What is Gay Travel?

What is GAY TRAVEL?  What is a  GAY  HOTEL?  
I attended a meeting last week in Chicago, where the OUT NYC  gay resort hotel presented to community, a proposal to open their 2nd  gay property, right in the heart of Chicago’s gay Boystown. 
I was SHOCKED by all the gay people, who said, “why do we need a gay hotel?  We talk about acceptance and equality, then turn around and want our own hotel.”

I stayed at the AXEL in Barcelona 5 years ago – and thought WHAT A GREAT CONCEPT!
There have been gay resorts forever in Key West, Palm Springs and Provincetown. Now to have a whole gay hotel in major cities, I think, is an excellent idea.  
Maybe it’s a age thing. I’m 50. I grew up in a small town in Michigan. As soon as I was 19, I headed for the big city in search of other gay people. The  Castro in San Francisco, WeHo  in  Los Angeles, Boystown in Chicago, all become thriving LGBT communities.  
While it is true, gay people have spread out into the masses now,  we are not now, nor will we ever be 100%  accepted by EVERYONE. 
A writer recently explained how he finds comfort in the gay community, even though he has many straight friends, “Boystown is my go-to, my very own Cheers, but on a larger scale. I’m
certainly not alone, but as the weather starts to warm and the bar scene
beckons ever more urgently, I keep asking myself: Is this really a good
use of my time in Chicago, a progressive city with so much to do? Do I
need to bust out of Boystown for a change? I’m not so sure.


LGBT people understand what I’m talking about. Boystown is a gay
refuge, rainbow pillars and all. It’s become the place that we, as a
community, have built for ourselves over the years at times when most of
society told us we had no place. And in regards to going out, it’s a
community where many gay folks feel the most safe when tossing back a
few beers.


Sure, society has come a long way in terms of LGBT rights, but things
aren’t really that perfect yet. We, as LGBT people, still have a lot of
things to worry about when thinking of going out for a night on the
town.”

(Please read his full article).

I have many straight friends – but I frequent gay bars more than straight bars. And when I go on vacation, I seek out the gay community in whatever city, what country I am in. It’s HOME. It’s MY  PEOPLE. You  know you are among similar people with similar stories. 
I  LOVE my straight friends – but I do not want to take a straight cruise. While it is true, more and more cities and hotels are now “gay-friendly”, rolling out the pink carpet for our dollars, for me given the choice, I try to support my community 100% whenever I can. 
Thoughts?
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VIENNA Wants Some Gay Travel Dollars

VIENNA is joining the growing list of  European cities, trying to woo the gay travel dollar. 

City authorities in Vienna this month released
a review of the Austrian capital’s gay and lesbian tourism strategy,
deciding to focus on travelers interested in music, culture and history
— and with money to spend.

The
review followed a study among gay and lesbian travelers from outside of
Vienna that found their average household’s monthly net income was 385
euros ($500) higher than that of other tourists to Vienna.


Clemens Koeltringer, marketing
analyst from the Vienna Tourists Board, said this target group was
“high profile, luxury customers who go to the opera and enjoy very good
food”.

“Vienna is not a Mykonos, it
must not be,” Koeltringer told Reuters, referring to the Greek party
destination. “This is the main reason we are differentiating ourselves.”

Read more at Reuters

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Gay Travel Safari…Gone Wrong

I used to think I wanted to go on a safari and see the wild, up close!
Now,  I am not so sure……
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Lesbian and Women Travel Events 2013

12 EVENTS! Thousands of women!

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??

BEST GAY CITIES is giving away weekend passes and VIP passes!
Leave a comment below (leave your email in the private portion)
And we’ll be randomly doing drawings next month!

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Celebrate Gay Pride in Puerto Vallarta

Celebrate Gay Pride in Puerto Vallarta! 

Puerto Vallarta’s  1st annual LGBT event “Vallarta Pride” will take place this year on the weekend of May 24th,
2013. 
Events will start with a cocktail kick-off at Puerto Vallarta’s
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.com/lgbt
For Pueto Vallarta’s LGBT destination brochure, please click here.

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Breaking Gay News – For Columbus Ohio

NEWS for Columbus! They’re coming…

This Thursday night at 7pm, the anti-gay crew from the Family Research
Council and a  
controversial anti-gay Baptist church preacher
will meet at the Ohio Union on the campus of The Ohio State
University to oppose marriage equality.

But don’t worry: FREEDOM OHIO will be there too and will be joined by
my friend
Elyzabeth Holford, the
new Executive Director of Equality Ohio. Together, Elyzabeth and I will
give these guys a debate they won’t soon forget.

 

If you
want to join us in person, ABC-6 asks you to fill-out the form located
here. 
If you cannot join us
in person, you can watch the live broadcast or live webcast on WSYX Channel
6 or their website.


While we may not change the
minds of those on the stage on Thursday, it is clear to a majority of
Ohioans that this amendment is about family security, civil rights,
and the protection of religious freedom. The truth is, no house of worship
will be required to perform or recognize a wedding that conflicts with
their teachings and beliefs. At the same time, anti-gay houses of worship
and their faithful will not be permitted to stop a loving couple from
marrying; because marriage is and always will be a civil right.


WHO: FreedomOhio and Equality
Ohio

WHAT: Marriage Town Hall

WHEN: 7-8 pm Thursday,
April 11th

WHERE: The OSU Ohio Union, 1739 N High St. Columbus,
OH 43210  

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THE OUT…Best Gay Hotels in the World

THE OUT NYC is New York City’s first ‘straight-friendly’ urban resort
complex, serving as a travel and entertainment destination for visitors
and locals alike.Since it has opened, ,they are busy ALL THE TIME and get RAVE reviews from guests.
THE OUT NYC’s features include a boutique hotel with 105 modern guest
rooms, 3 outdoor courtyards, The Spa at the OUT NYC, a glass-covered
atrium, jacuzzis, steam room, sauna, 24-hour fitness center, XL
Nightclub, KTCHN Restaurant, and conference facilities available for
special events and catering.
They consistently get
rated 4 and 5 stars by travelers. Excellent, Top Notch, Faultless,
Flawless, Fantastic, Gorgeous….these are just some of the words,
guests have used, to describe THE OUT NYC!
Parkview
Developers, a well known development company in New York are now
looking to expand their luxury brand to Chicago, Washington DC, and
possibly Milan. Making  THE OUT, the best gay hotels in the WORLD!
The Chicago property will be
located between Sidetrack and Mini Bar. And build up into the air,
several floors. 112 rooms of luxury on Halsted!
THE OUT CHICAGO is coming in 2015. Strategically positioned in between
SIDETRACK & Minibar and across the street from Roscoe’s (the 3 top
grossing gay bars in Chicago); this is in the epicenter of Chicago’s
‘gayborhood’ appropriately called “Boystown”. This 4 star Urban Resort
complex will include..
….

– ±112 boutique hotel rooms (including Shared Luxury Accommodations & Extended Stay Suites)
– 1500SF full service Spa, Gym & Wellness Center – “The Spa @ THE OUT”
– 2500SF of Conference/Meeting/Event Space
– 3000SF Fully Enclosed Glass Atrium Courtyard – 1500 SF Enclosed
Rooftop Bar & Lounge with spectacular views of downtown Chicago 
– “KTCHN Art” Restaurant (consultation and possible partnership with Celebrity Chef Art Smith)
– 2000 SF “XL Minibar” with Dance/Cabaret Space (acquisition and
partnership and/or management contract is currently in negotiations with
Minibar)
– Marketing Partnership with Sidetrack Bar and access to their 15,000 sf bar complex from the THE OUT CHICAGO Lobby. 
– BOUTIQUE lobby shop.

About us…..

http://theoutnyc.com/media-gallery/

FODORS TOP 100:  Our “Straight-friendly” Urban Resort (THE OUT NYC)
surrounding our XL Nightclub was named one of this year’s top 100 hotels
in the world by Fodors featured in the “Trendsetter” category and
featured on CNN.com and we are #3 on TripAdvisor (of 156 Specialty
Hotels in NYC).

THEOUTNYC.com (4 star resort + & $99 Euro style luxury hostel pods)

Xlnightclub.com (#1 night club in NYC)

Xlcabaret.com (major performance acts)

KTCHNnyc.com (Zagat favorite new restaurant)

Theoutnycspa.com (full service Spa&/gym)

KTCHN: Zagat –
Thttp://blog.zagat.com/2012/06/best-thing-we-ate-last-night-red.html
 
NY Times Article – “To be a Hotel and Gay in NYu” http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/travel/seven-gay-hotels$-in-new-york.htm

TIME Magazine Article – “I Had a Gay Old Time” http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2113812,00.html

It could mean big things for Lake View and Boystown. A study of the community
has long identified it seriously lacks hotels, a part of the reason why
the Ricketts Family now plan to open one near Wrigley Field.

Officials with Ald. Tom Tunney’s office say a hotel in Boystown, however, might be just what the community needs.

“I actually followed up and saw the product, and it’s great,” said
Chief of Staff Bennett Lawson. 

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Short Mountain Tennessee Radical Fairy Gathering

radfae.org

The RadFae.org web site exists to pull together Radical Faerie
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.
If you are new to the faeries, join the faerie email list.
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.
 Short Mountain Sanctuary (SMS) in Tennessee  is a collective providing queer safe space. We strive to live lightly on the land and to maintain an environment that is open, free, and stimulating to each person’s growth and creativity. We make decisions by consensus. Life here is simple and rustic. We drink springwater, use an outhouse, and heat with wood. What electricity we have we collect from the sun. The heart of the community is an antebellum log cabin that serves as kitchen, dining, library, and common space. Residents live in a variety of homebuilt one- to five-person dwellings. We grow much of our food, herbs, and dazzling flowers. Goats supply us with milk and chickens with eggs. 
The Radical Faeries (also Faeries and Fae) are a loosely-affiliated, worldwide network and counter-cultural movement seeking to reject hetero-imitation and redefine queer identity through spirituality. The Radical Faerie movement started in the United States among gay men during the 1970s sexual and counterculture revolution.
 The movement has expanded in tandem with the larger gay rights movement, challenging commercialization and patriarchal aspects of modern LGBT life while celebrating pagan constructs and rituals.  Faeries tend to be fiercely independent, anti-establishment, and community-focused. Faerie culture is undefinable as a group; however, it has similar characteristics to “Marxism, feminism, paganism, Native American and New Age spirituality, anarchism, the mythopoetic men’s movement, radical individualism, the therapeutic culture of self-fulfillment and self-actualization, earth-based movements in support of sustainable communities, spiritual solemnity coupled with a camp sensibility, gay liberation and drag.” 
Radical Faeries today embody a wide range of genders, sexual orientations, and identities. Many sanctuaries and gatherings are open to all, while some still focus on the particular spiritual experience of man-loving men co-creating temporary autonomous zones. Faerie sanctuaries adapt rural living and environmentally sustainable concepts to modern technologies as part of creative expression. Radical Faerie communities are generally inspired by indigenous, native or traditional spiritualities, especially those that incorporate genderqueer sensibilities.
GATHERINGS are held all over the world!  Find one near you!
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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.

Owned and operated by local gay community insiders, Out In The Vineyard
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

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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. 

THIS IS NOT HAPPENING IN PUERTO VALLARTA!!

When I went to Vallarta last Spring, a friend told me , “OH MY GOD, I won’t go there any more because of all the kidnapping and robberies!” – I called some friends in PV and they assured me it was NOT happening there. And that is mostly all happening near the border. 

   

So I went for a week. And everything was fine. Just as it always
was.  I walked the streets Vallarta  alone day or night. I never felt
uncomfortable or scared. 
I’ve been living here for 11 years. And have had ZERO problems
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. 

“Many cities in the US have much more security problems than PV…or many other Mexican cities, for that matter.

             

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!

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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 LiebJess 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…




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Gay Travel and Deals in Palm Springs California

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Not Everyone in France is Ready for Marriage Equality

Seems some folks in France are NOT ready for Marriage Equality yet. A huge demonstration happened in Paris, where hundreds of thousands of adults and children protested the upcoming Marriage For Everyone  bill. 

The Guardian reports:

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. 

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Gay Travel to Hunan China Zhangjiajie National Park

The first of China’s National Parks is unknown to many of
those travelling through China. Located in the Hunan Province of
mid-southern China, Zhangjiajie National Park has clusters of karsts
poking out over the landscape as if they were flowers sprouting up from
the ground. 
One trip up the mountain, and you understand how the artists
of the movie Avatar used the vistas as inspiration for the fictional
world of Pandora. At nearby Tianmen (Heaven’s Gate) Mountain, a 30
minute Gondola ride 7.5 kms long and 1279 meters high takes you to the
top of a misty mountain, where a man-made trail precariously juts out
from the sides of the plateau. Kind of scary looking!
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Gay Travel and Places to Stay in Berlin

Gay travelers to Berlin can now check out the Pink Pillow stamp of approval for hotels and places to stay. 

Berlin has launched the world’s first  (?) ever LGBT hotel network. Pink Pillow Berlin Collection by visitBerlin. – I am not sure why they call this worlds first?  It sounds like Tag Approved and similar programs. 

The pink pillow Berlin Collection brings together hotels that believe with all their heart that all guests should be welcomed exactly as they are.

All participating hotels recommend themselves to gay and lesbian guests. They emphasize a professional and relaxed service.

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American Airlines Travel in Style with Boeing 777-300er

CLASSY!

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
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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.

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Maui Hawaii Gay Pride 2013

MAUI PRIDE is just one reason to visit Hawaii!

But there are MANY REASONS!
GET OUT OF THOSE FRIGID TEMPERATURES WITH  CHEAP AIRFARES FROM ALL U.S. MAINLAND CITIES

 

The weather here is 82 and Sunny with Tropical Breezes!

 

The US weather forecasts for the mainland
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!
We can’t believe how low airfares still are.  
These are sample fares for MID APRIL!!
New York to Maui           $476   ROUNDTRIP 
San Francisco to Maui      $343   ROUNDTRIP
LAX to Maui                    $446   ROUNDTRIP 
Bellingham, WA to Maui   $338   ROUNDTRIP
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Best and Worst Gay Travel Destinations

Sweden is the BEST, Iran’s is the WORST and the US is somewhere in the middle. 

 That’s the scoop  from the 2012 Spartacus International Gay Guide, the go-to guidebook for gay travel.

Spartacus International Gay Guide 2013/2014: 42nd Edition (Spartacus Travel Guide)

Yes, some people still use books instead of the internet. 
And my good friend Davey Wavey is on the cover!

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

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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.

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