I’m From Driftwood Launches 50-State LGBT Story Tour
Nathan Manske,
creator of ImFromDriftwood.com
and one of The Advocate’s Forty Under 40,
recently announced a 50-state “Story Tour” to collect, publish and broadcast true LGBT stories from across the country. The IFD team will set out in September on a 4-month tour of the U.S. with the goal of bringing IFD off the computer screen and into America. Along the way, they will meet the many faces of LGBT America, bringing their stories to the world through videos, audio stories and written word.
IFD is an award-winning website that collects true LGBT stories from all over the world–from the smallest towns to the biggest cities–to help gay youth feel not so alone. Throughout the 50-state tour, IFD will have readings at cafes, bookstores, bars, community centers, college campuses and other venues where they will share stories from IFD and talk about the site and its purpose. Along the way, they will be filming and recording video and audio stories from LGBT people they meet across the country.
Throughout the journey, IFD will have a regular blog page chronicling their adventures. Marquise Lee, IFD’s Video Editor and founder of Crush Deviant Productions will film the journey and make short YouTube videos about their progress. As the Story Tour progresses, they will publish regular video webisodes as well as written updates about their journey.
But first…they need your help.
In order to fund the story tour, IFD has launched a fundraising campaign, where they hope to raise $15,000 through small donations and fun incentives (check out their KickStarter page for more details). That won’t be enough money for the entire 4-month Tour but it will be enough to get started. They’re also hoping to make the entire experience as interactive as possible. The IFD team is taking requests of where to visit and even asking people to open up their guestroom or couches.
IFD knows LGBT people are everywhere.
You know LGBT are everywhere.
After this Road Trip, LGBT youth will know it, too!
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Travel in Guangzhou China with Johnny Rico
I Have Arrived.
Where is my red carpet entrance?
Usually when a blogger starts to elaborate on his journey, the long hours on a plane and body pains are always the first to be mentioned.But why start off on a negative note? Who cares if I had sixteen hour flight, or if I waited 3 hours at a McDonald’s in China for my ride to finally show up. What really matters is the amount of trouble I am and will eventually get into as my life flourishes in Guangzhou, China.
I arrived on Monday the 24th and was some what appalled when I learned that I had to stay at the University where my program is located. I am a city guy ( bright lights and chaos arouse me). But the University’s city is the complete opposite. It is secuestered and vapid. The excitement is non-existent. I had a few days till my internship started so I decided to have an adventure.
About a year ago, an article was published on the San Francisco Sentinel website about the police cracking down on gay men loitering in the People’s Park. I found this interesting and decided to venture and see why the police feel the necessity to harass the homosexuals. The park is located off of the Gong Yuan Qian Station, which is the crossing point between line 1 and 2. The exit signs will lead you into a small underground mall with tons of little shops squished into any available space. If you make your way to the escalator than it will take you up to a large park. The park was filled with “mature” people dancing, hacky sacking, and playing badminton. On the left hand side of the park there lies the Gay Chinese Red Carpet. Men sit on the benches along the path and watch as other men stroll by searching for a reason to stop. I walked through this meat market and felt like Naomi Campbell on the runway.
Regardless of my sexual position, I decided to sit. A man immediately stared and passed by me three times before sitting down. The men here have to resort to public bathroom jack off sessions and park flings not because it turns them on or is kinky but because many of the gay places are shut down by government or are strongly frowned upon. It is depressing.
I ended up sitting at another location. Two other Chinese guys approached me and one spoke English so we got to chatting. I told them to take me to a bar. All three of us got in the taxi and headed to a place called Velvet, which is located in the Taojin district very near to the Garden hotel. This was supposedly a straight bar that gay people took over. It started out as a mixed crowd and then around 12 the gays pour in. The managers allow only straight women to dance on the bar and have signs all over that say no kissing.They also walk around like police patrolling and if you are caught kissing too many times then they will kick you out. There is talk of the club shutting down and changing the name so that gays will no longer come. Many people come because of the international DJs. The entrance fee is 50 Yuan and the drinks are around 60 Yuan. Many foreigners party in this bar. Of course there are the local Chinese queens and “Mean Girls” that stare and act like they are too perfect for conversation. All and all the club is overcrowded and boring. But I met many friends that night.
The two Chinese guys that I came with did not want to pay the 50 Yuan so they left and I entered alone. I grooved back and forth at the bar for awhile while enjoying a Rum and Coke and some Lady Gaga. I noticed two foreigners at the bar so I approached them. One was from Russia and the other from New York. By the end of the night, New York and I had become the best of friends. I was right to make friends with New York because I had free drinks from the bartenders all night and dirty looks from the Native Chinese. It ended up being a great time and the alcohol was stronger than in the States as well. It only took two drinks to bring out my “She Wolf” howl.
I ended up returning the next night with New York and found myself being very popular. I bought a Sprite because the night before had left my stomach rocking and rolling, but the bartenders poured vodka into it while I was in the bathroom. They also challenged New York and I to a 3 way rock, paper, scissor battle that left the loser guzzling down shots of tequila. I had many people staring. I was the only person in the club who was of Latin origin. Asian is not exactly my type so any hairy masculine foreigner that walked in usually caught my attention.
An Algerian French guy strutted in and we had an instant connection. Apparently, he was a somebody in the gay scene so dirty looks and jealous turns were what the night had in store for me. One Chinese acquaintance of his even asked him why he was too good to date a Chinese guy. The Chinese guys hate when foreigners pair up. So the locals hated me but I didn’t care because the French guy’s rudeness kind of turned me on.
The French guy later asked me to go to an after party at his friends place. I showed up only to find two muscled Lebanese and Libyan guys working out in tight underwear. Three Chinese guys came with us to the party and they were too scared to enter the apartment after seeing the men.They slowly backed away from the door so I pushed through them and entered with excitement. Just then, a third almost naked muscle man from Taiwan exited the bathroom and gave me a friendly nod. I hit the jack pot here! A hairy Lebanese, a Libyan apartment owning fashion designer, a french Algerian, three arrogant Chinese, a sweat dripping Taiwanese, and an all too curious American sat discussing life, indulging in some sin and enjoying the different types of company.
This is what traveling is all about. Learning and living from other people about what life is all about. We all have our different cultures and beliefs but we still find a way to just enjoy each other. It has only been a week and I have already learned and experienced so much.
You will have to continue on my journey with me and read my next blog to find out what happens from the party and on. It is kind of juicy.
Until my next life changing experience,
Johnny, PLEASE Be Good
Gay Travel Guide Question…What Does a Gay Vacation Mean to You?
WHAT IS A GAY VACATION?
AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?
It can mean different things to different people. Some gays like to travel in June to Gay Pride’s around the world every year. While some gays prefer Circuit Parties or Gay Cruises. Some LGBT folks go to very LGBT towns like Provincetown and San Francisco, while others are choosing Las Vegas and New York . Some gays don’t care if there is anything gay going on at all – they make their own fun and blend in with the locals.
I was at a conference recently and a lady, who I presume was heterosexual, said to me, “I don’t understand why you run gay travel sites. We don’t run heterosexual travel sites…” – uh, that’s because MOST of the world is geared towards heterosexuals!
Gay men and women often feel as though they are out of place when they go on vacation. They want to enjoy their time away from home without having to deal with any ignorant attitudes. Sometimes this can be hard. As much as I would love to see Dubai …I don’t think I am rushing there anytime soon.
Today with so many gay vacations available to book onto gay men and women can vacation without encountering prejudice. But what can you expect on gay vacations ?
These vacations can offer people who are gay the chance to take a break without facing the usual prejudices they may experience in everyday life. It can be very upsetting to have to deal with non-friendly behaviour and that is one of the reasons why these vacations are so popular. So if you want to take a vacation with likeminded people, you want to plan smart and do your research or have someone help you plan your trip.
You might be surprised to learn that there is a large and growing choice of tourist destinations to visit. As more travel operators realise that they should cater for a more diverse customer base, more destinations are added worldwide that welcome the gay dollar. This means that you will not have a limited choice when it comes to booking your vacation.
As well as being able to choose from many different destinations there are plenty of types of gay vacation to go on. Twenty years ago this choice was very limited. But things have changed. Today however there are package holidays to beach side destinations, adventure vacations and even all gay cruises. So if you were thinking that your vacation would have to be quite dull, think again, you can go on the type of vacation you love.
At certain times of the year various countries hold gay Pride events and these are some of the highlights of the year. Vacations can be taken to coincide with these events and are really great fun to meet lots of new people. So if there is an event you would like to attend, why not incorporate it into your next vacation?
For those of you who like to feel as though they are in the lap of luxury while on vacations there are some great all inclusive deals. Here you can eat and drink as much as you like when you like. Not only that but the majority of all inclusive hotels are 4 or 5 star, so they are such a pleasure to stay in.
If you are single or coupled and want to go on a vacation aimed at gay people you will have lots to choose from. You can go alone or in a group of friends, the choice is yours. The one thing that you can be sure of is that you will have a fantastic time!
Howie Holben runs Spirit Journeys , a gay vacations company that concentrates on personal growth tours. Howie has travelled the world learning from indigenous peoples. You can read more about Howie, his work and gay tours with a spiritual flavor at Spirit Journeys website.
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner Promises Passengers Arrive at their Destination Refreshed
While not everyone can afford a private jet for their next vacation, thanks to Boeing’s revolutionary technology passengers can travel in luxury without the additional costs.
Boeing’s new 787 Dreamliner, whose anticipated launch in late 2010 is expected to revolutionize airplane travel, has found a way to actually reduce passenger fatigue and increase passenger comfort in flight – all through using innovative carbon composite materials.
The carbon composite exteriors can sustain a lower cabin pressure at higher altitudes than previously used aluminum can, and can sustain higher humidity levels, which has been shown to increase passenger comfort.
Higher sweeping ceilings, dynamic lighting, larger lavatories, more spacious luggage bins (not a good idea in my opinion! Passengers now are already trying to bring on luggage that is TOO BIG, to save the checking fee) and larger windows, also made possible by the carbon composite exterior, give a greater sense of welcome to the passenger. Windows, made with electrochromatic glass, can dim with the push of a button.
Boeing Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Albaugh promises that “passengers flying on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (compared to flying other aircrafts) will feel better when they land.”
I for one am anxious to see this!
Gay Travel in Guangzhou China with Johnny Rico
A few months ago, Johnny Rico found us thru Facebook and our Travel Blogs. For a young gay man, he is very well traveled. He is about to embark on a 12-week life-changing experience to Guangzhou China – not known to be a big gay mecca! In fact, he tells us many bars get shut down quickly there. China is a huge and very diverse country. Gay activity is tolerated in a very few places (mainly large cities) but the political scene in China can mean rapid changes in official attitudes. The authorities have recently admitted that gays and lesbians do exist and have begun working with gay groups in a very limited way.
Johnny is taking an internship there and excited about what the summer holds for him!
They are Crazy to let me in!
I am a 21 year old college traveler. I study abroad and do internships in other countries in order to enjoy other types of people and lifestyles. — I will let your mind think up the details that are linked to the word “enjoy”.
I spent three months in Chile in 2008 and 6 months in Buenos Aires, Argentina last year. Just imagine the amount of damage you would want to do in that city if you were to have your own apartment in Argentina, an excellent mug and a big “young” appetite for sex.
So I did and my life experiences have made a lasting impression on my intelligence. But Argentina and Chile were not enough for me. I need more…and I DESERVE more. Which is why I used my witty charm and killer smile to land me a 12 week internship in Guangzhou, China.
What matters to me is the experience and the new things that I will learn from the whole experience. Isn’t that what life is all about. Learning to Live. Learning how to take the best things from life and live in them. It’s our life, learn what you love and surround your life in it because your only here for so long.
So come along for the ride and live vicariously through me. I will be posting blogs throughout my trip. Maybe you’ll learn a thing or two about taking advantage of the times that you pass up. Learn to live.
Until my next life changing experience,
Johnny Be Good
Connect with Johnny on FaceBook !
Watch for more of his posts soon!
New Gay Travel Guide
LGBT travel to Belguim…Beer and Chocolate to Castles and Gardens
We recently flew to Prague from Chicago. And on the way there, had a one night layover in London, for just a few hours. Coming home, we had the choice of a one night, twelve hour layover in Paris or 6 hours in Brussels. We chose Paris, because Belguim has SO MUCH to see and do, I want to go back there and spend a whole week! It would have driven me crazy to be in such a beautiful country with a few hours on my hands.
We have had friends and readers say how much they love Belguim. The people are very friendly and welcoming and there really is no language barrier. It is easy to converse in English, the 4th unofficial language.
The stunning architecture decorating the quaint cobblestone squares is breathtaking. Incredible cuisine can be found in the vast array of restaurants where each meal seems better than the last. Energetic and carefree, the overall mood in Belgium is infectious, summoning in all of us to live as Belgians and enjoy life to the fullest.
A must-see, must-do is the ATOMIUM. The Atomium is a monument built for Expo ’58, the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Designed by André Waterkeyn, it is 102-metres (335 ft) tall, with nine steel spheres connected so that the whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron srytal magnified 165 billion times. It is probably the most popular tourist attraction and symbol of Europe’s capital. Five of its nine spheres are open to the public. The upper sphere is said to offer spectacular views of Brussels, and when the skies are very clear, the view reaches to Antwerp. (FYI, the International Gay Lesbian Travel Association IGLTA is hosting their conference in Antwerp June 23-27).
Brussels is fast getting rid of its dull and grey image and gaining itself a reputation as one of Europe’s must-do cool short break destinations, with her human size, trendy bars and restaurants, fabulous food, great nightlife, fantastic shopping, numerous museums and other attractions such as the many interesting exhibitions and festivals of all kinds that are organized there throughout the year.
Brussels is also becoming well known as a mecca of style, attracting more and more of the big names who-who’s in international fashion to its growing shopping districts.
Belgium has been offering full civil marriage rights to gay couples since 2003. An estimated 5,000 ceremonies have been held since. In order to contract marriage in Belgium, one of the parties must reside in the country.
GAY PRIDE just occured in Belguim (usually mid-May) and in October comes the Pink Screens Film festival . There are lots of resturants and gay clubs in Brussels , plus the nearby Wallonia, but beyond those cities, Belguim has so much beauty to see.
If you want something more French, Wallonia is the French-speaking part of Belguim and the biggest city here is Charleroi . A much smaller selection than Brussels, Charleroi still offers a nice handful of LGBT clubs and taverns .
Visit Belguim online and find out more about this wonderful country and all of it’s exciting and beautiful cities!
New Gay Travel Guide and Best Gay Cities
Gay Marriage Watch Around The World from Purple Roofs and Purple Unions
Our travel partners at Purple Roofs , have now launched GAY MARRIAGE WATCH blog, where they cover up-to-date news on the progress of Gay Marriage around the world.
You can sign up for updates on the site, so that you get the news as it breaks. They also have a site called Purple Unions , a fantastic gay and lesbian wedding directory. You can find gay and lesbian wedding planners, photographers, event locations, honeymoon ideas, Officiants, jewelers, caterers – everything you could possibly need for your perfect day.
Their site also has a cool section called 7000 STRONG . Stories of couples at the forefront of the struggle for gay and lesbian marriage.
7,000 strong is a reference to the first 7,000+ gay & lesbian couples who received marriage licenses (and their supporters) in the United States in 2004, before Massachusetts became the first state to make gay marriage legal statewide.
Since then, close to 30,000 couples have married legally in Massachusetts, California, and now Connecticut..Here, some of them tell their individual stories !
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Travel in Sao Paulo Brazil…Biggest Gay Pride in the World June 3 – 7 2010
It doesn’t matter what you like, São Paulo is big enough to welcome every kind of people and she really does it with a wide-ranging of entertainment options. The largest city in Latin America and the fourth in the world, it is the cosmopolitan center of Brazil, from where all innovations and ideas are spread to the rest of the country. For that reason, the government and private institutions give some support to sexual, and also religious, ethnical and cultural diversity. Welcome to the heart of Brazil, welcome to the city that never sleeps, at least she does not do it alone, did you get it?
Through the blood vessels of this heart which carries all the Brazilian diversity with a social seasoning of foreigners from all over the world who come to the city for different reasons, and are able to realize the Brazilian receptive way and in addition, the importance of treating everybody well on a globalized world. The city has over 17 thousand kilometers of streets and avenues where there is a flow of 3.5 million people every day. The city looks like a worldwide metropolis and is part of a circuit which includes London, Paris, New York, Tokyo and Berlin due to the fact of being a cultural melting pot.
Important museums are located in the city and there are ten of them in Ibirapuera Park . Such museums are seen as significant spaces to divulgate arts and cultural production, e.g, Modern Arts Museum (MAM), Afro-Brazilian Museum, Contemporary Arts Museum and Astronomical Observation Planetarium. MASP, São Paulo Arts Museum, is one of the main museums of the city and the country, located on Paulista Avenue, it is a rendezvouz spot of musicians, poets, dancers, writers, actors and actresses and all kind of people as many as its free space can shelter.
Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo is a prominent headquarters of arts, located in the surroundings of Luz Station and a venue of great exhibitions such as Tarsila do Amaral, Henri Matisse. Estação Pinacoteca, close to the main Pinacoteca building, hosts an Andy Warhol exhibiton until the end of May, his largest exhibition in Latin America. Across the street you have the Portuguese Language Museum, information center of Brazil’s mother tongue and a place of Brazilian writers and poets exhibitions who contributed to what is so called Brazilian Portuguese nowadays. The masterpieces are presented in a creative and intriguing way, making use of LED, screens, interactive models placing the audience into them in an updated dynamic.
Its cultural variety can be seen in its many theaters and drama spaces in the city. Being the cradle of the most renowned Brazilian theater groups, such as Centro de Pesquisa Teatral (CPT), Teatro Oficina, Os Satyros, and Parlapatões. The convergence point is Roosevelt square, known as a place where the biggest concentration of theaters per square meter in the city is located. It is a microcosm with its characters, stories, dramas.
GLBT network is in charge of much of the tourist business in the city, mainly during the Pride Parade, which takes place every June on a Sunday after Corpus Christi celebration. That is the second largest event of the city and over R$ 189million are circulated in less than a week, behind the Formula 1 race competition which income is more than R$ 200 million. That is the result of a partnership between government and militancy.
There are over 100 Gay Pride Parades and celebrations each year in Brazil – but the biggest in the WORLD takes place in Sao Paulo June 3rd – 7th, 2010 . (3.1 million people in 2009!)
The whole city supports Gay Pride. Through the Coordenation of Sexual Affairs (CADS), the city hall guarantees R$1 million funds in infrastructure. The state government through the Sexual Diversity Policy Coordenation aids on the structure and schedule carrying out. The Federal government backs up the initiative with a sponsorship of R$ 320 thousand.
The private sector also makes investments due to the income provided by those who take part of the parade and it is not only on the parade week or day, but all over the year. Hotels located on Paulista avenue have an increase of 20% of occupation during the parade, increasing the general occupation to 90%, according to SPTuris. In order to organize all that flow, the city hosts Brazil GLBT Business Chamber, an organization founded to help entrepreneurs make their services and products to GLBT customers better and better, putting up bars, pubs, nightclubs, saunas, restaurants, NGOs and press together. Aiming to offer good service and products, being all set to receive tourists.
When a visitor goes for a tour in the city, he/she can count on a LGBT Tourist Information Center established since the beginning of 2010. The service network includes 17 tourist agencies, a change and exchange office and a gay hotel – the 155, located downtown.
According to SPTuris (São Paulo Tourism Office), the official Tourist Office, during the Parade, around 350 thousand people visit the city – 70% of them come from the state of São Paulo, 25% from other states and 5% are foreigners. They guarantee an income of R$189 million in just a week.
The city watches new ideas in different areas popping up, such as a Brazilian LGBT Sports Committee, in charge of arranging gays, lesbians and transsex volleyball and soccer championships. The organization carried out the first Uniliga with volleyball and indoor soccer matches with the city hall’s support, promising to export the idea to other Brazilian states such as Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina and Rio de Janeiro.
Want to dance?
There are also two GLBT samba schools . One of them is the brand new Monalisa Paulistana that first appeared during 2010 Carnival and aims at a place on the special samba school group. The other one is Arco-Íris, part of the main group and has its show with a lot of transsex, gays and lesbians taking part of it, and also friendly people who love the festival.
Another group which makes the city more exciting is one organized by drag queens from a nightclub called Blue Space , known as the best nightclub for drags’ shows. Every year on São Paulo’s anniversary there is a soccer match on the street – drags X employees of the nightclub, a dispute which has the
objective of making people laugh and strengthen the relationship with the neighborhood.
When traveling to any big city that is strange to you, be cautious and use common sense.
Don’t take the risk of having fake beverage, known as “bebida batizada”. It is better to buy the ones you know with sealed bottles. Buy them at establishments and not from people who sell them on the streets.
Don’t take much money when you leave your hotel and don’t forget your ID. In case you are stolen, the damage will not be that big.
Leave backpacks and purses at home. Only take them if they are really indispensable and keep on the front of your body in order to watch them.
Brazil has a hot weather, so use light clothing.
Prefer to be with a group of people. Bad intentioned actions may be avoided. The hint is also worthwhile if you want to take shots or record something. Be careful with your electronic devices.
If you have any unpleasant problem, call the Police. They are able to protect you and give you some advice on what to do.
The subway (Metrô) is the safest means of transportation. Buy your tickets in advance in order not to handle money many times.
If you drive somewhere, give preference to park in private parking lots. Car keepers on the street are not reliable.
Keep your wallet into a pocket or in a difficult place to be found.
Pay attention when using the cell phone. Most cases of robbery occur when a person is making use of a cell phone.
Be careful with beggars on the streets asking for help or talking about some of their diseases.
São Paulo has an excellent gay life. Over 40 bars, clubs and saunas.
Please note, that some saunas are frequented by rent boys so agree a price before you have fun.
Play Safe! Wear condoms!
Thanks to Alex Bernades of Revista Via G Magazine in Brazil,
our Guest Author and Travel Partner this month!
New Gay Travel Guide
Flying Coach is A Pain in My Back!
Flying coach
for 10 hours
to Europe, can be a real pain in the back – unless you are fortunate enough to fly first class. Hell, last week I flew coach 3 hours to Dallas and my pain started bothering me half way into the flight. Some of these planes have no arm or leg room, plus mishapen seats and seats with no padding.
Traveling in an airplane no longer has to be painful or uncomfortable. According to Esther Gokhale, creator of the renowned Gokhale Method for pain-free living and author of 8 Steps to a Pain-Free Back: Natural Posture Solutions for Pain in the Back, Neck, Shoulder, Hip, Knee, and Foot (Remember When It Didn’t Hurt) , while all airplane seats has a curvature that forces the spine into an uncomfortable C-shape, there are steps one can take for a pain-free ride.
These simple tips protect the spine and reduce muscle tension during an airplane flight:
· Fill the C: The concave shape of airline seats puts pressure on the spinal discs and is the starting point for muscle tension. Fill the lower part of your seat with pillows, blankets, sweaters, or a Stretchsitcushion to create a flat plane along which you can lengthen your spine.
· Hiphinge Forward: You can avoid the C-shape altogether by hiphinging forward. Use your hands to support your head with your elbows resting on the open tray. You can adjust the placement and height of your hands to provide a gentle stretch in the neck.
· Support Your Head: One of the best ways to rest or sleep on a flight is to lengthen your spine and support your head against the seat in front of you. If you are lucky enough to be in a window seat, you can find even more support in the corner between the seat in front of you and the wall of the airplane. Be sure to use a Stretchsit cushion, blanket, pillow or sweater to cushion your head.
*Esther Gokhale , pain specialist and author , and creator of the popular Gokhale Method, which takes an anthropological approach to pain free living by getting to the root cause of the pain, which involves how we sit, sleep and walk. Without anti-inflammatory medication, muscle relaxants, physical therapy or surgery, the Gokhale Method can relieve back pain and other forms of pain immediately – and for life.
Gay Pop Art – Pop Life Exhibit Brings Warhol and Haring to Ottawa Canada this Summer!
National Gallery of Canada
in Ottawa welcomes Pop Life!
From June 11 to September 19, 2010, the
National Gallery of Canada will be home
to the controversial exhibit Pop Life: Art in
a Material World featuring works by Andy
Warhol, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring and many
more.
It has been shown at the Tate Modern
in London, and Ottawa will be the ONLY North
American stop on the tour.
Pop Life: Art in a Material World explores the complex relationship between contemporary art, marketing, and the mass media that has evolved since the 1980s when Andy Warhol’s uttered his provocative maxim that “being good in business is the most fascinating kind of art.”
The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) is the sole North American venue for this unprecedented exhibition, which features more than 250 paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, videos, installations, multiples and other ephemera produced over the past three decades.
The exhibition begins with Warhol’s notorious provocation that “good business is the best art.” Marketing and publicity provided a means for Warhol to engage in modern life beyond the confines of the studio, the gallery and the museum.
Rather than simply representing or commenting on mass-media culture, Warhol deliberately infiltrated the publicity machine to cultivate an artistic persona. By performing as a partygoer, model, television personality, paparazzo and publisher, he harnessed the power of the celebrity system and expanded his reach beyond the art world and into the wider world of commerce.
Pop Life then looks ahead to the work of a number of artists who, like Warhol, have openly engaged with the cult of celebrity and unashamedly championed the idea of turning public attention into aesthetic notoriety and financial reward.
Ottawa is an open, friendly and welcoming destination for gay and lesbian travelers. And August 20-29, is their Capital Pride/Gay Pride celebration week which attracts about 50,000 people!
Plan to visit then and enjoy Gay Pride and the Pop Art showing!
POP LIFE is Organized by Tate Modern, London,
in association with the National Gallery of Canada.
Please note that some rooms contain explicit
and graphic material not suitable for children.
More about POP LIFE
(Grace Jones by DOUGLAS KIRKLAND PHOTOGRAPHY)
Gay Travel Guys @ New Gay Travel Guide
Bogota Colombia Attracting More LGBT Travelers
Beaches, Nightclubs and Fashion!
The next big vacation spot for gays?
Colombia is now just behind Brazil and Argentina on the South American travel “gaydar,” according to the Miami Herald .
Colombia is a rather scary mystery for many. Colombian kidnappings and violent drug wars are so ’90s. The dangerous internal struggles that for decades so gripped Colombia have been on the wane. Colombia’s tourism drought has finally eased, revealing surprises and delights for modern visitors.
Colombia’s capital and, with about 7.5 million people, by far its largest city, Bogotá has the country’s biggest gay scene, one that’s surprisingly established and palpably still booming. South America’s first dedicated LGBT center, Colombia Diversa , opened here in 2006, and just received the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission’s 2010 Felipa de Souza Award for its groundbreaking work in improving the lives of the country’s LGBT citizens.
Progressive homosexual rights laws are among the reasons American LGBT travelers are making the trek there. Great shopping and beaches, plus an awesome fashion scene, are drawing tourists, too, and Colombia’s just three hours from Miami.
Gayborhood Located on the city’s north side just south of Zona G, Chapinero Alto (aka Chapinero, or “Chapigay,” or “Gay Hills”) is Bogota’s booming gay district, filled with bars, cafes, and even a gay-cruisy grocery store.
Someone at Lonely Planet said,”I have just stayed at a great gay hotel in Bogota called the High Park Hotel. It is the first, and only gay hotel in Bogota and bills itself as 100% Gay an Lesbian. Ironically it is run by a very charming and nice older straight couple. They make you feel entirely at home and you will do everything to help make your stay wonderful-though the proprietor speaks only limited english and his wife doesn’t speak any. They will arrange for an english speaking guide if you like–but I didn’t use this service I and got around Bogota just fine on my own with my very limited Spanish.”
Others at Trip Advisor also say it’s OK and more of a guesthouse, not really a hotel.
Colombia offers a wealth of diverse non-gay-specific but still-gay-appealing travel possibilities, including wilderness trekking to the ruins of Ciudad Perdida, extreme adventure mecca San Gil, and sun-basking on stunning Playa Blanca. Playa Blanca is a beautiful isolated beach on an island off Cartagena. Cartagena, is an old colonial city with a beautiful historic center and an impressive castle.
I have been told, if you go here, pack lightly! Shopping in Zona Rosa is a must. You will find all the top labels, and for much cheaper than in the US or Europe—Diesel jeans go for half price! Shops and boutiques line the streets, but you should also go into the Centro Commercial Andino and the Rápido shopping centers.
Whether you are gay or not, Bogotá is a wonderful city. But it is especially welcoming to gay and lesbians travelers who have little choice in the historically macho Latin society.
Aside from the gay popular scenes of colorful Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires, word on the street is that Bogotá, with its friendly chicos and chicas, cheap and accessible shopping, and unlimited number of cultural activities, is home to the third largest gay culture scene in South America. AND GROWING!
LGBT Travel – What’s Hot? and What’s Not? in Gay and Lesbian Tourism
Top Ten Findings
from CMI’s 14th Annual
Gay & Lesbian Tourism Survey
For the past 14 years, Community Marketing, Inc. (CMI) has been conducting its Annual Gay & Lesbian Tourism Study, the most comprehensive and longest-running such survey in the LGBT marketplace.
Many of the questions are asked in consistent ways to a similar study panel, in order to identify LGBT travel trends and changes over time. The following “top ten” list presents findings that the CMI research team views as important changes or observations from the past year. For those new to CMI’s research, all the questions provide important insight into the travel motivations, preferences and interests of gay men and lesbians.
1) Gay Men and Lesbian Booking Patterns
Gays and lesbians are primarily booking their travel directly via airline and hotel websites (56%) or through online travel agencies such as Travelocity or Orbitz (34%). Direct booking is significantly more important than web-based travel services, so for travel suppliers, developing relationships with the gay and lesbian community to encourage direct booking through your own website is extremely important.
2) For the First Time in 15 years of sampling — A Decrease in LGBT Travel
For the first time since our first study in 1994, CMI has seen a decrease in LGBT travel due to the deep and wide-reaching recession. In the 2009 survey, nearly all travel categories saw some loss (except for regional travel). Business travel and cruise travel were the hardest-hit categories. That said, far more LGBT travelers took cruises in the past year than their mainstream counterparts (as in previous years), indicating that LGBT travelers are a viable cruise market even in down economies.
3) Recession-Influenced Travel Decreases Affecting Small and Medium-Sized Markets Worse than Big Markets
Every major city in North America except for Washington DC (perhaps an Obama effect) saw a decrease in gay and lesbian travel over the past 12 months. That decrease affected cities very differently. Major markets, including New York City, San Francisco and Las Vegas saw only small leisure travel decreases, usually less than 5%, while medium sized cities, destinations that are geographically isolated, and some resort towns saw more significant decreases over 10%, and for some, over 20%.
4) Staycations
Staycations were the only travel category to see an increase in 2009. When asked to specify how many regional drive vacations (i.e. including at least one night in a hotel) were taken, 66% indicated taking a longer regional drive vacation of more than two hours; 42% took a regional drive vacation where the drive was two hours or less; 14% took a trip where they stayed in a hotel in their own city. This trend should benefit some metropolitan markets. Cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Washington DC, which are all close to each other, will probably “trade” stays among LGBT residents.
5) How to Reach the LGBT Community
CMI has been tracking advertising trends for LGBT travel marketing for over a decade. In general, the survey shows substantive increases in the influence of traveler reviews on travel websites and blogs, a softening of the influence of banner ads on mainstream and LGBT websites, and a remarkable resilience of the influence of travel articles in LGBT and mainstream print publications.
6) Interest in Health and Fitness While Traveling is Down
CMI has seen a trend over the past few years showing that health and fitness while traveling are becoming less important to the LGBT community. In this survey, when given a long list of potential motivators, health and fitness-related responses were near the bottom of the motivators, and often last on the lists. From hotel gyms to health and fitness vacations, they all scored poorly. This is not to say that health and fitness are not important in the day-to-day lives of gay men and lesbians, but bringing these healthy habits with them on leisure or business travel has shown less importance over time. It could also indicate that with tightening budgets, LGBT travelers prefer to spend more time enjoying the sights and experiences of the destination, rather than spend limited time in a gym.
7) Pride Events are Important
Unaffected by recessionary influences, nearly a quarter of the respondents reported traveling to another city and spending at least one night in a hotel to attend a Pride event; same as previous years. Nationally, Pride events continue to move millions of hotel nights in the Unites States, and Pride remains an important motivator for LGBT travelers under 35.
8) Strength of Local Neighborhoods
Further confirming other recent research conducted by CMI, gays and lesbians tend to be especially interested in visiting city neighborhoods and experiencing local, non-chain restaurants. In fact, going to neighborhood restaurants and visiting the gay neighborhood were the top activities enjoyed by gays and lesbians when visiting a destination.
9) Top Travel Brands
As an unaided question, survey participants were asked to fill in a blank for in the destination, hotel brand, and airline that they felt had done the best job in outreaching to the LGBT community.
Of the total sample, 3,800 responded to the destination question. The top destinations indicated were: Las Vegas: 11%, San Francisco: 10%, Fort Lauderdale: 7%, Philadelphia: 6%, Provincetown: 5%, and London: 5%.
Of the total sample, 2,800 responded to the hotel question. The top hotel brands indicated were: W Hotels: 11%, Kimpton Hotels: 11%, Hilton: 9%, Hyatt: 8%, and Marriott: 7%.
Of the total sample, 3,287 responded to the airline question. The top airlines indicated were: American Airlines: 38%, Southwest: 15%, Delta: 11% and Virgin: 3%.
10) Top Destinations
CMI’s list of top destinations remains amazingly consistent from year to year (based on the question of where did you travel in the past 12 months, and spend at least one night in a hotel). The following lists are reflective of the 4,726 American LGBT survey takers, who traveled to the city in the past 12 months and spent at least one night in a hotel:
Top US Destinations for American LGBT Travelers, with percentage who visited and spent a nigt in a hotel (as Combined Leisure & Business Travel Ranking)
1) New York City: 32%
2) San Francisco: 27%
3) Las Vegas: 26%
4) Chicago: 25%
5) Los Angeles / West Hollywood: 24%
6) Washington, DC: 23%
7) Fort Lauderdale: 17%
8) San Diego: 15%
9) Orlando: 14%
9) Seattle: 14%
11) Boston: 13%
Community Marketing, Inc., the world’s #1 resource
for gay and lesbian market research, strategic consulting, and dedicated marketing and communications services.
New Gay Travel Guide and Best Gay Cities
Timeshare Relief Helps Timeshare Owners Get Out of Timeshare
The economy has affected everyone in the last few years, and timeshare owners are no exception. To buy a timeshare was once a novel concept – it was an exclusive form of vacation ownership.
But with a glut of resorts, soaring maintenance fees, no timeshare resale market, a hard to sell timeshare, the idea of fractional ownership was no longer appealing. A timeshare’s value is tied to travel habits and location. And, when owners’ circumstances change, they can sour on their properties and look to resell.
Timeshare Relief, Inc.™ was started in January 2004 by two former timeshare owners: Cindy Martin MacMillan and David MacMillan.
Cindy and David bought their timeshare in 1999 and quickly found out that a timeshare contract stopped making sense! They tried using their timeshare by following the rules and making an effort to make their reservations in advance, however with their busy schedules and four children, it proved to be difficult to find a week where they wanted to go, when they wanted to go.
Also, the maintenance fees were unexpectedly increasing, and that was something they did not anticipate. Their troubles were compounded when they tried to sell their timeshare through a well-known “listing company” but received no offers or buyers, despite paying a hefty advertising fee twice. They couldn’t get rid of their timeshare.
After speaking with other timeshare owners, Cindy and David realized that their experiences were all too common. That is why Timeshare Relief, Inc.™ was started: To provide RELIEF to dissatisfied timeshare owners. Not only do their clients NEVER receive another timeshare assessment or timeshare maintenance fee billing, they are also provided with a financial solution that saves them money. This Guaranteed Timeshare Relief Solution© will completely and permanently terminate their client’s entire ownership of their timeshare(s), and terminate all future financial responsibilities regarding their timeshare(s). Title transfers are handled by professionally licensed, bonded, and insured title agencies.
It’s hardly paradise for people selling their timeshares as complaints about resale companies are increasing. If you have tried tosell your timeshare through a listing company with no luck, your Timeshare Relief, Inc.™ Team is ready to help you. Your timeshare must be paid in full and your current Maintenance Fees and Special Assessments up to date. Timeshare Relief DOES NOT charge a Listing Fee, Advertising Fee or Appraisal Fee promising to transfer the property once a “phantom” buyer is secured. The transfers are handled by the undisputed industry leader in freeing families of the obligation of their Timeshare contracts.
TRUST – Timeshare Relief has gotten the stamp of approval from many organizations including The Los Angeles Business Journal, D&B, American Resort Development Association and the Better Business Bureau. Plus, hundreds of happy clients !
“We are so grateful to have the opportunity to introduce ourselves and our company Timeshare Relief, Inc.™
We started our company in January 2004 after our personal experience was not the slice of paradise we thought it would be. Our story began in 1999 when we took our four kids on a family vacation to Las Vegas. We were promised gifts if we attended a 90-minute presentation. Despite our mutual agreement not to buy “anything,” we walked away from the tour as owners of a $17,000 timeshare. Our family tried using the timeshare many times, but with a list of rules and restrictions, it proved to be impossible to schedule a reservation.
The maintenance fees kept increasing and our frustration was mounting. We tried to sell the timeshare, and even tried giving it away and many other unsuccessful attempts to get rid of it with no results. We started researching and realized that many families were having the same experience. We opened up our doors to Timeshare Relief, Inc.™ in 2004 and now have helped over 38,000 timeshare owners providing guaranteed financial relief and peace of mind. We invite you to call us at 800-588-1582 to discover about our Guaranteed Timeshare Relief Solution ©.
Best Wishes,
David and Cindy MacMillan
New Gay Travel Guide
Iceland Volcano Grounds Gay International Travelers at Dallas Media Trip This Week
What does the Iceland Volcano
and Dallas Texas have in common?
We were just talking about Iceland and gay marriage 2 weeks ago – now Iceland has taken over the top news stories.
We just got back from an amazing International Press Trip in Dallas, this past Sunday. The Dallas Tavern Guild and various sectors of city flew 9 journalists from all over the world out there and showed us an amazing and informative 5 days and nights.
Three journalists were from overseas, and two of them are still grounded in Dallas because of the chaos the Iceland volcano has caused all over Europe.
Jens Burnicki from Exit Magazine in Germany and JD Van Zyl from Leeds, UK, both got an unexpected extended stay in Texas. But thanks to good old southern hospitality, the guys have made lots of friends and staying with nightclub owners in Dallas and I am told, tomorrow have plans to head to Austin Texas. Hey, as long as they are grounded, they might as well enjoy Texas!
Luckily for Alex Bernardes with VIA G Magazine in Sao Paulo Brazil, he was cleared for take off with the rest of us Sunday. Alex, by the way, will be doing some guest posts for us soon talking about Gay Pride in Sao Paulo, which is the BIGGEST in the world.
Dallas was an amazing time and we’ll be covering the city from different angles and perspectives. We were so impressed by the culture, restaurants and nightlife, we are excited to share all we learned with you, in coming months.
Hope you get home safe soon guys!
Michael Snell and Derrick Sorles
New Gay Travel Guide and Best Gay Cities
Gay Travel to Beirut Lebanon…The Paris / Provincetown of the Middle East
WHAT??
Yes, you read correctly.
Beirut is an up and coming gay travel hotspot.
Some are even calling it the Paris of the Middle East.
Some say Provincetown of the Middle East.
San Francisco, Las Vegas, Barcelona, Sydney and … Beirut? As surprising as it sounds, the buzz is building around Beirut, Lebanon, as a top gay travel destination.
The New York Times dubbed Lebanon’s capital “the Provincetown of the Middle East” in a 2009 article and the winter 2010 edition of Netherlands-based Winq magazine devoted eight pages to the city, citing its emergence as “the (gay) party capital of the Middle East.”
Beirut is booming and trendy. Although homosexuality is still illegal, beirut’s gay scene is flourishing and pure fun, especially for tourists. Besides the incredible nightlife, Lebanon packs in its small size everything you want.
“Lebanon is a very liberal country. Once you’re here, you’ll be surprised,” said Bertho Makso of IGLTA, who is based in Beirut. “It’s a county rich in attractions to appeal to LGBT travelers. Beirut is like nowhere else!”
Tourism has empowered the Beirut gay and lesbian community and has made it the most liberal place in the Arab world. “Tourists come from all over the world because they know Lebanon is a fairly open society,” says Georges Azzi, head of the Beirut-based organization Helem (Arabic for “dream”), the Arab world’s first and only gay advocacy group. “This is especially so for Gulf Arabs,” he explains, referring to the Middle East’s most lavish spenders, from countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates. “So the police couldn’t crack down on the nightlife scene even if they wanted to.”
Food:
Lebanese food is known to be the best in the middle east. Never eat too much of the delicious entrees ( Mezze) as the main course is huge as well. Don’t forget to wash down your food with a cool Almaza beer or excellent lebanese wines (Chateau Musaar, Ksara and Kefraiya). You can also visit the wine-valleys and have a wine tasting there.
Nightlife:
Beirut nightlife is extraordinary. It does not matter where you are going, you will see the crowd dancing in ecstasies on chairs, tables and even the bar. Lebanon has some great DJs and, of course you can hear some tunes which are not even played in Europe.
Hospitality:
You will realise in Lebanon that you get invited always. For tours, for after-parties, for dinner and – of course- sex.
READ MORE AT FLYER TALK FORUM.
Gay Polo Tournaments in Florida and California this Month!
Three years ago Chip McKenney
launched the Gay Polo League because other gay groups bored him — gay lawyers associations and gay business associations, to name a few.
Since then, the Gay Polo League has blossomed into an international organization — the only known gay polo league in the world — with four chapters: Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and one it established in Wellington, Florida, two months ago.
“We are an athletic, adventurous, dedicated and fun loving group. GPL™ members represent a cross section of ages, abilities, professions and physical types. Some of us have been riding for years and some of us never sat on horse before joining the league. Our common ground lies in our shared desire to meet and engage with other gay men and women while enjoying the challenging and beautiful sport of Polo. We are the Gay Polo League.”
On Saturday April 3rd, the first International Gay Polo Tournament will take over fields at Grand Champions Polo Club Palm Beach. Four teams will play, culminating in a championship game at 3 p.m.
“It’s the first event of its kind — that’s huge,” said Mason Phelps, who runs an equestrian media company based in Wellington. “It’s even more important that we’re doing it in Wellington. It’s another venue, another audience.”
More events in April in Los Angeles!
LGBT Travel to Gay Friendly Ottawa Canada – Tulip Festival
AHHHHH SPRINGTIME! For those of us who endure cold dreary winters, the first blossoms that start to pop up from the grounds renews our excitement in our cites!
OTTAWA CANADA draws a very large crowd for their Captial Pride / Gay Pride every August (20-29, 2010). But year round, this gay-friendly cultural city has amazing things to see and do!
Ottawa is blessed with a natural setting offering boundless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Paved recreational paths welcome cyclists, inline skaters and joggers across the region and on Sunday mornings from May through September, several streets are closed to cars for Sunday Bikedays. The region’s many waterways are ideal for kayaking, canoeing and boating, and the upper Ottawa River offers some of the best whitewater rafting anywhere. And nearby Gatineau Park offers hiking, rock climbing, camping, exciting zip line aerial experiences and more.
THIS YEAR marks the 65th Anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, in which Canadian soldiers played such a large role. The Dutch Royal Family spent the years of World War II in Ottawa, and the current queen’s sister, Princess Margriet, was born here. So when the war ended and the family went home, they sent a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs to the people of Canada, via Ottawa, in a gesture of respect and friendship.
Those tulips form the basis of what evolved into the Canadian Tulip Festival and in fact, a tulip gift continues to be made each year!
This year, the iconic festival will run May 7 – 24 , and will honour veterans by hosting many special events, including an opening day afternoon tribute at the National War Memorial. The tribute will be followed by the Liberation Street Party that recreates the spontaneous street party that took on VE Day—party like it’s 1945!
300,000 tulips at Commissioners Park near Dows Lake are always the focus, and, as of May 14, activities begin in Major’s Hill Park as well. Tour the world at the International Pavilion, grab a brew at the Liberation Beer Garden, and catch an event at Celebridée (the “festival of ideas”).
Celebridée events are held in the
“Cabaret Libre” Mirror Tent, a weatherproof setting with hardwood floors, dramatic brocade and festive cheer. You can also check out the Liberation Swing Band and a late-night concert series of Ottawa performers.
Admission to both festival sites is free, though some events at the Mirror Tent will require tickets.
Ottawa Tourism’s Tulip Celebration Package provides accommodation, a Tulip Passport with savings at restaurants and spas, and a selection of museum admission, city tour, or concert at the National Arts Centre.
CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL
GAY TRAVEL GUYS at New Gay Travel Guide
LGBT Travel to Gay Turkey
Turkey does not usually come to mind first.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in Turkey may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Homosexuality is not illegal in the Republic of Turkey. However, owing to conservative values embedded in Muslim-majority Turkish society, homosexuality remains a taboo topic in public discourse.
In the 1990s, the LGBT movement fought against government bans on LGBT conferences. This prompted the creation of Lambda Istanbul.
Knocking at Europe’s door yet on the threshold of Asia, Turkey is truly a land of contrasts. Here you can scale the icy heights of remote Mount Ararat in search of Noah’s Ark, cross the historic Euphrates and Tigris rivers, follow in the footsteps of St Paul or simply relax on the golden Mediterranean sands of Patara beach. Vibrant Istanbul, straddling the blue waters of the Bosphorus separating Europe from Asia, beckons with its skyline pierced by countless minarets, chaotic bazaars and a history redolent with harem intrigue and despotic Sultans.
For the gay people who have not visited Turkey before, the first step should be getting familiar with the gay Turkish culture. The gay culture of Turkey is fairly different than western countries, as is the case with the general Turkish culture. Being situated at the intersection of Europe and Asia geographically, Turkey was influenced by both the Eastern and the Western civilizations. Turkey is the only Muslim country in the world where homosexuality is not illegal since the republic was founded in 1923.With a population of 12 million, Istanbul hosts the most liberal and lively gay scene in the country.
The Taksim/Beyoglu district on the Eastern side of Istanbul is the center of gay life in the city. Most of the gay clubs, bars, saunas and hamams are located here. Istanbul is one of the truly great romantic cities. Straddling the Borphorus, it is a city with its roots in two continents, Europe and Asia.
Over the last few years, Turkey has seen increasing acceptance towards the gay community.
You will want to do your research and be prepared in advance before venturing to a country like Turkey. We have included some links that will be helpful in planning your travel here.
TURKEY’S GAY RESOURCES |
Gay Club in Istanbul |
| Gay Cafe Bar in Istanbul |
| Gay and Lesbian Istanbul Hotels |
| Turkey Gay Travel Agency |
| Turkey Budget Tours and Hotels |
| Turkey Gay Lesbian Guide |
| International Gay Guide |
Gay Travel in Mexico – 4 LGBT Places For Your Next Gay Vaction South of the Border
in Mexico!
Even though Mexico is largely Catholic and machismo it’s surprisingly welcoming to LGBT gay and lesbian vacationers. Homosexuality is legal in Mexico and large gay communities, which flourish in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta and Acapulco, have made sure that anti-discrimination laws are in place and respected. PLUS, you can get married now in Mexico.
For years Puerto Vallarta has been a top choice for LGBT travel. But there are other spots as well to be considered in Mexico.
Mexico City seems to be trying to win some kind of award for being the most liberal city in Latin America. In fact, Mexico as a country has won an award: gay Destination of the Year by the PlanetOut Travel Awards, which recognize gay-friendly tourist destinations. Past winners have included Barcelona and Buenos Aires.
According to Mexico City blog DFinitivo, the world’s largest city has been actively courting the gay travel dollar, and the Secretary of Tourism for DF has joined the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association to prove it. Gay travelers will be welcomed with specialized maps outlining areas of interest for nightlife, cultural events and more. They are not trying to make money off the gays, but just do whatever they can to be welcoming. Mexico City recently became the first major city in Latin America to legalize gay marriage!
The lure of Mexico City is irresistible. The most populated metropolis in the world boasts colonial mansions and excavated pyramids alongside fabulous museums and galleries, all shadowed by the concrete and glass of modern development. Above all, the city is exciting, sometimes intimidating, always bewildering and boldly alive.
The main attractions in Mexico City are centered in a few distinct areas, including the Zona Rosa, the Historic Center (the Zocalo area), Alameda Park, Chapultepec Park,and the “Zona Sur”, or Southern Zone. Additionally, the adjoining neighborhoods of Condesa and Roma are trendy areas with good restaurants and cafes, nightlife, quality architecture, and, home to more gays than elsewhere in the city.
When you think of Acapulco, you probably don’t think gay. With sunny Pacific beaches wedged between clean waters and craggy mountains, Acapulco is popular with gays and straights alike.
Gay bars and clubs in Acapulco (as opposed to other Mexican cities) tend to be almost treacherously flamboyant and tacky places where people throw good taste to the Pacific port breeze while partying. Don’t expect anything that feels refined or upscale, as that’s not what Acapulco is about. You’ll find, more so than in American gay bars, that strippers are an almost ubiquitous fixture in Acapulco.
Lots of beautiful men that would would say even rivals the likes of Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema. There is a cruisey area called “the rocks“, where sunbathers fling off their Speedos and go au natural! Around sunset can be very cruisy. In the last year, Acapulco has seen a new infusion of luxury accommodations, as well as a growing gay scene, Acapulco is once again showing up on the itinerary of gay globetrotters.
Puerto Vallarta is the number one gay tourist destination in all of Mexico. Sitting on one of the world’s most beautiful natural bays, Puerto Vallarta is welcoming, friendly and enchanting. The Zona Romantica, located on the south end, is very quaint and very gay. You will see rainbow flags and couples holding hands. There is a huge gay beach and it’s popular and busy year round.
Puerto Vallarta is a lively small city of red tiled roofs and cobblestone streets, roosters, donkeys and iguanas, friendly locals, expatriates and fun loving tourists. Nestled between the brilliant Banderas Bay and the lush tropical forests of the Sierra Madre mountains on the west coast of Mexico west, Puerto Vallarta is known for its long sandy beaches, beautiful ocean and mountain views, handsome men, happening nightlife and its many fine restaurants. Whether sunbathing at the popular gay beach, sailing on one of the gay cruises, bike riding along the Cuale River, whale watching on sun drenched Banderas Bay or dancing the night away at one of your favorite local gay bars, there is something for you to adore and fall in love and Discover gay Puerto Vallarta!
GUADALAJARA is said to be perhaps Latin America’s most underrated gay urban getaway. Gay travel writer Andrew Collins says its, “friendly, culturally rich, and affordable city of Guadalajara, the second-largest metropolis in Mexico, which somewhat to my surprise, has a remarkably vibrant gay scene.
I’d long heard about the elegant buildings and churches that make up the city’s historic center, the stylish shops and cafes of the fashionable suburb of Tlaquepaque, and the easy proximity to the beloved town of Tequila, home to the Sauza, Jose Cuervo, and numerous other fine distilleries. Indeed, there’s much to see and do in Guadalajara and the surrounding region.
But I hadn’t known that the city has nearly two-dozen gay bars as well as gay-friendly colonial B&Bs and plenty of welcoming restaurants and cafes, the majority of them within easy walking distance of the central Plaza Tapatia.”
Can I just say, Guadalajara has some HOT MEN! Just a few hours from Puerto Vallarta, many travelers to the area try to include both of these cities on their iternerary.
Graceful mansions and towering churches, old homes coverted to B&B’s and a couple dozen gay bars and clubs. Some have called this town the San Francisco of Mexico. Everything from swanky lounges and intimate hot spots to big multi-level discos. Most everything is just a stroll from the downtowns Plaza Tapita.
1.5 million people live within the city limits and nearly 5 million people reside in the metro region, Guadalajara feels more laid-back and manageable than most cities its size.
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Travel – Luxury Style to Turks and Caicos! Where the Boys Are…Ooh la la!
Turks & Caicos is one of the best-kept secrets in today’s luxury vacation market!
This stunning haven of over 40 islands boasts some of the most exquisite beaches in the world.There are miles of coral reef close to shore, making it the ideal vacation paradise for the modern eco-tourist. Professional and amateur divers alike will explore the most beautiful reef structures and exotic marine life in the world!
In between dives you may also wish to enjoy the 18-hole golf course at the Provo Golf Club, rated among the top ten courses in the Caribbean.
You can even try your luck at the American casinos!
The island welcomes all people, including the LGBT traveler. Looking to travel to the Turks & Caicos?
StraightOut Adventures Inc. is the premiere vacation provider for gay men who pursue the world of unique adventure and pampered luxury. May 8 -15, 2010 the company offers a weeklong vacation to the Turks & Caicos. The trip combines the hot trend of villa vacations with a top Caribbean destination, taking gay travel to the next level in service and luxury.
Their team is dedicated to your personalized holiday experience. You’ll be taken care of for the duration of your vacation. With a full staff to attend to your every need, there is nothing that they haven’t already thought of! The luxury begins with personally escorting you from the airport to your gorgeous hilltop villa. Unwind and take in the 360-degree panoramic view of turquoise seas and tropical gardens. Sit back and relax.
Your private chef, classically trained in French Cuisine prepares all your favorite foods, and tempts your palate with fine Caribbean cuisine found only on the islands. Enjoy full-service, open bar with unlimited premium spirits and wines. Sapodilla Bay Beach is the most beautiful and peaceful beach on the island. In addition, StraightOut Adventures has announced they will be teaming up with Ben and Dave’s Six Pack
And guess what! It’s only a two-minute walk from your villa.
Your week will be chock full of activities and entertainment – including a catamaran eco boat tour, where you will sail historic landmarks and snorkel the barrier reef. You’ll have the opportunity to participate in a gourmet cooking class with wine tasting, as well as a welcome party with authentic island entertainment.
The duo is all about having fun, getting to know everyone and exploring great vacation destinations, starting with the gorgeous Turks and Caicos, May 8-15.
Ben and Dave will be blogging about their trips, doing shows on-location, featuring interviews with celebrities who live and vacation on the islands!
So whether you vacation with a loved one or simply want to have an adventure with a friend, this vacation package is for you!
Relax, be entertained, and discover the best that life has to offer.Have we piqued your interest?
Head on over to StraightOut Adventures today to
find out more about the trip May 8-15, 2010.
Take your vacation from ordinary to extraordinary!
Straight Out Adventures is the premier vacation provider for gay men who pursue the world of unique adventure and pampered luxury.Service is our top priority! The Straight Out Adventures team is dedicated to your personalized holiday experience. Relax, be entertained, and discover the best that life has to offer.
New Gay Travel Guide
