Category Archives: Gay Cities News
Scrooge and Marley – Must See Holiday Movie
Scrooge & Marley is a modern day variation on Charles Dickens’
classic story of the holidays, “A Christmas Carol.” On Christmas Eve,
Ben Scrooge, the man who hates the holidays, is given the chance to
begin again when he is visited by three spirits – the Ghosts of
Christmas Past, Present and Future. Revisiting the tragic missteps of
his life enables Scrooge to rediscover the joy of the holiday season and
make a journey back to love. Recounted from a gay sensibility with
heart, comedy and music, the magic of Dickens’ timeless tale comes alive
from a fresh perspective that will appeal to audiences of all
persuasions.
I urge you to support this wonderful independent film! It is very well done with excellent acting and SURE TO BRING A TEAR TO YOUR EYE! It is such an awesome cast loaded with great original music!
Ebenezer Scrooge- David
Pevsner
Jacob Marley’s Ghost – Tim
Kazurinsky
Freda – Rusty Schwimmer
Fezziwig – Bruce Vilanch
Terry, Ghost of Christmas Present – Megan Cavanagh
Colin – Richard Ganoung
Bob Cratchit – David
Moretti
Randy, Ghost of Christmas Past – Ronnie Kroell
Young Ebenezer Scrooge – Drew
Anderson
Young Jacob Marley – Nicholas
Bailey
PLAYING IT CITIES EVERYWHERE-
Dec. 5, Thursday, 8 p.m. The Seattle at The Rendezvous JewelBox Theatre (2322 2nd Ave., Seattle) will serve as host with proceeds benefiting Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea). This special screening is being presented by The Seattle Lesbian.
Tickets are $10 general admission and $25 VIP. A limited number of
tickets will be available at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m., full bar
and food menu available. Brown Paper tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com Facebook event page: www.facebook.com
Dec. 6, Thursday, 8 p.m. Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film festival special screening. Baywalk Muvico, 151 2nd Avenue North, St. Petersburg FL www.tiglff.com
Dec. 7, Friday, 8 p.m. Acorn Theatre, 107 Generations Drive, Three Oaks MI, 269-756-3879 www.acorntheater.com
Dec. 8, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids MI 616-459-4788 www.grcmc.org tickets www.grcmc.org
Dec. 8, Saturday, 7 p.m. OUT
at the Movies at University of North Carolina School of the Arts/ACE
Theatre Complex, 1533 S. Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC; $7 ($6
seniors/students). Admission is $5 for anyone who brings a donation for
the food pantry of AIDS Care Service. Tickets on sale at 6:15 p.m. in
the ACE lobby. Advanced, reserved tickets can be purchased by calling
336-918-0902. www.OUTattheMoviesWinston.org
Dec. 9, Sunday, 2 p.m. Cinema Center, 437 East Berry St., Fort Wayne IN 260-426-3456 www.cinemacenter.org
Dec. 9, Sunday, 4:30 p.m. The Fleur Cinema, 4545 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA, 515-287-4545 www.fleurcinema.com
Dec. 13, Thursday, 7 p.m. Philadelphia Ritz East, 125 South Second Street, Philadelphia PA 215-925-7900 Direct ticket link
Dec. 13, Thursday, 7 p.m. Camelot Theatre, 2300 E. Baristo Rd., Palm Springs CA 760-325-6565, http://www.camelottheatres.com
Cast David Pevsner, Megan Cavanagh, Ronnie Kroell and David Moretti
will do a post-show talk-back. Benefit for Cinema Diverse: The Palm
Springs Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.
Dec. 16, Sunday, 3:30 p.m. Little Art Theatre, 247 Xenia Avenue, Yellow Springs, OH 937-767-7671 http://www.littleart.com
Dec. 16, Sunday, 3:15 p.m. Castro Theatre, 429 Castro Street, San Francisco CA In a double-header with “Hannah Free” starring Sharon Gless, 1 p.m., $8, “Scrooge & Marley” at 3:15 p.m., $10. Tickets available at the door prior to showtime www.castrotheatre.com
Dec. 17-18, Monday-Tuesday, 7 p.m. Tivoli Cinemas in Westport, 4050 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO, http://www.tivolikc.com/scroogemarley.html
Dec. 18, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. $10, The Little Theatre, 240 East Ave., Rochester, NY tickets or www.thelittle.org
Dec. 20, Thursday, 5 p.m. Landmark Theatres Sunshine Cinema, 143 W. Houston St., New York NY 212-260-7289 www.landmarktheatres.com
Dec. 21, Friday, 8:15 p.m. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street, Chicago, IL http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org
Dec. 22, Saturday at 7:45 p.m. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street, Chicago, IL http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org
Dec. 27, Thursday, 7:45 p.m. Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street, Chicago, IL http://www.siskelfilmcenter.org
You can even buy the DVD NOW!
Social Outreach Seattle Releases Approve 10 R-74 Ads
Social Outreach Seattle (SOSea) released the first of over 10 Approve
Referendum 74 campaign ads to be released one a day, once a day, from October 1 – 15.
the history of minorities securing civil rights, there have been
individuals that are part of the majority who have the foresight to see
progression as something to welcome, and stand up for the
disenfranchised. For the LGBTQ movement, these individuals are
manifested as Straight Allies.
encourages ALL Straight Allies to come out in public support of
Marriage Equality and to vote to Approve Referendum 74 in November.
Nicholas Ryan Wilson
SOSea video series is an answer to LGBTQ community members who ask,
‘Where are the gay people in gay marriage equality TV spots?,'” said
Social Outreach Seattle Founder and Executive Director Shaun Knittel.
“By reaching out to local leaders in the LGBTQ equality movement,
community members, entertainer, and allies, SOSea has produced over 15
different ads that range from humorous to heartfelt in an effort to
reach voters in all communities.”
said, ” SOSea leadership does not believe that by showing the diversity
of the LGBTQ community and our Allies, will turn voters off. Instead,
we believe that by showing our differences (and presenting them in a
forum where most people get
their news and information: Online) voters in and out of the LGBTQ and
Allied communities will hear the message loud and clear that what we are
after is equal right, unequivocally, as who we really are: a wonderful,
vibrant, culture whose right to marry the person they love is up for
popular vote. It should always be popular to vote for love. A vote to
Approve R-74 is a vote to Approve Love.”
SOSea UPCOMING EVENTS!
Referendum 74 March and Rally OCT 6, 2012
coalition’s mission is to empower the Seattle LGBTQ and allied
communities to work together to address and ultimately fix social
justice issues in Seattle and beyond. SOSea uses social media, video
production, photo messaging, editorial content and more, to get the
message out that inequality will not be
tolerated.
vision is a community where LGBTQ and allied communities come together
in response to social justice issues they support or condemn, help LGBTQ
and allied businesses, orgs, clubs, and individuals in need of
advocacy, and organize public rallies for visibility.
GLBT Travel Expo in Chicago, Philadelphia and New York City
GLBT TRAVEL EXPO! 3 Cities in MAY – FREE Admission!
The 2012 Travel Expo Tour is an exciting event where
you can learn about new travel destinations, rediscover old ones, find
glbt friendly travel providers and get information to plan your next
vacation.
Airlines
Hotels
Trains
Cruise lines
Car Rentals
Resorts
Exotic Destinations
Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Travel Magazines
Every one of them reaching out to the glbt consumer.
Attendees will be able to get the latest travel information, get
special travel packages and great deals from the very best travel
providers as well as win great prizes.
Face to face promotions still represent one of the best ways to
promote your services. This afternoon event will draw 500-1,000 elite
consumers from a great demographic group. This is the third year Steven
Levenberg Productions, LLC has been producing these events. Each year
these shows have had an ever expanding exhibitor base and attendance.
THE TOUR
Chicago, Illinois – Tuesday – May 1, 2012 – Center on Halsted.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Thursday – May 3, 2012 – The William Way Center.
New York , New York – Saturday May 5, 2012 – The LGBT Center.
Last year’s tour was a huge success. Each venue received a targeted crowd of between 350 to 650 targeted glbt travelers.
Gay Travel to Homophobic cities
By now you have heard all about the 2 men being arrested on a gay cruise this past week –
the
2 men have been released after paying $3000 in fines! They were
paraded thru the streets to a bank, to withdrawl money and crowds
yelled slurs at them!
They admit they were nearly naked, on their balcony.
The couple, Dennis Mayer and John Hart say they
were taunted all night long in a jail cell with no light, no water, and
no toilet. The courts wanted to have their rectums inspected for signs
of anal sex, but that was eventually dropped.
Dennis Mayer said he has no doubt they were arrested in Dominica because they were gay.
Police
said it was because they were seen having sex in public on the balcony
of their ship cabin. Mayer said they were not having sex, but were
‘partially clothed’.
AGAIN, I ask, why does Atlantis or anyone gay support these anti-gay ports?! It’s ridiculous.
I would avoid Dominica, Jamaica, Guyana, Iraq, Iran, Dubai, most of Africa, Uganda, and lots of little islands! – Check this map out!
The brown areas reflect the DEATH PENALTY!
Red areas = Life in Prison!
3 Anti Gay Attacks in Washington DC
You wouldn’t normally think of Washington DC as homophobic.
But let’s face it – with gay marriage in the news more and more – the haters are coming out more and more. Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, NOM…..on and on. You have got NOM hating on JCPENNY and STARBUCKS for Gods sake! The closer we get to equal rights – the more haters come forward.
Mid March-
A man has been brutally beaten in an anti-gay attack in Washington D.C.’s Columbia Heights neighborhood, NBC Washington reports:
The attack happened around 9:15 pm on
Monday night on Georgia Avenue. The 29-year-old victim says the
homophobic remarks began as he stepped out of a taxi. It wasn’t long
before the suspects assaulted him. The victim managed to call his
partner for help during the attack, but the suspects turned off his
phone. The victims jaw was shattered into two pieces before he was
attacked again and dragged along the sidewalk. The suspects stole the
victim’s iPhone, iPad, and wallet. He is still in the hospital.
Another gay man and a transgender woman were attacked the following day:
The gay male victims remained
hospitalized this week, with one being treated for a bullet wound to his
liver and the other awaiting surgery Wednesday afternoon to repair a
broken jaw. The transgender woman was treated and released for a head
injury after being knocked unconscious. Police have listed the attacks
against the two gay men as anti-gay hate crimes. The attack against the
transgender woman was not listed as a hate crime but police are looking
into the possibility that it may have been an anti-trans hate crime,
according to a police report. Officers assigned to the police Gay &
Lesbian Liaison Unit were said to be involved in the investigation into
each of the incidents.
Broughton Hotels in Chicago Boystown Celebrate with Specials All Year Long
EAT, SLEEP, DANCE WITH BROUGHTON HOTELS OF CHICAGO DURING NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS IN BOYSTOWN
Broughton Hotels of Chicago
are celebrating the much-anticipated Restaurant Week in Chicago by offering a hotel package that highlights the best of the Boystown neighborhood.
Guests can experience the North Halsted street, GLBT-friendly district that is known for an eclectic mix of bars, coffeehouses, restaurants and shopping in Chicago – and take advantage of this package during other Boystown events such as the Gay Pride Parade (June 24) and Northalsted Market Days (August 11-12).
Two neighborhood hotspots – Taverna 750 and Scarlet are participating in this special package deal. Taverna 750 is a ZAGAT-rated restaurant that is known for its old school Italian small plates with a contemporary flair.
The “Boystown Special,” package is $40 in addition to regular room rate at any of the three Broughton Hotels of Chicago – The Majestic, The Willows, and City Suites Hotel offers guests:
• $30 gift card to Taverna 750
• 2 complimentary drinks at Scarlet
• Complimentary parking for one night
• A total value of $62
The “Boystown Special” can be used for hotel stays up until December 31, 2012 and is not valid with other promotions or group reservations. Hotels require a two-night minimum stay on Saturday nights – April through October 2012. Blackout dates and availability apply.
Located in the heart of the stylish and exclusive Lakeview section of Chicago, the Broughton Hotels of Chicago are a collection of Chicago boutique hotels that exude the charm of historic buildings circa 1920. 3 unique properties.
Just steps away from Boystown and only 10 minutes north of downtown Chicago’s business, financial and shopping districts, the stylish Broughton Hotels have the quintessential qualities of an upscale, city hotel – tucked into the tree-lined streets of a neighborhood.
About Broughton Hotels
Broughton Hotels was founded in 2001 by Larry Broughton and has been named among the Top 100 hospitality management companies in the United States. From hip to historic, Broughton hotels are loaded with style. Each property is an original, a genuine boutique. And within their walls guests find more than a comfortable spot to rest – they discover a true sense of place. Broughton Hotels currently operates 14 boutique hotel properties throughout the U.S. For additional information, visit www.broughtonhospitality.com.
Gay Atlanta loses LGBT Bookstore and Coffehouse
The internet is a great thing. I don’t think we could live without it. However, with everything good comes something bad. And because we now have everything at our fingertips, some brick and mortar businesses are closing their doors.
In 1993, Outwrite, Atlanta’s gay and lesbian bookstore and coffeehouse opened.
“In May of 2011 we let our community know about our own financial struggle brought on by long term economic conditions and changes in the book industry. It had finally made the rent at our location unaffordable and our future uncertain.
People rushed in, stepped up, volunteered, and offered incredible levels of support and ideas for new business models that bookstores and other community businesses around the country were adopting. Hundreds would come in weekly and tell us how important Outwrite was – and is. Many spoke of how the location was a symbol of strength and diversity in the city.
But it wasn’t enough. We had run out of time to turn the financial situation around. By the end of January we had to close Outwrite for good, putting 10 employees in our community out of jobs and leaving the most recognizable LGBT community landmark empty.”
READ MORE at GA VOICE
Is Tel Aviv Really The Best Gay City as Some Voters Declare?
TEL AVIV is being touted by some
as THE BEST GAY CITY.
Hmmmm, really? The BEST? I am always skeptical by these random voting contests….How many people voted? Was the voting controlled and limited to one vote per person? or could ballot stuffing have taken place? If 1000 people voted, was it a true random sampling?
We have watched Tel Aviv grow in popularity over the last 5 years. They do have a powerful PR and Marketing team, I will give them that. Their presence in the media has grown at leaps and bounds over the last 5 years. But are they the BEST? or perhaps the best up-and-coming?
In a world-wide survey hosted GayCities.com and American Airlines,
43 percent of voters cast their ballot in favor of the White City,
pushing it ahead of other proud towns including New York, Toronto and
London.
(New York City with 14 per cent, Toronto with 7 per cent, Sao Paulo with 6 per cent, Madrid and London with 5 per cent each and New Orleans and Mexico City with 4 per cent each.)
I think it all just depends on who you ask and who is surveyed! Tel Aviv is the gay mecca of the Middle East, for sure, and boasts of plenty of
designers, fashionistas, night clubs, fancy beaches, shopping malls and
outlets, DJs, women activists, gays, jews and financiers. You really
couldn’t find a more open-minded place like Tel Aviv outside of Israël. Tel Aviv, in sharp contrast to Jerusalem, is a liberal, hedonistic and secular city, where leisure life revolves around beaches, cafes and nightclubs.
Lonely Planet named it one of its top three cities in the world for
2011, describing it as “the flipside of Jerusalem, a modern Sin City on
the sea rather than an ancient Holy City on a hill” and adding: “There
are more bars than synagogues, God is a DJ and everyone’s body is a
temple.” The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is rarely on the radar.
That said,
According to Tel Aviv’s 30-year-old deputy mayor, Asaf Zamir, 16% to 17% of the city’s 403,000 population is gay. That’s pretty gay!
“It’s
a very strong community here, a comfortable arena for the gay
community. Two men walking hand in hand is a very normal thing,” he
said.
The city municipality funded a gay centre and was promoting gay tourism, he added.
They even have a gay pride parade each year – that has grown to about 100,000 local people! And also about 5,000 gay tourists, 25% MORE than 2010. So it is growing.
Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Prague…there are so many amazing choices. Just depends on what you want? Value? Nightlife? Culture?
As for Tel Aviv – The weather is hot, the guys are hot, it’s a hot city!
Gay Tel Aviv4U – The official LGBT site
(* Before traveling to questionable foreign countries, it is best to check for travel warnings online. Trip Out Travel says, Terrorism is a reality in Tel Aviv. Tourists are advised
not to take buses and to only take registered cabs with green flags.)
La Cage Aux Folles National Tour Dates
New Winner of 3 Tony Awards® including BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL, this hilarious new production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is ON THE MOST ‘TOP 10’ LISTS OF ANY MUSICAL THIS SEASON!
With George Hamilton and Christopher Sieber. George Hamilton is everything Hollywood we know and love—dashing, debonair, and full of tenacity as Georges. The talented Tony Nominated Christopher Sieber played Georges on Broadway, opposite Harvey Fierstein. Now he plays the role of Albin/Zaza.
They are joined on stage by Billy Harringtan
Tighe as Jean-Michel, Bernard Burak Sheredy as M. Renaud/M. Dindon,
Cathy Newman as Mme. Dindon/ Mme. Renaud, Jeigh Madjus as Jacob, Gay
Marshall as Jacqueline, Allison Blair McDowell as Anne, Dale Hensley as
Francis, Ashley Kate Adams as Colette, Danny Vaccaro as Tabarro, Matt
Anctil as Angelique, Mark Roland as Hanna, Donald Shorter, Jr. as
Chantal, Trevor Downey as Phaedra, Logan Keslar as Bitelle, Terry Lavell
as Mercedes, Todd Thurston as Male Ensemble (waiter), SuEllen Estey as
Female Ensemble Adult, Todd Lattimore as Male Swing, Christophe
Caballero as Male Swing and Rylyn Juliano as Female Swing.
LA CAGE tells the story of Georges, the
owner of a glitzy nightclub in lovely Saint-Tropez, and his partner
Albin, who moonlights as the glamorous chanteuse Zaza. When Georges’ son
brings his fiancée’s conservative parents home to meet the flashy pair,
the bonds of family are put to the test as the feather boas fly! LA CAGE
is a tuneful and touching tale of one family’s struggle to stay
together… stay fabulous… and above all else, stay true to
themselves!
With a glorious score of hummable melodies and a
dynamite cast featuring the “notorious and dangerous Cagelles,” LA CAGE
is an indisputable musical comedy classic… and this extraordinary new
version shows you why!
The national tour launched this past October in Des Moines, IA. We saw the show in Chicago , this past week. It runs through Jan. 1st then off to
St Louis Jan 3-15th.
Washington DC Jan 17-Feb 12th
West Palm Beach, FL Feb 14-19th
Tampa, FL Feb 21st-26th
Naples, FL Feb 28th-March 4th
Wilmington, DE March 6th-11th
Pittsburgh, PA March 13th-18th
Memphis, TN March 20th-25th
Dallas, TX April 10th-22nd
Houston, TX April 24th-May 6th
San Antonio, TX May 8th-13th
Tempe, AZ May 15th-20th
Charlotte, NC May 29th-June 3rd
Orlando, FL June 5th-June 10th
Ft. Lauderdale, FL June 12th – June 24th
Los Angeles, CA July 10th-July 22nd
Costa Mesa, CA July 24th-Aug 5th
MORE DATES AND CITIES To Be Announced! GET TICKETS ONLINE NOW!
Hollywood to Dollywood with The Lane Twins Cross Country
IT ALL STARTED WITH A DREAM…. Everybody has a dream. Most of us are only willing to go so far to see it materialize and often find ourselves waiting for the right opportunity to come to us. Not so for the Lane twins -they were not content to send their screenplay Full Circle to Dolly Parton’s manager or publicist. No, they were determined to get it into the hands of their idol and on the 25th Anniversary of Dollywood, no less.
AND AN RV NAMED JOLENE.
“WE grew up listening to Dolly’s music and always thought she was an amazing person. So why not write a screenplay about her, and go on a cross country roadtrip to try to put it in her hands! ” say the gay Lane Twins, Gary and Larry.
And that’s just what they did.
And the result is An amazing film and journey about courage and acceptance.
Now in 51 Film Festivals Around the World …They won 6 Awards so far!
The basic synopsis – On the fumes of a dream, twin brothers Gary and Larry Lane have written a script with a
plum roll for one of their idols, Dolly Parton. Having had no luck getting the screenplay
into her hands, they embark on a cross-country journey to personally deliver it to her. They
set off from Dolly’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame heading East for Pigeon Forge,
TN. Driving an RV they (named Jolene) is friend and partner Mike Bowen. All along
Interstate 40 at rest stops, RV parks, bars, and hair salons our intrepid band of travelers
meet everyday Americans, as the encounter everything from Floods in Nashville to an
Oklahoma Tornado.
“Along Interstate 40, and we hit tornadoes, floods, screaming trannies and conservative Christians. It was all a strange trip!” says director John Lavin.
The journey is also one of discovery for the brothers, as well: their
relationship with their parents; their hopes, fears and ambitions; the bigotry they’ve
encountered; as they search for tolerance and acceptance and the joy of realizing their
biggest dream handing their screenplay to Dolly Parton.
“Its hard to open yourself up and put yourself out there, but we would like people to know
we had amazing childhoods, and we love our mom and dad with all of our hearts, this is just
one thing mom cant accept because of her beliefs, but we still love our mom and she is truly
an amazing lady, we talk to her on the phone at least 3 times a day!” the Lane Brothers said.
Dolly has long had legions of gay fans, I think her most public pro-gay remarks were made last year when she appeared on Larry King Live.
“It made us love her all the more and we actually approached CNN and paid for the copyright and we have that footage in the movie. We got the full clearance.
It’s Dolly’s message that she loves her fans and she doesn’t judge anybody. She says only God is supposed to judge you, we’re not supposed to judge each other. A lot of people who have
seen it have said, ‘I never really knew her views but it made me love her even more.’
Dolly Parton herself Is 100% behind Our Movie and Gave us 15 Of Her Songs Free For the Documentary and Her Image for the Movie Poster!”
(FYI – this would normally cost a filmmaker a small fortune!)
DON’T MISS THIS AWESOME FILM –
COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU!
Featuring appearances by Leslie Jordan, Chad Allen, Beth Grant, Dustin Lance Black, Ann
walker, and maybe even Dolly herself!
Hollywood to Dollywood is a documentary of chasing dreams down the road of life.
Hollywood to Dollywood
Hollywood to Dollywood blog
The Lane Twins
Best Gay Colleges in US Cities
For many gay and transgendered students, choosing a gay-friendly campus is almost as important as the college itself.
The climate on campus and in the surrounding town can mean the difference between a positive, memorable learning experience and a traumatic four years. Fortunately, many schools in the United States that have LGBT-friendly attitudes, and researching these campuses is as easy as looking up
Emory University
Campus Pride, a non-profit organization, compiles data on campuses in the United States and ranks them in terms of LGBT campus life. Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia is their top-rated campus. Emory rates high in all areas of the Campus Pride ranking system, including LGBT policy inclusion, counseling and health, campus safety, housing and residency, and LGBT recruitment and retention efforts. There are currently five student organizations at the university for LGBT students: Emory Pride, the President’s Commission on LGBT Concerns, Gay and Lesbian Alumni, the Goizueta Pride Alliance, and the Emory Medical Alliance. The school has a no-discrimination policy and offers gender-neutral housing on campus as well.
University of Pennsylvania
Newsweek recently published a list of the top 10 gay-friendly schools and placed University of Pennsylvania at the top of their rankings. The university, which is also featured on seven of Newsweek’s other “top” lists, is a private Ivy League school in Philadelphia with an undergraduate population just over 10,000. Admission to the school is very competitive and only 17 percent of applications are accepted each year. The University of Pennsylvania actively recruits gay students and has a number of gay-friendly organizations and non-discrimination policies in place.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
This school ranks 11th on Newsweek’s list of most desirable large campuses and is rated among the top ten in nearly every academic category. The school is well known for its gay-friendly atmosphere and policies, and has been place in more than one top five list of LGBT-friendly colleges. Over 20 organizations on campus support LGBT students, such as the LGBT Issues Commission, which puts together around fifteen events throughout the year. The University of Michigan offers gender-neutral housing for transgendered students. Scholarships are also available for LGBT students through the University of Michigan Lesbian and Gay Alumni Association.
Overall, these three campuses stand out among the top gay schools for their LGBT-friendly campus attitudes, non-discriminatory housing opportunities and policies, and the number of on-campus organizations that cater to and help gay students. These schools are also highly ranked in terms of academics and stand as very desirable campuses on their other merits. To find more LGBT-friendly campuses in the United States, check the Campus Pride ratings to learn more about policies and organizations around the country.
What’s Hot? What’s New? What’s Next? Gay Columbus Ohio
Like a snowball rolling down the hill, gaining momentum, Columbus Ohio continues to dominate in Gay Travel News this year!
JUST ANNOUNCED! Columbus was just nominated for Best NewNowNext Up-and-Coming LGBT Travel Destination by Orbitz and LogoTV!
Columbus is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the United States and they boast one of the hippest, coolest gay communities in the Midwest!
Please take a moment and visit tripouttravel.com/vote/ to vote — there about 12 categories, and you submit your vote on each page. You can skip over a page, if you wish.
ANDREW DAVIS from Windy City Times just did an excellent article on Columbus, highlighting shopping, restaurants, clubs and more!
ALSO if you are in Columbus Oct. 7-10 –
Special Sales, deals and pricing all weekend!
We hope you’ll vote for Columbus in their category! (look for the second to the last category.)
They really deserve it!!
BestGayCities.com
New Orleans, Las Vegas and Atlantic City Resorts Celebrate Gay Pride in September
While Las Vegas has been ranked as one of the top vacation spots for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) travelers, Caesars Entertainment is uniquely positioned to provide fun and exciting experiences at its resorts across the country.
During September, Caesars has created an inclusive three-city event tour that will kick-off in New Orleans, continue to Las Vegas and wrap in Atlantic City. The gaming and entertainment company will roll out the rainbow carpets and demonstrate pride from coast to coast, inviting everyone to Come Out with Caesars Entertainment this September.
Harrah’s New Orleans will kick-off the celebration this Labor Day weekend with the largest gay event in New Orleans, Southern Decadence, by hosting the Grand Marshall’s dinner and official kick-off extravaganza block party on September 1. Voted as Out Magazine’s Hottest DJ in 2007, Hit sensation DJ Hector Fonseca will bring his world-renowned dance beats for a guaranteed good time. In addition, Harrah’s New Orleans is the leading sponsor of Envy, a VIP experience in the heart of the action, and will march through the famed French Quarter in the Decadence parade located in the “Gay Capital of the South.” For more information on Harrah’s Southern Decadence festivities, visit Gayharrahsnola.com.
In Las Vegas, Caesars Entertainment resorts are participating in the annual Las Vegas PRIDE festivities beginning September 16. The 2011 PRIDE Night Parade will make its way through Las Vegas on Friday, September 16, with floats ready to impress with their over-the-top decor. Caesars Entertainment will participate with a float decked out with a cast of characters from the company’s Las Vegas-based production shows including Frank Marino’s Divas, Donn Arden’s Jubilee! and The Chippendales.
Caesars will also have a presence at the PRIDE festival with the iconic Jubilee! showgirls. To cap the weekend, a special cocktail reception will be held at Serendipity 3 at Caesars Palace on Sunday, September 18 at 8:30 p.m. followed by a special performance of Frank Marino’s Divas at the Imperial Palace at 10 p.m. For more information, visit Gayparislasvegas.com.
Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City will continue the LGBT festivities by hosting its annual OUT in AC weekend from September 23-25. This event will be nothing less than fabulous with Frank Marino, female impersonator and Las Vegas Diva, as this year’s host. The full weekend of LGBT-themed activities includes concerts, body-painting exhibitions, a bull riding competition and much more. For more information, visit Harrahs.com/getoutinac.
BestGayCities.com
GOGOBOT Real Advice from Real Travelers
CHECK THIS OUT!
“We believe planning your trip should be almost as fun as the trip itself
Whether it is a week’s vacation, a business trip or a weekend getaway, we believe planning your trip should be almost as fun as the trip itself. We believe the best advice comes from people you trust – people like you – and not from anonymous strangers on the internet. We believe sharing your experiences should be as simple as touching the screen on your phone. We are passionate about technology and design and their power to reshape our world for the better.”
Gogobot Makes Foursquare and Facebook Check-ins Travel-Worthy
Gogobot is a travel website that makes it easy for people to find and get recommendations from friends about what to do and where to stay while traveling in specific destinations. People can ask a question to their friends on Gogobot or ask all their Facebook friends and Gogobot pulls the answers back and organizes the information into a travel plan, with the addresses, phone numbers and other information about specific attractions, restaurants, hotels, and the like.
Gogobot basically does what services like TripAdvisor should have already been doing–giving you reviews of travel destinations from your trusted friends, rather than having you rely on the advice of strangers. It’s something that Yelp has done for local businesses, though Yelp is not as much a travel service.
Demise of the Gay Neighborhoods? LGBT folks Assimilating More
From the Castro to Chelsea, Greetings From the Gayborhood, celebrates twelve traditionally gay neighborhoods in America, past and present. Featuring archival images along with nostalgic and sometimes kitschy ephemera (bar ads, event programs, matchbooks, flyers, and more) this scrapbook-style collection is the perfect souvenir for where the boys are and were.
Donald F. Reuter has chronicled the evolution of gay neighborhoods in twelve cities—Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington DC—and studied how gentrification has affected them and their role in the greater community. Greetings From the Gayborhood is a spirited and sexy time capsule that celebrates the history, creativity, and longevity of gay America.
According to the gay-oriented travel guide Damron’s, the number of self-described gay bars and clubs in the U.S. has dropped 13 percent since 2005.
The reason is that as gay people report feeling more accepted by society, many feel less need to self-segregate…but also, there are more of us now!
There was also a recent article on REDISTRICTING and how we will affect that.
I think we will always have gay neighborhoods, but as more and more gays people come out, more and more of us blend and assimilate. WE ARE EVERYWHERE!
OUT GAY ARTIST ARI GOLD on Gay Marriage
As someone who grew up as an orthodox Jew its also great to see other people from religious communities understand that this is not a religious issue but an issue of civil rights.
New York is where gay liberation in this country began so it only makes sense for New York to be one of the first states to make marriage equality a reality. And for this to pass during gay pride—it is truly a day to feel proud of being a New Yorker and American on the right side of history.”
Ari Gold/Singer, Writer, Performer and Gay Activist
Highly accomplished and openly gay pop artist Sir Ari Gold is a buzz worthy, subculture celebrity in his own right, quickly winning over critics far beyond the reach of the LGBT community.
Shortly after the release of his captivating and controversial “Make My Body Rock” single, Ari releases the second single off his fourth studio album Between the Spirit & the Flesh. “Sparkle” emerged with instant interest-catching soul and flavor. The track features Sarah Dash of Labelle (Patti Labelle and Nona Hendrix) to add a powerhouse female vocal that plays well with Ari’s range and strength.
This self-empowerment anthem is a rallying cry against bullies, but most importantly one’s own view of self-worth. The music video is directed by acclaimed visual artist and HIV/AIDS activist Duane Cramer. Making cameo appearances in the “Sparkle” music video are underground NYC superstars, LadyFag, Stephan Keating, Mila Jam, Laverne Cox (from VH-1’s Transform Me) and even Sir Ari’s mother.
As the mainstream catches up to this pioneering recording and performing artist’s future-forward genius, “Sparkle” continues Sir Ari’s unwavering commitment to LGBT rights and equality.
“There are some out gay artists who want to sort of push aside their sexuality,” he continues, “and that makes them more palatable to straight people. You’ve got to deal with the fact that I do actually like to have sex with men. I’m not just some funny, campy entertainer for straight people to laugh at.” (Read more of this interview from 2004.)
The NYU and Yale-educated Gold has been doing the national pride circuit — he is promoting his new album but also celebrating his connection with his gay fans. – This week he is ST PETERSBERG and October in ATLANTA!
SPARKLE video
OFFICIAL Ari Gold
SHERRY VINE – Looking for a Good Time..In a City Near You
from Berlin to Budapest,
international superstar
Sherry Vine has toured the world!
Sherry is one of our favorite NY Divas is back this month with a brand new, all original song – LOOKING FOR A GOOD TIME.
CHECK OUT THE NEW VIDEO
Directed by Francis Legge.
Song by Sherry and DJ Gomi
WATCH FOR SHERRY THIS SUMMER!
Sat June 11 – Boston Gay Pride
Fri & Sat June 17-18 – Zurich Gay Pride
Wed June 22 – Vienna
Sat & Sun June 25-26 – Antwerp Gay Pride
Thurs June 30 – Cabaret Mado, Montreal
Sat July 2 – Toronto
Wed July 6 – Blue Moon, Rehoboth with Joey Arias
Sat July 16 – Jungle Club, Atlanta (tix at
