), flashlights, sand-proof goggles, canned air, extra socks, loose clothes for day and warm clothes for night. AND LOT’S OF WATER!
Art is an unavoidable part of this experience , and in fact, is such a part of the experience that Larry Harvey, founder of the Burning Man project, gives a theme to each year, to encourage a common bond to help tie each individual’s contribution together in a meaningful way. Participants are encouraged to find a way to help make the theme come alive, whether it is through a large-scale art installation, a theme camp, gifts brought to be given to other individuals, costumes, or any other medium that one comes up with.
The Burning Man project has grown from a small group of people gathering spontaneously to a community of over 48,000 people.
Size can be a problem. When the crowd was under 10,000, that was one thing. Sometimes bigger is not better. And the organization has issues at times, with losing the original feel and concept of it’s roots. One of the biggest challenges faced by the organization has been trying to balance the freedom of participants – a defining element of the experience – with the requirements of BLM and various law-enforcement groups. Over the years, numerous restrictions have been put in place to help maintain it’s original concept – as well as safety.
Even considering going to Burning Man for the first time can be daunting. And while it’s true that Burning Man is not for the faint of heart, with some research, preparation, and planning, an experience — and opportunity — beyond your wildest dreams awaits you. In Black Rock City, you’re guaranteed not to be the weirdest kid in the classroom. And you’ll become a part of the growing community of Burners who are active year-round, around the world … ensuring that the fire of Burning Man culture never goes out.
Not surprisingly, the nonstop week of art, music, radical self expression, and, yes, mind-altering substances – draws a healthy-sized queer contingency. While welcome anywhere , many choose to stay with or attend events at gay-themed camps. There’s even a gay pride parade which gets flack from burners not for its promotion of gay rights, but because some feel it isn’t “original enough.”
Here’s the short list of gay resources:
Gay camps (locations noted in parentheses where available–if they make no sense, they will once you’re there):
Moonbow Camp (3:00 & Athens)
Pink Heart Camp (9:00 & Esplanade)
Gender Blender, Camp Beaverton (Women/trans only)
Comfort and Joy (7:30 & Detroit)
Camp Rainbow, Astropups
Celestial Bodies (7:30 & Detroit)
Paradise Motel (7:30 & Edinburgh)
Camp Stella (7:30 & Detroit; drug & alcohol free)
Mudskipper Cafe (7:30 & Detroit)
Gay pride parade: Friday, Sept. 3, 2010. Meet at the Man at 2:00pm and march through Black Rock City, ending at a reception at Moonbow Camp.
Tickets are about $300 when bought in advance ($360 at the gate). NEXT YEAR, if you want to go, BUY TICKETS early, usually in January the first 10,000 tickets sell for $200 and the price starts going up as the event gets closer.
New Gay Travel Guide
American Offers Award Flights For Fewer AAdvantage® Miles
Great news for those short trips and weekend getaways!
Travel is just a short hop away as we offer AAdvantage® members the opportunity to book award travel within the United States and Canada for fewer miles, with our popular Short-Hop awards. For a limited time customers can book Economy Class MileSAAver® award tickets on non-stop routes under 700 miles each way for only 8,750 AAdvantage miles (17,500 round trip) — which is 30 percent fewer miles than normally required.
AAdvantage members can view availability and book Short-Hop awards by using the AAdvantage award booking tool on AA.com. For more information on Short-Hop awards visit AA SHORT HOPS or visit AA RAINBOW to book your award today.
Gay Friendly – What Does That Mean? Let the LGBT Buyer Beware
WE were just talking about this the other day; how so many companies are coming forward, some very sincere, some not so sincere, in wanting to be “gay-friendly”.
Karen Ocamb from the Los Angeles Frontiers Magazine , tells of recent not so “gay friendly” incident that happened in Cancun. A California gay couple had relied on a gay-friendly travel agency (Expedia) to select a gay-friendly hotel — which turned out not to be gay-friendly at all.
While in Cancun at their hotel, “At lunch Eric and I were holding hands. A waiter came over to our table and told us that public displays of affection were not allowed at the Gran Melia since it was “family hotel.” When we pointed out the straight couple holding hands across the room he reminded us that it was over the fact we are gay. The waiter became very hostile towards us and I had to step in the way to cool down both Eric and the bigot waiter.
We then went to the front desk and told them the situation. We were promised an upgrade to a suite over our whole ordeal. The general manager of the hotel followed us to our room and told us that the Gran Melia is not a gay friendly hotel. It is a “family hotel” and if we wanted a gay friendly hotel to go down the road. He even gave us a list of other hotels. I asked him to refund our money and we would be glad to make a reservation at one of the other hotels. He said he was not willing to do it.”
“On our check out the last day the general manager tried so hard to get every dollar out of us that he could. He tried to charge us for food and drinks that had been included in our all inclusive stay. He made us wait to leave until the room was checked for any damages. And he threatened to call the police if we left before that. He and Eric got into a verbal altercation in the lobby, and he again threatened to call the police. I have heard the stories of people being thrown in Mexican jails for no reason with no way out and I was scared for my freedom. I paid whatever nonsense charges he threw at me so that I could ensure my safety and leave the hotel as soon as possible. This weekend was not a vacation for me.
We have since spoken to Expedia who has removed the hotel, Gran Melia Cancun off of their gay friendly hotel category. They spoke to the hotel who stood strong on their homophobic stance, claiming that it is a “family” hotel. “
I am curious to know if there was any discussion or problems upon arrival and check-in?
Read their whole story on Huffington Post .
The bottom line is how did this hotel get on their list?
Someone needs to be held accountable but also, do your homework.
Big players like “W” and Kimpton, we know are LGBT friendly places. Smaller properties, I would beware. I would have checked the hotel out better, before booking it. HUGE companies like Expedia and Orbitz are trying to be everything, to everyone, I think. You need to look for things like IGLTA and TAG APPROVED logos and also cross check with sites like Purple Roofs , and even Pink Choice. Heck, you can even email us and check out our Best Gay Cities site. We are more than happy to point you in the right direction to the right sources.
It is my understanding, Expedia just started working with IGLTA , so maybe Expedia has now realized they need some kind of criteria to follow so this doesn’t happen again.
New Gay Travel Guide
GAY TRAVEL GAY TRAINS! Amtrak Targets LGBT Passengers with New Ads
Gay Travel by Train! It’s funny, we started New Gay Travel Guide in 2006. And just before we started the site, we were seeing more and more cities (like Las Vegas ) and businesses (like American Airlines ) reaching out to the LGBT Community. Now, more than ever, you see gay travel offers, gay travel pages on city websites, tourism sites and special offers targeted to the LGBT gay travel market.
With the sagging economic times we have witnessed in the last 2 years, some have accused these companies of trying to cash in on the gay dollar to make up for their sagging revenues. I don’t believe that. 20 years ago, big companies were afraid to market to gays and lesbians for fear their heterosexual clients would give them flack. As gay became more and more acceptable, that wall has dropped. Or at least lowered.
We talk to many service providers around the world, many who have changed their company policies to help protect their LGBT employees and give them added benefits. They have realized we are part of the fabric of this world, and should not, and can not be ignored any longer. And they want to make sure are included and welcomed, and I applaud their efforts!
How Gay is Waterford Crystal and Waterford Ireland?
Perhaps the most famous crystal company in the world, Waterford Crystal was founded in 1783. New prestige crystal factory for the company plans to captivates visitors from around the world demonstrating more than 225 years of crystal making.
A new beginning for Waterford Crystal was marked today with the official opening of the House of Waterford Crystal on the Mall in the heart of Waterford City. Comprised of a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, visitor centre and retail experience store, the opening ensures that the history of more than 600 years of heritage, tradition and craftsmanship remains firmly rooted in Waterford. This milestone event is the result of an agreement between WWRD Holdings Limited (“WWRD”), the leading luxury goods group which owns and operates the Waterford Crystal, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton brands, and Waterford City Council.
Visitors to the new facility will marvel at a replica of the Waterford Times Square Ball and will be impressed by the varied exhibitions, including a collection of exclusive Waterford Sport trophies, Statement Design pieces and the Faces and Places Exhibit, a favorite, showcasing specially- commissioned Waterford Crystals pieces that have been presented to famous celebrities, presidents and dignitaries.
Additionally, the world’s largest display of Waterford Crystal will be featured in the retail experience store, including pieces from world famous designers such as John Rocha, Michael Aram and Jasper Conran.
The House of Waterford is located two miles from the city centre on the N25 Cork Road in Waterford, Ireland. Factory tours are open to the public all year round, Monday to Sunday. Guided Tours are also available seven days a week.
Today Ireland has a lively “gay scene”, especially in Dublin and Belfast. Some favorite hang-outs like the “George” in Dublin are clearly identifiable by their use of the “rainbow flag”, others are far more discreet. The best bet for visitors who want to meet other gay people is to obtain a copy of the GCN , a monthly magazine with comprehensive listings.
Travel and the Evolution of Room Keys – New Phone App Being Tested
Technology.
For better or worse,
things change!
Airlines have replaced some airport check-in agents with self-service kiosks. Will hotels be next to eliminate the front desk? Well, they probably won’t go that far.
Some hotel companies are investing in ways to make the check-in process faster.
The InterContinental Hotels Group is testing a digital application that can turn your cellphone into your room key.
Guests at two of their hotels, in Chicago and Houston, will be able to download and test an application to their phone.
The guests are given a code from the front desk, their phones can play a tone that opens the sound-activated locks on the doors to their rooms. Under a second phase, guests would be able to get the code sent directly to their phone, eliminating the need to stop by the front desk.
But what if I leave my cell phone in my room?
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
Florida Giving Updates on Effects of BP Oil Spill
VISIT FLORIDA, the official tourism marketing organization for the state of Florida, announces the release of its latest television ad aimed at helping visitors make well-informed summer travel planning decisions in light of the BP Gulf oil spill situation.
The new ad, titled “More Than Enough,” recognizes that travelers have legitimate questions about current beach conditions in the Sunshine State and explains that, with more than 825 miles of beaches and 1,260 miles of Florida coastline, the Florida Live feature on VISITFLORIDA.com will allow them to see for themselves exactly what’s happening at destinations all across the state.
We focused our ‘Need to Know’ ad on the oil-impacted counties of Northwest Florida,” said Chris Thompson, VISIT FLORIDA President and CEO. “This new ads focuses on the rest of the state, which, although physically not impacted by oil, faces significant financial loss due to consumer skepticism coupled with misinformation.”
If you’re thinking about a Florida, stop by Visit Florida . Beside the cool cam shots, they issue updates – today it says, “ Dime to five inch-sized tar balls continue to be found in widely scattered areas of Northwest Florida. There have been no reports of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill-related oil products reaching the shore beyond the Northwest Florida region. There is no indication that the rest of the state will have impacts from weathered oil products within the next 72 hours. At this time, there continue to be no beach closures and the majority of Florida’s state waters remain open to recreational fishing.”
