Gay Travel…What Does It Mean To You?
GAY TRAVEL…..what does it mean?
Everyday I scan countless news headlines, blogs and story leads, looking to see who is saying what, and looking for things that are interesting. Today I discovered LANDLOPERS . It is a general travel site written by Matt Long, who happens to be gay. It’s not a “gay travel” site, like this one. He says, “My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I super wealthy. I am just an average person who has managed to travel the world efficiently and without spending a fortune.”
His post today No Respect for the Gay Traveler , really got me thinking about how my partner and I travel, compared to how other gay people travel.
When I travel, I look for “gay friendly” signs and symbols. Rainbow flags. That way I know, they are accepting and are not give me strange looks if I kiss my husband in public. I can safely assume the staff is going to be accepting of us and they welcome my gay dollars.
Matt says, “why do we need separate things? Expedia recently launched a GLBT Travel Lounge offering gay friendly travel options. That sounds fine on the face of it, but why does there need to be a GLBT search listing? Would you have a separate search criteria for African-Americans or Christians? That’s absurd. Furthermore, the gay city guides on Expedia seem to highlight a lot of clubs, bars and design stores. Not feeding into any stereotypes there, are we? If they advertised stereotypical listings to other minorities, there would be a national boycott.
I do not need to be segregated with other gay people. I am an independent traveler and am quite capable of handling myself in most situations around the world and can interact with people of all backgrounds. I’m not looking for everyone to get who I am and do not need to travel in a homogenized bubble.” – I disagree with Matt. I WANT separate listings. And to compare us with African-Americans or Christians does not make any sense. Of course, you would not have separate listings for those groups. But what about separate listings for families? or seniors? It comes down to a group having certain needs and wants.
And as gay travelers, I think many of us want different things. Some people want the gay, gay, gay experience. While others just want to blend in. Matt says, “Drop the rainbow flags and instead educate your staffs that 1) gay people do exist and 2) that you treat them like any other guest. This revolutionary concept would go well beyond any promise of techno parties or the excessive use of glitter. The same goes with gay-friendly itineraries. I don’t even know what this means: clubs and brunch only restaurants? We don’t need that, our travel interests are usually the same as anyone else when visiting a new place. When I go to Paris I want to visit Montmartre or the Louvre, not a drag club. What we need is respect and not segregation.”
The rainbow flag is like a big welcome sign. You can’t drop that. It demonstrates that a place is gay or at least gay-friendly. Matt says our travel interests are usually the same as anyone else when visiting a new place. I disagree. When I was in Paris last year I went to the Louvre sure, but I also hung out every night in the le Marais, the gay district and went to a drag bar, a sauna and gay restaurant! I think we all want different things when we travel. And while Matt isn’t necessarily looking for the “gay experience” when he travels, many of us are.
I was out with a gay friend last night who commented he loves to go on cruises, but has never taken a gay cruise. I asked what he liked about it, and he said he enjoys picking up the bi-married men! That’s not my thing. It’s too much work for one thing. I would rather be on a boat with all gay men!
This whole issue brings into question just how gay friendly are certain countries that tend to be popular with gay tourists? No doubt if we boycotted every country that didn’t have a Clone Zone or gay club we’d be limited to a very dull itinerary. But many gay people may not be aware that their well-earned holiday dosh is going into the coffers of governments who oppress homosexuals and refuse them to live their lives openly, and in some cases in fear of imprisonment.
Egypt
It’s got plenty to recommend it on the romantic front; cruises down the Nile, sun basked shores and experiencing the Pyramids at sunset etc. But Egypt also happens to be one of the most unsympathetic countries relating to human rights especially over homosexuality. Recently gay websites were closed down by the authorities and used as evidence to secure jail sentences for Egyptian gays.
Morocco
Like many Islamic / Muslim societies that view homosexual acts strictly as precursors to marriage, being openly gay and in love with someone of the same sex is a big no, no. Algiers may appear wild and louche but it’s unlikely you and your lover will be able to sign a ‘civil partnership’ there for many years to come.
Jamaica, Dubai….do I really want to go there that bad? Not so much.
So I am curious, how do you travel. What do you want? What do you look for?
Leave us your comments!
Derrick Sorles
Michael Snell
New Gay Travel Guide and Best Gay Cities
Gay Travel Deal to Iceland’s Gay Pride in August
Reykjavik Excursions is offering a special package for revelers visiting Reykjavik ICELAND next month for gay pride. The Icelandic gay society is small but very active and a ‘gay scene’ exists only in Reykjavík. Last year over 40,000 turned out for Pride! The official program for this years event can be viewed online .
Reykjavik gay pride is expected to be especially prideful and extravagant this year as it celebrates Iceland’s recently-approved gay marriage law. The parade and festival takes place over four days, August 5-8.
Book travel now to be a part of this historic event. The travel deal includes a three-night stay at the chic Hilton Reykjavik Nordica hotel and A Sense of Reykjavik tasting tour. The Hilton Reykjavik Nordica hotel is situated in the city’s financial district and just minutes from the city center by complimentary shuttle bus. It features a traditional Nordic spa and gourmet dining in its VOX restaurant. – Iceland is all about Spa’s, Wellness and the famous Blue Lagoon!
The tour, managed by Reykjavik Excursions , includes a guided walking tour of the city center and stops at three light gourmet shops. The tour ends by the often-busy fishing harbor.
Iceland’s gay marriage law went into effect last month and replaces the country’s system of registered partnerships for gay and lesbian couples first enacted in 1996. Lots of Gay Iceland News and Resources can be found at GAY ICE .
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Travel to Greece – Picture Perfect Perivolas in Santorini
SANTORINI, GREECE has been on my bucket list for a while now! A friend just came back and stayed at PERIVOLAS and after seeing the photos he shot there, I moved it up my bucket list! Talk about picture perfect! He said watching the sunset from the infinity pool was just amazing. Rooms are pricey at $550-$1000 a night. But he said even if you can just splurge for a night or two, it’s worth it.
Built amphitheatrically, Perivolas’ secluded location combines expansive views with the luxury of absolute tranquillity. To protect guests’ privacy, fragrant fig trees, red-hot geraniums, and brilliant bougainvillea surround the houses. Terraced gardens spill down the slope to the infinity pool, which seems to slip off the rim of the cliff and bleed into the blue horizon.
Santorini is a beautiful warm and hospitable island located in the Aegean, and in many ways idyllic for gay vacation visitors. The gay scene in Athens Thessaloniki and Mykonos has grown in recent years. There is a greater abundance of openly gay venues, which no longer feel the need to hide behind close doors. Some of the more attractive islands for tourist such as Santorini are catching up fast. Santorini has gay beaches, gay friendly hotels and great night life! So far, there is no gay night club in Santorini – but I am sure one is coming soon!
Euro Pride in Warsaw Poland This Year
For the first time, in a bold move, EuroPride was held outside of Western Europe and organizers chose Warsaw as its host city for 2010. The very Catholic Poland is not known for it’s accepting attitude towards the LGBT community.
According to the AFP, “opinion surveys show that 80 percent of Poles oppose gay marriage and 93 percent believe gay and lesbian couples should not have the right to adopt children. Two out of three Poles oppose gay demonstrations.”
The AP reports on the parade:
The parade, part of the EuroPride gay rights festival, is meant to give a boost to the fledgling gay rights movement in Poland. Gay rights were strongly repressed during the communist era, and gays and lesbians have struggled since communism fell 20 years ago for acceptance in a society still strongly influenced by the church. “We feel like they are 20 years behind the Netherlands,” said Ad Bakker, a 39-year-old from Holland who traveled to Warsaw to show solidarity with Polish friends. “But the atmosphere is good and we hope that EuroPride will help.” A Polish friend of his, Sebastian Blaszczyk, 36, said the situation in Poland “gets better and better every year,” but the country still has far to go in accepting gays.
Vote For Michael Snell As The Next Top Gay Travel Guru
OK, so I have a BIG FAVOR to ask.
I have applied for a very cool job with GayTravel.com
Out of hundreds of applications, after the first cut last week, they have narrowed it down to 54 finalists. And I have made it to the top 54!
From here, on August 1st, they will pick their top 8 finalists to go to New York City for the final selection of the winner.
The winner gets a 6 month paid job with GayTavel.com and will fly all over the US helping them build their brand with Social Media and blogging and Networking!
So here is my favor. I am asking to PLEASE go to GayTravel.com and sign up for a free profile/account for yourself. It just takes a minute.
THE VOTING HAS JUST BEGUN! And runs for 2 weeks. Till July 30th.
Look for MICHAEL – Scoll down and vote 5 STARS~!
Any help you can give me, would be GREATLY appreciated!!!
Michael Snell
America’s Next Top GAY TRAVEL GURU!
Gay Man Wins $1 mill in Air Travel Lawsuit
A jury has awarded a Buxton man more than $1 million in a discrimination case based on sexual orientation — the largest such award to date in Maine.
Edward Russell’s attorney, Guy Loranger, argued in Cumberland County Superior Court that his client was repeatedly passed up for promotion because he is gay. In late June, a jury agreed after hearing three days of evidence and deliberating for six hours.
The jury found that Russell’s former employer, Express Jet Airlines, had violated Maine’s Human Rights Act, which bars discrimination based on sexual orientation. Jurors awarded Russell $500,000 for emotional distress, $500,000 for punitive damages and $47,000 in lost wages.
“This guy was completely qualified to do the job,” Loranger said. “The jury said it didn’t matter his color, his race, his national origin or his sexual preference — he was qualified to do the job and you should have allowed him to do it.”
Read the full story at Press Herald .
Gay Travel to Argentina – The Next Gay Wedding Hotspot?
Gay travel to Buenos Aires really won’t be affected by this, but YESTERDAY, Argentina’s Senate voted in favor of legalizing gay marriage by 33 votes to 27 with three abstentions, making Argentina the first country in Latin America to legalize same-sex marriage.
The bill, which grants same-sex couples all the rights, responsibilities and benefits of heterosexual marriage, including the right to jointly adopt, was debated in the Senate for around 14 hours. The legislation has become a flagship piece of legislation for President Cristina Fernandez’s center-left government though the debate in fact split both major political parties. The president is expected to sign the bill into law within the next few days.
But it’s really for residents and tourists won’t be able to tie the knot here.
Same-sex couples from other countries will need to live in Argentina before becoming eligible, and the necessary residency documents can take months to obtain.
This shows how far a predominantly Catholic country can come, from dictatorship to true democracy. TEXAS, well, that’s another story ! They are moving towards dictatorship!!
With the bill signed, Argentina joins Canada, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Norway, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland in allowing gay marriage.
Nepal looks set to be the next country to legalize same-sex marriage as lawmakers are busy hammering out a new constitution that will grant a broad set of rights and protections for gay and lesbian couples.
But, for today, congratulations to Argentina!
Gay Hawaii and Maui Sunseeker Resort
Gay Travel to The Hawaiian Islands!
Located in the central Pacific Ocean, are the most remote chain of islands in the world. Three hundred sixty-five days of the year, the islands of Hawaii promise magic and romance. Pleasant tropical weather year round, a laid-back Aloha attitude, and natural beauty will inspire you to keep the romance going beyond your island time.
Maui is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands with a land area of 729 square miles with a variety of sights and experiences. The views from atop 10,000-foot Mt. Haleakala (especially popular at sunrise and sunset) are well worth the winding drive past fields of protea and other exotic flowers. The long, winding road to the village of Hana is lined with waterfalls and lush tropical foliage. The quaint old towns of Lahaina and Wailuku are fun for exploring, shopping, and dining. During the winter months, the waters surrounding Maui are ideal for whale-watching.
The gay population is second only to that on Oahu. The biggest concentration of our community is in the Kihei area of South Maui, although we’re everywhere on the island!
Most resort destinations really have two gay communities, and Maui is no different. The local community tends to socialize in their own ‘family’ in private homes, informal groups or a weekly excursion to the beach. Although the local community is typically low-key, there are fundraisers and social events happening often, and visitors are always welcome.
The other gay group on Maui is made up of vacationing singles or couples, many of whom return to the island every year. The scene on Maui isn’t focused so much on high energy or heavy cruising but more on enjoying the incredible beauty found here.
Whichever group you identify with, you’ll find lots of opportunities to have fun, participate in activities and mix with the locals. Information on current local gay activities can be found online at Maui Gay Info and Pride Maui .
Maui Sunseeker is our favorite place to stay! It is the place on Maui where you can feel free to be yourself. Welcoming all, but catering primarily to the gay and lesbian traveler. It is the largest and most known gay resort. A beautiful 17-room gay-owned and operated resort hotel located on a secluded beach in Kihei. It is a boutique hotel for adults only. The suites are spacious, many with their own kitchens, there’s a clothing-optional rooftop area complete with hot tub and massage services, you get free Internet access, and the staff is friendly and accommodating.
Kihei is known for its beaches, so you’ll want to make at least one trek to the stupendous Big Beach and its neighbor, the gay- and clothing-optional-friendly Little Beach. Glassy turquoise waves, caramel-colored sand, and the best bodysurfing ever await you.
“Our location is convenient to Maui attractions such as Little Beach, the Iao Valley, Hana, Lahaina and the volcano, Haleakala. The hotel has long been a fixture in South Maui; always offering a welcoming home away from home for travelers. Acquired by the current owner in 2008, the Maui Sunseeker remains Gay owned and operated. Fostering an atmosphere of quiet elegance, acceptance and aloha, guests truly become a part of our Hawaiian ohana or family. The Wailana Inn became a part of Maui Sunseeker in September 2004. An extensive renovation of the building, guest rooms and gardens was quickly accomplished. The unification of the two diverse properties resulted in an exciting and new haven to lose all cares and feel free to be yourself. Maui Sunseeker welcomes the diversity that is our community.”
Maui Sunseeker has an amazing staff that will help you plan your stay. Their in-house concierge service will help you plan and book your activities on Maui. There is an endless list of possible activities they will coordinate for you! Everything from wine tours and cooking classes to spa tratements, and water and air activities. They will even help plan your special day,
if you’re looking to exchange vows and have a romantic honeymoon.
“As our resort is LGBT clientele and owned/operated, we wanted to find the best activity providers on the island that are either gay owned/operated or are supporters of the gay community. We have worked hard to be sure our guests feel as welcome and comfortable at any activity we refer them to, as they do at home at the Sunseeker. We promise the loving Aloha spirit of these providers will welcome all and promises a fabulous time. “
Once you stay at Maui Sunseeker, you’ll come back again and again! Everyone agrees!
“My partner and I have stayed at the Sunseeker about 6-8 times. We love the atmosphere and the hotel staff. Maui is great; but staying at the Sunseeker is the vacation.”
“I have stayed here for 15 years (half the property used to be the Wailana Inn), and it is perfect for my needs: gay friendly staff #1, comfortable rooms (I always stay in one with access to the garden lanai), hot tub on the roof, wi fi and MORE!”
“Friends recommended I stay at the Maui Sunseeker for my first trip there. Looking at prices on the internet, it was great value compared to more expensive hotel rooms and vacation rentals that have gone up a lot recently. Also, it was very easy to book online. When I arrived, the staff was very friendly and I felt very comfortable… “
Hawaii truly exudes romance and peacefullness. Beaches, sunsets, stargazing, come to Maui Sunseeker and see what you have been missing!
New Gay Travel Guide
WIN a Gay Civil Partnership in Scotland
With its dramatic scenery, beautiful loch-side settings, gourmet food and dramatic venues, it is no wonder Scotland has become the romantic backdrop of choice for celebrities like Mark Owen, Madonna and Stella McCartney to celebrate their wedding day.
Love Scotland is Scotland’s only specialised Civil Partnership planner and they are giving couples the chance to win a luxury Civil Partnership ceremony, celebration and honeymoon in Scotland.
· Register your Civil Partnership on the historic Royal Mile in Edinburgh
· Relax away your pre-wedding jitters with a night at 94DR a 5 star,
contemporary boutique guest house in the heart of the city
· Complement your look and style with beautiful bouquets or buttonholes from Spiral ,
the award winning floristry design company
· Have all your memories preserved by one of Scotland’s most highly
regarded wedding photographers – Nadin Dunnigan
· Celebrate your wedding with a fabulous meal from Michelin star winning chef Paul Kitching
in his exclusive restaurant at 21212
· Start your honeymoon with a night at the exquisitely restored Georgian townhouse of 21212
· Escape to The Hideaway Experience and 2 nights in the Angus countryside,
where you can enjoy picnics in the great outdoors and relax in the hot tub under the stars!
Go to Love Scotland to win the whole package. Entering is easy, all you have to do is tell us a bit about yourselves and why you’d like to get married in Scotland. A panel of celebrity judges will select 5 couples to go through to the final; then it’s up to the voting public to decide who wins! Rally support from friends, family and the general public and get them voting for you to win a dream Civil Partnership in Scotland.
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!
Gay Ski Week in Colorado 2011 for Matthew Shepard Foundation
StraightOut Media & Marketing,
the Matthew Shepard Foundation
and Crested Butte Mountain Resort
announced today the launch of “Butte 11: Matthew Shepard Foundation Gay Ski Week.” The event will take place at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (“CBMR”) from March 19 – 26, 2011 with additional activities in the towns of Mt. Crested Butte and Crested Butte, Colo.
“This new event provides the perfect vehicle for communicating the education, advocacy and awareness work of the Foundation,” said Jason Marsden, executive director of the Mathew Shepard Foundation. “This was a large scale opportunity to bring attention to our mission.”
Production of the event will be led by StraightOut Media (“SOMM”), well known for producing the top-ranked Telluride Gay Ski Week, and is being co-developed with CBMR and the Matthew Shepard Foundation (“MSF”), one of the leading GLBT education, advocacy and awareness organizations in the United States.
“We are honored to be the home of the new Matthew Shepard Gay Ski Week,” said Ken Stone, chief operating officer of CBMR. “Crested Butte has so much to offer in terms of recreation, celebration and discovery – we know participants will be dazzled. And for us, Butte 11 will most certainly be a highlight of this year’s ski season.”
“We look forward to creating a signature event for the Matthew Shepard Foundation that raises not only awareness but also contributions to the organization,” said Scott Barretto, co-founder of SOMM. “Crested Butte is known for its superb spring skiing so the sun and the snow will make for a unique gay ski week experience like no other”.
Butte 11: Matthew Shepard Foundation Gay Ski Week will boast a full schedule of events in addition to renowned skiing. Planning activities are now underway and additional information will soon be available along with the launch of the official website.
Event pricing, lodging and travel information to be announced.
New Gay Travel Guide
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
Print vs. Digital Online Advertising in the LGBT Gay Travel Market
As a group, gays and lesbians spend $64.5 billion, yes billion, annually in the U.S. travel market, according to Community Marketing Inc., a gay-market research group based in San Francisco.
Surveys also show 85% of People Find What They Are
Looking For by Using Search Engines. Many consumers look online to find the most current, most up to date information.
“There has been a huge shift from print to online,” says Derrick Sorles, of Business Blogging Consultants in Chicago. “The Yellow Pages have become archaic to many people .”
Print magazines are shutting down left and right in major metropolitan marketplaces. More and more people use their computers to find the information they want and need. This is the Web 2.0 world we live in! 50% of all consumers, search ONLINE FIRST, before leaving the house!
The top 100 advertisers in the U.S., who represent 41 percent of total advertising spending, shifted about $1 billion last year from TV and newspapers to the Web. An analysis from Ad Age shows that overall media spending in “measured” categories (TV, print, radio, Web) by the top 100 advertisers was flat in 2007, with 0.3 percent growth to $61.3 billion. But spending on Web display ads rose 33 percent to $4.2 billion.
The article notes:
Put another way, these top-tier marketers increased measured Internet spending by $1 billion; slashed newspaper spending by $674 million; and cut TV budgets by $406 million.
This is yet one more piece of evidence that dollars are flowing from traditional media to the Web. The analysis is based on data from TNS Media Intelligence for 2007. TNS only measures display advertising, and not search.
- In most cases, digital Internet advertising is much less expensive than print.
- Reach a worldwide audience online – people searching and surfing for the news, information and entertainment on a specific site.
- SPEED – Get the word out faster digitally. In just minutes news, info and ad specials can be LIVE. No pesky deadlines.
ADVERTISERS can have a presence on our LGBT travel network for $50 a MONTH OR LESS – if you choose to advertise across multiple sites!
There is no better time to try advertising online then now!email me today or give me a call, and let me show you how. 773-878-5323
Michael Snell
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.”
Gay Palm Springs in The Summertime – Less Crowded and More Bargains
Gay Palm Springs.
This tropical desert oasis is home to famously long, sun-drenched days, breathtaking mountain views and one of the largest gay communities in the country. It has been voted numerous times and won, the Best Gay Destination in the World! How can you not love 330 days a year of sunshine?
The downtown area with its quaint lampposts, benches and Mexican tile-paved enclaves invites strolling among the shops, galleries, eateries and coffeehouses. Rich in history and blessed with glorious weather, it is a prime destination of travelers from all over the world.
Palm Springs offers over 20 top attractions , including Joshua Tree national park, the Living Desert, art galleries, casinos, and of course, endless golf! It’s a huge outdoor playground with consistently brilliant sunshine, great for swimming and sunning and all types of outdoor activities with the sweet, clean air.
Whether it’s a romantic couple’s getaway, a group outing or a frisky single’s adventure at one of the clothing-optional resorts, you’re sure to find an exciting vacation. The city boasts a very large and diverse Gay resident population and has become a prime travel destination from the West coast (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle), Midwest, Northeast, Southwest, as well as internationally. Expect to meet guys from Europe, Australia, Canada, and from all over the US! Over the last decade, Palm Springs has experienced an explosion of new gay residents and new gay businesses. The resident LGBT population is now estimated at 40 percent.
There are over 30 openly-gay resort hotels in the city to choose from. Our favorite is INNdulge Palm Springs, A Resort Hotel for Gay Men. @ 601 Grenfall Road, Palm Springs CA 92264
PH 800.833.5675 / (760) 327.1408. Rest; Relaxation; and Pampering!
INNdulge is one of the most established guesthouses here in Palm Springs. Classically Mid-Century in design, INNdulge is listed in the Historic Inns of Palm Springs guidebook. Centrally located in the Warm Sands neighborhood (an area flush with clothing-optional gay accommodations), this elegant award-winning 24-room facility offers several sizes of rooms, most of which look out on the spacious pool, open 24 hours. And by the way, the pool is actually “chilled” in the hot summer months! No other gay resort in Palm Springs uses this “chiller system”, which keeps the water at about 86 degrees.
DID YOU KNOW? Howard Hughes broke ground in the Warm Sands neighborhood over 60 years ago with the first resort here in this part of town. Now this boutique neighborhood, wedged between Ramon and Sunny Dunes Road is home to 10+ resorts – a little oasis of style and pampering.
There is nothing quite like evenings in the desert. Taking a dip in the pool at Midnight. Sitting out with friends under the clear starry skies sipping cocktails, feeling the warm desert breeze against your skin. In fact, many people will take a siesta in the summer months afternoons, just so they can enjoy the magic of the Palm Springs late evenings.
INNdulge Palm Springs is a wonderful example of Palm Springs 50’s architecture. You can appreciate the architecture and the mountain views during the hotel’s free social hour that extends for two hours. It is a great way to meet the hotel’s wonderful owners, John and Jean-Guy, as well as your fellow guests.
Plus you get all of the comforts of home and MORE. Today’s savvy travelers except a level of quality in their resort destinations, and that’s what you will find here.
24 Poolside Rooms and Suites
DVD Players in Every Room
Complimentary DVD Library
King Size Beds
Refrigerators, Coffee Pots, Ironing Boards, Safes
Large Heated Pool (open 24 hours)
12 Man Jacuzzi (open 24 hours)
Cool Misters for Hot Days
Complimentary Continental Breakfast
On-Site Gym and Wi-Fi throughout the property
And you don’t take our word for it, just read the reviews left by members of the press worldwide.
This September this classic resort will celebrate its 15th Anniversary as one of the leading gay hotels in Palm Springs! Don’t miss all the summer fun! INNdulge your fantasies, INNdulge your fancy, INNdulge your spirit!
SUMMER SPECIAL! Second Night FREE !
Every Second Weeknight is FREE! Stay 2, pay for 1. Stay 4, pay for 2. Call for Details!
June 1 – September 30, 2010, Sunday thru Thursday Only, Holidays Excepted
PLUS, this summer get a free SPLASH PASS – a wallet-sized discount card that gets you special savings at area restaurants, retailers and other businesses, and discounted admission to many area attractions and special events. It’s the perfect addition to Summer Splash! The best part? The SPLASH PASS is absolutely FREE to everyone – valley visitors and residents alike!
There are SPECIAL EVENTS happening all summer long ! With year-round sun, the largest gay events in the country, and world-class shopping and dining, Palm Springs is consistently rated travel adventure.
Travel Tips Anyone Can Use to Save Money
CBS Travel News Expert
Peter Greenberg recently shared
10 Money Saving Travel Tips.
Among those I found most interesting were –
Book by Phone – Not online. People think shopping online, they find the best deals. Not so. Peter says a travel agent still has access to more inventory and might know of things you would not discover on your own.
Know when to buy: Airlines often announce airfare sales on Friday night, so all the matching/cross-cutting happens over the weekend, Greenberg says. But this is actually the worst time to buy your tickets, because everybody else is looking then as well. Instead, he suggests, try booking after midnight on Monday night/Tuesday morning: “All the tickets that were booked but not purchased on Monday come flooding back into the airlines computer system at the discount fare.”
Argentina is still a fantastic deal (and very gay!) : The Argentine peso is still in decline. On a recent trip, Greenberg says, he picked up the tab for six people at a fancy Buenos Aires restaurant — ordering appetizers, side dishes, entres, dessert, and after-dinner drink. “Including tip, the bill came to $134 U.S.” — about $22 a person. WOW! I checked rates for AXEL Hotel Buenos Aires for next month, they are still running $100-$270 US – not a huge bargain, but still cheaper than New York City hotels.
He also claims the best time of year to travel – Travel right after Thanksgiving: The absolute best time to go anywhere — is the week after Thanksgiving. Why? Because most Americans are recovering from Thanksgiving holiday – no one really travels that 7-8 days after Thanksgiving.
Read the rest of his tips online at Money Watch .
Gay Travel in Morocco with Edmund White
In the new issue of PASSPORT Magazine , author Edmund White raves about Morocco and a special property called La Gazelle D’Or .
It’s sounds enchanting and magical! He says, “La Gazelle D’Or is outside the town Taroudant, a walled city. It’s like the Middle Ages, nothing has changed, filled with friendly people and almost no tourists.
It is a very luxurious, French-owned hotel where you have your own little house in the woods with a fantastic swimming pool, fantastic meals and it’s very luxurious and expensive. “
It looks beautiful.
It sits on a 200 acres organic orange grove.
I’ll have to put that on my bucket list!
Check out the Passport VIP Lounge , where celebrities share some of their insights.
Last month Joan Rivers was asked, If you could own any hotel room in the world which would it be and why?
She answered, “The Grand Ballroom of the Plaza in New York. It’s so elegant and grand and has nothing to do with reality. I would take the stage and make it into a bedroom.”
