Sydney Mardi Gras Mixes Pride and Politics

The Australian annual ‘Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade’ on Saturday witnessed tens and thousands of people dancing and carousing their way through the streets of Sydney – some attired in classy costumes; while others ‘clothed’ merely in body paint and barest-minimum leaves.

The parade – which began in 1978 essentially as a protest march by homosexual and transsexual men and women – is currently one of the world’s biggest and most glitzy gay pride events.

This year’s event featured the theme, “History of the World” - a peek at gay history; and boasted the involvement of as many as 9,400 participants. The nearly 135 floats, which rolled out from William Square, were led by the well-known transsexual Amanda Lepore, who was scantily-dressed in a diamante G-string, and seated in an open-top Mercedes.

Full Story from Top News

Click here for gay travel resources in Sydney, Australia.

Exploring the Cevennes Mountains in Southeastern France

by Helmut, La Vieille Maison, Durfort, France

Email Helmut | Visit the La Vieille Maison Website

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The Cevennes: large protected mountain areas, unforgettable landscapes, abundant nature, and an original and intriguing history: an ensemble of unique, protected tourism resources.

Mount Cévenole is a series of crests, stretching from Aigoual (1 567 meters) to Mont Lozère (1,702 meters), its slopes covered in a vast carpet of oak, chestnut trees and shrubs.

The Cévenol hamlets and villages nestled therein are one of the region's hidden treasures. The southern flank of the mountain is dotted with Mediterranean streams, natural vestiges of nature from another time, such as the Cirque de Navacelles.

To the west, the desertscape of Causse Méjan plays host to living species that thrive in a continental climate, such as bisons or Przewalski horses. The gorges of the Tarn snake beneath its feet.

This land of traditional values and hospitality is opening up to the idea of a tourism that respects both man and his environment. A large part of this region is classified as a National Park or a global biosphere reserve. Locals born here or elsewhere have the know-how of true artisans, and still raise goats, sheep and cattle here. Visitors can enjoy products fresh from the land, artistic creations, a personalised welcome. basically, may share this region with its inhabitants for the duration of their stay.

"...a land of freedom and independence, where man has often found refuge. Shepherds, pilgrims, persecuted Protestants, rebels, '70s hippies, and minorities of all kinds have come to the Cevennes to escape the law and the hard ways of the world. This reputation endures still, but now that a return to nature is in style, this area has also been revealed to be one of the best for tourist destinations and landscape." --Guide du Routard Languedoc Roussillon 2006

The Cevennes has never been a single united geographic or administrative area. It is currently divided into 5 departements and 3 regions, whose boundaries have changed greatly over the years. This mountainous chain, starting at the Narouze sill and reaching the level of the Canal du Centre, has often been described as the division between the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

However, history and culture have fashioned a little country emerge from this vast area that is keenly aware of its own identity, and which the Scottish writer Stevenson named, in 1878, as "pure bred Cevennes" or the "Cevennes from Cevennes", which has been memorialised in literature, especially by Jean-Pierre Chabrol, as "La Cévenne".

The Cevennes is, simultaneously, a region, a culture, a memory, identities and a claim of belonging. This Cevennes only exists through the people who have made it and who perpetuate it. It is identifiable by the vectors of its character: Protestantism, anthropisation of the landscape, chestnut trees, and silk.

The Cevennes landscape is not very high, but it has steep slopes and a succession of crests and narrow valleys that are completely enclosed.

To survive here, man had to completely adjust to the land. It's area that has been built upon, humanised, and its landscapes tamed. Geographers, historians and visitors recognize its two principal traits: the terraces and the water systems.

The Cevennes feature a gigantic amphitheatre of terraces: the natural slopes have been replaced by the continuous piles of terraces, bancels or faissas, running from the valley floor right up to the hill crest. This gigantic work often required that stone and, especially, earth was transported on men's backs using large baskets called terrairaus, which were also used for carrying manure and bringing in the harvest.

The region's water supply also creates a paradox: a shortage in one moment, and too much the next. The Cevennes Mediterranean climate is typified by dry summer periods which are followed by diluvial rainfalls that causes deep and highly destructive erosions and flooding that are as sudden as they are violent.

Man has, through his water system, structured the whole of the territory with a very tight network to both protect himself from this destructive water and to capture it, store it and transport it to satisfy his needs.

Paragliding, mongolfieres, and kayaking are just some of the activities that allow you to come into contact with the beauty of nature in this part of France. The region is close to the Mediteranean Sea - you can enjoy the beauty of the French Coastline and its culture.

At the border of this national park, you'll find a 500 year-old, typical cevennol stonehouse and silk factory - La Vieille Maison-Halte Gourmande. Our home is located in the calm countryside on the borders of the Cevennes Mountains, in a small dale, encircled by woods and vinyards. From this old stonehouse, you'll enjoy a wonderful view into the valley and onto the Cevennes mountains. Across a long arch in stones where, every year, the swallows come to build their nests of loam, its entrance leads up to the inner covered courtyard - a great place to sit in the shade during the warm afternoon hours, or to enjoy gourmet diners from our halte gourmande.

From the courtyard, you have also access to the balcony, covered with the Wisteria, and to the ancient part of our guesthouse, with its rooms and dining facilities for the winter, as well as the spacious living room with its chimney. The terrace on the roof is encircled with thundred-year-old ancient Wisteria - the perfect place to rest or dine in the spring or fall.

Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus Releases New Gayborhood Map

The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus unveiled the third installment of its Gayborhood map and merchant guide this week, with a fresh, new look that represents several local agencies’ commitment to heightening the city’s reputation as a top LGBT travel destination. The map was spearheaded by PGTC’s marketing committee, which began working on redeveloping the agency’s existing guide nearly a year ago.

The newly designed product, which was again sponsored by original partners Center City District and Enterprise Rent-a-Car, also garnered sponsorship from Philadelphia Magazine, which served as an editorial and production partner.

Tami Sortman, president of the PGTC, said the redesigned guide reflects the increase of gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses throughout the city.

Full Story from Philadelphia Gay News
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New Gay Marketing Survey Planned in 14 Countries in Europe & Latin America

Stretching through 14 countries right across Latin America and Europe, the world's largest gay market research study ever to be undertaken is about to launch. Developed by Out Now - a leading specialist global marketing agency - the new study will survey lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people living in fourteen countries. From Mexico's border with Texas right across the world to Israel and to the top of Sweden - this will be the most comprehensive study of its kind ever to be undertaken.

With an overall population of three quarters of a billion, these regions are home to more than 35 million lesbian and gay people living diverse lives. It is the first time a gay community targeted market study has been conducted across so many countries at one time.

The countries being surveyed in the "2010 Out Now Global LGBT Market Study" are: in Latin America - Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay; and, in Europe -- France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK. The study will cover many areas including consumer habits, incomes, education levels, media usage, parenting, relationships, travel, employment, discrimination, equality concerns, aspirations and more.

Full Story from PR Newswire
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Olivia Lesbian Cruises Celebrates 20 Years

Olivia, the definitive leader of lesbian travel, celebrates its 20th year of chartering cruises and resort vacations. Morphing from the groundbreaking record label in the 70's to the largest company catering solely to lesbians today, Olivia has continued to change and grow to meet the needs of the community it has served for almost 4 decades.

"Olivia was created to serve a lesbian market that ranges from women who must live quietly in suburbia, to women who have the freedom to walk the streets holding hands. I am extremely blessed to have been part of this amazing experience. When the company launched 35 years ago, I never dreamed Olivia would become the company that it is today," says Judy Dlugacz, President and Founder of Olivia.

Olivia chartered its first cruise in 1990, a 600 passenger ship with Dolphin Cruise Lines. "When we first began, no one wanted our business," said Jill Cruse, Olivia's VP of Guest Experience. "They were afraid of a backlash. Now we are one of the biggest clients of Holland America and Club Med resorts. We have over 2000 passengers on our Caribbean ships and go everywhere from the Galapagos Islands to Africa."

Full Story from PR Web
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MA: Springfield Ranks High as a Gay Friendly City

Nobody ranks Springfield along with San Francisco, New York City or Northampton as one of America's gayest cities, right? Wrong. Actually, Springfield rates higher than those gay-friendly Meccas in a new survey published by The Advocate, a monthly magazine that chronicles gay culture.

In a top 15 of gay-embracing communities, Springfield finished in 13th position, between San Diego, Calif., and Asheville, N.C. The top three, in descending order, were: Iowa City, Iowa; Burlington, Vt.; and Atlanta, Ga.

The findings comes as a surprise to gays and just about everyone else in Springfield, better known as the birthplace of basketball and hometown of Smith & Wesson firearms, than as an oasis of gay culture.

Full Story from Mass Live
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Vancouver's Pride House: A Safe Place for Gay/Lesbian Olympians

So about five of us were lounging around the TV at a gay hangout called Pride House on the west end Friday, when the mayor suddenly walks in. No, that’s not the start of a cheeky joke, it’s actually a summary of how we spent our day.

Gregor Robertson was there because that’s what you do when you’re a progressive politician who made his money selling organic juice and still rides his bike to work when weather permits: You embrace whatever constituency will hug you back.

It would seem like he's got enough to do with a city of two million people and the Winter Olympics in his front yard, but he seems like a guy who can multitask.

Full Story from NJ.com
Click here for gay travel resources in Vancouver.

Philadelphia Gay Tourism spotlights 'Gayborhood' With New Map

The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus will launch a campaign aimed at making it easier for the city’s visitors to get around.

The campaign will inclulde a map of the “Gayborhood” and include listings and information about gay-friendly businesses in the city. It will highlight restaurants, hotels, retailers, bars and restaurants and other businesses. The Gayborhood is an area in Center City encompassing roughly from 13th and Locust streets to 10th and Pine streets.

The Gay Tourism Caucus, will release the Gayborhood Map and Merchant Guide on Feb. 22, said the campaign is further acknowlegement that the gay travel market is booming business, an estimated $54.1 billion market worldwide.

Full Story from the Philadelphia Business Journal
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Many Gays/Lesbians Stayed Home for Vacations in 2009

In a down economy, "staycations" are just the ticket for LGBT people desiring a little escape, and are a bright spot in a gay travel industry hit by last year's recession, according to the recently released "14th Annual Gay and Lesbian Tourism Report."

The online study, conducted in October and November 2009, compiled responses from 4,726 self-identified gay and lesbian consumers of LGBT media and events. (The Bay Area Reporter was a participating newspaper.) A majority of respondents were gay men (75 percent) and white (87 percent) with lesbians (25 percent), bisexuals (3 percent), and transgenders (1 percent) rounding out the survey. Other ethnicities that responded to the survey included Latino (5 percent), African American (3 percent), Asian (2 percent), and other/mixed (3 percent). The report was released at the end of 2009.

Business and cruise travel were hit the hardest, in spite of more LGBT individuals hitting the high seas during the past year than their heterosexual counterparts (as had been the case in previous years), indicating that "LGBT travelers are a viable cruise market even in down economies," according to the report.

Full Story from the Bay Area Reporter
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Australia: Gay Travel Expo in Sydney February 26th

More than 20 travel exhibitors from places as exotic as South America through to Asia will bring the best travel deals to town on February 26. The Out Gay and Lesbian Travel Expo, at the Marriott Hotel from 5.30pm, will bring together the best in gay and lesbian travel opportunities.

The man behind the expo, Out Travel’s Reece Farmilo, said it was a chance for the community to talk to supportive travel and tourism operators from around the globe.

“Out Travel has been up and running for three years, and over that period we have build strong relations with airlines, wholesalers, tour operators and hotels who are very supportive of us as a specialised gay travel company,” he said.

Full Story from SSO
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Visiting Gay Taipei

Taipei, Taiwan’s vibrant capital, has opened itself up as the flourishing gay capital of Taiwan, with a gay and lesbian scene that has seen it dubbed the new San Francisco of Asia. The Taiwanese people are amongst the friendliest in the world and have a good sense of humour and the gay scene is friendlier and more relaxed than Singapore’s or Bangkok’s.

Like most gay capitals, Taipei is home to the Taiwan LGBT Pride Parade, the largest gay pride parade in Asia.

Dubbed Love Out Loud! The Power of Love Conquers Discrimination, Taipei’s seventh annual gay pride parade was held on October 31, 2009. More than 25,000 people showed up to march.
During the year, several gay and lesbian parties are held at Taipei’s most popular LGBT hotspot Luxy, including Sista Jumpa, Lesz Meeting and the traditional end-of-year Gay Dance Party, held on Christmas Eve.

Full Story from SSO

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Cologne a Liberal (and Gay Friendly) Destination

THE man in the wig and Baroque garb is regaling us with nose-wrinkling tales of whale vomit – peculiar stuff in a perfumery. At the nearby Romano-Germanic Museum, a school party is being lectured on what Dionysos, centrepiece of their great mosaic, got up to. One of their number is sporting a stick-on moustache (he has to keep nudging it back under his nose). Other kids around town have painted-on beards and funny hats.

In a tavern full of middle aged troughers, all spangly costumes and rouged cheeks, I order a Halver Hahn – which in German has to mean half a chicken – and get served Dutch cheese in a rye roll... with a beer in what appears to be a large test tube.
Cologne, is a very odd place. But for a weekend away a very gemutlich one, as the locals might say.

The amazing twin-spired Cathedral apart, there’s nowhere better to start than at the wellspring of its most famous export.

Full Story from Manchester Confidential
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Gay Mardi Gras Krewes A Unique Part of New Orleans' Carnival

Ty Johnson is more than willing to suffer for the sake of beauty. Johnson, who describes his usual persona as "frumpy," is shucking off that image for the night. As the queen of the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon's Carnival ball, Young is guaranteed at least one night of glamour. "I am not a cross dresser, but a chance like this comes once in a lifetime," Johnson gasped as David Jackson pulled the laces on his corset tighter.

Gay balls are one of the more popular parts of Carnival season, with gay and straight guests attending to see the glitzy costumes and elaborate tableaus. Unfortunately, not as many are flocking to join the krewes themselves, which has Young and others worried about their future. "People just aren't joining the krewes like they used to," Johnson said. "I think there are a lot of other things attracting people now."

Carl Mack, a longtime member, agreed, noting that Halloween has become a major event in the city. "Some people would rather put their costume money and energy there," he said.

Full Story from Victoria Advocate
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Lesbian Couple from LA on the Amazing Race

"The Race is an amazing opportunity to go travel with Brandy for several weeks, and to see new places, and experience new things, and have those kind of challenges we'll be faced with. And really see how we react and do as a couple. And not kind of bitch and moan and gripe at each other..."

Brandy and I want to be the first female team to win 'The Amazing Race.' No two women have won. So, in addition to showing that we're every bit as good as men, and probably better at asking directions, which I think will be our strength.... I think there'll be a cross section of opinions about us. I think people, unfortunately who've never been around gay women are going to have some pre-determined points of view an opinions that, you know, hopefully, we can change some hearts and minds that way.''

Carol Rosenfeld, a 47-year-old consultant, and Brandy Snow, a 40-year-old actress. The two women from Los Angeles are going to be one of the several pairs of contestants on CBS TV network's latest round of the long-running series, "The Amazing Race."

Full Story from Metro Weekly

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New $20 Million Gay Resort Planned for New York City

At a time when city officials nervously double-check and then triple-check their once confident projections about tourism growth and more than a few gay locals grumble about the dearth of fresh nightlife choices, a $20 million project could bring nearly 80,000 square feet in tourism and dance club space to West 42nd Street — in the form of New York’s first full-service gay hotel and the first new nightclub serving the LGBT community in more than five years to have a cabaret license, needed if patrons wish to dance.

Officially described as “The Out NYC: a hospitality and entertainment destination geared to the gay community,” the project, due to be completed by early next year, is informally dubbed “a hetero-friendly urban resort” by its developers.

In addition to 123 guest rooms and a 10,000-square-foot dance club capable of serving 750 patrons, the project — which will renovate a three-story building originally developed as a Travel Inn in 1960 to accommodate the crowds expected at the 1964 World’s Fair and later used by the Red Cross, before it was abandoned several years ago — will also include a gym, spa, restaurant, and 24/7 café, making it the most ambitious commercial development ever to court New York’s gay community.

Full Story from Gay City News
Click here for gay travel resources in New York.

Sweden: Lawmaker With Drag Persona's Travel Junket Questioned

In Parliament he's Fredrick Federley, a serious and respected representative of the small Center Party. But a few times a year he becomes Ursula, a "grandiose diva" with curved eyelashes, pouting lips and skimpy dresses. In tolerant Sweden, the 32-year-old politician's cross-dressing habit only became an issue this week, when critics questioned who accepted an alleged junket to the sun-soaked Canary Islands: Fredrik the lawmaker or Ursula the drag queen?

Federley makes no secret of his penchant for dressing in high heels, colorful wigs and heavy makeup. It has not been an issue in his party or in Parliament, and Federley says it doesn't affect voters' confidence in him as a politician. "The Swedish people are wise enough to see that they are two totally different things: When you're on official duty or when you're at a party as a hired entertainer," he told The Associated Press on Thursday.

But Sweden's biggest newspaper this week questioned whether the two personalities got mixed up when he moonlighted last month as a travel writer for hanky.se, a Web site catering to Sweden's gay community.

Full Story from ABC News
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Tour Invites You to Travel, Compete, Win Big!

With the debut of 'The Amazing Race™' 16th hit season, 10 million viewers will be grumbling to themselves once again ‘I could do that!’ Well, grumble no more! The Chicago Tribune reports that finally, there is an 'Amazing Race™’ For Regular People.’

Competitours is a groundbreaking European team travel competition that pits the creativity, ingenuity, and wits of 17 pairs of teams vying for $9,000 in prizes. Over a 9-day mystery itinerary, teams will compete to accomplish a series of fun, quirky and interactive challenges.

Challenges will be held in a variety of must-see bustling big cities, under-the-radar cool spots and off-the-grid rural villages. The challenges will absorb teams in the diverse and fascinating cultures, peoples and places of four surprise European countries.

There are no auditions, extreme stunts or need for physical fitness or speed. Mastering the challenges is based on teams being savvy, resourceful, outgoing, even a bit zany at times, so ANYONE can play. Past teams have ranged from parent/child to best friends to honeymooners to retirees.

Each day, all 17 teams will receive a virtual mission packet with their following day's surprise destination(s) and 8-10 challenge options. Each team will choose the 3-4 challenges that best meet their touring preferences and route their daily itinerary using only public transport. Teams will enjoy the thrill of making snap decisions about the unfamiliar.

Challenge themes are about doing unusual and offbeat tasks in unexpected places, while still creating an understanding and appreciation of the host countries. Forget tourists that blindly follow the herd on a cookie cutter tour! Competitours puts you in the middle of the culture and then gives you a chance to investigate, navigate, research, be perplexed, be thrilled, ham it up, be bold, be curious... This goes way beyond site-seeing. This is site-doing!

Challenge themes include:

* Fusing history with pop culture
* Engaging locals and other tourists
* Exploring myths and legends
* Culinary samplings
* Delving into immigrant marketplaces
* Alpine roller coasters, labyrinths, indoor skiing


Teams score points by documenting each challenge they accomplish
via portable video camera with a lively and creative 30-60 second
on-camera narrative. Videos will be uploaded at the end of each day for the judges to evaluate and score. There are no eliminations and the number of challenges and points to pursue are capped each day, to ensure each trip is a blast, not a blur. Every team will be in contention for the $9,000 in prizes down to the final day.

All participants appreciate the rivalry during the day, which later transforms into revelry at night. Swapping challenge escapades, enjoying nightlife, and shopping together off-the-clock are integral in creating the best prize of all- --new friends with shared experiences.

George Clooney, star of the Oscar-Nominated film 'Up In The Air' earned a fictional 10 million miles. Competitours principal Steve Belkin is a bonafide mileage hound, generating over 22.5 million miles by flying on crazy fares like $38 in Business Class Toronto-Larnaca Cypress; having surrogate flyers in Thailand, New Zealand and Germany; buying thousands of magazines, sausages, trackable luggage tags. His unique love of travel is what helped inspire Competitours.

It’s time for fans of ‘The Amazing Race ™' or anyone with a zest for a breakthrough travel experience, to get off the couch, ditch the remote and find a partner to star in your own Amazing Race with Competitours! For more information, log onto www.competitours.com.

Pink Lifestyle to Start on February 16th in Cape Town

The Pink Lifestyle show will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in Cape Town, 16-18 April 2010, and aims to encompass all that pertains to the gay lifestyle, from fashion to travel to homes and gardens.

The foyer will feature an art exhibition and registration area with drinks and gifts. The convention centre will be divided into mini venues which will give the show a theatrical feel rather than a maze of exhibitor stalls. These will be grouped together into the various aspects of lifestyle such as travel, food, fashion etc.

There will be a champagne, sushi and oyster bar; demo chefs introducing wine pairing, as a complement to cooking. Exhibitors include a selection of Cape Town's top restaurants, daily fashion shows, outdoors and sports, home décor and design trends and landscapers and horticulturists. There will be a pet section.

Full Story from BizCommunity.com
Click here for gay travel resources.

Atlantis to Give Away Three Staterooms on Gay Cruise

Need a break from this unseasonably wet and bone-chilling San Diego weather? Want to trade these cold raindrops and windchill for the warmth of the sun, while you bask from the deck of a luxury liner? How about giving up another mundane week at the office for a trek through the Caribbean with 2,800 other gays and lesbians?

If you said "yes" to any of those questions, Atlantis Events has a contest that would allow you to do just that (as long as you are 21 or older). With the “Sail into the Sunshine Sweepstakes,” Atlantis Events will give away three oceanview staterooms. Enter by filling out an online form no later than Feb. 15.

“We’re giving a few lucky guests the chance to beat the winter blues and ‘Sail into the Sunshine’,” said Oscar Yuan, vice president of sales and marketing at Atlantis. “And there’s no better way to do that than to sail the Caribbean with 2,800 other gay and lesbian guests while being entertained by Atlantis’ best talent, world-famous DJs, and an endless schedule of activities - all compliments of Atlantis.”

Full Story from SDGLN
Click here for gay travel resources.

An American Diva at Juchitan's Muxe Vela

Email the Author, Fiona Mallratte | Visit the Tranny Tribute Website

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Just before one a.m. this morning, I felt the warm breeze off the Laguna Superior kiss my face as I lifted it skyward to bask in the moment. I was standing smack in the middle of El Salon Guixhi in Juchitan, groovin' to the funky Latin sounds of Grupo Kautivador from nearby Oaxaca City with near 2000 revelers at the 34th annual Vela Muxe sponsored by Las Autenticas Intrepidas Buscadoras Del Peligro (The Authentic Intrepid Searchers of Danger).

Las Autenticas are the Muxes of Juchitan, a town of 70,000 situated just inland from Laguna Superior, on the west coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. The Muxes are the splendid queens of the Isthmus, where by tradition they have been seen as a third gender since before the Spanish ever set foot in Mexico. Perhaps it's not surprising that transgender and gay lifestyles are accepted in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a traditionally matriarchial society.

The Muxe celebrations are called Velas, and this was the big one, where this year's queen would be crowned. As I looked around the grounds (an outdoor venue with three stages), I was delighted and amazed with what I saw—the Muxes of Juchitan in their traditional dress, other Muxes in gowns, party dresses and priceless princess/hooker outfits, and the people of Juchitan: gorgeous women of all ages, dressed to the nines, likewise the men in their stylish white guayabera shirts and dark pants, others in jeans and sneakers.

And I saw dancing! The third band was insane, with stacatto bass grooves piling up behind Cuban inspired funky piano, a little guitar spilling over the top all held into place with thick baritone sax hooks and polyrhythmic super tight drums. Two young women in pencil skirts and spike heels spun each other around in salsa perfection a hairsbreadth away. A group of four exuberant teen girls in traditional dress (huipil vest with embroidered tropical flowers on black velvet, flowing flowered skirt, garland of flowers in the hair) danced, holding hands and piroueting in time.

The Muxes themselves are distinctive in surprising ways. They were split between traditional outfits and party dresses, but held certain qualities in common. Most were not wearing wigs, but had grown their hair long and wore it largely in traditional braids (although local women and Muxes both use clip on braids). Their makeup had a natural look, more like good skin care than heavy drag makeup. The eyes were the exception, with many featuring two tone, heavily applied sparkle eye shadow, running right up to the eyebrow.

Very few wore pantyhose or stockings, underlining the difference between trannies here and there. As someone familiar with various drag and crossdresser scenes in the San Francisco Bay Area and Portland, Oregon, I'll tell you that queens in those scenes love their wig hats, makeup and stockings, hell, all that fem gear is a big part of the fun. But these girls were different. Sure, they were out to look their best at all times, but that's a clue. Many of these girls are girls all the time. Have been all or most of their lives. With acceptance into the culture, they've largely dispensed with some of the more arcane regalia of super fem, i.e. nylons and wigs. Sheer nylons are not de riguer as they once were on certain occasions, and why should that be different in Juchitan?

I can tell you this, one thing the Muxes share with their crossdresser, drag queen and transsexual counter parts in the states is a love of high heels in all their sassy strutting glory. Big shoes of every imaginable sort and detailing were on proud display as the Muxes sashayed about the venue.

Earlier that evening, the crowd had parted for the red carpet entrance of last years coronated queen, Darina I, vamping her way towards the stage surrounded by synchronized male dancers in sparkly devil eye masks. A few ceremonial speeches from her and her court of stunning queens, and the too loud sound system thumped out “I Will Survive” while the truly fabulous contestants for this years crown each made their entry, wave after wave of giddy crowd support greeting the parade of blinding red dresses. The muxes moved with a surety, grace, sass and self confidence that comes from living in the heart of acceptance. Did I mention this was only the largest of three major Muxe Velas happening last night? Can you imagine a small city in the United States hosting such a cavalcade celebration of transgender and gay lives? Hats off to the many great gay pride events of course, but the centuries old acceptance of these other modes is unprecedented.

So there I was, a full head or more taller than 99% of the crowd, I have to admit to a pinch of self consciousness. To say I was a point of interest is an understatement. There was a smattering of white faces in the crowd, including one or two blond girls in huipils, but honey I was the only white queen there at about 6'5” in my heels, and I did feel a smashing in my red sparkly minidress with a local purple flower accessory in my wig hat. Self consciousness not with standing, I too was moved to dance a turn or three. The magic latin funk grabbed me and shook me just a little. I wished my wife was still at the Vela—I'd dropped her and my two kids off at the hotel an hour earlier—I wanted to dance with my sweetie.

Meanwhile, I was maybe a bit envious of the fantastic beauties who walked the red carpet that night—dishing and dolling their was down the run way, this years contestants fantastic in their blazing red ensembles! But I did revel in the same attention that made me self conscious. Sure I got some outright sniggering from doofy teenage boys, but I exchanged smiles with a number of lovely Muxes, saying high to my sisters across the cultural divide. The women (the ones born that way) of Juchitan were beaming their welcome, all dancing eyes and hilarity at my outrageous, near preposterous super tall white girl thang, smiling at me, talking me up and repeatedly snapping my picture. I caught a couple of journalist types grabbing shots of me too, with their big important looking cameras.

At the band break, when space opened up on the dance ground, I found myself inadvertently skipping down what was left of the red carpet, and was caught off guard by the flash from the camera of a white journalist gal grabbing my moment for posterity, or at least for a moment's consideration for her story. By and large, I felt a sincere welcome from Juchitan, maybe there was a bit of surprise at the middle aged white amazon in their midst, but I was accepted with good grace as one of their own, as one Oaxacan woman in a huipil assured me, “You are an Autentica”.

About Fiona: "I'm a girly girl, I love getting all dolled up and showing my legs. Let's go clubbing!"

Should Gay Cruises Visit Homophobic Countries?

A cruise to the Bahamas benefitting Miami Beach Gay Pride this spring is once again calling attention to the appropriateness of visiting Caribbean nations that have a poor record on LGBT rights. Source Events, a company that specializes in tours for gays and lesbians, is donating proceeds to the organization from a cruise aboard the Norwegian Sky April 19-23 that will make stops in Grand Bahama, Nassau and Great Stirrup Bay. The cruise embarks two days after the second annual Pride Parade and Expo in South Beach.

Some activists have questioned whether it’s wise for Miami Beach Gay Pride to associate itself with a trip to what they call a homophobic country.

The Bahamas does not have a law banning LGBT discrimination and a series of anti-gay incidents in recent years have sparked international outrage. They include the 2004 picketing of Rosie O’Donnell’s Family Vacations cruise, the 2006 ban on screening the film "Brokeback Mountain," a 2007 police raid on a gay cruise party and the 2009 jury acquittal of a man who used the "gay panic" defense in the murder of an HIV-positive male. Representatives of Source Events and Miami Beach Gay Pride acknowledged the problems with anti-gay discrimination in the Bahamas, but defended the cruise.

Full Story from Edge Boston

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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: Stonewall Library Museum & Archive

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The Stonewall Library began in 1973 as the brainchild of Mark Silber who was a student at Florida Atlantic University. He traveled widely and collected as many books as possible, storing them at the family home in Hollywood, Florida. The name “Stonewall” was chosen to honor the significance of the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City in the early years of the modern gay movement.

Silber moved to New York in 1984 and the collection had grown too large to move so Silber organized his friends into a corporation which would grant borrowing privileges to members and conduct regular meetings.

The collection was first moved to the Metropolitan Community Church, giving the collection a permanent home. From 1987 to 1994 the library grew and eventually filed as a tax-exempt status. Joel Starkey had been collecting periodicals, correspondence, and other materials he called “The Southern Archives”. When he became ill and offered his collection to the library, the corporation reorganized as Stonewall Library and Archives , Inc. and in 1990 , the IRS granted the new combined 401 status, making all contributions tax deductible.

When Dr. John C. Graves began his tenure on the Board of Directors in 1994, he made fund-raising a top priority for the Library. In 1997 Stonewall rented space from the Gay and Lesbian Community in Ft. Lauderdale.

In the following three years, Stonewall grew not only in numbers of books and archives, but in accessibility and diversity of programming. In May of 2000 Stonewall moved to 1717 North Andrews Avenue in Ft. Lauderdale as a tenant of the CLCCSF.

In its new location the entire collection including the archives was first housed under one roof. Patrons could also enjoy a new reading room named after Dr. John C. Graves, where they could peruse national GLBT periodicals and hold meetings and discussion groups. Historians and other scholars could pursue more serious research in the new organized archives.

In 2005 Stonewall began an annual series of history exhibitions shown at the Broward Main Library. These groundbreaking exhibitions were “The Nazi Persecution of Homosexuals - 1933-1945”, “Pride: Party of Protest”, “Days without Sunshine: Anita Bryant’s Anti-Gay Crusade”, “Out of the Shadows: Gay American from Kinsey to Stonewall” and “Stonewall: The Ending of the Beginning of Gay Liberation”.

By the end of 2006 Stonewall’s programming had expanded to include a Distinguished Author Lecture Series, literature discussion groups, an opera appreciation group, two monthly film programs, a writer’s workshop, monthly art exhibitions, and a community space that generated over eight thousand persons visits a year.

Also in 2006 through a generous grant from the John C. Graves Trust of the Community Foundation of Broward, Stonewall hired it’s first full-time professional Executive Director, Jack Rutland, who brought 30 years of non-profit management experience to the position.

The Andrews Avenue building was sold to developers in 2006 and Stonewall immediately began to look for a new home. At the same time, it launched a $1 Million capital building and endowment campaign. It has now reached over $800,000 which is allocated for capital building and endowment campaign.

The Stonewall Library/Archives
and Museum is now located in the Ft. Lauderdale Branch Library/ArtServe building located at 1300 East Sunrise in a 4500 square foot area of collection, exhibition, public program and administration space. It doubled it’s size. It officially opened in January, 2009. They now have over 25,000 volumes regarding gay/lesbian/bisexual and transgender subjects. They have a circulating DVD and VHS collection which includes over 600 titles ranging from classic gay cinema to the most recent releases.

The Stonewall Museum is one of the only permanent spaces in the United States devoted to the display of exhibitions relating to GLBT culture and history. They host 8 permanent exhibitions of local GLBT artists. They have a distinguished
Author’s Lecture Series.

For more information about the Stonewall in Ft. Lauderdale, visit their website at www.stonewall-library.org. 1300 East Sunrise Boulevard in Ft. Lauderdale. Contact Jack Rutland, Executive Director at jack-rutland@stonewall-library.org Feel free to contact them and send them anything you have regarding GLBT history.

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone! TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Gay Panels Featured at New York Travel Expo February 27th-28th

If you’ve got the travel bug, be sure to be at the Javits Convention Center in New York City February 27-28 for the New York Times Travel Show and expo.

With over 500 exhibiting companies, five Regions of the World Pavilion Stages, seven Travel Trade Conferences featuring 34 conference sessions, the Travel Industry Reception, 24 Consumer Conference sessions, and the Tourism Cares live auction benefiting the September 11 Memorial & Museum Fund, there will be no shortage of informative avenues to help you hone your knowledge and skills as a jet-set world traveler.

Most important, don’t miss the two LGBT conferences that weekend cohosted by PlanetOut Travel contributor and gay travel guru Ed Salvato and friends. The world’s foremost gay and lesbian travel experts will update you on the world’s gay-friendliest destinations, hotels, cruises, airlines, and more. Attendees will also have access to special deals and offers available exclusively to gay travel panel audience members.

Full Story from PlanetOut
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TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD: The Villa Bed & Breakfast

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If you ever want to really live like real European Royalty but want to stay in the United States, then fly down to Daytona Beach, Florida and stay at the Villa Bed and Breakfast. The setting is a gated 1927 Mediterranean Villa on over 1 1/2 acres, with all the amenities. The grand host is James Camp and he certainly knows how to make every guest truly feel as thou they really are Royalty.

We stayed in the King Juan Carlos Suite which is very huge and has its own dressing room. It is located on the second floor of the Villa and has its own patio with Jacuzzi and plenty of room for private sunning. Actually the private patio is about 18 by 24 feet! Isn't that how all Royalty lives? The extensive landscaping includes a variety of tropical plants native to Florida, all of which have been enhanced with a circular driveway and beautifully decorative fencing and entry gates.

The Villa was built by B. J. Donnelly, a wealthy gentleman from Massachusetts. He spent only 5 winters in the Villa, traveling from his northern mansion with his chauffeur in his Pierce-Arrow limousine, accompanied by his two maids, staying only for the two months of January and February until his death in 1935. The original owner monograms can be seen in a cartouche above the front door and over the master bedroom arched windows. There is also a servants quarters as well as a nice apartment above the garage for the chauffeur.

A walk thru the Villa is a treat itself which is full of beautiful antique treasures gathered from all over the world. A huge collection of porcelain, cut glass, tapestries, oil paintings and fine furniture abounds the Villa. The Villa is just steps away from the world famous beach, where you can drive on the beach, swim in the ocean, ride the surf, parasail, take a boat ride or just relax. Actually one could just stay there for a month and never leave the grounds. A large swimming pool is perfect for guests. Let’s see?....... one could either “motel” it or.... Stay at this Grand Villa! Glad that we opted for the Villa. The owner, James Camp has owned the Villa since the 1992. James Camp used to own a guest house bed and breakfast in Key West for several years before purchasing the Villa. James is a VERY gracious host.

However you do need to get out once in a while, so head downtown to the Halifax Historical Museum which is located in the historic former Merchant’s Bank Building at 252 South Beach Street in downtown Daytona Beach.. Their website is: www.halifaxhistorical.org. The Halifax Historical Society was founded in 1949. The mission of the Society is to gather and preserve the history of the Halifax river area and present it to the public in an interesting and educational manner. Start off with a very informative 20 minute movie to introduce you to the area and then your ready to take in the sights of the museum. Fayn LeVeille is the Director and she is doing a remarkable job.

Daytona Beach is of course famous for their beaches where you can drive your auto right on the beach if you want. We declined. We have seen way too many tow trucks on the beach towing away autos that got stuck in the sand and the cost is quite expensive.

The Villa Bed and Breakfast is located at 801 North Peninsula Drive in Daytona Beach, Florida. Their toll free number is: 888.248.7060 and the website is www.thevillabb.com
Or you can email them at: thevillabb@aol.com

Always remember to have fun when traveling, meet new people and talk to everyone!
TRAVELING IN OUR FABULOUS GAY WORLD is written by Donald Pile and Ray Williams, Award-winning, Celebrity travel columnists who write for gay publications from coast to coast (And now legally married). Proud members of the IGLTA. You can email them at gaytravelers@aol.com and visit their website at http://gaytravelersataol.blogspot.com/

Lesbian Tour Promises to Bring Assistance to Communities Across the USA

Building on its successful, 2009 Sweet Caribbean Cruise, lesbian travel company Sweet puts its mission in motion with its Live Sweet Voluntour. The message is simple, volunteering can happen in communities all over the country.

“Have fun, do good,” Shannon Wentworth, Sweet founding partner and CEO, said. “The volunteers on our cruise had such an amazing time doing our community service projects, we thought, why not do that in our own backyards?”

Sweet kicks off its tour in Orlando, Florida, on April 18, with a community run to support Haiti relief efforts and clean water projects all over the world. The 6-kilometer distance represents the average distance women and children all over the world walk each day to secure water.

Full Story from Passport Magazine
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BC: Winter Olympics to Host GLBT Pavilion

I’ve been asked a lot if I'll be attending the Winter Olympics this year - after all, Vancouver and Whistler aren't terribly far from Portland. I answer the same way as I do when asked about attending most big events: "I won't be there while the Olympics are happening, but I was just there." In writing about travel, it's often handier to conduct research ahead of an event, whether it's the upcoming Gay Games (I toured Cologne last summer), this month’s Sydney Mardi Gras (I checked out the sites there in September), or the Olympics.

I road-tripped to B.C. in November, not only to dig up details on what to do in Vancouver and Whistler during the Olympics, but also to find out more about one of North America’s foremost gay parties, WinterPride, also known as Whistler Gay and Lesbian Ski Week. There's a ton going on right now, and never before has an Olympics event had its very own GLBT pavilion (called PRIDE House, gaywhistler.com/pride-house.php), set up inside the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre. Even cooler - the very day following the Olympics closing ceremonies, Whistler’s WinterPride (gaywhistler.com) kicks off, running March 1-8.

I hadn't been to Whistler since the '90s, and I was happy to see plenty of improvements without any loss of its friendliness and ski-town charm. The once slow, heavily trafficked Sea to Sky Highway is still absolutely stunning, but now it's widened and straightened, making the drive far quicker (just be sure to carry snow tires and chains in winter).

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Should Bermuda Go After Gay Tourism?

Promoting Bermuda as a gay-friendly destination is being tipped as a way to boost our ailing tourism industry. Travel insiders say putting out the welcome mat for gays could provide much needed revenue amid lean economic times. Hotel occupancy fell 11 per cent last year - and the downward trend is expected to continue this year.

But anecdotal evidence suggests this winter season has seen an increase in the number of gay visitors. We spoke to a handful of hospitality figures who noted that gays are typically big spenders with high disposable incomes who travel year-round (rather than only on school holidays).

When asked to comment, Carl Paiva, CEO of C-Travel, said the "gay dollar" is big business because most couples have a dual income without children. "Gay travel is a huge market all over the world," he told us. "To make money, it's the direction many cities go in. It would be sure to bring in more tourists and these types of travellers spend a lot of money. "Generally speaking they like to eat out, they enjoy a good nightlife and they tend to stay in some of the best hotels."

Full Story from the BDA Sun
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Las Vegas or San Francisco? Hmmm.....

by Eric Jansen, Out in the Bay Gay Radio Show, San Francisco

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Las Vegas has been marketing heavily to gay and lesbian tourists and its efforts have paid off. LGBT vacationers now spend more hotel nights in Las Vegas than they do in San Francisco, according to market research firm Community Marketing Inc. Well, Sin City has nearly four times more hotel rooms than my City by the Bay. But, still, Las Vegas?!?

I hadn’t been to Vegas in more than a decade, when it felt like Disneyland on steroids and you couldn’t walk down The Strip without being run over by baby strollers. So for my radio program, Out in the Bay – Gay Radio from San Francisco [www.outinthebay.com], I figured I better go find out what draws queer tourists to this desert city that was a Mormon missionary outpost in the 1850s. Why on earth had Las Vegas eclipsed my home town as a gay destination?!? The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority set me up with a 3-day junket, and I must admit I was impressed …

First stop: The Riviera Hotel, where entertainer Frank Marino plays Joan Rivers as he emcees the longest continually-running show on The Strip, the drag revue La Cage. In his opening monologue, before bringing out lip-synching comic impersonators of Cher, Bette Middler, Britney Spears and more, he ripped into celebrities like Paris Hilton: “When she went to jail, my god she was on TV crying every night. Not because she was in jail, but because she’d never spent more than one night in the same bed!”

Marino - who calls himself “the Queen of Vegas” because of La Cage's 24-year run - told me that besides a brief stint as a junior pharmacist while a pre-med student, he’s never had another job. In fact, his drug-store access make-up and application tips from cosmetics salesmen helped liberate his drag persona and start his career.

“I was doing Dianna Ross, my idol,” says Marino. But after meeting an encouraging agent “I realized I’m not black and I can’t sing! So, let’s do somebody white who tells jokes,” and he settled on Joan Rivers, then at the height of her career.

The Riviera took a huge chance on him in 1985. “We came on a six-week contract, and we’re here 24 years later. Gay people prevailed.” Marino says it helps that straight patrons are receptive. “They warm up. I make it very clear that I’m not presenting a lifestyle to them, I’m presenting a form of entertainment.”

Marino says Las Vegas’ courting of queer visitors became especially noticeable about six years ago, with a surge of gay media advertising and casino-hotels putting on more gay-oriented or gay-friendly shows, such as Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity with its infamous “gay kiss” and then some. (Not that most Cirque shows don’t have homoerotic moments, at least, and the form-fitting costumes on all those gymnasts and acrobats – hot!)

“The hotels are looking for the gay dollar,” says Marino, and also “the young dollar – the Paris Hilton dollar is what I call it. The night club crowd, the $300 bottle of vodka. I’d like to know where these young kids are getting that kind of money -- obviously I sleep with people who do me no good!” he quips.

Next stop, the Liberace Museum. (I’d somehow sniffed this out on my very first trip to Vegas some 20 years earlier, and that should’ve given me a big clue about my preferences!)

For those unaware, Liberace was one of the most popular, successful, and ‘gayest’ entertainers of the 20th century (although he wasn’t ‘out’ and once sued a London tabloid for implying he was gay). How big was Liberace? He was the world’s highest-paid pianist in his time. Barbra Streisand opened for him in 1963. He influenced Elvis Presley. His 1950s television show aired on more than 200 U.S. TV stations and in 20 countries, and he broke attendance records at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Gardens and other premier venues from the ‘50s through ‘80s.

The flamboyant Liberace was credited with starting Las Vegas-style glitz, and you can get a heaping helping of it at the Liberace Museum, chock full of the outlandish cars, pianos, costumes and jewelry that he drove, played and wore until mere months before he died of AIDS in 1987. (His family tried to cover up Liberace’s cause of death, but the county coroner ordered an autopsy).

His costumes range from the relatively tame, but outrageous in its time, gold lamé jacket that he first wore onstage in the 1950s to a mink-and-Swarovski crystal number that cost almost $750,000 when it was made for him in 1974. The museum displays about 30 at any one time. There’s one made of pink turkey and chicken feathers – he stepped out of a giant Faberge egg wearing it as a grand entrance for an Easter concert – and another featuring sparkly red, white and blue hot-pants that he wore for a U.S. Bicentennial concert.

Pianos covered in mirrors and rhinestones and a room full of antique pianos he collected are on display along with cars – he especially liked Rolls Royces – that delivered him onstage for performances. Some match his outfits. There’s a rhinestone-covered Rolls and a red-white-and-blue Rolls which, museum curator Tanya Combs informed us in her lovely southern drawl, he had to get special permission from Rolls Royce to alter. There’s also a pink Volks-Royce Liberace used briefly in the 1970s, trying to “feel our pain” about the gas crisis.

Liberace opened the museum in 1979 to fund the Liberace Foundation scholarship program for performing and creative arts students nationwide. [www.Liberace.org]

My assistant and I also had the luck to meet Liberace tribute artist Will Collins, who gave us a private tour of Liberace’s Las Vegas home, now the Las Vegas Villa. [www.LasVegasVilla.com]. The home, in which Liberace commissioned a partial replica of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel painting on the ceiling over his bed, is available for weddings and other private parties. Collins showed us how Liberace’s personal suite could be easily closed off for privacy from the rest of the home, except for an adjoining guest bedroom that opened directly to the Grecian-style sunken whirlpool bath -- large enough for two -- in Liberace’s master suite. How convenient! (Although the Las Vegas Villa has no regular public tours, one might be able to “inspect” the premises, if one were interested in renting the facilities …)

Now the food: Honestly, with images of casino buffets in my head, I hadn’t believed the PR flack when he said dining is now one of Vegas’ main tourist draws. But we were treated to one of the most memorable dinners of my life at miX, an incredible (make that ‘incroyable’) restaurant, perched atop THE hotel at Mandalay Bay, under the direction of French chef Alain Ducasse. It was truly sumptuous, the attentive, friendly staff and glittery view of Las Vegas both complementing the top-notch delights from Ducasse’s kitchen.

Sunday brunch also gave a true Las Vegas moment: Sipping kir royales while leisurely dining on the outdoor patio of Paris hotel’s ground-floor café, Mon Ami Gabi, facing the ornate Bellagio hotel while pedestrians strolled by, I almost felt I was on a European boulevard. Then, right when the hourly Fountains of Bellagio water-show-choreographed-to-music climaxed, jets of water erupting 70 feet into the air, a truck-billboard advertising a boob show passed right in front. Now THAT’s Las Vegas!

I returned from my 3-day jaunt with a changed opinion of Las Vegas. I saw three fun shows, enjoyed the kitschy and informative Liberace Museum, went country-western dancing at Charlie’s, one of Las Vegas’ gay bars far from the strip – and consumed three top-notch meals.

We stayed at Paris, the hotel Harrah’s has chosen to market most aggressively to LGBT travelers. It was nice, but not particularly “gay.” If you want that, the Blue Moon Resort, off The Strip, touts itself as Las Vegas’ only exclusively gay male hotel. [www.bluemoonlv.com]
And if you want to get really off The Strip, several residents told me they love Las Vegas for its nearby outdoor recreation spots, like Mt. Charleston, Lake Mead and Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area [www.redrockcanyonlv.org], 197,000 acres of hiking, biking and sheer geologic beauty.

If you’d like to know more: The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority now has an LGBT-specific page on its website: [VisitLasVegas.com] For the non-commercial perspective, there’s also lots of info on the Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada’s website: [TheCenterLV.com]

Eric Jansen is founding producer and host of Out in the Bay – gay radio from San Francisco. You can hear 6 months worth of past shows – including his Aug. 13 Liberace feature and his June 18 “gay Vegas” feature – on the archives page at www.OutintheBay.com, where you can also sign up for free weekly podcasts and get lots more info. You can hear the program live at 7pm Pacific Time every Thursday online at kalw.org or, in the San Francisco Bay Area, on the airwaves on National Public Radio affiliate KALW, 91.7 FM.