Author Archives: Gay Lesbian LGBT Travel
Gay Pride in Slovakia is Ruined By Skinheads
GAY PRIDE
Festivities have started in recent weeks around the world. I think many of us forget how good we have it. Big cities like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, have pride celebrations where thousands and even millions of us come out to celebrate the day and have no real danger or hate to deal with.
Police cancelled Slovakia’s first-ever gay pride parade after a gang of around 80 neo-Nazis threw stones, eggs and smoke bombs into the crowd of LGBT marchers.
“Instead of the parade of pride, Slovakia has experienced a day of shame,” reported local media. The organizers of the march in Bratislava city centre blame the police for not having enough officers out in force to protect the 1,000-plus participants of the event.
More than 70 hateful skin heads threw stones, smoke bombs, and eggs at the crowd. Eight skinhead protestors were arrested.
Organizers are pointing the finger at police, who they say had been informed of the event far in advance, yet had still sent an insufficient number of officers to keep order. One organizer says that the police “were clearly unprepared to face such a situation, despite our warnings.”
The Slovak Spectator is reporting that others are also blaming the police in their failure to protect the participants:
“Instead of the parade of pride, Slovakia has experienced a day of shame,” wrote Sme’s deputy editor-in-chief Lukáš Fila in his commentary suggesting that the attack by the neo-Nazis against the participants shows a failure by the state. Fila states that if the state was unable to secure order at an event which had been announced months in advance and about which all media had been reporting and to which foreign diplomats had confirmed their presence, then in what other areas are the police incapable of securing public order?”
The grim scene in Slovakia comes just a week after a gay pride parade was similarly marred by violence in the Eastern European country of Belarus. Riot police abruptly ended the colourful parade after eggs were thrown into the marching throng.
Best Gay City and Best Gay Pride – Toronto
Imagine a city full of millions of happy people going around wishing everyone HAPPY PRIDE all week!
Whether you are gay or straight, Pride Week in Toronto always offers fun parties, music and merriment for everyone. There are two areas of the city where festivities will be focused – Church Street (the famous Gay Village) and now Queen West is in on the fun with their Queer West Fest.
There is an estimated 1 million tourists + all of the locals that celebrate the Pride Events!
Toronto is one of the BEST GAY CITIES in North America and hosts THE BIGGEST GAY PRIDE in North America.
This year the theme is about “Celebrating 30 years of Pride in Toronto”. A week long of events will take place between June 25th – July 4th.
Prism 2010 , North America’s largest circuit party, partners with Pride Toronto to present for the first time ever, “Aqua Pride” on a Pride Toronto stage. AQUA PRIDE 2010 is a water-themed daytime event featuring Michael Viera, Isaac Escalante and Brazilian sweetheart, Ana Paula. Come, get wet and have fun!
“We’re very excited to be working with Prism Toronto to bring Aqua Pride to the Pride Toronto site. They work year round to contribute culturally to the city and have consistently supported local talent over the years. This is a very natural progression for us both”, says Pride Toronto’s Arts & Entertainment Manager, Mary Zondanos.
“Be prepared for the biggest party of the weekend as we transform the TD Wellesley Stage, into the most glamorous and wettest Aqua party yet,” says Gairy Brown, Executive Director of Prism Toronto.
Single event tickets and weekend passes are on-sale now exclusively at PRIAPE or through Priape retail locations in Toronto and Montreal. Call PRIAPE at 1-800-461-6969 for more details or for a store near you.
Cyndi Lauper Headlines Pride Toronto’s 30th Anniversary Festival.
Cyndi Lauper, one of the world’s most recognized Queer icons, comes to Toronto on Saturday, July 3 2010 for a FREE concert in Queen’s Park.
An unwavering advocate for LGBTTIQQ2SA* rights, Cyndi Lauper established herself as a household name with the 1983 single “Girls Just Want To Have Fun”, kicking off a long career which includes more than 25 million in record sales and nominations for 13 Grammy awards, 2 Emmy awards, 2 American Music Awards, 7 American Video Awards and 18 MTV awards.
“It’s an honor to always have the genuine affection of the gay community,” Cyndi says. “They have never turned their back on me and I will never turn my back on them. We’ve had a long and enduring love affair.”
The Grammy award-winning singer and Emmy award-winning actress is currently working on her newest studio album scheduled for release in June. Lauper is also featured on the new “Celebrity Apprentice” edition on NBC starting March 14 and later this year launches her own reality show.
Lauper’s performance during Pride Week will be part of a full program of entertainment and activities in Queen’s Park; the newest addition to the ever-expanding Pride Week site which includes eight stages over more than 22 city blocks and an attendance of more than one million. Plans for the new Queen’s Park site include a beverage garden and more Pride Week Streetfair exhibitors.
“We are happy that Cyndi and her incredible team worked with us to make this happen” said Mary Zondanos, Arts & Entertainment Manager for Pride Toronto. “Her work both as a performer and an activist is an inspiration to us all. There will be tears, and I’m sure some will be mine.”
SEE THE WHOLE LIST OF EVENTS ONLINE
*Pride Toronto is in the running to host the 2014 WORLD PRIDE!
Gay Las Vegas! Blue Moon Resort for Gay Men
Just a few minutes
from the Las Vegas strip
is a gay getaway.
Blue Moon Resort , is proud to be Las Vegas’ first and only Hotel exclusively for gay men. “Living up to being Las Vegas’ only gay hotel is tough but we accept the challenge!” says owner John Hessling who opened the place about 7 years ago.
When I told people I was staying here recently, I got GASPS! from a couple friends! They said, “You know that is a clothing optional place? It’s going to be like a bath house!”
Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, it is clothing optional. But 90% of the people kept their clothes on. And it was not sleazy at all. Yes, they have a steam room. Yes, they have a movie room. But everything is very private, and not in your face. So it is not offensive to those who are not into it. They’re plenty of saunas and bath houses in Las Vegas. This is a hotel, first and foremost.
One German fellow we chatted with, had stayed there 3 times prior. He summed it up with, “It’s cruisy if you want that, or it’s low-key and private if you want that. I love this place. I don’t like the mega-hotels with all the straight people and noise. It’s so nice to just hang out and sip a wine by the pool and hang out and chat with other gay men.”
Luxurious huge rooms, great prices from $60 – $150, friendly people in a quiet neighborhood away from all the strip noise and crowds. It’s a hidden gem that provides a plethora of amenities with a fun, friendly, extremely comfortable and clean atmosphere.
The Blue Moon Resort overflows with quality, beginning with its 45 newly remodeled rooms and suites. The non-smoking rooms and suites have king or two double beds with down comforters and pillow-top mattresses. The second and third floor rooms have wall-to-wall carpeting. The first floor rooms have Mexican Saltillo Tile and are pet friendly upon request.
Just outside, guests are able to enjoy the lagoon-style pool and Jacuzzi with a 10-foot waterfall. The resort also has a sundeck and steam room. Among Gay Hotels nationwide, Blue Moon Resort’s Pool Area and Sundeck have been voted one of the best! Local Las Vegans have voted it the Best Place in Las Vegas for Gay Men to hang out on Sunday! Being Las Vegas’ only Gay Pool & Sun Deck, everything has been designed to offer complete privacy while sunbathing and enjoying the day with your boyfriend or making new friends.
Blue Moon Resort offers complimentary Wireless Internet throughout the resort. The entire hotel is wired for a consistently strong signal reaching all guest rooms and common areas of the hotel. In the event you didn’t bring your laptop with you, we offer two Internet Stations in the Internet Lounge. Surf the internet or just enjoy the 42″ plasma TV while sipping your morning coffee.
A free poolside barbecue is offered to guests every Sunday, April through November (excluding holidays), as long as the weather permits; and seeing as this is Vegas, it typically does! And many local guys like to stop by and enjoy the party. During our recent stay we met guests from all over Europe who had stayed here before, as well as local guys who live in Las Vegas, but came to enjoy the facilities.
Blue Moon Resort will wake you up with a healthy breakfast each morning. Dine Alfresco Poolside and enjoy the fresh morning air or wake your man up with breakfast in bed.
Offered from 7:00 am to 11:00 am, this full Continental Breakfast offers a complete array of Fresh Muffins, Danish, Bagels, Waffles, Hot and Cold Cereals and Breakfast Bars. Also available are all types of Fresh Fruit, Juices, Green Tea, Regular Tea and Colombian Coffee Brewed Fresh Daily. Coffee, Tea and Fruit are available 24 hours.
Best Gay Cities Best Gay Las Vegas
Consistently gets 4 out of 5 stars on TripAdvisor .
Experience Gay Las Vegas in the comfort of an all male environment
with a friendly staff trained to meet the needs of the gay male traveler. BLUE MOON RESORT
Gay Dallas Nightlife – Everything is BIGGER in DALLAS!
We just got back from visiting Dallas recently. A dozen or so LGBT writers from around the world were invited to tour Dallas and see all that it has to offer. (Big Thanks to American Airlines and George Carranhco in their Rainbow Division !)
Everything is bigger in Texas, that’s for sure! Big Culture, Big City, Big Nightlife in Big gayborhoods and lots of BIG HEARTS and KINDNESS. What a friendly city! And coming from Chicago, where we have about 18 bars and nightclubs, I was impressed with the Dallas Tavern Guild and all their clubs in Cedar Springs and surrounding neighborhoods. Over 21 clubs – and several of them HUGE multi-leveled, multi-venued clubs! And we toured them ALL. In 4 days! My liver needed a rest, to say the least, when I got home.
And unlike many big cities, the cost of drinking in Dallas is releatively inexpensive. Where most big cities will charge you $6-$10 for weak cocktails, I don’t think I ever paid more than $4-6 for most any good strong drink. And many bars do promotional nights with 50% off and discounted drinks! So your dollars go a LONG way in Dallas! And while many clubs may have a theme like leather/levi or Abercrombie or lesbian, everyone is welcomed everywhere with a smile, which I found so refreshing!
In the coming weeks and months, we’ll be sharing all we discovered in this great city. From fabulous shopping, art, cultutre, and food to everything LGBT and LGBT friendly that Dallas has to offer!
So this week, we’ll give you the skinny on the BIG NIGHTLIFE and DALLAS LGBT BARS and CLUBS
Alexandre’s 4026 Cedar Springs Road 214-559-0720
An intimate club in the heart of Oaklawn with a friendly, neighborhood atmosphere. Great variety of live entertainment at this cozy yet chic Piano bar. Since we opened 2004, we have showcased numerous entertainers and have prided ourselves with featuring some of the best live entertainment Dallas has to offer! We offer a very friendly and laid back atmosphere where anyone can have a good time! Also check out our website at Alexandres.com for more info.
Barbaras Pavillion 325 Centre St 214-941-2145
Barbara’s Pavillion is Dallas’ friendliest neighborhood bar located in the heart of Oak Cliff/ Bishop Arts. It is a small neighborhood place to relax, unwind and meet your friends for a drink. Whatever you’re in the mood for…whether it’s a game of pool or just sitting and chatting with friends, you can enjoy it at Barbara’s Pavillion. It’s like being in someone’s house. They also have their own little urban oasis – an outdoor patio bar enjoyed year-round! – Technically, it is located in a “dry area”. So you will need a “membership”, which is free, to enjoy the spirits here.
BJs NXS ! 3215 N Fitzhugh Ave 214-526-9510
Uptown’s newest and hottest spot for male entertainment. I love me some go-go boys, and Dallas is full of them! This friendly big neighborhood club has a great staff and very handsome hot dancers. Nightly drink specials and always lots of great scenery. All this in a clean, cozy and welcoming atmosphere.
Brick / Joes 2525 Wycliff Ave, #120 214-3521-3154
New location for popular Dallas club. The club is split into 2 sides. BRICK and JOES. Large club on one side, smaller, quieter on the other side. Upscale neighborhood setting with various events 7 nights a week including Broadway, Karaoke, Live Entertainment and male dancers. Dancing until 4 am on the weekends – Hip Hop Friday, Dance music Saturday, Retro Sunday. Multiple video screens and great Happy Hour crowd daily.
Dallas Eagle 5740 Maple Ave. 214-357-4375
Many big cities have an EAGLE, and I have seen about 6 of them, in various cities. This is by far the biggest Eagle and friendliest, I have ever been to. They welcome everyone whether you’re in Levis and leather, or designer jeans and Versace, as I was on my particular visit! They didn’t care. They welcomed us and made sure we had a good time. This Dallas popular leather/levis club located just 8 minutes from Cedar Springs. And while the main theme is of course leather/levi, everyone is welcomed and made to feel at home. The bar has Internet parties, weekly pool tournaments and plays host to many local regional and national leather events such as the Bear Round-Up and Mr. Southwest Leather .
Havana 4006 Cedar Springs Road 214-526-9494
A trendy, retro-style crowd populates this nightspot right in the heart of Oaklawn. Also serving dinner specials with a Cuban-Latin flavor. Inexpensive drinks, a good music system, and some pretty fun drag acts are part of the fun.
Hidden Door 5025 Bowser 214-526-0620
One of the oldest (since 1979) and still very popular neighborhood clubs in Dallas. Boasts a friendly, diverse crowd and an extremely popular patio. Hot spot on Sunday afternoons.
Illusions 4100 Maple Avenue 214-252-0552
This intimate club hosts regular show nights with great female impersonation and host to many fundraising events in Dallas. A great neighborhood crowd. Very friendly. Lots of great talent.
J.R.’s Bar 3923 Cedar Springs Rd 214-528-1004
The hot spot on Cedar Springs for the young, fun Abercrombie crowd. Named for the star of the infamous Dallas TV show of the 80’s, this huge club has a great video and sound system with the latest music and shows several nights and the outrageous Wanda Show every Sunday night. Also an extremely popular balcony and second deck bar area.
Old-fashioned decor, like the freestanding wooden bar and embossed tin ceilings, collides with modern accoutrements, including pool tables and a wall of TVs, creating a comfortable, friendly aura. A spacious downstairs, tiered levels and upstairs balcony provide patrons space to bond over a burger or mingle with a mixed drink in hand. With different DJs, drink specials and events every night, including drag shows and pool tournaments, JR’s keeps crowds coming back.Great fun!
Kaliente 4350 Maple Avenue 214-520-6676
A very hot and extremely popular Latino nightspot. Young crowd with show, karaoke, and a terrific dance floor. Multi-level. The latest in hot Latin and Salsa music.
Klub Hot 4207 Maple Ave. @ Knight St. 214-520-3900
A hot new Latino nightclub with a slick industrial look. It features a huge dancefloor, a VIP area and a large patio. Friday night drag show.
Los Rieles 600 S. Industrial Blvd. 214-741-2125
A fun new Latino/Latina club with a large dance floor, great music and lost of weekly events including karaoke, drag shows and male dancers.
Pekers 2615 Oak Lawn Avenue 214-528-3333
Pekers is a Gay/Lesbian neighborhood bar with live entertainment and karaoke. Pool tables and video poker. Just two blocks from the Cedar Springs strip. Super-friendly staff and clean, newly decorated space is welcoming to everyone. They host lots of community fundraising events.
The Rose Room 3912 Cedar Springs Road 214-526-7171
Located in the beautiful newly remodeled Station 4 nightclub, the Rose Room is a first-class, entertainment showroom with the very finest in the art of female impersonation. Shows by a regular cast of highly talented performers and many nationally known female impersonators in an upscale cabaret nightclub setting. Cover charge.
Round-Up Saloon 3911 Cedar Springs Road 214-522-9611
This is the LARGEST country-western dance club in the Southwest. An iconic institution. Round-Up opened 1980. It has been dubbed the home of Good Times and Good People for many years and has some of the best dancers and Best Looking Cowboys in DFW and the country! A sumptuous hardwood dance floor is the centerpiece of this club with six different themed drink stations. Hot cowboy bartenders welcome you nightly. Karaoke is featured five nights a week in the Parlor Bar. Jello shots are popular here! Last year they served up 67,000!
In 1998, the Round Up was purchased by Gary Miller and Alan Pierce. They made lots of improvements to the club, like a premium Tequila Shack, The Loft, The Tool Shed, covered the patio, reopened the Day Bar( now called the Parlor.) “And we ain’t done yet!” – Watch for ever changing and improving the joint. Be assured that The Round Up will ALWAYS be a clean and friendly atmosphere, where you can kick up your heels and feel at home in the COUNTRY!!
Rush 3903 Lemmon Avenue 214-780-0955
A recent addition to the Oaklawn neighborhood, this club has great live entertainment and nightly drink specials. Occasional karaoke and feature performers. Great weekends.
Sisters Club 4025 – 4103 Maple Ave 214-559-2511
The hot new women’s club in Dallas. And brothers are always welcome!
“Although this is primarily a Womans Club we always want our gay brothers to feel comfortable and welcome. Sisters Club is the place to come be yourself, always feel like you are among family and friends.From the time you enter through the door you will notice and be welcomed by a warm, friendly, no attitude staff.”
There are a couple buildings on the property . It’s quite huge. And out back is a great patio / deck / pool PLUS a sand-filled area for vollyball!
Station 4 3912 Cedar Springs Road 214-559-0650
This is the newest jewel on the Cedar Springs strip.HUGE! Formerly the Village Station, this recently remodeled hi-tech, mega dance club is stunning in it’s size, scope and technical features. Amazing light show, large dance floor, and large second floor balcony. A hot spot with the younger dance crowd. This is the flagship of the Caven Enterprises nightclubs . Multi-level, multi-venues. Cover charge.
Sue Ellen’s 3014 Throckmorton St 214-559-0707
The sister club to J’R’s and appropriately named for the female star of the Dallas TV show, this upscale women’s club is also welcoming to all guest and hosts great pool tournaments, karaoke, comedy shows and the best in local live female bands and musicians. In the very center of the Cedar Springs strip. It is another huge multi-level space with lots of different rooms and music, depending on your mood. Dallas’ premiere lesbian nightclub – but everyone is welcome.
Throckmorton Mining Company (TMC)
3903 Cedar Springs Rd 214-521-4205
An institution since 1978! This is a very popular club with hot music, featuring a more intimate atmosphere with low lighting, ice cold drinks, and a crowd of “very” friendly regulars who know how to have fun. Outdoor patio. Two levels of this club add to the visual entertainment.
Tin Room 2514 Hudnall Street 214-526-6365
Another friendly, neighborhood hot-spot club with a warm, cozy atmosphere. Good regular crowd during the week, pool table, karaoke, occasional shows and a welcoming staff. At The Tin Room you will find a unique blend of gorgeous people, great music, go-go guys 7 nights a week, entertainment and spirits. The Tin Room offers a variety of contemporary cocktails, an impressive wine selection and signature sips. Some say it’s the hottest Saturday night in Dallas. It’s a little off the beaten path, in an up and coming gay area. Saturdays are a packed house! State-of-the-art sound, video and lighting, and chart-topping dance music from some of the hottest DJs around.
Woodys Sports and Video Bar 4011 Cedar Springs Road 214-520-6629
One of the newer club additions to Cedar Springs, this hot spot for sports and video fans host multiple screens upstairs and down featuring the latest music videos and live sporting events as well as weekly entertainment and karaoke on the downstairs stage. There is a full patio downstairs, facing the Cedar Springs strip and a second floor balcony with great cook-outs in the summer. Home to many of the local sports organizations.
visit the interactive Club map page
Dallas has some of the hottest and most fun clubs in the state of Texas.
No matter where you decide to go in Dallas, YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME.
If you show up alone, you are sure to make new friends here in this city!
More information on clubs and news and happenings at Dallas Tavern Guild .
Book Your next trip to Texas (or anywhere!) via American Airlines Rainbow Department !
Arizona Has a Mess on It’s Hands – Bill 1070
ARIZONA IS IN A
MESS OF HOT WATER!
The controversial Arizona Senate Bill 1070 has sparked protests across the country and in Colorado. The bill gives law enforcement expansive powers in an effort to crack down on illegal immigration. Supporters say the new law provides local law enforcement with much-needed tools to enforce current laws. Immigrant-rights groups, including the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC), say the measure unfairly targets minorities and encourages racial profiling. The CIRC website points out:
“This law requires police verify the immigration status of anyone they have reasonable suspicion is undocumented and arrest anyone who can’t immediately prove their status.
Yet there are no outwardly distinguishable differences between an undocumented immigrant and a citizen, requiring police use racial profiling to draw their conclusions.”
Employees of the City of Boulder will no longer be traveling to Arizona for business, City Manager Jane Brautigam announced today, as a show of the city’s opposition to the recent immigration legislation passed in that state.
The Washington D.C. Council has delayed consideration of an Arizona boycott after the American Hotel & Lodging Association intervened, the Washington Post reports.
Several cities and municipal bodies, including San Francisco, are considering or have adopted a ban on official travel to Arizona to protest the new law. The AH&LA has said that banning travel could hurt the state’s travel and tourism industry and its workers.
IGLTA said today, “The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association joins in solidarity with leaders in travel and hospitality as well as the LGBT community to condemn the recent hurtful and discriminatory actions on immigration policy taken by Arizona. As industry leaders in uniting and welcoming all, we know first hand that our world is enriched through our diverse connections.
As a matter of longstanding policy, however, we also oppose all efforts to impose an economic boycott on the state of Arizona. We know that this otherwise well-intended approach will harm many of our ally businesses, large and small, that are welcoming and inclusive of the LGBT community and others. As the U.S. Travel Association stated, especially in this very tough economic climate, “We need to protect this critical aspect of our economy and reward hard-working Americans instead of proposing boycotts that will lead to job losses and economic hardship for families and local communities. It is inappropriate to punish the men and women of our industry who have done no harm to others.”
Steve Wynn – Up On The Roof at ENCORE – Yes, Thats Really Him!
Steve Wynn
has continually raised the bar in Las Vegas. I had the honor of meeting Mr. Wynn at the Grand Opening Party for Siegfried and Roys Secret Garden at the Mirage in 1997. I was lucky enough to work for Siegfried and Roy as a freelance writer for 8 years, up until Roy’s unfortunate accident.
After the Miarge, Wynn went on to develop BELLAGIO, then WYNN, and most recently ENCORE! Everytime outdoing himself! On our most recent trip to Las Vegas, we were able to stay at Encore. And on the TV in the room, you see this video of what appears to be Mr. Wynn, sitting ON TOP of Encore! It must be a blue screen, you say to yourself!
Often it’s the question on the tip of every guest’s tongue from the moment he or she checks in, asked of bellmen and bartenders, front-desk clerks and dining reservationists: “Was Steve really up there?”
The answer—whether you’re speaking of Wynn or Encore, it should be noted—is an unequivocal yes. Steve Wynn did indeed stand, and then later sit, atop the roof of each of his resorts for the filming of their respective commercials. No stuntmen, no stand-ins, no computer-generated trickery was needed or requested; from the moment the idea was conceptualized, Wynn was passionate about performing this “stunt” himself, knowing the “did he or didn’t he?” element would inspire plenty of conversation. And so in the first spot, which debuted months before his eponymous resort opened in April 2005, Steve Wynn stood on the roof and announced, “This is my new hotel, the only one I’ve ever signed my name to,” before the camera, mounted on a helicopter, pulled back to reveal the glistening bronze building.
Given the considerable buzz surrounding the first ad, Wynn knew that Encore’s commercial, which debuted just prior to the resort’s December 2008 opening, had to take the concept to a new level. Wynn enlisted director Brett Ratner, best known for the Rush Hour series and X-Men: The Last Stand, and together the pair conceived the idea of sitting Wynn on the very precipice of Encore, 48 stories and 675 feet in the air, his legs dangling over the edge at the highest point of his now-signature swoop. Ultimately, Wynn knew he had to up the ante for his Encore announcement, and we’re sure you’ll agree that he succeeded!
WATCH THE VIDEO AT WYNN – ENCORE
* Steve Wynn marked the opening of Encore Macau , his new, all-suites boutique hotel in Macau, with a fireworks spectacular yesterday.
Steve lit the first fuse in Macau to start the display at exactly 8:08 p.m Friday evening, the number for success and good fortune, illuminating the skies above Encore and its sister resort Wynn Macau in an extravagant 10-minute performance.
Thousands of people stood along the Nam Van Lake and Taipa shoreline to witness the production!
WYNN and ENCORE Las Vegas
The Best of Gay Las Vegas and Best Gay Cities
Gay Dallas Events This Month – Cedar Springs Art Festival and Purple Party
We just got back from
a great trip to Dallas!
With a diverse and vibrant GLBT community, Dallas welcomes travelers and residents to come out and enjoy the many things that make this progressive city one of the most gay-friendly cities in the United States. A huge selection of hot nightlife , fantastic dining options, fabulous shopping and the largest contiguous urban arts district in the nation.
THIS WEEKEND,
is the 2nd Annual Cedar Springs Art Fest .
April 24th, 10 am – 7 pm.
Street closed from 7:00 am – 10:00 pm.
Free Community Art Festival with great artwork, fabulous artists, fun, food, drink and entertainment.
Cedar Springs road is the most eclectic street in Dallas and the heart of the gay neighborhood / Oaklawn.
Oak Lawn is known for its good restaurants, as well as its many bars and clubs. (In particular those catering to the LGBT community of Dallas.) Running through the center of Oak Lawn from downtown to Love Field is Cedar Springs Road, which has housed the center of the Dallas gay community for over 35 years at the intersection of Cedar Springs Road and Throckmorton Street.
This Arts Festival benefits the CSMA’s efforts to beatify Cedar Springs. “You won’t find us trying to sell fried sodas…or stuff with a ‘Made in China’ sticker.” Gus Klein, 2009 Event Director.
NEXT WEEKEND, is the annual Purple Foundation’s PURPLE PARTY . As they approach their 10th year, Purple Foundation is extremely proud of the accomplishments they have made thus far, donating in excess of $250,000 to beneficiaries. This year’s beneficiary is AIDS Services of Dallas.
The Annual Party Weekend brings together LGBT people from across the country to enjoy some of the top DJs, entertainers and performers both nationwide and local.
VOTED ONE OF THE BEST DANCE PARTY WEEKENDS IN THE COUNTRY, Purple Party offers 10 events total April 30th – May 2nd. Top DJs will include Chris Cox, Joe Gauthreaux, Bryan Konrad, Power, Alyson Calagna, and Michael Tank. While some party weekends can cost as much as $400 to attend all the parties, Purple Party offers an affordable pass for $120 which gets you access to ALL 10 events!
“For the first time all the many different influences, personalities and individuals who make up our dance community are unifying their efforts to help create this vision for a good cause. Purple is about COMMUNITY and showing our friends throughout the nation how this huge amount of talent, energy and resources can be pulled together for a common cause.”
Gay Marriage Around the World – Iceland and Portugal
The small island nation of Iceland (pop. 320,000) is preparing to legalize gay marriage.
The government introduced its gender-neutral marriage bill on March 23, CarnalNation.com reported.
The bill has the backing of Prime Minister Johanna Siguroardottir, the world’s first openly lesbian politician to be elected to helm a country. Iceland was one of the first nations to recognize gay unions in 1996 with registered partnerships. The law has been expanded over the years to grant gay and lesbian couples all the rights, benefits and obligations of marriage, including adoption.
Siguroardottir originally took over the reins of Iceland’s government as interim prime minister on February 1; results of the special election secured her post.
Siguroardottir entered a registered partnership with writer-playwright Jonina Leosdottir in 2002. She has two adult sons from a previous marriage. Previous expansions of registered partnerships sailed easily through Iceland’s Parliament, which suggests that the gay marriage bill will likely see an easy adoption. If approved, gay couples could marry as early as June 27.
The Icelandic gay society is small but very active and a ‘gay scene’ exists only in Reykjavík.
MORE GAY MARRIAGE NEWS….
Portugal might soon become the sixth European country to allow same-sex marriage. Back in January, their Parliament passed a gay marriage bill with the support from their left-of-center parties.
And in even better news, this past Thursday, Portugal’s highest court ruled that the proposed law should be enacted! This now leaves only their conservative President Anibal Cavaco Silva, who has the power to ratify or veto, to decide within the next 20 days.
The president’s signature is the final step before their country can be free to have the equal rights they all deserve.
LISBON is the current hotspot in Portugal!
BEST GAY CITIES Around the World!
Anish Kapoor Unveils London’s Version of the Eiffel Tower for 2012 Olympics
Anish Kapoor is an Indian sculptor. Born in Bombay. Kapoor has lived and worked in London since the early 1970s, so it only makes sense he is designing a magnificent new work for the upcoming 2012 Olympics in London!
Kapoor’s pieces are frequently simple, curved forms, usually monochromatic and brightly coloured. Most often, the intention is to engage the viewer, producing awe through their size and simple beauty, evoking mystery through the works’ dark cavities, tactility through their inviting surfaces, and fascination through their reflective facades.
A spiralling sculpture, 115m tall piece, named the ArcelorMittal Orbit, will be placed in the Olympic Park and will be 22m higher than New York’s Statue of Liberty.
The £19.1m design incorporates the five Olympic rings and will offer visitors panoramic views of London.
London Mayor Boris Johnson revealed plans for the tower on Wednesday.
“I am deeply honoured to be invited to undertake this challenging commission,” Kapoor said.
“I am particularly attracted to it because of the opportunity to involve members of the public in a particularly close and personal way. It is the commission of a lifetime.”
The artist will work with leading structural designer, Cecil Balmond of engineering firm Arup.
WATCH THE VIDEO AT BBC.
MIAMI BEACH GAY PRIDE Saturday April 17th
Extraordinary Day OUT!
MIAMI BEACH GAY PRIDE
Saturday, April 17,
Ocean Drive, 12-7pm
Ven y celebra un día extraordinario AFUERA!
ORGULLO GAY EN MIAMI BEACH
Sábado, Abril 17, Ocean Drive, 12-7pm
Miami Beach is fabulous.
And on Saturday, April 17, it will be more extraordinary than ever!
Join Miami Beach City Mayor Matti Bower, your friends, family and allies for the 2nd annual PRIDE parade and festival, a celebration of the extraordinary strength, beauty and contributions of South Florida’s LGBT community. It’s an exciting all-day event featuring a parade along beautiful Ocean Drive with floats and including the inspiring LEGACY couples, a Festival with exciting celebrity presentations and musical performances, and an Expo with LGBT-friendly vendors and businesses, refreshments and food, plus a family-friendly playzone.
Lesbian. Gay. Bi. Trans. Straight. PROUD.
Miami Beach Gay Pride is an extraordinary celebration that brings out the best in us, all.
Lesbianas. Gay. Bi. Trans. Heterosexuales. ORGULLOSOS. El Orgullo Gay en Miami Beach es una celebración extraordinaria que resalta en todos nosotros lo mejor que tenemos dentro.
All Events Free and Open to the Public
Todos los eventos son gratuitos y estarán abiertos a todo público
Best Gay Cities
Gay South Beach – LGBT Visitor Center in Miami Beach
The new LGBT Visitor Center inside the MDGLCC’s new headquarters will become a place of community, information, resources and business networking for the 1.2 million gay and lesbian travelers who visit Miami-Dade County each year, as well as for the estimated 183,000 LGBT residents who call Miami and Miami Beach home, said Steve Adkins, president of the MDGLCC.
The Center is on-target to open April 15 with a grand opening dedication celebration for the entire community with many dignitaries, city leaders and community leaders in attendance.
“We envision the new Visitor Center becoming the nucleus of LGBT activity for visitors, locals and our business community,” Adkins said. “Other cities have LGBT community centers or general tourist information places, but we’re aware of no other city in the country that has a permanent, central location run by a gay Chamber that serves the needs of both LGBT and gay-friendly visitors and locals.”
Located at 1130 Washington Avenue, Old City Hall is literally at the epicenter of LGBT activity in South Beach. Steps to Ocean Drive and the beach, a few blocks south of famed Lincoln Road and right in the middle of bars, restaurants, shops and hotels, Old City Hall is easily accessible by foot, car, bus or Rollerblade. The Mediterranean Neo-Classical designed building was originally built in 1927 and reopened last October after a three-year, $7 million renovation by the City.
There will also be kiosks to display various LGBT-oriented memorabilia as well as branded merchandise for sale as souvenirs. The Center will also have the ability to play host to art shows, book signings, receptions and fundraisers, many of which could be held in conjunction with the high-profile events that Miami Beach attracts, such as the Winter Party, Art Basel Miami Beach, the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and Art Deco Weekend.
“A Visitor Center of this magnitude makes perfect sense for Miami Beach,” Adkins said. “We’re arguably among the top LGBT tourist destinations in the country, if not the world, and the local LGBT community is very well-integrated into the general population, making this city one of the most progressive and accepting in the world.”
That integration makes Miami Beach unusual and provides a bigger opportunity for a Center, Adkins said. “Unlike other cities, there are no ‘gay ghettos’ here where the LGBT community has congregated, nor are there side streets lined with pride flags to indicate the few places of acceptance. Here, people freely walk Lincoln Road or Ocean Drive hand-in-hand and are warmly welcomed at shops, hotels and restaurants.”
BEST GAY CITIES
Gay Houston Lesbian Mayor Annise Parker Brings Strength To This Texas City
Hopes to Help Turn Houston Into
a Gay Hot Spot.
Houston voters made history last December, electing the first openly gay mayor of a major U.S. city. Annise Parker, 53 leads the nation’s fourth largest metropolis.
As the fourth-largest city in the nation, MY GAY HOUSTON’s LGBT scene remains as diverse and vibrant as its more than 5 million residents. Its blend of world-class culture and an anything-goes attitude make this city on the bayou a great getaway for the discerning gay traveler.
From the pedestrian-friendly Montrose neighborhood to downtown and the historic Heights, Houston has something for everyone, all seven days of the week. Read on for picks on where to be and what to see..
The city launched a campaign titled “My Gay Houston,” featuring gay Houstonians in print advertisements and on a newly-revamped website, as their latest effort in a years-old gay campaign. For some time now, Houston has been trying to promote themselves as gay-friendly and gay-welcoming. Hopefully with Annise at the helm of the city, this campaign will get a boost.
Greg Ortale is CEO of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau. In an interview, he readily admitted that the city’s efforts to attract the gay and lesbian market had “clearly benefitted” from the election results.
“Whether in good economic times or bad, you want [gay and lesbian] travelers in your city,” Ortale told EDGE. “To assume we’re going to ignore a major traveling market is ludicrous. It doesn’t make a difference to us.
“We’re proud of what our city offers in arts, sports with our food scene and retail. We can back up our destination against anybody else’s.”
Despite pockets of liberal tolerance such as Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth and Austin, Texas ranks relatively low for gay rights. Its state constitution specifically bans same-sex marriage.
Regardless, Houston’s marketing team seems committed to its gay-friendly stamp. The tourism board continues its collaboration with the community’s LGBT organizations. More news from Houston soon!
Best Gay Cities
New Gay Travel Guides
Sir Ian McKellen Shows Support for Homotopia in Liverpool England
HOMOTOPIA,
is Liverpool’s annual
celebration of Queer Culture,
every November.
Queer culture is truly celebrated with Liverpool’s first ever-dedicated perspective of events by and for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Homotopia is a bold and ambitious festival featuring a variety of events including theatre, film, art, performance, photography, heritage and storytelling.
Lord Of The Rings star Sir Ian McKellen has pledged support and backing to Liverpool’s LGBT arts group. “I fully support Homotopia’s determination to tackle the violence which defaces the reputation of Liverpool as a friendly, inclusive community. Homophobia, in all its manifestations, should always be challenged. We are all different, thank goodness: we all deserve to be treated equally with respect.” Said the popular star, who was impressed with the way Homotopia galvanised the LGBT community in the city following the brutal murder of Michael Causer and the horrifying homophobic attack on policeman James Parkes in Liverpool’s gay quarter last year.
Homotopia’s latest project features a group of lesbian and gay teenagers from the northern UK city travel to World War II concentration and death camp Auschwitz -Birkenau to see first hand the effects of hate crime. This special trip has been turned into a documentary, also a education pack has been produced, it’s aim is to inform young people about homophobic bullying, hate crime and the effects of discrimination and prejudice. The pack and documentary is being made available to 100 Liverpool school and will be seen by over 20,000 young people.
Best Gay Cities
Gay Travel Around the World and Rooms With a View
Conde Nast Traveler’s “Room with a View” column, featuring frame-worthy vistas from all over the world, has been whetting the appetites of armchair tourists for 20 years. This compendium gathers the most breathtaking sights of all time, from Balinese beaches to Asia’s bustling metropolises to African savannahs teeming with wildlife rather than nightlife.
Now buy a book!
Conde Nast Traveler’s Room with a View
A BEST OF THE BEST collection from the magazine.
ASSOULINE’S newest tome, Condé Nast Traveler Room with a View offers a global exploration of the world’s most stunning hotels and resorts and the most breathtaking views taken from the interior of their rooms. Each page offers a vista of the world’s wonders – natural and manmade, spiritual and sensual. In each image, photographers have captured transporting views, presented the perfect spots to observe ethereal horizons, glittering urban skylines, and truly, everything in between.
Take, for instance, the bathtub vista from the Royal Park’s Urban Spa room in the 971 foot-high Yokohama Landmark Tower, or Room 609 at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, the perfect box seat for the Cartier Polo World Cup on Snow, played on the frozen Lake of St. Moritz below.
Room with a View presents 160 of these stunning photographs that, along with the magazine’s concise commentary, are sure to stoke the imaginations of even the most seasoned travelers.
This view in Australia, is a suite at the InterContinental Sydney
This eco-friendly spot is Whitepod Resort, Les Cerniers, Switzerland.
These insulated tents have no plumbing! But great views (and a bathroom)!
Gorgeous unobstructed panoramas of the Bernese Alps.
Gay Vietnamese March in Orange County Little Saigon TET Parade
ORANGE COUNTY
itself is very welcoming
to the LGBT communities.
This past month, there has been much in the press about the gay vietnamese community and the TET parade.
Last week – WESTMINSTER – A coalition of Vietnamese gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups said they will march down Little Saigon streets – a first for the annual Tet Parade. Once Gay and lesbian Vietnamese-Americans said they were marching in the Parade, it sparked rebukes from a City Council member and Christian leader.
The groups have chapters in Orange County, but they have never actually participated in an Orange County public event.
Rev. Nguyen Thanh Van and Westminster City Councilman Andy Quach made very vocal negative comments.
The minister, who leads the Hội Đồng Liên Tôn interfaith council, called on religious and political groups to boycott the parade.
Quach, who is chairman of the parade’s organizing committee, issued a letter in Vietnamese that, stated the politician wishes he could ban the gays but that he can’t. He asked that everyone still turn out and enjoy the parade.
Despite opposition, the group marched anyway. Towleroad reader Rob Hoang published this photo of him and his boyfriend marching with the first LGBT group to march in the Orange County Tet (Vietnamese New Year) parade in California.
“We were anxious, prepared for the worst,” stated one UCLA participant who had been cautioned in an AQWA newsletter and various forums to be wary of possible protests being staged against the LGBT marchers.
“Boos” totaled less than five. Cheers rose from the crowd as the Vietnamese LGBT marchers were announced in English, followed by a second–perhaps more unexpected–wave of cheers as they were again announced in Vietnamese.
And in an extreme act of hypocrisy, Andy Quach, an Orange County City Councilman who warned of gays and lesbians “any extreme or outrageous material not suited for children” while participating in this year’s Vietnamese Tet Parade, rode in the parade in a car painted with tits and ass. That’s real nice Andy.
The call for a boycott from Reverend Thanh Van, and other religious conservatives ended in a massive fail and a potential political migraine for Andy Quach.
The Best Gay News
San Francisco – Chocolate Lovers Paradise!
You wouldn’t think of Chocolate necessarily, when you think of San Francisco….But only in San Francisco, with its rich and luscious history of food, can one find four of the nation’s 11 major chocolate manufacturers and a disproportionate number of unique boutique chocolatiers.
The Bay Area is home to some of the greatest chocolate factories in world including: The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company, See’s Candies and Scharffen Berger Chocolate (recently acquired by the Hershey Company).
In 1849, an Italian chocolatier by the name of Domingo Ghirardelli received news of a gold strike at Sutter’s Mill and took it upon himself to strike it rich and sail off to California. While Ghirardelli found no luck in the Gold Rush, he found his fortune in chocolate instead. He established his first chocolate factory in San Francisco’s famous Fisherman’s Wharf, which is considered a historic landmark today.
Ghirardelli is one of the few chocolate companies in the United States to control every aspect of its chocolate manufacturing process, rejecting up to 40 percent of the cocoa beans shipped in order to select what the company calls the “highest quality” beans. The company then roasts the cocoa beans in-house by removing the outer shell of the bean and roasting the inside of it. Today, Ghirardelli’s Chocolate Factory is considered one of the most popular sites in the Bay Area because on any given day, you can find decadent, gooey chocolate churned there. Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is a major contributor in the multi-billion dollar industry that can soothe the soul of the savage beast as well as stimulate “feel good” hormones. While chocolate is no longer being manufactured in Ghirardelli Square, the retail store still serves fresh chocolate sundaes and other sweet confections.
See’s Candies was founded by Charles See and his mother Mary See when they opened up shop in 1921. The company is headquartered in South San Francisco.The chocolate in See’s candies has been provided by the Guittard Chocolate Company since the 1950s; See’s and Guittard pioneered the delivery of bulk chocolate in liquid form in tanker trucks in 1959. See’s Candies makes more than 100 varieties of premium chocolate truffles, caramels, toffee, and other candies, including boxed assortments, lollipops, and kosher treats.
Scharffen Berger Chocolate is a Berkeley, California-based chocolate maker, founded in 1996 by sparkling wine maker John Scharffenberger and physician Robert Steinberg. The company is a manufacturer of chocolate (as opposed to chocolatiers, who make their products using chocolate acquired from wholesalers and manufacturers). Scharffen Berger is the first American company founded in the past 50 years to make chocolate from “bean to bar.” Scharffen Berger primarily produces chocolate bars, which are dark chocolate varieties with high cocoa solid content. By 1997 they made the first batch in a small South San Francisco factory using vintage German equipment and basic ingredients including Venezuelan criollo beans and whole Tahitian vanilla. Today, Scharffen Berger makes about a half million pounds of chocolate a year. You can find fine artisan “bean to bar” chocolate in a marketplace atmosphere at Scharffen Berger.
Gourmet Walks includes a Gourmet Chocolate Tour, with tastings of fine chocolate. Guests learn where to find premium chocolate in San Francisco and discover artisan chocolatiers who create heavenly truffles and butter creams, and stores that sell local and international chocolate bars.
Artisan chocolates have received considerable attention recently, and the flavor notes have ranged from basics like dark, milk, caramel, and coffee, to more exotic fillings including honey and chai. Some flavors chocolatiers have experimented with include grey salt, goat cheese, olive oil and bacon. The trend of using spices like anise, wasabi and saffron mixed with chocolate is sure to get your blood pumping. Chocolatiers’ imaginations are running wild, as chocolate consumers seem up to trying anything these days. San Francisco’s chocolate houses are setting trends and making giving food connoisseurs just one more reason to satisfy their cravings.
Best Gay Cities
Name Your Favorite Gay City…
was the gayest city
in the United States?
Well….yes, and no. While you can’t get mucher gayer than Folsom Street Fair, the Advocate took at look at cities in the US and ranked them 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.
The list is very shocking!
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
Fort Lauderdale I would have guessed. Maybe San Diego. But the other 13? I had no idea!
Gay Bashing Has More Gays Leaving South Beach…Heading North to Fort Lauderdale
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)
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 from Natalie O’Neill.
Visit Fort Lauderdale
Get a Free Fort Lauderdale calendar/planner!
Best Gay News Magazine
We’re here…We’re Queer…COUNT US CENSUS!
The Consitutionally mandated decennial census begins in March. Will your same-sex relationship be counted?
The task of the US Census is to count every man, woman and child in the country and in the past has measured everything from income, to housing to health insurance, to illegal aliens. One of the most important tasks of the Census is for the apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives, from which are dervied the total number of electors to the Electoral College – who ultimately vote for our President.
Since 1990 the census has included a designation of “unmarried partner” on the form, it was the first time that same-sex relationships could at least somewhat be acknowledge. Unfortunately there is no question on the census that allows citizens to designate their sexual identity.
This year there are only 10 questions on the form this year, one of the shortest in history. Adding a question specifically about sexual oritentation will take quite some time to get included, but at least now if you are in a committed relationship you can attempt to be counted. This years census only asks for name, sex, age, date of birth, hispanic origin, race, household, whether you own or rent your home and your relationship.
You can still make your gay voice be heard by requesting a copy of the sticker at the top of this page and affix it to your US Census envelope when you return it to the government.
Head over to Queer the Census and request your own sticker to tell the government that we need to be included.
From Change.org:
Even though the results aren’t officially reported, the raw numbers reveal that 145,000 same-sex couples identified as married or “unmarried partners” in 1990 (before any legal recognition in the U.S. even existed) and close to 600,000 same-sex couples self-reported in 2000. The Obama administration has reversed a Bush-era policy, so in the 2010 Census, a report will be released that outlines official information about same-sex couples. Here are some quick instructions on how to make sure your family is reported correctly.
What Box Do You Check?
If you are in a relationship and you live together, you have two choices. First, one of you will be designated as “Person 1.” If there is no clear favorite for who should be the head of household, perhaps you could flip a coin, wrestle for it or hold a lip-synching competition. Whoever doesn’t win will be designated as “Person 2.” This person is asked how they are related to Person 1. There are 16 choices, but the two that concern you are “husband or wife” and “unmarried partner.”
This is the important part: You do not answer based on the actual legal status of your relationship, you answer based on how you personally categorize your relationship. If you are legally married, you will probably mark down “husband or wife,” though if you are in a civil union or domestic partnership, yet you still feel married, than you should also mark “husband or wife.” If there is no legal recognition of your relationship where you live, but you still consider yourself married, it’s also important that you mark “husband or wife.”
Final Weeks to See Matthew Bourne’s All Male Swan Lake in London
legendary all-male Swan Lake is back in London – but only until January 24, and this production, at Sadler’s Wells, has been garnering reviews to equal – or better, those it received at its premiere there in 1995.
The longest running ballet in the history of the West End or Broadway, Bourne’s Swan Lake is based loosely on the romantic Russian original, including its Tchaikovsky music and plot outline, but with stylistic inspiration from Hitchcock’s The Birds, and most startlingly of all, with the traditional female corps de ballet replaced with a menacing male ensemble. At its Broadway premiere, Time Out New York called it “a miracle”.
Touring companies have played to sold-out houses throughout the world, but now it’s back where it all began, and with extravagant, award-winning designs by Lez Brotherston.
Matthew Bourne’s SWAN LAKE has collected over thirty international theatre awards including three Tonys for the Broadway production and has been widely acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic as a landmark production on the international stage.
BEST GAY CITIES
