Gay Travel Gay Marriage in Provincetown This Summer
Summertime is just around the corner!
And so is the busy season in PTOWN! And many June Brides and Brides and Grooms and Grooms will tie the knot is Massachusetts again this season.
Recognized by PlanetOut for five consecutive years as the #1 resort destination for the LGBT traveler, Provincetown has led the pack in same-sex weddings since Massachusetts became the first US state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004.
From fabled sand dunes and seaside bonfires to world-class dining and shopping along Commercial Street, Provincetown offers boundless natural beauty coupled with a quaint and historic downtown, which was recently recognized as a “Dozen Distinctive Destination” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Since the 1920s when artists, writers, playwrights, poets and bohemians flocked to the beaches every summer, Provincetown has been known as a vibrant and diverse artists’ colony, as well as the birthplace of modern American theatre. A sampling of 20th-century artists who’ve worked and found inspiration in Provincetown: Hans Hofmann, Franz Kline, Mark Rothko, Milton Avery, Edward Hopper, Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, Norman Mailer and Michael Cunningham.
A “town of firsts,” Provincetown is the site of the Pilgrim’s first landing in the New World and the signing of the Mayflower Compact, which some consider to be the birth of democracy. Additionally, Massachusetts is the birthplace of marriage equality, as it was the first state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage.
Thanks to a process introduced in 2009, extended license hours (open 5 days/week and late every Friday during the summer) allow in-state and out-of-state couples to get married over the course of a long-weekend. A full explanation can PROVINCETOWN online.
From casual, intimate gatherings on the National Seashore (lit by bonfire) to a host of cottages, historic B&Bs, world-class restaurants and public parks, monuments and historical sites, Provincetown offers venues for every taste and budget.
The Numbers:
Same-sex weddings up 20% from 2008 to 2009
Since same-sex marriage was legalized in 2004, there have been more than 2,500 same-sex weddings in Ptown (about 92% of all marriages) .
Stop by PTOWN Business Guild if you are planning a trip!
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Travel, Gay Unions and Gay Honeymoons in the UK
Gay travel gets another boost in Europe!
Civil partnerships in the United Kingdom, granted under the Civil Partnership Act 2004, gives same-sex couples rights and responsibilities identical to civil marriage.
I don’t care what they call it – marriage, union, domestic partnership, whatever, as long as we get our rights! Why is the US taking so long to make these advancements? Do they realize how much money could be made off the gays? Plus, so many gay non-US residents would flock to places to Las Vegas and New York City to be wed!
In the UK, Civil partners are entitled to the same property rights as married opposite-sex couples, the same exemption as married couples on inheritance tax, social security and pension benefits, and also the ability to get parental responsibility for a partner’s children,as well as responsibility for reasonable maintenance of one’s partner and their children, tenancy rights, full life insurance recognition, next-of-kin rights in hospitals, and others. There is a formal process for dissolving partnerships akin to divorce.
Over 40,000 partnerships have been registered since 2004. And now, for those who want the church wedding, that reality has happened in the UK. On March 2, Peers voted by 95 to 21 in favour of an amendment to the Equality Bill moved by Labour Peer Lord Alli. The UK Government resisted his amendment in January, saying it was “not a workable solution to this issue”. Now CHURCHES will be allowed, but not compelled, to register homosexual civil partnerships.
Critics fear the change in the law could open the way for litigation against churches that refuse to register such unions. And others oppose the move because it makes civil partnerships more like full homosexual ‘marriage’.
Ben Summerskill, Chief Executive of the UK-based Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual equality organisation Stonewall, now the largest gay equality body in Europe responded to the vote saying: “We are absolutely delighted with this vote for religious freedom. It will be warmly welcomed by lesbian and gay people of faith.”
“This further step towards equality is a real victory for religious reason over those Church of England and Roman Catholic bishops who’ve tried to bully other denominations in recent weeks,” said Summerskill. Quakers and Liberal Jews were among those denominations which supported the amendment.
“We’ve argued throughout that this is an important matter of religious freedom. Ministers have known for some months that we intended to table this measure and we regret that the Government didn’t stand up to the bullying it faced from some churches on this issue. We’ll now work closely with ministers to ensure that we secure implementation of this further step towards equality. This vote is hugely important to those gay people of faith (and, as Lady Neuberger pointed out, to their Jewish mothers too!) who wish to celebrate their civil partnerships in their own place of worship.”
Overseas couples wishing to register their partnership in the UK, must reside in the country for seven days prior to application for the partnership, and wait a further fifteen days before the civil partnership may be formed.
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Travel and Gay Cruise to Mainland China…Busan, Korean, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong
Atlantis will set sail on the five-star Azamara Quest from Shanghai, home to Expo 2010, on March 20, 2010. The 10-day cruise will make stops in Busan, South Korea; Hiroshima, Osaka, and Kagoshima, Japan; Taipei, Taiwan; and Hong Kong. With an overnight in Osaka, guests can visit Kyoto, home to thousands of temples, gardens, palaces and even cherry blossoms. There’s also a long stay in Taipei, Taiwan’s largest city with even more ancient temples as well as the country’s tallest skyscrapers and surprisingly incredible gay-friendly nightlife. – There are still a few rooms left – although I am not sure you could secure traveling documents in time…
Expo 2010 is happening May – October and is expected to bring 70 million people to Shanghai! World Expo 2010 Shanghai China is the occasion for China to bring the world at home, and for the world to feel at home in China. By dedicating a 5.28-square-kilometer area at the core of the city to exhibitions, events and forums on the Expo theme, “Better City, Better Life,” Shanghai hopes to build a powerful and lasting pilot example of sustainable and harmonious urban living.
There is so much to see and do in Asia. Utopia Asia is a great resource for gay and lesbian travelers in Asia.
Utopia was founded in 1994, by Singaporean, American, and Thai partners, with the goal of creating positive social alternatives for gays and lesbians in the Asian region.
Utopia opened Southeast Asia’s first gay and lesbian center, located in Bangkok, featuring a gay gift and book shop, café, mixed gay/lesbian pub, and guesthouse. The center went on to host author readings, women’s workshops, AIDS/HIV education and fundraising, and Bangkok’s first International Lesbian and Gay Film/Video Festival: Hearts of Light.
Gay Travel and Deep-Vein Thrombosis DVT Awareness Month
March
is Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness Month, which is a concern for many travelers and, as you may remember, the condition that took the life of NBC-TV correspondent, David Bloom, life while he was covering the war in Iraq.
This year, the Coalition to Prevent DVT has created an educational program focusing on preventative care through simple movements that can be done anywhere and anytime mobility is restricted. As part of DVT Awareness In Motion, David Bloom’s widow, Melanie Bloom, has partnering with Mary Ann Wilson, R.N., founder and host of the PBS broadcast, “Sit and Be Fit,” on an educational video that features movements that may help reduce the risk of DVT by encouraging blood circulation. The program goes beyond building traditional awareness of the signs and symptoms of DVT by emphasizing the importance of preventative care in during long distance travel.
There are few public health problems as serious as DVT and its related complication, pulmonary embolism (PE), yet these conditions receive little attention. In fact:
Up to 2 million Americans are affected by DVT each year, and approximately 300,000 Americans die each year from PE.
Complications from DVT claim the lives of more Americans than breast cancer and AIDS combined.
DVT-related PE is the leading cause of preventable hospital death in U.S. hospitals, but the risk of DVT can be reduced if healthcare professionals and consumers recognize risk factors, warning signs and symptoms so that appropriate preventative measures can be taken.
At the DVT Website, check out the Awareness in Motion link and you can view some exercises and see some of the video.
New Gay Travel Guide
LGBT Gay Travel – Sun or Ski in March and April
SKI OR SUN?
That is the question!
The next 8 weeks offer a choice of either. Starting with Winter Pride March 1-8th in Whistler BC. As soon as the Olympics come to end, it’s going to be one big gay party week! You’ll find dozens of reasons to choose Whistler for your next get-away. In addition to the gay-friendly attitude, the scenery is spectacular every season of the year. You can fill a whole album with the breath-taking beauty that surrounds you—and fill a week or even longer with all the recreational activities that are Whistler.
Maybe you would rather have fun in the sun? March 3 – 8, several thousand LGBT people hit South Beach, Miami. Launched in 1994 as a one-time charity dance event on the sands of beautiful South Beach, Winter Party Festival has evolved into a week-long series of events benefiting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community nationally and locally.
More than just a day at the beach, Winter Party Festival creates an experience for LGBT people and their friends and supporters. In addition to being an important fundraiser, the Festival is also a major contributor to Miami and Miami Beach’s economy by attracting over 5,000+ people from around the world to South Florida each year.
March 7 – 14th is another big ski week. Join the friendliest skiers from the United States and around the globe on Lake Tahoe’s scenic south shore! Skiers and non skiers alike will enjoy the beauty and fun of WinterFest XV.
Breakfasts, lunches, dinners, dance parties, comedy, and skiing at HEAVENLY! There’s a difference between a mountain resort and a ski area. Ski areas are more primitive and have warming huts, resorts have lodges. Ski areas serve snacks and sandwiches and Mountain Resorts serve gourmet food at half a dozen restaurants. Ski Heavenly is a mountain resort because it has the amenities and facilities to take your love for the mountain and turn it into a ski vacation that reflects your desire to live the mountain lifestyle while having all modern amenities available.
If you want some gorgeous Spring Time weather, CHERRY 9 in Washington DC is the place to be April 30 – May 2. The Cherry Fund’s weekend dance event is one of the few that is produced entirely by volunteers, and that still donates all of its proceeds to worthy non-profit charitable organizations in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.
The cost of your pass or ticket not only gives you access to an unforgettable weekend of events, but also directly supports the work of our beneficiaries. The portion of your ticket price that benefits these charities is of course tax deductible.
3 days of dancing, a dozen dj’s, guest performers and more!
A highlight is sure to be 3rd ANNUAL SUNDAY AFTERNOON CAPITAL TEA ON THE POTOMAC –
Back by popular demand, Sunday afternoon of Cherry Weekend is a chance to catch some sightseeing and mingle with your new & old friends. And we provide the perfect setting for you to pick your pleasure all aboard the Spirit of Washington on a cruise down the Potomac. We’ve even commandeered a new boat for our Tea this year. Spirit of Washington Cruise – Pier 4, 6th and Water Streets, SW.
Soak up the sun on the multilevel outdoor decks as the Spirit of Washington glides past the magnificent ever-changing vistas including the gothic spires of National Cathedral and Georgetown University, Rosslyn’s ultra-modern office towers, and the graceful arches of Memorial Bridge.
The Best Gay Travel Guide
Gay Ski Week in ANDORRA! Just Weeks Away!
The 2nd Annual Gay Ski Week in Andorra
is just a few weeks away!
March 21-28, 2010.
Andorra is a small country nestled between Spain and France and offers some great skiing, shopping and one of the most amazing Spa’s I have ever seen! You have to fly into Barcelona, Spain or Toulouse, France. Then it’s a couple hours away, up into the mountains of Andorra.
And March is a great time to go. USUALLY, not too cold. Last year when we were there, one day the air was so warm, we actually took off our coats and shirts for a bit and soaked up the sunshine and sipped a glass of wine on the slopes! Andorra has a high mountain climate with Mediterranean influences. Temperatures are low in the winter and mild in the summer, with significant variations depending on altitude and orientation.Andorra has a high percentage of sunshine and a generally dry climate.
Andorra truly has some breathtaking mountains! We stood in awe at the Grand Valira ski resort/station, from the base of the mountains, looking towards the top, which must have stretched 2+ miles…skiers looked like ants moving down the hills! Equally as beautiful, but much smaller was the Vallnord resort/station.
Even if you don’t ski, there is lots to do. Snow mobiling, sled rides, bike skis other fun activities. And when you are not on slopes, you might be shopping.
Since there is no income tax and lots of duty free, Andorra is a great place to shop. Electronics, prestigious fine jewelry and even fashion and perfumes, are much lowere than in some countries. The products that can be imported into Spain or France are tax free up to certain limits and must be declared when they exceed a specific amount. For example, visitors over the age of 15 who buy durable products worth more than 525 € must pay duty before taking them to Spain or France.
When you are done skiing and shopping, you need a SPA! And one of the most beautiful spa’s I have ever seen is here! CALDEA SPA. is AMAZING! It’s like something out of a Busby Berkeley movie!
Designed by the architect Jean-Michel Ruols – is fruit of the will of the community (town council) of Escaldes-Engordany to make use of the richness of the territory’s thermal water, with a philosophy different to that of traditional health resorts: thermoludism. The concept was entirely innovative and avoids use of the therapeutic properties of thermal water.
Thermoludism is the use of the properties and benefits of thermal water to rest, recuperate vitality and well-being. The water at different temperatures procures authentic gymnastic toning for the body, and the thermal water help psychic rebalance.
So what are you waiting for?!
You book a plane to Barcelona and ORIGINAL ANDORRA GAY TRAVEL SPECIALISTS will customize your gay week in Andorra!
Right now, they have a package for 899 euros.
Hotel, meals, ski pass, ski school, rentals, transfer and parties included!
MENTION NEW GAY TRAVEL GUIDE and save 15%!
This years host hotel is is the Hotel Rutllan. Other choices available as well. It will be a wonderful week, and very reasonably priced!
New Gay Travel Guide
Gay Great Britain – England, Scotland and Wales
Visit Britain, the national tourist office for England, Scotland and Wales has unveiled the new strapline for its LGBT campaign, which was suggested by Californian Jay Masunaga in a competition run at the end of 2009. Jay’s winning strapline reminds Americans that ‘Britain is alive with Pride’ with many places that lesbian, gay, bi and trans men, women and families enjoy visiting. Illustrating the diversity of the LGBT community, VisitBritain’s campaign personalizes holiday experiences by six different interests, Nightowl, Foodie, Event-goer, Culturati, Chiller and Fashionista.
The website, visitbritain.com/rainbow, features ten destinations in Britain and for each, provides a range of experiences that will appeal to different kinds of LGBT traveler. A different destination will be profiled every month beginning with Brighton on the south coast of Britain, just an hour by train from London.
Officially the gayest city in the UK and voted winner of the Best UK Destination of 2008 by the country’s gay Pink Paper, it’s also our happiest place to live. Brighton (SoHo by the Sea!) has come a long way since George IV brought a touch of royal glamour to the region in the eighteenth century. It’s arguably the gayest, friendliest, most fabulously fun place in Britain right now.
- For the Foodie in Britain, sometimes it’s not just about the food. Good company, great vibes, the places to be and be seen. In Brighton, you’ll indulge in the wonderfully camp – and local institution – Tea Cosy Tea Room to discover there is a right way to drink tea. Raise your pinkies as you sip and pay royal homage with “Charles & Camilla Elevenses”.
- For NightOwls looking for the right crowd – bearish, fetish or lesbian – Britain has somewhere to rock your unique world. For lesbians, one of Brighton’s hotspots is the Princess Victoria (the PV to locals), attracting crowds of up-for-it girls looking to kick start a rip-roaring night in style.
- Event-Goers have their Pride of course, but they’re just as proud of must-see film festival, events plus comedy, dance and performance for gay and lesbian-minded audiences. You’re spoilt for choice in Brighton, where a week-long festival heralds Pride’s parade and parties on 7 August 2010, with a four-legged version – the Pride Companion Dog Show – on 4 July.
- British art pushes envelopes, while edgy new music pours from pubs and the world’s greatest take the stage at stadiums and concert halls. Couple it with musicals, opera, classical music and renowned theatre to make the Culturati giddy with delight. The Culturati visiting Brighton takes a tour of the Royal Pavilion, King George IV’s gloriously over-the-top former home-from-home with its dressed-to-the-nines interiors and lavish architecture.
The Chiller likes to be pampered on a holiday that’s a happy, healthy break from the norm. It’s house parties at country homes or ‘blissing out’ at spas and saunas. Chillers say their “OM”s at Aloka, Brighton’s ‘Quality of Life Center’ with its ‘Aura-Soma’ color system, spa and yoga studio.
- With a tradition of elegance with twists of lunacy, shopping here is never dull for Fashionistas whether its clothes or gifts to remember the trip. Here in Brighton, Fashionistas add inches (no, not there) shopping at Lacies for gorgeous shoes, wigs and Victorian corsets for the transgendered community. Or explore Prowler and CloneZone, Britain’s out-and-proud gay chain stores.
Each month, a different destination – Brighton, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, the Highlands, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle and North Wales – takes its turn in the spotlight on the website visitbritain.com/rainbow. For each, VisitBritain recommends itineraries and top experiences that every visitor must see. While in Brighton, tips for enjoying Britain’s best gay and lesbian seaside destination include the kitsch Brighton Pier, the beachfront (including nude bathing), shopping in The Lanes, partying in Kemp Town (the city’s beating gay heart), and lesbian and gay culture at the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery.
The Best Gay Travel Guide
Gay Cruise Heads to the Homophobic Caribbean
My partner and I never want to support or give money to those who don’t have our best interests at heart.
Now I don’t go crazy, trying to verify that every single company I do business with is gay friendly. However, when I know a company is homophobic, I will refuse to spend my money with them.
This week in the news again is the homophobic Caribbean nations. Coming up in April is a cruise to the Bahamas benefiting Miami Beach Gay Pride, that is once again calling attention to the appropriateness of visiting Caribbean nations that appear to be homophobic.
Source Events, a company that specializes in LGBT tours, is donating proceeds to the organization from a cruise aboard the Norwegian Sky that will make stops in Grand Bahama, Nassau and Great Stirrup Bay. The cruise embarks two days after the second annual Pride Parade and Expo in South Beach. – Why they would choose these destinations, is beyond me. And I for one, would refuse to go on this cruise. The Carribean has made it quite clear they do not like gays!
-In 2004 they picketed a Rosie O’Donnell’s Family Vacations cruise.
-In 2006 they baned the film “Brokeback Mountain,”
-In 2007 there was a police raid on a gay cruise party.
-In 2009 there was a jury acquittal of a man who used the “gay panic” defense in the murder of an HIV-positive male.
So if towns are this homophobic, why would we want to stop there? Why would I want to give them my money?
EDGE BOSTON reports, “Representatives of Source Events and Miami Beach Gay Pride acknowledged the problems with anti-gay discrimination in the Bahamas, but defended the cruise.”
“Neither I nor Miami Beach Gay Pride are blind to the fact that homophobia exists in the Bahamas,” Sharon Kersten, a Source Events spokesperson, told EDGE in e-mail. “Perhaps we can be part of the solution, rather than punishing an entire nation for the fears and heinous acts of a small portion of the population.”
“While, yes, it is true there have been incidents of homophobia in the Bahamas, I suspect that whatever town you live in it happens there, too,” Cindy Brown, Miami Beach Gay Pride operations director, said in a phone interview. “There are pluses and minuses to anywhere one could possibly visit. I believe that if we want to make a difference in the way people view us, we can only do that if we allow them to see who we really are.”
There are HUNDREDS of places to take a cruise? Why pick the Caribbean? W T F ?
Read More at EDGE BOSTON.
Gay Travel Business News – Passport Magazine Expanding and Growing
While most print magazines and newspapers are slashing pages and cutting back, Passport Magazine is one of the few print magazines which have increased its print frequency.
The magazine will grow from 8 issues per year to 9 and will still publish its annual “Weddings and Honeymoon” issue in May.
Proving GAY TRAVEL is still big business, sagging economy or not. Even this site, New Gay Travel Guide, now going into it’s 5th year online, continues to grow and pick up more readers in more countries! And we now have 9 LGBT sites under our umbrella.
Just the fact that RSVP and Atlantis are selling out full-ship charters (as opposed to specialty cruises that book just a portion of the vessel), and that a new lesbian-geared tour and cruise company, Sweet, launched in 2008, should make it clear that the popularity of gay and lesbian cruise travel is also on the rise.
The print magazine Passport, currently has 72,000 (?) subscribers and focuses on travel for the gay community, yet bills itself as “hetero-friendly gay travel magazine,” acknowledging that nearly 3% of its subscribers are heterosexual.
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Netherlands Tourism Announces JUST BE. IN HOLLAND! Campaign and Contest
Holland is a name in common usage given to a region in the western part of the Netherlands. The name ‘Holland’ is also often informally used to refer to the whole of the country of the Netherlands.
Today, the former County of Holland consists of the two Dutch provinces of North Holland and South Holland, which together include the Netherlands’ three largest cities: country capital Amsterdam, seat of government The Hague, and Rotterdam, home of Europe’s largest port.
The Netherlands Board of Tourism and Conventions launched its new marketing campaign, “Just be. In Holland.” with a spectacular series of events.
Each week in February, visitors to Holland.com can enter to win a different prize from a selection that reflects Holland’s unique style and culture!
The contest is simple. All you need to do is correctly answer a Holland-themed question to be eligible to win amazing prizes.
A new contest will be posted every Thursday in February. Each correct online entry will be entered into a weekly drawing for a chance to win an incredible prize that highlights a different aspect of Holland’s unique style. Each week’s prize (one winner per prize) is listed below.
· February 4 contest: Have a fresh bouquet of tulips delivered to your home each month for a year
· February 11 contest: Dazzle your darling (or yourself!) with an exclusive Gassan 121 diamond
· February 18 contest: Cycle through your hometown on a traditional Batavus Dutch bicycle
· February 25 contest: Lounge in style on the $1,000 Carbon chair designed by Marcel Wanders and Bertjan Pot
In addition to the weekly prizes, one grand prize winner will be awarded the ultimate experience: a chance to just be in Holland!
In order to qualify for the grand prize—two round-trip, business class tickets on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to Amsterdam and a four-night stay at the Sofitel Amsterdam The Grand—
potential travelers simply need to upload a photo showing how they would “Just be. In Holland.” between February 4 and March 4, 2010.
The most creative entry will be selected!
“The new ‘Just be. In Holland.’ campaign epitomizes what repeat visitors to Holland already know—that Holland is a place where you can truly be yourself and discover a world of authentic and modern experiences, whether you are interested in art, culture, design, fashion or architecture.”
The BIGGEST Gay Party in The World – Sydney Gay LGBT Mardis Gras
and Europe
are freeeeezing…..
Things are hotter than ever in Australia, as anticipation builds for the 2010 Sydney Gay Mardis Gras!
More than 80 events that span about 3 weeks! With the majority of the highlights taking place the weekends of the 27th February and 6th of March.
Outdoor picnics, dance festivals, John Waters, Whitney Houston in concert, film festivals, Harbour Party, and of course the BIG PARADE with over 100,000 participants!
Mardi Gras knows how to go out with a bang, and in 2010 they are saving the best for last. Sheer queer glamour and unforgettable party mayhem explode over four spectacular venues at the Entertainment Quarter for an all-night, dance-til-dawn fiesta that’s unrivalled worldwide. 20,000 people are expected!
Every year there is usually a famous celebrity to lead the parade. This year is the one and only AMANDA LEPORE! “I’m thrilled and honoured to be invited to be Chief of Parade,” said Lepore in a statement released today. “I can’t wait to be part of the Mardi Gras and celebrations of our community,” she said.
Mardi Gras Party is your wildest night of the year, and 2010 is no exception. Apart from our frenetic lasers, our gorgeous design and the beautiful party people, the DJ line-up is set to treat you to such an aurally delicious and irresistible night that you’ll never leave the dancefloor.
Legendary French house DJ and producer David Guetta will keep you dancing – plus DJ Carl Cox. Voted No.1 DJ of the past 25 years by MixMag and No.1 DJ in the world by DJ Magazine, his night Carl Cox & Friends has been held in Space Ibiza and Heaven London alongside Freemasons, Fatboy Slim and Pendulum.
ART
March 1st. Create a moment in history by shedding your clothing and taking part in The Base, a new large-scale work by internationally renowned installation artist, Spencer Tunick.
This is your chance to participate in Tunick’s first large-scale installation in Sydney, developed especially for the Mardi Gras Festival.
He is best known for his installations that feature large numbers of nude people posed in artistic formations. These installations are often situated in urban locations throughout the world, although he has also has done some “Beyond The City” woodland and beach installations and still does individuals and small groups occasionally. His models are volunteers who receive a limited edition photo as a reward. – Check out the HBO documentaries – available thru Netflix also. THIS WILL BE HUGE!
There are lots of free events to attend and some cost as much as $150 per ticket! So you will want to plan accordingly.
Everything you need to know is online at MARDIS GRAS.org
You can also be their fan on Facebook.
The Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras is Australia’s premier GLBTQ arts, sports and cultural festival. 3 weeks of fun and festivities!
It’s a must-see, must-do for your bucket list!
WATCH THIS VIDEO AND YOU WILL WANT TO RUN BOOK A FLIGHT RIGHT NOW!
The Best Gay Travel Guide
Gay US Tourists Lured to Brighton England
Brighton and Hove City Council
is teaming up with Visit Britain to be featured in gay advertising campaign and a website.
As an island nation, Britain has always had a love affair with water, and nowhere is this more evident than in the beautiful city of Brighton. Dubbed ‘Soho by the Sea’ it has been a flamboyant and extravagant destination ever since the Prince Regent decided to make it his home away from home in 1823 and is today Britain’s second largest gay community.
The council’s tourism arm says it wants the city to retain its status as the UK’s prime lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) destination.
Councillor David Smith said: “Being part of this campaign places us firmly on the international LGBT travel map.”
The council says research on the LGBT market in the US shows gay and lesbian travellers are planning more overseas trips in the coming three years.
According to the research, the UK tops the list of potential destinations, with Brighton often seen as part of a two-centre holiday combined with London.
Mr Smith added: “We’re constantly looking for ways to grow new markets for the city.
“We have a brilliant LGBT scene in terms of entertainment, culture and venues.
“The council is doing all it can to help those businesses thrive and the visitors to have a good time.”
The City of Brighton & Hove acts as a magnet for lesbians and gay men from all over the world attracted to its bohemian atmosphere, open minded attitudes and raffish air. Brighton has now long been known as Britain’s number one gay resort.
Kemptown is known as the ‘gay village’ and has a thriving and diverse scene ranging from leather workshops, pink parlours, and techno clubs, to specialist boutiques, hotels, estate agents and kickboxing classes.
Brighton’s LGBT Pride festival will mark its 18th year this year.
Visit Brighton Britain
The Best Gay Travel Guide
Gay Destinations and Gay Travel – to Ireland
Ireland has been a popular destination for gay vacations at least since the time of Oscar Wilde, although in those days it was not necessarily a friendly country for the LGBT community. Like Wilde, many people were jailed or sent away for hard labor for what was legally termed “indecency” and, until 1861, acts of sodomy were even punishable by death, but Ireland has come a long way since these dark days, decriminalizing same-sex sexual behavior in 1993 and legalizing civil unions in 2009.
While these significant legal strides might not mean that every village – or even every larger city – is ready to fully embrace same-sex relationships, Ireland has become a rather welcoming country for the most part and is a wonderful choice for gay travel. Many larger cities, such as Galway, Dublin, Cork and Waterford, have active, visible communities, LGBT-owned and LGBT-friendly establishments, and enough attractions and activities to fill an entire trip; however, whether you travel to Ireland solo or with organized gay tours, you will not want to miss the beautiful Irish countryside or the quaint, small villages that are scattered about the landscape or overlooking awe-inspiring coastal cliffs.
Although many cities in Ireland now have community hangouts, organizations, annual community celebrations and an active LGBT community, Dublin reigns supreme as the center of Ireland’s LGBT scene, making it a must-do for anyone planning gay travel here. Dublin’s nightlife is a blend of both casual pubs and high-class clubs – some even with dress codes – which offers folks on gay vacations the opportunity to experience vastly different aspects of the local community.
Dublin is also well known for a variety of community festivals held throughout the year, which include the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in May, Dublin International LGBTQ Pride in June, and the Dublin Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in July.
There is always something going on in Dublin, on either a small or large scale, so it is a good idea to pick up a copy of GNC, Ireland’s main community magazine, when you arrive in town. There are many must-see attractions when partaking in gay travel in Dublin, including the Guinness Storehouse, the Old Jameson Distillery, the Hugh Lane Gallery, the Book of Kells, the Oscar Wilde House Museum and Dublin’s quintessential LGBT bar, The George.
Those planning Ireland gay tours may want to consider participating in gay tours. This is a great way to make sure you are able to enjoy many of the most intriguing natural, cultural and historical attractions this romantic country has to offer.
Thoughts on Ireland authored by Howie Holben.
Spirit Journeys focuses on gay spirituality and has resources to assist on spiritual journeys.
Michael Lucas Will Be Your Gay Travel Guide to Tel Aviv
Michael Lucas
is about to add tour guide to his resume – the head of Lucas Entertainment announced on his website that he is going to start taking groups of tourists to Israel.
Lucas writes: “It is no secret that Israel is one of my favorite places in the entire world, and I travel there at least twice every year to visit my favorite parties, restaurants, historical monuments, beaches, resorts, and most importantly, all of the close friends and wonderful people I have met throughout the course of my travels. What I love about Israel is that it is extremely modern while maintaining such an amazing and diverse sense of history: You can be in urban Tel Aviv, one of the most gay-friendly cities on earth, surrounded by skyscrapers, and then drive 40 minutes to ancient Jerusalem and see craftsmanship and architecture that is over 2,000 years old. It is incredible!
Although I am uncut, I’m 100 percent Jewish. I was born to a Jewish mother and a Jewish Father (his name is Bregman—can’t get more Jewish that). I’ve been exposed to anti-Semitism in Russia, and so, I’ve always had a warm place for Israel in my heart (and groin, have you ever seen those Israeli men?). It makes me happy to think it has a warm place in its heart for me.”
Lucas promises this will not be your typical tourist’s look at Israel – evidenced by his description of the tour’s planned trip to Gaash Beach. “This is the premiere clothing-optional beach in Tel-Aviv known only to insiders. You can feel free to lie in the sun as nude as you’d like, enjoy the ocean, or feel free to watch any number of hot guys have sex up and down the shore! I have traveled all around the world and never encountered a beach like this one.”
Two packages available to choose from.
There is now a 9 day tour for $2755 and also a 12 day tour for $3790.
Launching the end of May 2010, the inaugural two-week tour brings visitors on an extensive journey through the breathtaking nation of Israel, personally accompanied by Michael Lucas. Lucas has partnered with top experts in the Israeli tourism industry to contract the best amenities for the trip, including licensed guides and luxury hotels. The premiere group will visit notable historic sites, numerous restaurants, beaches, and resorts, along with several other locations that provide for the experience of a lifetime.
Best Gay Travel Guide
Gayest Gay Cities in the United States
According to a study by the Advocate this month,
1. Atlanta, Georgia
2. Burlington, Vermont
3. Iowa City, Iowa
4. Bloomington, Indiana
5. Madison, Wisconsin
6. New Orleans, Louisiana
7. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
8. Portland, Maine
9. Austin, Texas
10. Seattle, Washington
11. Gainsville, Florida
12. Ashville, North Carolina
13. Springfield, Massachusetts
14. San Diego, California
15. Albuquerque, New Mexico
The cities were ranked by:
-Same-sex couple households per capita
-Statewide marriage equality
-Gay elected officials
-Gay dating and hookup profiles per single male population
-Gay bars per capita
-Cruising spots per capita
-and Gay films in Netflix favorites.
Kind of shocking, right?!
Gay Travel Survey – Gay Travelers Prefer to Stay in Gay Owned and Operated Hotels
We do have some gay friends that would rather choose a 4 or 5 star straight hotel, over gay accomodations.
Pink Choice , one of the largest and most trusted websites for gay and lesbian hotel reviews, today announced results from its first annual Gay and Lesbian Travel Survey. The results shed some light on the health and direction of gay travel in 2009 and going into 2010. Over 500 individuals completed the survey.
The Economy is Impacting Gay Travel
Fifty-six percent of respondents said that the current economy had affected their travel plans and that they would be spending less on travel than in previous years. However, 63% said that they had not needed to shorten their vacations and 54% had already booked their trips for 2010. “The gay travel market has been impacted by the bad economy but people are still traveling. They may be looking to spend a bit less but as the results show, many are already booking for 2010,” said Stephen Mascilo, a co-founder of Pink Choice.
Gay Travelers Prefer Staying in Gay Owned Establishments
Seventy-one percent of respondents preferred to stay in an accommodation that was gay/lesbian owned and operated. That’s not surprising but over 50% indicated they weren’t bothered one way or the other. “We were surprised that over 50% of the respondents said they would be comfortable staying in a non gay owned establishment. It might reflect society’s changing attitudes towards gay and lesbian travelers,” said Stephen. Future surveys will examine this question further.
Price is the Main Factor for Choosing Travel Arrangements
When it comes to travel arrangements, less than 15% of members said they choose an airline specifically because of its GLBT policy. Based on this data, airlines that have spent time and money promoting gay friendly flights may not see much return. Over 50% said ticket price was a major deciding factor and 35% based their decision on flight schedules.
Homophobia on the Rise in South Beach…Gay Fort Lauderdale Continues to Flourish
BEACH
is the neighborhood that encompasses about 25 blocks in the city of Miami Beach.
In the 1920’s-1930’s South Beach brought Art Deco, Streamline Moderne, and Nautical Moderne architecture to the Beach. During the 1970’s-1980’s the area was used as a retirement community with most of its ocean-front hotels and apartment buildings filled with elderly people living on small, fixed incomes.
This period also saw the introduction of the “cocaine cowboys,” drug dealers who used the area as a base for their illicit drug activities. Scarface and even Miami Vice , typified this activity. The town became very run down and there were vacant and boarded up buildings everywhere.
So what happens? Gays cleaned it up. In the late 1980s, a renaissance began in South Beach, with an influx of “fashion industry professionals” moving into the area. South Beach started to become “fabulous” and gay clubs sprouted up everywhere.
It became this extremely popular entertainment mecca, thanks to the media. By the mid 1990’s, the rest of the straight world started to capitalize on this small area. More and more big straight clubs popped up and by the late 2000, many from Miami proper would come over and drink and cause trouble. We call that the “bridge and tunnel crowd”. When suburbanites come in and start taking over “our towns”. It’s no longer fun at that point.
Gianni Versace was murdered in 1997. I really view that as a turning point. Within a couple years, South Beach was changing. And not in a good way. I was last there in 2004 for the famous Winter Party, which attracts several thousand gay people. Even with that many gays in town, my partner and I DID NOT feel safe walking the streets at night. Straight kids in cars drove past and yelled “faggots” at us and one car even hurled a bottle at us. We walked in somewhere for a slice of pizza late night and straight teenagers mumbled “gay this” and “fag that” under their breath, but loud enough to hear. We were told by locals at that time, that many gays are starting to relocate to Fort Lauderdale. I have not been back to South Beach since.
It has just gotten worse in the last 5 years as the area has become a late night drinking straight town. This month in the news, gay bashings are on the rise there. State of Florida records stated that 75% of the anti-homosexual hate crimes in Miami-Dade County in 2009 occurred in South Beach/Miami Beach. It’s still chic and expensive there. Major developers have invested billions there. But the gays are getting out.
“South Beach isn’t the free-spirited haven of gayness it once was.” says writer Natalie O’Neill from Miami New Times.
Tony Lopez was celebrating the White Party this past November. Another huge gay event which brings thousands into the town. It was 4am and he wandered into a popular place for some take-out food. As he approached the line for food, an aggressive 20-something staggered up to him.
“Got a cigarette?” he asked. Tony shook a Marlboro Mild from the pack and handed him one.
Right then, a gang — Tony remembers four men — “appeared out of the woodwork.” They shoved him into the alley behind the restaurant, yelled “Fucking faggot!” and began to punch him. He fell to the ground and tried to shield his head as they kicked him in the face.
(Fort Lauderdale below)
O’Neill reports, “In a five-year span, the State Attorney’s Office reported 26 incidents, half of which were in Miami Beach. Victims include a lounge singer who was stripped naked and hogtied and a magazine publisher who was viciously beaten.
It’s surprising when you consider South Beach’s heyday as a sparkling gay playground, where oiled-up boys frolicked between wild foam parties and the hub of hedonism that was the Versace mansion. Nobody thought twice about casual sex in Flamingo Park or flamboyant public fashion shoots, and — at its peak — MTV was even there to glamorize it all.” – which really became the downfall of South Beach. It was a “kept secret” for a while but once it became celebritized by the rich and famous and sensationalized by television and film, it was no longer a secret!
I am not saying don’t go to South Beach. There are still fun clubs and fun parties there.
But YOU MUST BE CAREFUL. Walk in groups and not alone. Especially at night, when most of the trouble starts.
Gay Fort Lauderdale has been a haven for gay and lesbian travelers for decades. But in the last 5 years, it has seen tremendous growth as South Beach shifted. In addition to being a very gay friendly city , Fort Lauderdale has more than 100 gay-owned establishments including hotels/guesthouses, bars, clubs and restaurants, plus the second largest Metropolitan Community Church congregation in the United States and three gay and lesbian publications. Gay Ft. Lauderdale has three popular gay beach areas on Fort Lauderdale’s 23 miles of wide, sandy beach.
Fort Lauderdale continues to reign supreme as one of the most popular gay destinations in North America.
Read more on SoBe from Natalie O’Neill.
Visit Fort Lauderdale Sunny.org info Get a Free Fort Lauderdale calendar/planner!
The Best Gay Travel Guide
Gay Vacations…Gay Retreats…to Belize and Egypt!
A friend asked me recently, “Why would anyone want to go on a gay retreat? That sounds like work!”
So I asked Howie Holben from Spirit Journeys to elaborate on his gay retreats…
” We are frequently asked if our gay travel retreats or gay vacations are “fun”. There are two basic answers to this question.
First, there seems to be the conception that taking a “spiritual journey” (whatever that means to you) is “work”. Nobody wants to work on a vacation! That’s why we take a vacation in the first place, to get “away from it all” for awhile, to escape. We seem to frame the concepts of spiritual and personal growth with thoughts like: “I need to do this” or “I should do that” because “it would be good for me”. With those ideas as a background, it’s no wonder that so many of us think of spiritual and personal growth as “work”. When we’re on a vacation, we want to leave all the “need to’s” and “should’s” of daily life behind us, for at least a short time.
Second, somewhere along the way, we seem to have been taught that in order to be spiritually connected to the world, the people around us and to ourselves, we must act in a “serious manner”, almost to the point of being somber, or at the very least solemn. Somehow we’ve come to believe that laughter and play are “irreverent”.
In actuality, I have found just the opposite to be true. When I am awake and aware of my surroundings, in other words “spiritually” connected, my experiences are amplified and intensified. I am able to experience more of the world around me and experience it at a deeper level. I have found that this amplified experience actually makes my adventures more “fun” because all aspects of my travel are intensified; I can play more, I can laugh more, I can relax more fully and I can even shop more!
Little children are a wonderful example of this. They are enthralled with the world around them; everything is new, everything is a wonder. Discovering and learning new things is not “work” to a child. They find joy in all that they encounter; everything is a new toy to play with.
Also, sometimes people confuse the experience of being awestruck as being serious or solemn. When I travel or vacation with conscious awareness there can be times when I will be “deeply moved” (awestruck) by something I encounter. It could be the hospitality of a family I meet; a genuine smile; the grandeur of a sunrise or simply the revelation that I am blessed to be alive. Personally, even after countless visits to Monument Valley, I am still moved tears while I am there. But these are tears of joy, humility and gratitude.”
UPCOMING RETREATS – GAY COUPLES RETREAT IN BELIZE!
The Wonders of Egypt – 2010 …Egypt and the Nile, May 02, 2010 to May 15, 2010, This Journey is for Gay and Bi Men, $4095.00.
Come experience Egypt as few people ever will as we make special arrangements to be allowed inside the Great Pyramid and to get up close and personal with the Sphinx, things that are off limits to the public and have been for many years.
– A private visit to the King’s Chamber inside the Great Pyramid…
– A private visit to the Sphinx to stand between it’s paws, to place your hands upon it…
– A private visit to the Isle of Philae and the Temple of Isis at sunrise…
– Eight days cruising the Nile on our own private dahabiya (a luxury sailing yacht)…
– A small, intimate group of fellow journeyers (a maximum of 16)…
All this, and more, make this is a very special Spirit Journey indeed, one that can truly be called “a journey of a lifetime.”
Explore the World. Explore your Self.
Rest, relax, rejuvenate and play! Spirit Journeys
New Gay Travel Guide
Is Your Carry-On Bag Safe While You Are Sleeping?! No, Just Ask Cybill Shepherd’s Son Cyrus
CAN YOU IMAGINE?! That takes some big balls. You close your eyes for a little nap and some crack head is going through your stuff!
Cyrus Shepherd-Oppenheim, a University of Pennsylvania student, took a Canon digital camera, leather make-up case and cash from the bags of people aboard a United Airlines flight from San Francisco, according to police.
He was taken into custody after the flight landed at Philadelphia International Airport.
Police say witnesses identified Shepherd-Oppenheim, who is known as Zach – short for his middle name Zacariah – as the person who took their belongings during the six-hour flight.
He will have a court appearance next month, for the charges.
As for Cybill, she recently attended Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center’s “An Evening With Women” in support of gay and lesbian marriage rights. In California’s last election, it is said that Proposition 8 was passed which resulted in gay and lesbian rights to be nullified.
Her passion is to keep fighting for their rights which she believed to have derived from Martin Luther King’s assassination.
She has actually been very busy lately. She appeared on several episodes of EASTWICK, and has 5 movies coming out!
Gosh, mugshots are never pretty….
Spend an Intimate Week With the Boys from Bel Ami Studios in Cape Town, South Africa
THIS IS THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
THE VACATION OF YOUR DREAMS!
For the first time ever, BelAmi is offering a limited opportunity for fans to meet the BelAmi models and crew and partake in the BelAmi Photo Workshop. This is an unique chance to meet the team in person that have inspired so many fantasies on film.
There will be 2 workshop sessions (depending on interest) scheduled during an upcoming film shoot in Cape Town/South Africa. The workshop participants will have access to most of the current stars from our movies and website. You will get to meet the guys, socialize with them and most importantly have the opportunity to take you own images of the guys!! The best pictures will be published in a special commemorative book.
Can you imagine hanging out with the most beautiful young men in the world! And having the chance to photograph them?!
The workshops will have the following format:
Day 1: Arrival and welcome dinner. At the welcome dinner you will be introduced to your instructor, meet and get the chance to chat with BelAmi founder George Duroy and all of the crew as well as the chance to get to know some of the models that you will be working with for the next 4 days
Day 2 – 5: 1/2 day workshop and instruction, 1/2 day freeform photographic session
Day 6: Brunch and Departure
Included in the package is:
-Working with models including: Kris Evans, Dolph Lambert, Jean-Daniel Chagall, Ariel Vanean, Luke Hamill, Todd Rosset and the Peters twins
-All accommodation for the duration of the course (5 nights) individual rooms in a small hotel reserved entirely for BelAmi
-Transfers to and from the airport and from the hotel to the locations.
-All breakfast and on the set meals
-4 days of expert instruction and photo shooting at our filming locations and other places
-6 months membership to our website BelAmiOnline
-Signed copies of both Howard Roffman and Benno Thom’s most recent BelAmi photo books
-A copy of the commemorative book (when published)
-Certificate of completion
-Farewell Brunch
WOW! Does that sound amazing, or what?!
Each workshop will be limited to 5-7 places, to ensure that each person will get maximum personal attention.
The course will cost only 5,500 euro, booking will be secured upon payment of a 50% deposit.
Workshop 1, starting on March 8 and finishing March 13 will be conducted by Howard Roffman and we recommend this for participants who have some basic knowledge of photography
Workshop 2, starting on March 14 and finishing March 20 will be conducted by Benno Thoma will be ideal for aspiring photographers of all levels, from pure beginners to those who have knowledge of their camera already.
For further details and
expressions of interest,
please contact us
IMMEDIATELY
at raphaelsmp (at) gmail . com
by January 15!!!
