Category Archives: News and Happenings
Summer Fun with Gay Pride in Barcelona Spain
For the fifth year running, Barcelona is well into the preparations
to welcome you to the most important LGBT pride festival in the
Mediterranean – Pride Barcelona’13. The main celebrations will be on the
weekend of the 28th, 29th and 30th of June , but entire festival
includes a program that runs from the 20th to the 30th of June!
30 charitable associations,
many local businesses and the entire LBGT community have again united
to organise a new pride for the city – offering ten days of culture,
sport, debate, entertainment and parties. Pride Barcelona is a major
free not-for-profit event that both celebrates the best of the Catalan
capital.
Spain is a shining example of LGBT Rights, and is already on the
global map for pride celebrations in Madrid and Maspalomas – always
reaffirming our open, respectful and tolerant character. Barcelona is
now firmly placed on that map – growing bigger and better every year.
Come and experience Pride Barcelona 2013. See for yourself why this
new event is now among the greatest pride celebrations in the world!
Lesbian and Women Travel Events 2013
EDEN Pride Weekend San
Francisco will be a smashing weekend filled with up to 12 events at
three venues and one secret location for lesbian, bisexual and
transgender individuals and their friends June 27 – 30, 2013.
EDEN Pride Events is
gearing up for EDEN’s weekend during San Francisco Pride by bringing
events back to familiar venues and adding new dance clubs.
“Each year EDEN brings
together the hottest venues in the city for our attendees. This year is
no different,” said Christine De La Rosa, founder and producer of EDEN
Pride Events. “We are bringing back the Factory and the Supperclub from
previous years while adding to the mix the Mezzanine.”
EDEN Pride Events is
committed to bringing quality events of every genre to the Bay Area, as
well as to our regional, national and international constituencies. EDEN
Pride Events believes in the idea that art, in any form, makes our
local and global communities better places to live. We challenge
ourselves into making those ideas become realities for our team, our
artists, our performers, our DJs, our vendors and our communities.
That’s why in 2013
EDEN Pride Events launched the EDEN LGBTQ Youth Foundation, where 100%
of the proceeds from this year’s EDEN Pride Events season will go toward
supporting LGBTQ youth. Eden in the Bay.
GET ALL THE DETAILS FOR EVENTS HOTELS AND MORE ONLINE
WANT FREE TICKETS??
Celebrate Gay Pride in Puerto Vallarta
Celebrate Gay Pride in Puerto Vallarta!
2013.
Casa Cupula Hotel Boutique and continue for three days, celebrating LGBT
culture and Puerto Vallarta’s welcoming community with music festivals,
beach parties, fashion shows, mass commitment ceremony and activities
in participating bars and clubs.
A member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association,
Puerto Vallarta has been a preferred LGBT friendly destination in the
Americas for over 60 years and has an infrastructure that is frequently
included on leading media as gay friendly destination lists.
Puerto Vallarta offers an LGBT inclusive atmosphere in is Romantic Zone
area which is home to many businesses that are LGBT-owned and/or target
the consumer, including beaches, tours, activities and restaurants bars
and clubs to choose from. LGBT travelers have the option of choosing
from gay friendly resorts, hotels, lodges, bed and breakfasts and guest
houses.
The City’s Tourism Department at City Hall, led by Director Carlos
Gerard and Sub-Director Enrique Tovar, aims to increase tourism to the
city.
The 3-day event was created to celebrate the unique and
all-inclusive culture that has flourished in Puerto Vallarta,
successfully integrating the rich traditions of the Mexican culture with
the varied ideas that have been introduced to the local community from
its large expatriate community from all corners of the world including
the US and Canada, and as far afield as Asia, Russia and Europe. The
LGBT community is just one of the many communities that thrives in
Vallarta organizers explained.
Confirmed events for Vallarta Pride 2013
• Opening Reception Vallarta Pride 2013
Friday May 24, 2013 at 9:00 pm
Taste Restaurant at Casa Cupula
• Commitment Ceremony
Saturday May 25, 2013 at 11:00 am
Lido – Beach Club
• Vallarta Pride Fashion Show
Saturday May 25, 2013 at 2:00 pm
Blue Chairs Beach Club
• “HEAT” – Tea Dance
Saturday May 25, 2013 from 4:00 pm
Lido / Blue Chairs
• Vallarta Pride 2013 @Night
Themed Nights at participating bars/lounges/clubs
Saturday May 25, 2013 at 8:00 pm
• Vallarta Pride Parade 2013
Sunday May 26, 2013 from 4:00 pm
Romantic Zone
• Vallarta Pride Festival 2013
Sunday May 26, 2013 from 5:00 pm
Lazaro Cardenas Park / Romantic Zone
For more information visit media partner www.gaypv.mx or the official Puerto Vallarta website www.visitpuertovallarta.com
To win a trip to Puerto Vallarta, please visit: www.winatriptopuertovallarta.
For Pueto Vallarta’s LGBT destination brochure, please click here.
Short Mountain Tennessee Radical Fairy Gathering
radfae.org
information: links to resources and web pages, news, information, and
pointers to other faerie lists. Our site is also available to host
various faerie projects.
Post a question there about faeries in your area, or introduce
yourself. It is our international circle of ongoing conversation. It can
be educational, inspiring, awakening, provoking. Then take a look for
faeries near you on the Local Circles page.
Big Gay Wine Tours at Out in the Vineyards
Out In The Vineyard is an experiential Wine Country Tour and Event
company promoting positive LGBT lifestyles and offering exclusive,
luxury itineraries and events to the discriminating gay and lesbian
traveler and our friends.
Itineraries are designed to provide intimate and exclusive wine
country experiences and are strictly limited to small groups of no more
than twenty guests.
has the unique ability to offer our guests exclusive access to some of
the world’s best wineries, restaurants and accommodations catering to
the LGBT lifestyle and bringing you The Very Best of Our Wine Country.
Conceived by Mark Vogler, a former internet
executive and wine industry veteran & founded with Gary Saperstein, a
Sonoma local with over 25 years of experience in the high end wine
country hospitality, Out In The Vineyard promotes positive, social LGBT
lifestyles and offers the best of what the Valley has to offer through
exclusive, luxury Wine Country itineraries, featuring world-class
restaurants, exclusive winery tours, and dining experiences at private
estates. Out in the Vineyard tours are curated by local LGBT insiders,
creating personalized, exclusive experiences, conveniently pre-planned
to cancel out any stress and promote purely relaxing, entertaining
experiences for guests.
Out in the Vineyard also regularly hosts special events, including The Big Gay Wine Train, and the upcoming “Gay Wine Weekend”
in the Sonoma Valley: 3 days of wine events for the LGBT community from
June 14-16, including winemaker dinners, tours and a spectacular
charity event, Twilight T Dance, to be held at the 150-acre vineyard of
Atwood Ranch in the heart of the Valley of the Moon, with 100% of the
funds raised benefitting Face to Face, the Sonoma County AIDS Network.
Gay Wine Weekend will feature the best of what the Valley has to offer,
including gourmet institutions like the girl & the fig, El Dorado
Kitchen, Joseph Phelps Winery, B Wise Winery and more. Find out more OUT IN THE VINEYARDS
Is It Really Safe to Travel to Puerto Vallarta?
Is it safe to travel to
Puerto Vallarta?
In a word, the answer is BIG yes! It is safe to travel to Puerto
Vallarta.
PV is part of the very diverse and large Mexican state of
Jalisco. Some sensational news outlets have incorrectly reported that the US State
Department is warning against all travel to Jalisco. NOT TRUE.
The US Department of State said for Puerto Vallarta – There is no recommendation
against travel to Guadalajara and Puerto
Vallarta. There is also no recommendation against travel on principal
highways in
Jalisco between Guadalajara including the
portions that cross in to the southern portions of the state of Nayarit.
Also – Mexico City (also known as the Federal District): No advisory is in effect.
Puerto Vallarta’s Tourism Board has commissioned a study from the security consulting firm Thomas Dale and Associates (TDA).
The firm found that “the number of negative events involving foreigners
or non‐foreigners is fractional compared to the large ex‐pat resident
population and the millions of visitors that come to vacation each year
in Puerto Vallarta.”
you can read more at Visit Puerto Vallarta.
Unless you were under a rock the last few years, you could not help but hear how
dangerous parts of Mexico has become, and yes, it’s true drug wars have
escalated violence in parts of Mexico. “Collateral damage” the news calls it – which really means that innocent people
have been robbed, hurt or killed.
was. I walked the streets Vallarta alone day or night. I never felt
uncomfortable or scared.
or run-ins with bad guys or police (well, there was that ticket for
using my cellphone while driving…), ” says Paul who owns Hotel Mercurio.
Puerto Vallarta is the most visited gay destination in Mexico.
It has always been a safe place to live and visit and continues to be!
2nd Annual Private Gay Six Flags Event Returns to Chicago
Out In The Park at Six Flags Great America
Returns in 2013 with a BANG!
A Spectacular Night of Amusement and Entertainment to Help Benefit Chicago House!
Out In The Park is an annual private LGBTQ Saturday night event featuring unlimited riding of ALL Six Flags Great America’s amazing rides and live music by an internationally sought after DJ who calls Chicago home, Matthew Harvat, delivering a complete 4 hour party-celebration dance area everyone can enjoy when taking a break from riding. New this year is a laser light show to dance above the crowd and some go-go gods to dance with the crowd.
Plus live musical performance by national recording artists Eli Lieb, Jess Godwin and Isaiah Grass.
In an interview with ChicagoPride.com: “We are very excited to be asked to present this event annually by the executives at Six Flags Great America based on last year’s success and their excitement in allowing us this unique fundraising opportunity at such an awesome private venue inside their park for our community” said Derrick Sorles, owner of BestGayChicago.com. “We are proud to have Chicago House benefiting from this year’s event and we are so excited to have Mini Cooper of Chicago co-presenting with us!”
In 2012, over 3600 people came out to support this event and nearly $12,000 was raised for TPAN. For 2013, over 7000-8000 people are expected to come out and BestGayChicago.com hopes to raise close to $20,000 for Chicago House.
“What’s great about the event is that it is closed to the general public, ” explains Michael Snell. “The LGBTQ attendees and their friends and family can enjoy the park with little or no lines (no Flash Pass needed) and no hassle’s from anyone. It will be like a fall gay pride celebration!”
Last year there were comments from the community that people who did not enjoy rides, had no reason to come. So this year, more entertainment has been added. Singers Eli Lieb, Isaiah Grass and Jess Godwin will perform on a stage, separate from the dance area.
The park will once again be serving beer and specialty drinks, at reduced drink prices, just for us! And we will be planning events on Friday night, Saturday daytime, Saturday after the park, and Sunday recovery things to do! We’ll be announcing events at Scarlett, Taverna 750, Charlies and Hamburger Marys in Chicago and Milwaukee! Making a whole weekend of fun for everyone.
“The other thing that makes this event is so great, is the fact it is supported by everyone.” says Derrick Sorles. “We are so happy and humbled that our peers GRAB Magazine, Chicago Pride.com, and Wisconsin’s QUEST Magazine are also involved in helping to make this a huge success and special thanks to our other Community Partners Walgreens and Mini Cooper of Chicago.
Ticket Prices —-Advance ticket price is $38 for this private event. There will be FREE parking! (A $22 savings!) Tickets are available now online at GaySixFlagsChicago.com.
Unfortunately, you can NOT use a smart phone to order tickets.
You will need to use a computer and printer.
Doors open at 9pm promptly. Ride and enjoy music until 1am.
Drinks are served until Midnight.
Hotels —if you are coming to Chicago for the weekend, we have 3 hotel choices in the heart of boystown! More information below!
Chicago House
Chicago House and Social Service Agency serves individuals and families by providing housing, employment services, medical linkages, HIV prevention services, and other supportive services to those who are disenfranchised by HIV/AIDS, poverty, homelessness, and/or gender nonconformity. All Chicago House services are provided without discrimination and are explicitly designed to guide people towards wholeness and self-sufficiency.
The first HIV/AIDS housing provider in the Midwest, Chicago House has continuously evolved its services to meet the changing needs of those who are living with HIV and AIDS. BestGayChicago.com Since 2007, BestGayChicago.com has been providing the best of everything gay and gay-friendly in the greater Chicago area. Owned and operated by Best Gay Inc., their sites provide news, information, travel tips and entertainment for the LGBT community.
this post sponsored by…
Not Everyone in France is Ready for Marriage Equality
Hundreds of thousands of people –
conservative activists, children, retirees, priests – many bussed in
from the French provinces – converged on the capital on Sunday in a
last-ditch bid to stop the bill.
The lower house of France’s
parliament approved the “marriage for everyone” bill last month with a
large majority, and it now faces a vote in the Senate next month. Both
houses are dominated by President François Hollande’s Socialist party
and its allies. Sustained protests led by opposition conservatives in
this traditionally Catholic country have eroded support for the draft
law in recent months, and organisers hope Sunday’s march will weigh on
the Senate debate.
The first few hours of the protest were
peaceful. But as it was meant to be winding down, about 100 youths tried
to push past police barricades on to the Champs-Elysées. In an
indication of the sensitivity of the issue, protesters had been barred
from marching on the avenue that cuts through central Paris and draws
throngs of tourists daily… tear gas was needed to control the crowd.
The crowd was estimated at 300,000 people, though organizers said it was 1.2 million.
Opinion polls show a vast majority are
in favor.
The bill passed the National Assembly last month and will probably pass
the Senate in April.
France was among the most advanced
countries in the world when it passed a civil union law in 1999 granting
same sex couple the same benefits as straight couples (including
immigration and social security).
Watch a video clip.
American Airlines Travel in Style with Boeing 777-300er
American
Airlines will launch service from New York’s John F. Kennedy
International Airport (JFK) to London Heathrow (LHR) on its Boeing
777-300ER (Extended Range) on Friday, March 15. The flight on American’s
new flagship aircraft marks another step in the company’s plan to have
the industry’s most modern, fuel-efficient fleet.
American is the first U.S. airline to order and take delivery of the
777-300ER, which departed on its inaugural flight between Dallas/Fort
Worth International Airport (DFW) and Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International
Airport (GRU) on Jan. 31, 2013. The aircraft was freshly painted with
American’s new look: a modern, new logo with the iconic eagle; silver
mica paint to maintain the “silver bird” heritage of American’s
aircraft; and stripes flying proudly on the tail as a reflection of the
airline’s origin and name.
The 777-300ER offers an elevated international premium class
experience including increased customer choices with new menu
selections, new china and flatware designs and industry-leading amenity
kits. Customers will see the product enhancements across all
international fleet types, providing a more consistent travel experience
for those flying American’s global network.
“Nose to tail, the Boeing 777-300ER aircraft reflects the new
American we are building with the customer at the center of everything
we do,” said Tim Ahern, American’s Vice President – New York and
International. “The trans-Atlantic route connecting New York and London
is one of the most important in the world, and we are excited that our
new flagship aircraft will serve that market.”
777-300ER Aircraft in New York
American plans to operate the 777-300ER from New York on future routes this year, including:
- New York Kennedy to Sao Paulo, beginning April 2, 2013
- An additional New York Kennedy to London Heathrow route, beginning May 9, 2013
777-300ER Features
The aircraft offers additional network flexibility and provides
increased efficiency, while delivering an unparalleled experience for
customers onboard. The 777-300ER introduces new enhancements to the
inflight experience, including:
- A walk-up bar for premium class customers, offering snacks and sweets
-
A
sophisticated entertainment system offering hundreds of hours of audio
and video programming options at every seat throughout the aircraft,
including up to 250 movies, more than 180 TV programs and more than 350
audio selections -
International
Wi-Fi. There will be complimentary inflight Internet access through
March on all flights operating the new 777-300ER aircraft -
Access
at every seat to universal 110-volt AC power outlets, accepting U.S.,
UK and European plugs, and USB jacks for charging personal electronic
devices - Main Cabin Extra seating for customers who prefer more legroom and priority boarding privileges
Gay Days Disney Anaheim 2013
The
first Gay Days Anaheim California in 1998 attracted about 2,500 people.
Today the
event attracts over 30,000 guests to the Disneyland Resort each year!
Every October this event happens – and this year the dates will be October 4-6, 2013. People come in from all over to enjoy this awesome 3 day event!
Can’t wait for Gay Days Anaheim this October? April 13 is sort of a “Mini
Gay Day” at Disneyland—a less formal event than the big October weekend – but still fun. Schedule of activities will be posted soon on the Gay Days Anaheim website!
Anaheim and Orange County is amazing place to vacation. If you’re going to Disneyland, you MUST add on days at the beginning or the end to explore this beautiful area.
Popularly recognized as “The OC,” this world-class visitor destination
is the center of Southern California fun . OC’s second largest city is Anaheim – the perfect
starting point for your OC adventures.
Besides the amazing Disneyland and California Adventure park, the Anaheim Orange County area has so much to see and do. Arts and Culture, a variety of attractions, awesome restaurants and unbelievable shopping options. Not to mention romantic and picturesque beaches. One after the other!
Gay Days – or any day! Anaheim Orange County!
PLUS – Read More Here about Anaheim.
Maui Hawaii Gay Pride 2013
MAUI PRIDE is just one reason to visit Hawaii!
that predicted a prolonged cold winter through April have been accurate
so far, so we thought we’d give you incentive to come to Maui and warm
up!
Best and Worst Gay Travel Destinations
Sweden is the BEST, Iran’s is the WORST and the US is somewhere in the middle.
Spartacus International Gay Guide 2013/2014: 42nd Edition (Spartacus Travel Guide)
Sweden scored top marks for its anti-discrimination laws, recognition
of gay unions, positive travel marketing and no institutional
persecution of the LGBT community. The remaining top nine countries were
all in Europe except Canada, which came in at number four.
The United States ranked 38 — thanks to anti-gay laws, a lack of
marriage equality and unfriendly areas of the country.
It was tied with
Aruba, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Croatia, Curacao, Hungary, Italy, Mexico and
Thailand.
Way at the bottom were, predictably, countries hostile to gays like Jamaica and the Bahamas and those with the death penalty for homosexuality, including the United Arab Emirates(Dubai) and Iran.
Gay men have different travel wishes. The best confirmation of this is
the unique success story of the SPARTACUS INTERNATIONAL GAY GUIDE, which
has been published for more than four decades now. This edition of the
SPARTACUS International Gay Guide features approximately 22,000
addresses on around 1,300 pages which are of interest for gay men.
Whether these addresses are hotels in Kenya, bars in Hong Kong or discos
in Buenos Aires – no other guide offers such extensive information
about places in which gay men can feel welcome and can be themselves.
A
refined code system, created as abbreviations and pictograms, offers
information about that which one can expect and where. In addition each
country is introduced with a short, informative text, which describes
the legal and social position of homosexuals.
In order to guarantee the
actuality of the data, the SPARTACUS editorial team undertakes
extensive research throughout the year, with the result that the
information in SPARTACUS is usually even more up date and reliable than
those in Internet.
Regardless where one is going – with the SPARTACUS
INTERNATIONAL GAY GUIDE one is always up to date. And for those who find
the guide still is not compact enough: the complete guide is available
as application for your iPhone.
This post sponsored by:
CITY SUITES WILLOWS HOTEL MAJESTIC HOTEL
San Francisco Bridge LIGHTS UP Tonight
Internationally renowned artist Leo Villareal has been busy in San Francisco, using the Bay Bridge
West Span as a frame, for a five-hundred-feet high and 1.8-mile-wide
installation will comprise more than 25,000 LED lights, making it the
world’s largest ever light sculpture.
TONIGHT is the unveiling!
The installation will light up
the Bay Area for two years, with an estimated 50 million people expected
to view the display in that time. – Whats happens after two years? I don’t know.
According to the project’s webpage, “patterns of weather, the water
and the traffic of cars, ships and wildlife” will all be used as
inspiration for creating Villareal’s software algorithms, ensuring that
each light pattern is unique and never repeated.
“People’s perception of what the piece is will be highly subjective,
no two people may see the same thing,” the artist said. “But there’ll
still be this point of connection between many, many people.”
Villarael said he hopes that the “monumental” piece of public art
will inspire artists in the Bay Area, while local businesses will no
doubt be hoping the project will fulfill its promise to add around $97
million to the local economy.
Winter Party 2013 takes over South Beach March 6-11
Over 10,000 guests from around the world attend our annual
six-day extravaganza featuring the most spectacular venues, the most
unforgettable parties and receptions and the best international DJ
talent.
Launched in 1994 as a one-time charity dance event on the sands of
beautiful South Beach, Winter Party Festival has evolved into a
week-long series of events benefiting the LGBT community nationally and
locally. A portion of the net proceeds of WPF support the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s
efforts to take action, build power and create change for LGBT
people. The majority of the proceeds are donated to local service
organizations through a grant-making process administered by The Miami Foundation.
March 6-11, 2013!!
State Department Meets with Gay Travel Representatives
TRAVELING ABROAD can be a little scary – walking into a strange country, not quite sure knowing what to expect. And gay travelers need to be informed. Some countries do not take a liking to us!
efforts to provide LGBT-specific information to Americans who plan to
travel overseas.
“We want all of our citizens to be informed about their destinations
abroad and any particular challenges that they may face,” Janice Jacobs,
assistant secretary of state for the Bureau of Consular Affairs, said.
“We want them to know about the services that are available to them at
our embassies and consulates if problems should happen, despite their
precautions.”
Jacobs’ comments come five days after the Bureau of Consular Affairs added LGBT-specific information to its website
that includes travel warnings, alerts and other country-specific
advisories. These include references to “widespread” anti-gay
discrimination in Ukraine, efforts to curb “the promotion of
homosexuality” in Russian cities and an advisory that urges LGBT
travelers to “consider exercising caution when visiting Estonia” because
of harassment and violence those who have publicly shown affection have
experienced.
The country-specific profiles also include information about HIV/AIDS travel restrictions.
READ MORE at Washington Blade
United New Baggage Delivery Service for a Fee
Tired of schlepping your over-packed bags?
and arriving at select U.S. airports, so you can skip the wait at the
baggage carousel and go straight from your arrival airport to your
actual destination. This service provides you with the convenient option
of having your baggage delivered right to your home, hotel or
office.
flight’s arrival if your destination is located within 40 miles from the
airport. If your destination is located between 41 and 100 miles from
the airport, you’ll receive your baggage within six hours after the
arrival of your flight.
Matthew Mitcham Autographed Books
WE LOVE AUSTRALIA!
corporate sponsorship. In the The Advocate, an editor said, “What’s a
guy to do when he’s got the gold, the fame, the man – but no big-time
endorsements?” In 2009, Mitcham secured financial support from the
Australian telecommunications provider Telstra. In 2010, he was
announced as the new face of Funky Trunks and has appeared on
advertising campaigns across Australia, Europe and the United States. He
is also a spokesman and “swimwear ambassador” for the brand.
“People kept remarking on how they were surprised that a gold
medal and fame hadn’t changed me. I always responded, ‘Why would I
change? Being me is the easiest person to be.’ I was lying. It wasn’t.”
Cubans Enjoy Relaxed Travel Restrictions
CUBA may be a little easier to get out of this year.
The
relaxed policies open the door to a new era in travel for the Cuban
people, who have been long deprived of the right to freely travel
abroad.
There are still hurdles to surmount, however.
While
the Cuban government no longer requires the reviled exit permits and
the notarized letters of invitation from foreign hosts, Cubans still
have to obtain visas from most countries they plan to visit, buy an air
ticket and apply and pay for a passport to leave Cuba, a time-consuming
and expensive process that costs about $110.
Gay Travel with Jonny McGovern
include day-time realness activities, games, contests, dancing, but
most of all, kikiing with the cast of Gay Pimpin’. You can look at the
schedule right here, babies!
