New Gay Pride Festival Gearing Up in North Carolina
NORTH CAROLINA?
YEP!
“OBX Pridefest ” will take place June 24-26, 2011 at the Outer Banks of North Carolina in Nags Head .
The OBX has a reputation for beauty and affordability, and the fun you can have in the wild outdoors is unmatched for the value. Expect long isolated stretches of sandy, seashell-strewn beaches, really cool restaurants from the “funky dives” to four diamond fine dining, and affordable hotels and rental cottages right on the water. Take long walks with your partner or closest friends and explore the beach wilderness of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore park or visit four different lighthouses. Hang glide, kayak, drive or horseback ride on the beach. Explore the coast offroad in your 4WD or take a charter boat out to the gulf stream for trophy size tuna and billfish. Create your own fun on the Outer Banks of North Carolina!
OBX Pride Fest happens soon! Make your reservations with David!
Best Gay Cities
Minneapolis and Santa Fe ranked “gayest” cities in America
According to a travel piece
published in The Advocate,
Santa Fe is the second
“gayest” city in America.
The Advocate reports that RainbowVision , a retirement community for gays, lesbians and others in Santa Fe , “has raucous drag shows at the Silver Starlight Lounge.”
Mayor David Coss called The Advocate’s accolades fantastic. He said Santa Fe is a tolerant community and that includes being gay-friendly.
Ranked first on The Advocate’s list was Minneapolis. Las Vegas came in 3rd, followed by Orlando in 4th and Pittsburgh in 5th. San Francisco rated 11th.
WHAT? You would think SF would be at the top, right up there with New York City and perhaps Key West!
It’s the second year The Advocate has produced the list. Author Mike Albo writes that a “completely unscientific” but “still strangely accurate” method was used to generate the rankings. Using a statistical equation, The Advocate has come up with a diverse and surprising list of where gay people are living, loving, voting, and creating communities.
For each city, The Advocate added up numbers for Gay.com profiles, listed officiants for gay weddings within a 50-mile radius, openly gay elected officials, performances by lesbian sisters musical duo Tegan and Sara over the past five years, lesbian bars, gay and gay-friendly religious congregations and entries in YellowPages.com with “gay” in the business name or description.
The total for all factors was then divided by the city’s population.
A destination for gay and lesbian couples and singles, Santa Fe is home to many gay-popular and gay-owned shops, restaurants, and bars located throughout town.
Santa Fe received zeros for gay marriage officiants and Tegan and Sara shows, The Advocate says. But it made up for that with nine gay-friendly congregations, seven lesbian bars and four openly gay elected officials.
“Gay life in Santa Fe isn’t about being in a certain neighborhood or a particular part of town. The large gay lesbian population here is in every part of the city, throughout every business district, and fully integrated into Santa Fe life. There is no one place in which to find a gay-friendly hotel or restaurant or shop. Rather, gay and lesbian travelers are welcomed to Santa Fe as a whole. There are hotspots of course, but think of all Santa Fe as your destination with one place just as welcoming as the next.”
Santa Fe Travel
Bestowing the title of Gayest City in America on Minneapolis, could not have come at a better time. In early February, more than 2,500 participants are expected in Minneapolis to attend the 23rd National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change . This conference is just one example of how a welcoming community can also serve as an economic engine.
Over the past decade, Minneapolis has become the gay magnet city of the Midwest. It makes sense: People here are no-nonsense, practical, and don’t deal well with hypocrites.
Read About More Gay Cities at the Advocate
LGBT Travel Expo Comes To Atlanta Jan. 30th
Travel Expo Tour
is an exciting new 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.
Exhibitors will include:
Airlines
Hotels
Trains
Cruise lines
Car Rentals
Resorts
Exotic Destinations
Convention & Visitors Bureaus
Travel Magazines
The EXPO comes to Atlanta GA January 30th!
@Four Season Hotel 75 Fourteenth Street Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Noon – 5pm
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.
Best Gay Cities.com
Police Chief’s Retirement Doesn’t Solve Big Gay Problem for Palm Springs
that Palm Springs police
Chief David Dominguez
would keep his job.
That determination came after the city’s internal review of police procedure during the 2009 Warm Sands neighborhood public gay sex sting. Dominguez was among those accused of making offensive comments against the gay men arrested in the sting.
Though state law prevents city officials from releasing any details on their review, Ready said, “I don’t believe one comment in his 30-year history should result in his termination.“I’m convinced that his statement, although inappropriate … was not made in any discriminatory regard.”
Then this past week, Dominguez resigned/retired .
Palm Springs may be considered a gay Mecca, but its reputation has been tarnished and tarred by a 2009 undercover sex sting that went terribly wrong.
SDGLN reports The scandal has sent Police Chief David Dominguez into an early retirement and created a public relations nightmare for the city and for tourism officials. (SDGLN and Ken Williams first broke the Palm Springs sex sting scandal and had access to key documents from the case and direct insight from the Public Defender’s Office, where they have important sources).
Many have questioned why the Police Department would conduct such an “old school” sting, a relic of years gone by when gay men were regularly targeted for harassment and humiliation by local authorities. Think of the Stonewall riots of 1969, when the gay community fought back against blatant discrimination and persecution by police and city officials – launching the gay civil rights movement.
Many have wondered why the sting operation employed attractive and muscular young police officers who dressed provocatively in tight jeans and wife beaters, and who lured men through sexually charged invitations and by rubbing their crotches. Did nobody on the police force consider that entrapment would be a credible defense?
SDGLN has followed the case since the beginning and you can read all the details about what happened – and what could happen at the upcoming Jan. 20 hearing on the motion to dismiss. Writer Ken Williams points out, “Palm Springs has hit a crossroads. The old guard that is resisting the rapidly changing demographics – the LGBT community is growing and thriving, now making up about 40 percent of the population – must give up antiquated ideas that it is OK to discriminate against gays and lesbians. The Police Department must start hiring gays and lesbians to represent the many faces of Palm Springs, and the city must start the healing process by paving the way. After all, the mayor is openly gay and he must lead by example and make Palm Springs a shining beacon of tolerance and diversity.”
Read the full article at SDGLN !
Best Gay Cities.com
GLBT History Museum Opens in San Francisco
is now finally open in San Francisco,
at 4127 18th Street
(between Castro and Collingwood).
This longtime dream marks the 25th anniversary of The Society. This museum is one of only two LGBT museums in the world and the only in the U.S.
The official opening is January 13, 2011. Until then, stop by and see the fabulous museum space during this preview! Remember, members and their guests are always free.
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Historical Society (GLBTHS) collects, preserves, and interprets the history of GLBT people and the communities that support them.
If you can’t get to San Francisco, stop by the site and poke around !
‘Anti Crucifix’ Video Begins Screening ‘Museum Of Censored Art’ on Smithsonian’s Doorstep
The Museum of Censored Art
will open to the public on
Thursday, January 13, 2011,
on the Smithsonian’s doorstep, announced art and free speech activists Mike Blasenstein and Michael Dax Iacovone today. The free speech advocates will open the Museum of Censored Art in a mobile office trailer outside the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, where they will screen the film censored by the Smithsonian, “A Fire In My Belly” by the late gay artist David Wojnarowicz .
The work was part of the larger “Hide/Seek” exhibit of gay and lesbian portraiture currently at the National Portrait Gallery. However, the piece was removed Nov. 30 by Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough after anti-gay groups labeled it “anti-Christian.” The same groups that succeeded in having the Wojnarowicz film censored originally wanted the entire “Hide/Seek” exhibit removed from the Gallery.
WHAT: The Museum of Censored Art. “Showing the art the Smithsonian won’t.” A mobile office trailer converted into a temporary gallery exhibiting the censored film as well as educational materials about the controversy. URL: Dont Censor
WHEN: January 13, 2011, 11:30 AM . Normal operating hours will mirror National Portrait Gallery hours: 11:30 AM – 7:00 PM every day through February 13, 2011.
WHERE: 7th & F Streets NW, Washington, DC, in the curb lane on F Street outside the entrance to the National Portrait Gallery.
WHO: DC-based activists Mike Blasenstein and Michael Dax Iacovone — the “iPad protesters” who were banned from Smithsonian property after playing the film inside the museum on an iPad. Protest video: Protest .
“We are displaying this art on the doorstep of the National Portrait Gallery to restore the censored art to the Smithsonian, keep the censored art visible and accessible to the public, and hold the Smithsonian accountable for its actions,” Blasenstein said.
Gay Dallas Gears up For SuperBowl XLV Parties
A-list Celebrities, Star Athletes, Musicians and DJs will Come Together for Three Nights of VIP Parties, February 3-5, 2011
As the countdown begins to the first-ever Super Bowl in North Texas, XLV Party is gearing up with the announcement of its spectacular events. For three consecutive nights, XLV Party at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas’ historic Fair Park will showcase some of the hottest stars in the entertainment world to host the biggest celebrity-driven party in Dallas. Beginning Thursday, February 3, 2011, America’s Sassiest Lifestyle Guru, Steve Kemble, will host elite guests to Belvedere Vodka and Moet & Chandon Champagne’s red carpet events with celebrity DJs and musical acts like the Village People, Lena Katina of t.A.T.u. and Sublime with Rome.
“Being that it’s Dallas’ first-ever Super Bowl, I wanted to provide guests with a truly memorable weekend,” said Jason Hutchins, President of XLV Party. “Bringing together this all-star cast of performers and celebrities was just my answer. I am confident that the event itself will be just as exciting as the actual Super Bowl, if not more, and we are setting a new standard for Super Bowl parties around the country.”
To mark the official start of Super Bowl celebrations, three events have been planned on the field of one of the most historic sites in the city of Dallas, The Cotton Bowl in Fair Park. Featuring more than 60,000 square feet of tented space and a 5,000 square foot dance floor, guests will enjoy a night filled with pure entertainment. Village People, Lady Bunny, Cazwell and more!
Check it out at XLV PARTY and
see more about GAY Dallas on our site and the Dallas Tavern Guild !
Best Gay Cities.com
Barcelona to Erect LGBT Monument – Possibly near Gaudi’s Famous Sagrada Familia
piss the Pope off!
“In memory of gays, lesbians and transsexuals who have suffered persecution and repression throughout history. Barcelona 2011” –
that’s the inscription on the granite pink triangle the local authority announced today it would possibly place right opposite the basilica of the Sagrada Familia.
The Sagrada Familia, Antoni Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece, is one of Barcelona’s most popular tourist attractions. Construction on this church will continue at least until 2041, but it has already become Barcelona’s most important landmark.
The announcement – in a statement – came just weeks after the Pope consecrated the building, and faced a mass kiss-in on his route through the city.
The park opposite is currently being re-modelled, and Barcelona’s city council said it’s a perfect central location for a monument to the LGBT community, which will no doubt become a place of pilgrimage in the way that a similar site in Amsterdam has.
Not everyone was thrilled. The leader of the opposition Partido Popular in Barcelona described the decision to put the monument opposite such a potent symbol of the Catholic Church as “pure provocation” and demanded the decision be reversed. Those in favour – who include transsexual activist and actress Carla Antonelli – can’t understand their opposition, and ask whether the PP is arguing that the persecution and assassination of gays is somehow “less detestable than any other crime”, or worse, that it’s something the party approves of.
As of this afternoon, council sources have indicated that the site opposite the basilica has now been ruled out, and that the city’s Sculpture Commission will soon make the final decision as to where the LGTB monument should go. We’ll keep you posted.
Third Anti Gay Attack in Austin Texas
we often take for granted our safety,
time and time again.
We forget WE DON’T HAVE RIGHTS in many cities, and there are still plenty of people out there who don’t like us! We must always be alert and keep our wits about us, and DON’T MOUTH OFF when someone yells FAGGOT!
A 26-year-old gay man says he and a friend were the victims of a hate crime outside the bars on 4th Street in downtown Austin, Texas early Sunday morning. (The third attack in Austin this year).
Bobby Beltran said he and his friend had just left Rain, a gay bar, at about 1:30 a.m. When they hugged each other goodbye on the sidewalk, some men in a passing vehicle yelled, “Fucking faggots, stop that queer shit!”
After Beltran yelled at the men to “get out of here,” all five of them jumped out of the vehicle and attacked him and his friend. Beltran said he fought back but suffered cuts and bruises and a black eye. His friend may have suffered a broken jaw. The attackers quickly jumped back in the vehicle, which was parked in the middle of the street, and drove off.
“I’ve never in my life been in any kind of violent situation, especially a hate crime, so it’s been pretty traumatic,” Beltran said. “Austin is supposed to be a gay haven, especially on 4th Street. What scares me even more is that nobody even helped.”
He said the attack lasted for about three minutes and was witnessed by at least 20 people, but none of them tried to help. Beltran said he yelled out the license plate of the vehicle as he ran after the attackers, but no one wrote it down and he doesn’t remember it.
“It was the most unsafe I’ve ever felt in my entire life, knowing that not even my community stood up,” Beltran said. “I’m so afraid to go back down there.”
Read More at DALLAS VOICE .
OY VEY! My Son Is Gay! Comes to Ohio and Florida!
Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky and starring
Golden Globe, Emmy and Tony Award nominee Lainie Kazan, Saul Rubinek, Carmen Electra, Vincent Pastore, Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young, Emmy Award winner Jai Rodriguez, and Emmy Award winner Bruce Vilanch.
Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay! is a family romantic comedy roller-coaster ride of laughs and shows how far we come and yet how far we still have to go. The star-studded cast and wonderful story will have you laughing – and talking and thinking.
At a time where society is currently in dire stress, the public is even more challenged to find channels for relief and escape. The film, “OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY!” delivers a very powerful message through the language of humor, and successfully combines the elements of fun, laughter, love, respect, tolerance and the value of relationships. It finds humor in the most awkward situations, but remains a powerful reminder that LOVE IS LOVE.
This movie was a long journey of 8 years of hard work, which finally resulted in a heartwarming and inspirational family comedy with an amazing and accomplished cast.
The film’s director, Evgeny Afineevksy (born in Russia, raised in Israel and currently living in the USA) utilized powerful tools and different multicultural elements (drawn from his multicultural background) to make the movie unique. He created the movie with a fresh perspective on a very unusual and sensitive matter; mixing elements of light language of comedy with sincerity; treating today’s tough and sensitive subject with empathy and humor; and, creating funny and relatable characters, allowing the humor to progress from and within the characters. “OY VEY! MY SON IS GAY! was awarded the Best Script at the 41st Houston World Festival and the Monaco Film Festival, and won over 20 different awards internationally during last year.
This is the story of a Jewish family living in the North Shore of Long Island, where every Friday night Shirley Hirsch (Lainie Kazan) invites another “perfect” girl for Shabbat dinner in hopes that her son, Nelson (John Lloyd Young), will marry a nice Jewish girl.
When Shirley and Martin (Saul Rubinek) once again set him up on a date, Nelson reveals that he is already seeing someone. Shirley and Martin are thrilled and can’t wait to meet the lucky lady.
In a motherly attempt at finding out who her son is dating, Shirley stops by Nelson’s apartment. She is greeted by Angelo Ferraro (Jai Rodriguez), Nelson’s live-in boyfriend, and in order to not divulge Nelson’s secret life, Angelo introduces himself as his decorator! And the plot thickens!
THIS IS A MUST SEE MOVIE!
OPENING THIS WEEKEND in OHIO!
Starting December 24, 2010
‘Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!’ is playing at
AMC Theaters – Lennox Town Center 24
(777 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH 43212)
Movie Times: 1-888-AMC 4FUN (888-262-4386) / Guest Services: (614)429-0100
Cast members with the director, producer and writer will be there to “MEET & GREET” after the movie!
Come out and show your support for this wonderful movie!
Starting January 7, 2011 – playing at
REGAL South Beach Cinemas 18
( 1120 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach, Florida 33139 ) (T: 305-674-6766)
Sunrise Intracoastal Cinemas
( 3701 Northeast 163rd Street, North Miami, FL 33160) (T: 954-871-4178)
Regal Shadowood 16
(9889 West Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33434) (T: 561-482-2638)
Regal Cinemas Delray 18
(1660 South Federal Highway, Delray Beach, FL 33483) (T: 561-272-0510)
More dates coming soon! Check the website and links below!
OY VEY MY SON IS GAY official site
Watch the Trailer
Oy Vey on Facebook
Best Gay Cities.com
Give a Holiday Present to Best Friends and Help Save a Pet
Frazzled from shopping yet? Tired of the crowds?
Take a break from your travel reading for just a moment and this will put a smile on your face !
Watch these adorable dogs decorate cookies and get ready to celebrate the holidays in style. They’re not only spreading good cheer, they have an important message to share— Make a holiday wish come true for a homeless dog or cat…ADOPT!
Many gay homes are not complete without some cute little critter roaming around—a compact pincher, a rare breed cat or, in my case, the random leopard tortoise! A study shows that 7 out of 10 gays own pets! and 9 out of 10 gays say their pet is “a member of the family” and 2/3rds of gays have BOUGHT THEIR PET A HOLIDAY PRESENT!
HOMELESS PETS – It’s so sad. Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets®. At the core of Best Friends’ work is the dream that one day kindness will replace cruelty, and animals will no longer be destroyed because they are unwanted or imperfect. Spaying and neutering will be the rule for all pets and adoption will be the first option for everyone. Making this dream a reality is the mission we call No More Homeless Pets. The society’s leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country’s largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of supporters and community partners across the nation.
Sponsor an animal. Help buy food. Donate a dollar or two. Your contribution to Best Friends goes straight to work helping tens of thousands of animals both at the sanctuary at Best Friends and through outreach and rescue programs all around the country.
For more information visit: http://www.bestfriends.org/
WATCH THE VIDEO NOW !
(there are lots of fun videos on their site – sure to make you smile!)
Gay Paris During the Holidays and Christmas
If yet another Christmas at home seems like a stale, boring tradition endured year in and year out filled with bland cooking and ancient traditions, spending a romantic break in ‘The City of Light’ might be just what you need. Paris a city that is forever associated with love twinkles at Christmas with lights on the trees, bridges and even the Eiffel Tower, and this beautiful city has something for all tastes over the festive period.
La Marais is Paris’ main gay district, with over 200 gay friendly bars, clubs, restaurants, hotels and shops. The area offers boulevard after boulevard of chic stores offering top fashion labels alongside artisan coffee shops, where gay couples can walk hand in hand and not attract even the slightest of glances, perfect for enjoying a croissant and a latte during those cold December mornings.
For those favouring a relaxed Christmas break, Paris provides the perfect backdrop, its world famous sites such as the Champs-Elyeses and the Eiffel Tower allow visitors to enjoy romantic walks whilst taking in the stunning views of the city. Christmas markets run in the city from 19th November 2010 to 28th December 2010 the largest of which is based on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées, the stalls offer up gourmet treats and handmade Christmas gifts, Les Marche de Noel are the perfect place to warm up with a Vin Chaud, a French hot Christmas wine, and enjoy some of the delicious French delicacies on offer.
For those looking for a romantic alternative to your average Christmas meal, wrap up warm grab plenty of champagne, some plastic champagne flutes and any of the tasty treats you’ve acquired from the markets and head to the Pont des Artes, a pedestrian bridge where lovers for years have been putting their Love Locks, padlocks with their names or initials to symbolize their love for each other. Despite the local authorities continually trying to stop people adding their love locks to the bridge this is an ever increasing trend in this city so associated with love. You could even make a pact with your other half that you’ll come back next Christmas to see if the lock is still there, the perfect excuse for another romantic getaway!
If your idea of a romantic Christmas break is a little more adventurous Paris boasts a wild gay club scene, perfect for dancing away those festive nights. Le Queen Nightclub is a gay institution in Paris and is not for the faint hearted; this is where the flamboyant fight for attention so not for the wall flowers out there. If you aren’t backwards in coming forwards however you are guaranteed a fun night here.
L’Insolite is a nightclub that shows disco is still hugely popular, not exactly the most fashionable of venues but if you’re looking for a fun-filled night of dancing and no pretention then this is the place for you.
However you choose to spend your Christmas, this beautiful city is sure to provide you with a romantic festive break somewhere a little different to home.
Charlotte writes for new travel site Simonseeks.com and if you are looking to visit Paris this Christmas, you might want to also look at the top rated things to do in Paris on Simonseeks, where you can find inspirational travel guides and expert advice.
Gay Rio? Shooting in Rio Being Investigated
RIO DE JANEIRO — The shooting of a gay youth by men in military uniforms after a mammoth gay pride parade is raising alarm about continuing homophobic violence in a city widely seen as a global oasis of tolerance.
Douglas Igor Marques Luiz told police he was hanging out with friends at the Arpoador, a rocky outcrop between Ipanema and Copacabana beaches Sunday when three men in military uniforms approached. The 19-year-old said they told everyone to leave, but held him back and started verbally abusing him. The aggression escalated, and eventually he was shot.
The shooting created particular attention because it came at a moment when Brazil’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transexual community was holding its biggest celebration in a city voted the “Sexiest Place on Earth” by the popular LGBT travel site TripOut Gay Travel in 2010.
LGBT tourists make up one quarter of its approximately 3 million international visitors every year, and Sunday’s gay pride march drew nearly a million participants, organizers estimated.
Yet despite Rio’s reputation as a gay-friendly and sexually uninhibited place where anything goes, there have been 600 complaints of anti-LGBT violence in the last year just in Rio state, according to the government-run program Rio Sem Homofobia, established in 2009 to help fight discrimination.
LOGOs “TripOut Gay Travel Awards” Honors Gay-Friendly Destinations and Travel
Los Angeles’ “The Abbey”,
NEW YORK CITY,
American Airlines and
Madrid Gay Pride
Return as Reigning Champions!
Logo, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), announces today that TripOutGayTravel.com , its comprehensive travel site dedicated to the LGBT traveler and MTV Network’s first stand-alone, travel-focused site, will reveal its second annual “TripOut Gay Travel Awards” at London’s World Travel Market – the premier global event for the travel industry.
Logo and IGLTA (International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, will co-sponsor “The TripOut Gay Travel Awards, co-hosted by IGLTA”where TripOutGayTravel.com Editor-in-Chief, John Polly, will announce this year’s winners at the World Travel Market. The awards once again honor the most stylish, exciting and hottest destinations and services that attract, pamper and market to the LGBT traveler.
“Our participation in the World Travel Market proves that TripOutGayTravel.com is a highly-regarded resource for gay-friendly travel,” said John Polly, Editor-in-Chief, TripOutGayTravel.com. “This recognition, in addition to our partnership with the IGLTA, showcases us as one of the premier sources for gay travel planning.”
This year’s winners reveal valuable news for the travel industry and the traveler looking for “gay approved” travel destinations and businesses. TripOutGayTravel.com recruited an academy of seasoned writers, editors and travel experts covering the LGBT travel market to comprise this year’s list of nominations. However, it is up to the site’s readers and fans to determine who deserves the title for the best gay destination, tour operator or hospitality service.
Some highlights include:
New York City reigns supreme as the premier LGBT global travel destination for 2010 by winning “Best Global Destination.”
Returning favorites won for a second year in a row including: American Airlines for “Best Airline,” “The Abbey” in Los Angeles for “Best Gay Bar in the World” and Madrid Pride for Best Annual Gay Destination (Party or Event).
Canada solidifiesits position as a well-known “gay approved” travel destination winning “Best Breakout Destination” for Toronto. In addition, Charles Lapointe of Tourisme Montréal receives “The Gay+ Award for Achievement in Making Our World Gayer.” Lapointe can aptly be described as a forefather and architect of Canadian and Montréal LGBT travel.
Rio De Janiero won the popular vote of “Sexiest Place on Earth” destination by a staggering 58% of the user-generated votes.
In addition, TripOutGayTravel.com recognizes Charles Lapointe of Tourisme Montréal with the “The Gay+ Award for Achievement in Making Our World Gayer.” The award goes to an organization or travel professional who has increased awareness of the LGBT consumer in the world of travel, tourism and hospitality.
Best Gay Cities
Best Gay Travel Guide
Vote for Dallas, Best Gay City, and Round Up Saloon, Best Gay Bar in the World
We love DALLAS!
And this year the city scores 4 big nominations in the TripOut Gay Travel Awards.
The city of Dallas in nominated for BEST BREAKOUT DESTINATION .
And the Round Up Saloon is nominated for BEST GAY BAR IN THE WORLD .
Plus in addition, both KIMPTON hotels and American Airlines (both with Dallas offices) also score nominations.
Stop by and vote and shoe Dallas some love!
Read more about why we LOVE DALLAS !
Out in AC Returns To Atlantic City for Halloween Weekend
Harrah’s Entertainment Atlantic City turns Halloween into HalloQueen this year, hosting OUT in AC, a weekend of LGBT-themed parties and events, October 29th through 31st. A bevy of gay royalty will be on hand to celebrate the Fall Carnival including “The Queen of All Media” Perez Hilton, Queens of Comedy Margaret Cho and Sandra Bernhard, in addition to Whitney Cummings, Jersey Shore’s
Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Richie Rich and more.
The weekend begins Friday night with Perez Hilton’s popular “One Night In” concert series at Showboat’s House of Blues. Perez Hilton’s past “One Night In” events in London, Toronto and Los Angeles have featured celebrity performances by Lady Gaga, Kanye West and Katy Perry. Perez promises a pageant to remember at his Jersey show, replete with marquee talent and special surprises to be announced.
“I am thrilled and very anxious to be hosting my first-ever ‘One Night In… New Jersey,’” says celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. “I’m looking forward to bringing to Atlantic City some of my favorite musical acts and special surprises, and since its Halloween weekend, some over-the-top costumes! With two hosting gigs at Harrah’s Atlantic City that weekend, I’ll have to have some tricks up my sleeve! Double the pressure! Double the fun! I can’t wait!”
“We look forward to hosting the second annual OUT in AC weekend at Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort, Showboat and Bally’s. Atlantic City is an entertainment-driven destination and at Harrah’s Entertainment it is our mission to provide diverse entertainment to be enjoyed by our customers,” said Jennifer Weissman, Regional Vice President of Harrah’s Entertainment. “OUT in AC is a great example of the unique programming we offer and we’re looking forward to celebrating Halloween weekend in Atlantic City with this great event.”
The celebration continues with a charity event at sultry Club Worship at Showboat with DJ Larry Tee spinning for Charity Monster. Proceeds will benefit the GLSEN Hi Tops, a local charity that provides a safe zone for youth facing difficulties at home or school because they are gay. Later on, the party at Atlantic City’s premiere nightlife venue, The Pool After Dark at Harrah’s Resort, will be hosted by everyone’s favorite side-kick, the nugget of all nuggets, Chuy Bravo from Chelsea Lately.
Saturday’s festivities kick off early, as famed designer Richie Rich presents a Poolside extravaganza featuring boys in Speedos and DJ Lina on the decks at The Loft at The Pool. Meanwhile, The Pier Shops at Caesars will host Shopping’s Night Out, offering discounts at select luxury brand retailers throughout the day. At 8pm, Margaret Cho and Sandra Bernhard take the stage for The Queens of Comedy show at Caesars Maximus Theatre. Afterward, celebrity DJ Mia Moretti will spin at the official Queens of Comedy afterparty at Mia Restaurant at Caesars.
Immediately following the show will be a cocktail reception at The Pool at Harrah’s Resort again hosted by the notorious Perez Hilton. Then, the all-night revelry continues as celebrity DJ Tracy Young ignites the dance floor at Showboat’s Club Worship, with a special performance by Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak. The Jersey Shore star Jenni “JWoww” Farley, will be hosting her version of a night OUT in AC, headlining an all-night fist pumping dance extravaganza at ultra hotpsot, Dusk nightclub at Caesars.
Halloween Sunday begins with The Hallo-Queen brunch, an all-you-can-eat buffet-style brunch at Caesars Forum Lounge, featuring legendary drag queen Joey Arias, followed by a Tea Dance at Dusk, where DJ Lina returns to help guests end the weekend right.
Tickets to most OUT in AC events will be available for purchase beginning today while remaining ticketed events will be on sale later in the week. Tickets for all events are available at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-736-1420. A discounted weekend pass, offering entrance to all events, is also available. Additionally, discounted room rates are available for 25% off by entering the offer code “OUTINAC” when making reservations. All events are restricted to persons 21 years of age and older.
For more information go online OUT in AC !
Houston Residents Jason and DeMarco to Open Gay SAFE House
If you have followed Jason and DeMarco , the gay christion pop singers, than you know about their vision of S.A.F.E.
Jason says, “Last year a young man who I had been emailing with had been struggling after “coming out of the closet”. He had been kicked out of his home and was going from friend to friend, sleeping on their couch. He finally ended up with a friend who told him that he could stay there as long as he needed to. Unfortunately, a month later, that same friend of his emailed me letting me know that this young man had taken his own life and that she wanted me to know how much he had said that I meant to him. I knew in that moment that “IT IS TIME”.
The longtime Houston residents have had a vision for a non-profit organization that would help kids who have been kicked out of their homes, or who were in foster care because of being kicked out or rejected by their own parents, or perhaps were aging out of the foster care system and had no support and nowhere to turn.
After moving to Houston I saw the need for an organization like this more than ever before and it fueled my dream. That dream is finally being realized with the launching of our new non-profit S.A.F.E. (Safe, Affirming, Family Environment).
We officially received 501(c)3 non-profit status on June 22, 2010 and are in full force preparing and planning for the work that S.A.F.E. is to do. By January 1st 2011, it is our intention to open the very first “Safe Spot” in Houston which will provide a drop-in and resource center for “throw-away” youth and young adults who will be offered snacks, coffee, clothes, books and a computer station.
It is also our intention to begin forming a community of house parents and ‘Safe Houses’ who are willing to offer transitional housing to GLBTQ young adults and ‘Safe Houses’ run by foster parents currently certified through Child Protective Services or those wishing to get certified to foster GLBTQ kids. Our intention with the homeless community is to encourage GLBTQ kids to enter the Foster Care system and educate them on the benefits offered to them by the state, knowing that they will be placed with a GLBT friendly foster home found through our organization.
If you are interested in joining our online community, please visit Safe House For All . Our goal is to start with Houston and then help other cities create “Safe Spots” and form S.A.F.E. communities locally with S.A.F.E.’s mentorship and guidance.
We filmed a new music video to our song ‘Safe’, the title cut from our latest CD, also entitled “Safe (W/Dvd) “. We are in post-production with the video and are planning to release it by the end of the year. We believe that this video is powerful and is going to put a face to the issues that the organization S.A.F.E. is striving to bring to peoples’ awareness. Our hope is that we will strike a chord with talk show personalities who help get the mission and need for S.A.F.E. out there to America!
This new venture is going to take much time and energy, and with us beginning a family, it is the perfect opportunity for us to make this our focus while taking time off of the road to adjust to parenthood. Many of you have been along with us on our journey from the very beginning and we are so excited to get to share this next chapter with you.
We cannot do this alone. There are kids out there who need us. They are all OUR kids! So please visit Safe House For All to read more about our mission, our vision and be a part. We currently have a donor who is willing to match funds up to $25,000. We have raised $30,000 to date and our intention is to raise $100,000 by the end of the year so we can begin the work in the New Year.
deMarco and I will continue recording and releasing new music and we will continue touring occasionally through most of 2011. Please share S.A.F.E. with anyone you know and join our online community by visiting the website.
Together we will create a world where EVERY heart has a home!
Stay Tuned!
We have also launched a new online Radio Program called “The SAFE Spot”.
Tune in for updates on S.A.F.E. and the work that we are doing by visiting “The SAFE Spot Blog Talk Radio”.
Mr Gay Orange County OC Crowned
Forget about the Real Housewives of Orange County!
How about the Real Gay Men of Orange County?!
For the first time ever, the Orange County gay community hosted a pageant to crown Mr Gay Orange County and raise money for charity.
Tom Stephens, one of the organizers, said he was inspired to host the competition after a friend died from cancer last year.
“I felt like I was wasting my life,” Stephens said. “I needed to do something outside of my life.”
The Orange County Mr. Gay competition became that venue for Stephens after he met with the organizers for the national contest at a travel show in Las Vegas.
“I thought it would be interesting,” Stephens said. “This would be fun, and I get to raise money for charity.”
Proceeds from an opportunity drawing on Saturday and any funds raised by contestants will go to AIDS Services Foundation , Orange County and The Center Orange County. Nearly $5,000 was raised and they are planning on holding the event every year.
Tyrone Jackson was the winner this year.
“It’s super exciting,” Jackson said of his new title. “It shows that with heart and determination you can do anything. It’s a big platform, but I can handle it.”
Jackson also captured the title of Mr. Community for raising $500, the most among the contestants.
UPCOMING IN ORANGE COUNTY……
The Red Ball September 25
Gay Days Anaheim October 1 – 3
60 Days of Gay in Richmond Virgina
Richmond Businesses Launch
“Rainbow Over Richmond”
With more than 30 Events in 60 Days, Richmond, Va.
is a must-visit for LGBTQ travelers
Local businesses have announced “Rainbow Over Richmond,” a series of events taking place from August to October, exploring and celebrating LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly culture and community.
With more than 30 events in 60 days , LGBTQ travelers will have a chance to participate in a variety of activities, from movie premiers to VA PrideFest.
“We’ve seen the Richmond community grow for the past 30 years,” said LaDifference owner and Rainbow Over Richmond supporter Andy Thornton. “It’s a great, friendly and inviting place for LGBTQ travelers to explore and visit.”
Rainbow Over Richmond kicks off on August 29 when the Richmond Triangle Players present Gen Silent, a documentary focusing on how many LGBTQ seniors, with the threat of discrimination from the healthcare industry, consider going back into the closet. Several events follow throughout September, including Pride-themed events every Friday hosted at local businesses, including Barcode and the 2300 Club.
Virginia’s annual Pride festival, PrideFest, will be on Sept. 25 from 6-10 p.m. at Kanawha. Attendees can take advantage of Pride festivities with PrideBus, a free shuttle service running from Shockoe Bottom to Carytown, with a special LGBTQ-themed club route until 2 a.m. PrideBus is presented by GayRVA.com , Richmond’s premier LGBTQ news resource.
Several ongoing events will take place during Rainbow Over Richmond, including the Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals 1933-1945 exhibit at the Gay Community Center of Richmond and a handful of new and unique showings at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Art fans also can checkout The Linden Row Inn, a TAG-certified boutique hotel centrally located in Richmond that will showcase the Ironisense Art Exhibition beginning Sept. 3. Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden will feature several events including the Rose Fest, informal tours with performances by the Virginia Opera and tango lessons on Sunday.
LGBTQ travelers also are encouraged to check out the Second Street Festival, a festival celebrating Richmond’s African-American community October 2-3. One week later, music lovers can check out the Richmond Folk Festival, a free event featuring music and dance from across the world.
Travelers can choose from a variety of TAG-certified hotels including Maury Place, The Linden Row Inn and the Crowne Plaza Downtown. For more information, an events calendar or additional LGBTQ-friendly accommodation recommendations, please visit Rainbow Over Richmond , or call 1-888-RICHMOND.
New Gay Travel Guide
Best Gay Cities
GAY DALLAS – Texas Freedom Parade September 19th
The 2010 Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade
~ Our 27th Edition ~ “One Heart, One World, One Pride”
Sunday, September 19, 2010
As summer starts to cool off just a little in Texas, and Pride Celebrations start winding down, Dallas is gearing up for their big parties September 19th. The Pride Parade & Festival in Lee Park! If you have never been to Dallas, it is an awesome city full of friendly LGBT people, LOTS of gay establishments , bars, and nightclubs.
Honorary Grand Marshall 2010 is Mayor Annise D. Parker, from Houston!
Dallas Gay Pride celebrates its 27th anniversary this year. The Dallas Tavern Guild took over the operation of Pride in 1982, moved it to September, and called it the Texas Freedom Parade. It was later renamed in honor of one of the parade’s key architects, the former Guild director Alan Ross.
Park Opens at 11 am. Food, beverages, vendors, and music. Live entertainment starts at 1pm.
Parade steps off at 2pm. The Annual Alan Ross Texas Freedom Pride Parade commences in the very gay Oak Lawn neighborhood at 2 pm. It begins at the junction of Cedar Springs Road and Wycliff Avenue, marching south down Cedar Springs Road, and ending at Robert E. Lee Park.
Awards, Presentations and speakers and special entertainment at 5pm.
(PHOTOS BY MICHAEL BELL )
AMERICAN AIRLINES is a Proud Sponsor and recommended carrier.
