LGBTI tour operator, Toto Tours, has decided to cancel their 16-day package tour to Ethiopia that was schedule for this October, amid concerns for the safety of their clients. The tour itinerary was to include visits to several religious sites.
The Ethiopian Orthodox organization, the Sileste Mihret United Association, alluded to violence.
The chairperson said: ‘Homosexuality is hated as well as being illegal in Ethiopia.
‘If Toto Tours comes to Ethiopia where 97% of Ethiopians surveyed oppose homosexuality, they will be damaged. They could even die.’
Toto Tours canceled Ethiopia trip after death threats
Dan Ware, owner of the company, decided to cancel the tour after consideration of the above statement, and also receiving several other threats of violence should the tour proceed.
According to reports from NBC Chicago, Ware explained: ‘We had descriptions of buried alive, burned alive; I had an ISIS-type video with a guy with a mask on his head, brandishing his sword saying we are going to cut your throat. It was not something to ignore.
Spokeswoman for the US Embassy in Ethiopia, Amanda Jacobsen, stated: ‘Our country specific information for Ethiopia notes the challenges American citizen LGBTI travelers to Ethiopia may face, including the fact that consensual same-sex sexual activity between adults is illegal and punishable by imprisonment.
‘There is no law prohibiting discrimination against LGBTI persons.
‘Ethiopians do not generally identify themselves as LGBTI due to severe societal stigma.’
Tour company still planning trips to countries where being gay is illegal
Ware stated that he hopes to one day still plan a tour to Ethiopia.
However, in the meantime, he’s refunding all clients who were booked on the October departure.
Toto Tours has been serving the LGBT community since 1990.
Their website states the name is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘all-inclusive,’ not in reference to Dorothy’s infamous dog from the Wizard of Oz. The company website still has trips planned to Botswana, Bhutan, and Egypt, all places where same-sex activity is illegal.
On the count of three, about 50 gay couples kissed their partners in the public square of a small town in the Ozark Mountains.
Jay Wilks, the event’s organizer, told the crowd to do it over.
“With more passion this time!” he shouted into the microphone.
Wilks counted down again, and queer and trans people embraced their partners, now with the gusto he demanded. The couples, decked out in so much pride gear that despite the day’s clear weather rainbows abounded, held each other, laughed and, most important, kissed.
It was PDA in the Park, the signature event of early April’s Spring Diversity Weekend in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Eureka is a rural, hilly town of about 2,000 people where locals say over 30 percent of residents are LGBTQ and playfully remark their town has “no straight streets.”
Amber Clark, 36, who has rainbow-dyed hair, drove in for the weekend from Carthage, Missouri, a city of less than 15,000 where you’d be hard-pressed to find 100 queer people making out in the small downtown. She came with what she characterized as “a group of loud, out, queer women.”
“We’re here to be normal for a weekend,” she said, “and to kiss in the park.”
About 2.9 to 3.8 million LGBTQ people live in rural America, and they are increasingly finding that they don’t need to travel to a big city or the coasts to find a place to be themselves and unwind on vacation.
Public imagination renders LGBTQ people as city dwellers, and the dominant narrative says anyone queer or trans living in rural America yearns for escape. There is some truth in that, and for good reason — a recent survey found that Arkansas residents were the least supportive of measures to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, compared to residents of other states. But in Eureka Springs, Wilks, who runs Out in Eureka, an LGBTQ event and information organization, is working to create what he sees as an oasis: a space for LGBTQ people to explore a quaint Southern town while being welcomed exactly as they are.
Other cities and towns in red states have also begun courting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer tourists, as a way of showing their openness and because there’s money to be made. (It’s difficult to determine the economic impact of LGBTQ travelers, but by using population data, the United Nations World Tourism Association estimates they generate more than $50 billion in annual revenue in the U.S.)
Salt Lake City is so dedicated to making sure people know it’s LGBTQ-friendly that it has an explainer on its tourism website that begins, “Yes, Salt Lake IS a great place for the LGBTQ Community.”
Oklahoma City tries to entice LGBTQ tourists with its annual Memorial Day gay rodeo and its small but thriving gayborhood.
Forty miles southwest of Eureka Springs, Fayetteville is on a similar mission, trying to appeal to LGBTQ people in Arkansas and neighboring states, for whom going on vacation to a major city is cost prohibitive — or not at all desirable. People who are rural and queer, or Southern and queer, often feel like they need to give up one of those identities, but city leaders in Fayetteville and Eureka Springs are marketing their towns as a place where visitors and residents alike can have it all, even if the state’s politics are not as progressive.
“Our focus is not to become a San Francisco or a Fort Lauderdale,” Wilks, 51, a former flight attendant, said. “Fire Island is fun,” he added of the gay destination east of New York City, but Wilks wants to remain “true to who Eureka is” — a small town that’s wooded, Southern and super gay.
‘DO THEY REALLY WANT US HERE?’
Fayetteville recently became the first city in Arkansas to join the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, which provides free resources, travel suggestions and safety tips to LGBTQ travelers. The city of about 85,000 has always had a reputation for being progressive, especially within its own state, partly because it’s a college town that votes blue. Since 2014, Fayetteville fought to get an LGBTQ nondiscrimination law on its books, but the state supreme court struck it down in January.
That put Molly Rawn, executive director of Experience Fayetteville, the city’s tourism office, in a bit of a bind. How do you convince LGBTQ people to come to your city, which prides itself on inclusivity, when the state sends a different message?
One way Rawn does it is by being clear in her message to LGBTQ folks: “We want you here,” she said.
Experience Fayetteville takes out ads in gay newspapers in nearby cities and neighboring states touting its attractions and making sure queer and trans folks know they can visit without worry.
“In my experience, you only have to get them here once, and then they come back,” Rawn said. A lifelong Arkansan, she knows she’s fighting an uphill battle — while she loves the state, she acknowledges that it isn’t always a great place to be LGBTQ, with a lack of workplace discrimination protections and scant health care for trans people.
Still, Fayetteville Pride, the biggest gay event of the year, has flourished, drawing visitors from all over the region. The first parade in 2005 drew about 200 attendees; last year, it had over 15,000.
John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, was thrilled when Fayetteville wanted to be promoted by his organization. But some travel writers and tourists wrote to his organization and asked: “Is it really somewhere welcoming?” and “Do they really want us there?”
His answer: “Yes.”
Tanzella said that in recent years, gay tourism has “evolved from a one-size-fits model to all these different niches.” No longer just cruises and bed-and-breakfasts in Provincetown, Massachusetts, LGBTQ tourism has grown as diverse as the community itself. One of those niches is LGBTQ people who live in the South or the Midwest, and aren’t itching for big city life — they just want a place to be themselves.
Still, the impulse to court LGBTQ tourists doesn’t sit well with everyone.
Brody Parrish, a queer, trans and nonbinary Fayetteville resident, said the effort to draw LGBTQ visitors feels like a “misappropriation of resources.”
Parrish believes Northwest Arkansas should focus on allocating resources to its LGBTQ residents by increasing health care access and opening spaces like community drop-in centers were queer and trans people can congregate. Progressive cities like Fayetteville should “really be putting in the work to make it a safe space for everyone to exist here.”
“I would love to meet random LGBT people that come to this area to visit,” Parrish added, but at the same time, “What are you doing to support those people that are in your town, versus trying to bring people from other areas?”
‘IT FEELS LIKE HOME’
Melodye Purdy moved to Eureka Springs about 15 years ago from Memphis, Tennessee. She and her partner chose Eureka mostly because “there is no other place on Earth like it.”
“Being a woman and being a lesbian, it was very important to find a sense of security and safety,” Purdy, 53, said. Some “gay-friendly” places she and her partner considered seemed to cater only to men, while others, like Key West and Provincetown, felt too far from her home in the South. “I did think that I had to leave the South to be a lesbian,” she said. But in Eureka, among the curvy streets, she found home. “I was wrong.”
Eureka’s reputation as an LGBTQ haven isn’t new — at least for Northwest Arkansas residents. It started as a hippie town in the ’70s, and slowly, queer and trans people began moving there. The picturesque town features old saloons with rainbow flags, a haunted hotel, and dozens of other gay-owned shops, restaurants and businesses. Every bar in Eureka, residents like to say, is a gay bar.
Ashley Buckmaster, 36, makes the two-hour drive from her home in Carthage, Missouri, to Eureka Springs a couple times a year. “It’s not scary to go places here,” Buckmaster, who is queer, said at Diversity Weekend. On her visits, she’s met and made lifelong friends. “It feels like home.”
That is exactly why Wilks organizes Diversity Weekend.
“With the cost of travelling to some of the major cities, it’s not something that everyone can just up and do,” he said. “Gay affluence” is a largely a myth, and transgender people often face structural hurdles to finding work and housing. Eureka, Wilks and others hope, can provide an affordable and safe refuge.
‘WE’RE MOVING’
Preparing for his first trip to Eureka Springs a year ago, Ethan Avanzino, 30, said he took out a lot of cash.
“My initial thought of Arkansas was like: ‘Do they take credit cards? Can we barter?’” Avanzino, a gay trans man who grew up on the West Coast and currently lives in Dallas, said. He’s been back four times since then, making the six-to-seven-hour drive with his husband.
On Diversity Weekend this April, he returned to enjoy the festivities and to lead a “Transgender 101” workshop for visitors and community members.
In the town’s public library, people asked Avanzino about they/them pronouns, what it means to be intersex and how best to support the trans people in their lives. Outside the library window, if you looked east, you could see a 66-foot white statue of Jesus called “Christ of the Ozarks” towering over the hills.
In Dallas, Avanzino is out and does media production for a Fortune 500 company; things are pretty good. But there’s something about Eureka that he feels like he can’t get elsewhere. “The inclusivity in the South is what captured me,” he said. “I like to disconnect and be out in the middle of the wilderness and not have cell reception.”
misterb&b (misterbandb.com), the world’s largest short-term rental marketplace dedicated to the Gay community, has launched a Wefunder campaign to give guests, hosts, and the public the opportunity to invest in the company to help launch expansion to hotels.
Homosexuality is illegal in a third of the world, and in 8 countries, it is punishable by death. In the U.S., hate crime incidents increased by 17% from 2016 to 2017, as reported by the FBI’s yearly “Hate Crime Statistics” report, with 20.6% due to sexual-orientation — the largest increase since 9/11.
Not knowing whether a host will be welcoming makes “traveling while gay” for men, women, and gender non-conforming people around the world dangerous – and potentially life-threatening.
At hotels, global gay travelers have been rejected or forced to book separate rooms. The only solutions available to them are third-party, unverified, user-generated reviews.
misterb&b was created to give its community the freedom to book an entire home or rent a private room at the home of a gay or gay-friendly host, and with many located in gay-friendly neighborhoods.
Now, after verticalizing the short term rental industry, misterb&b wants to build equality into the sharing economy and give back to a community that’s been historically economically marginalized, by providing the misterb&b community with the power of part ownership of the company.
The funds, raised through Wefunder, which reached half a million dollars in just 7 days, will be used to provide gay and gay-friendly hotel rooms on the platform.
This new offering curates gay-friendly and welcoming hotels that have been hand-selected by the company’s editorial team, with high quality, exclusive, and verified reviews from LGBTQ travelers. What’s more, misterb&b travelers will be able to discover and connect with others from the misterb&b community staying at their hotel, and to explore the city together – especially because there’s truly safety in numbers.
Crowdfunding provides a way for all individuals (even non-accredited investors) to participate in investment opportunities and reap the benefits.
Matthieu Jost did not want to go the traditional route of investment for this round because he wanted to extend the opportunity first to the misterb&b community, many of whom may not be accredited investors.
“This is a unique opportunity to own a part of misterb&b and help us create a more welcoming world. We are reaching out to the most passionate people in the community: our hosts and our guests, as well as LGBTQ allies,” said Matthieu Jost, founder of misterb&b. “We want to provide the opportunity to financially benefit from our successes – giving back to a community that’s been historically economically marginalized.”
While the sharing economy for short-term rentals has increased, it has been difficult for gay hosts and travelers to feel secure and welcome. misterb&b is a response to strong demand for collaborative tourism in the booming niche of global gay tourism, a $100B market. The gay market is also a premium segment, traveling twice as much as other travelers.
“The online travel industry is already generating massive business worldwide and innovation keeps on thriving in this sector,” said Jean Bourcereau, managing partner at Ventech, a member of misterb&b’s board of directors. “misterb&b’s early commercial traction and tremendous growth over the past two years have proven the huge value of their differentiated offer for both hosts and guests.”
misterb&b is a graduate of 500 Startups and have raised US$13.5M from institutional investors like Project A and Ventech, and from angels like Joel Simkhai (founder of Grindr, sold for $300M USD).The marketplace has310,000 hosts in over 135 countries.
“We have a penchant for companies with strong growth and revenue. Not only does misterb&b have both, but they also have a stellar team,” said Christine Tsai from 500 startups
misterb&b is the world’s largest short-term rental marketplace dedicated to the Gay community. Matthieu co-founded misterb&b after he and his partner booked a room in Barcelona through a third party rental website, and were faced with a homophobic host, which prompted them to cut their trip short. The company was then incubated in Silicon Valley by 500 Startups and raised $13.5 million in venture capital. Today, misterb&b operates out of 3 offices on 3 continents, providing it’s community with access to more than 310,000 properties in 135+ countries. The marketplace is open to everyone across the spectrum of gender & sexual orientation. In the media, misterb&b has been recognized by CNN as being integral to ‘The Gay Travel Revolution’, has received coverage in Forbes, Forbes Travel, New York Business Journal, USA Today, Logo, and was the very first gay “App of the day” on the Apple Store.
The world’s first known flight fully staffed by LGBT+ people is due for take off from London Heathrow Airport in June 2019.
The LGBT+ pilots and cabin crew will head the one-off ‘Pride Flight’ to New York, which is the first American city to host the World Pride event next year, on June 28—the day marking 50 years since the beginning of the Stonewall riots.
Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays teamed up with NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organisation, to bring the Pride celebrations to 38,000 feet above the ground.
They have enlisted Broadway actor and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt star Tituss Burgess to be the master of ceremonies during the flight, which promises to feature on-board entertainment including an on-board DJ, drag queen bingo, a Judy Garland singalong and inter-seat speed dating.
“At a time when we’re seeing the rights of minority groups under threat, it is more important than ever we stand up and make our voices heard,” Burgess said.
“The LGBT+ community has made enormous strides over the last 50 years, and I’m so proud to partner with Virgin Holidays and Virgin Atlantic to mark this occasion in style and celebrate the hard-won freedoms from those who came before us,” he said.
Fred Dixon, president and chief executive of NYC & Company, said the World Pride event is expected to attract more than three million visitors to the Big Apple in 2019, and promises to be “one of the largest LGBTQ events in history.”
“As a City founded on diversity, inclusivity and a welcoming spirit, we’re extremely pleased to host World Pride 2019—the first time the big event will be held in the United States, while at the same time marking the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising,” he added.
Ticket prices start at £380 for the flight-only Economy Light experience, but holiday packages including accommodation at a New York hotel start at £699 per person.
Virgin will donate a portion of ticket sales to The Attitude Magazine Foundation to promote community initiatives in the UK, as well as arrange fundraising and raffle activities on board.
“We take our commitments to diversity and inclusion seriously, but you can rest assured we have a lot of fun along the way,” said Mark Anderson, global LGBT lead for Virgin Group and executive vice president at Virgin Atlantic, promising “a show-stopping, ground- breaking, one-of-a-kind experience.”
Virgin is the latest company announcing special initiatives for the half-century anniversary of the 1969 riots that gave birth to the gay rights movement.
In September, American baseball team the New York Yankees revealed plans to spend $50,000 on scholarships, which will act “as a springboard for young LGBTQ student community members,” to mark the occasion.
The annual Honolulu Pride™ Parade + Festival will commence on the third Saturday of October, and you don’t want to miss it!
Held in honor of Hawaii’s LGBTQ+ community and their allies, this two-week extravaganza is witnessed by over 30,000 spectators and participants with over 25 events. And it gets BIGGER and more festive every year! So, ‘Get OUT THERE!’ and celebrate Hawaii’s largest LGBT event and enjoy fabulous live music, talented drag /burlesque performers, amazing DJs, delicious cuisine, guest speakers, community booths, and MORE!
In honor of our special partnership, Advantage Rent A Car—GayTravel.com’s first Let’s get OUT there! partner—is offering 20% off ALL rentals to our fabulous LGBT friends! So, if you find yourself in need of a way to get around once in Hawaii, take “Advantage” of this sweet deal and experience some major savings! Thanks, Advantage Rent A Car!
Surrender to the laid-back atmosphere of this amazing Waikiki’ hotel! Be inspired by the easy-going mood and artistic vibes set against a vibrant backdrop of tantalizing tropical views. From spirited interiors to mouthwatering cuisine, it’s time to experience life at the Shore! Discover more about this Hawaiian delight and make your reservation today. View property >>
Unveiled in December 2017 as Hawaii’s newest urban resort destination, Alohilani Resort offers a modern and tranquil oasis in the heart of Waikiki that pays homage to Queen Lili‛uokalani and Hawaii’s rich cultural heritage giving definition to the term “aloha chic.” Book your stay now and bask in the glory of this Hawaiian dream tomorrow! View property >>
Experience the splendor of this charming boutique hotel! Located on Waikiki’s Upper West Side, where you will discover an abundance of gourmet restaurants and out-of-this-world shopping, this beach-side paradise is just a quick stroll to the sandy shores of Oahu and the most gorgeous sunset views.
Indulge your senses and awaken your inner adventurer at this spectacular LGBT-friendly hotel, where you will relish the divine relaxation of one-of-a-kind spa treatments and perhaps even take a surfing lesson or two! Reward yourself with a Hawaiian experience as unique as you are, and book your stay today!
Experience some of Oahu’s most popular attractions with GayTravel.com’s second Let’s get OUT there! partner, Aloha Hawaii Tours! Embark on an intimate journey with Aloha Hawaii’s knowledgeable, charismatic tour guides and revel in the unique beauty, culture, and history of Hawaii! Make your reservation today and receive 20% off ALL tours!Learn more >>
Wander Waikiki like never before on your very own two-wheel wonder! Explore fantastic destinations like Magic Island Beach Park, Diamond Head and Kapiolani Park, and of course Waikiki! Truly, the Waikiki Segway is the ultimate in-town adventure. And now—as if it could get any better—save 20% off ALL exciting Segway experiences!
All are welcome to the Diamond Head Lūʻau where they focus on interactive, cultural activities like hula lessons, lei making, weaving, ukulele lessons, tattoo, and more! Conveniently located at the historic Waikiki Aquarium, Diamond Head Lūʻau is just a short walk from most major destinations and hotels on the Waikiki strip. As an added bonus, every ticket includes exclusive access to the aquarium during lūʻau hours!
Join the ‘ohana (family) at Oahu’s only east-side lū’au as you will be taken on a voyage through Polynesia for an unforgettable evening of traditional music, dance, and cuisine. Located at iconic Sea Life Park Hawaii, our lū’au features not only an award-winning production and show but the chance to experience first hand some of the most beloved traditions of the islands through interactive cultural activities including lei making, hula lessons, coconut-headband weaving, ukulele lessons and more! Learn more>>
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) announced today an expanded partnership that includes discounted membership rates for businesses that join both organizations.
Both organizations have a long history that spans the globe, with IGLTA members located in more than 80 countries and conducting business in over 100, and ASTA with members in 125 countries.
“We’re very proud of our partnership with ASTA and excited to leverage this relationship to provide more opportunities to our members,” said John Tanzella, IGLTA President/CEO. “ASTA leads the way in education for travel advisors, a key segment of our membership, and we have the resources they need to promote greater understanding of LGBTQ travel among their membership. By sharing information, all of the travelers using ASTA and IGLTA members will benefit.”
“ASTA is pleased to grow the long-standing relationship with our partner IGLTA. The association aligns with our mission to serve as a trusted resource to the travel community from travel advisors to suppliers, and most importantly, the traveling public. Through this partnership, we hope to help our members better serve the LGBTQ traveler and look forward to showcasing that expertise at the upcoming ASTA Global Convention in Washington, D.C. with IGLTA’s presence, ” said Zane Kerby, ASTA’s President and CEO.
IGLTA travel advisor members will receive a discount off ASTA membership. Incentives are available for suppliers as well. All ASTA members will receive an equivalent discount off of IGLTA membership rates with additional discounts available to travel advisors. The organizations also are planning webinars that will share industry knowledge on topics such as ethics for travel advisors and best practices for LGBTQ travel sales.
Meet IGLTA at the ASTA Global Convention, Table #T10, 21-23 August in Washington, D.C. to learn more about this new membership program and becoming a part of the leading global organization dedicated to advancing LGBTQ travel. IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella will participate in the 22 August General Session panel “Tourism and Human Rights.”
For more information on the membership programs, please email [email protected] or Pamela Bonin, Director of Membership for ASTA at [email protected].
About IGLTA: The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association is the global leader in advancing LGBTQ travel and a proud Affiliate Member of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. IGLTA’s mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ travelers and advance LGBTQ tourism globally by demonstrating its significant social and economic impact. IGLTA membership includes LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly accommodations, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media in more than 80 countries. For more information: iglta.org and follow us on Facebook at IGLTABusiness or IGLTA, Twitter and Instagram @iglta.
About ASTA: ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors) members represent 80 percent of all travel sold in the United States through the travel agency distribution channel. Together with hundreds of internationally based members, it is the leading global advocate for travel advisors, the travel industry and the traveling public. ASTA’s history of travel industry advocacy traces back to its founding in 1931 when it launched with the mission to facilitate the business of selling travel through effective representation, shared knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism. For more information, visit ASTA.org.
New legislation introduced on Tuesday by Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-N.Y.) seeks to improve the screening process for transgender passengers, who report a high level of invasive practices at security checkpoints.
The bill, known as the Screening With Dignity Act, would require the Transportation Security Administration to develop procedures to screen transgender passengers that take into consideration their particular needs.
The legislation would require that the TSA begin conducting in-person training of all officers on the screening procedures for transgender passengers and whenever possible with the participation of transgender rights groups.
Rice said in a statement she introduced the legislation because the transgender community “deserves to be treated with fairness and respect in all aspects of life, including travel.
“Maintaining high safety standards and screening all passengers with dignity should not be mutually exclusive,” Rice said. “It is clear that TSA needs to reassess its technological capabilities and improve its screening procedures to be more inclusive and ensure that no American is ever humiliated or discriminated against while going through security.”
Rice announced in a statement Monday she’d introduce legislation and a spokesperson confirmed the bill was introduced Tuesday.
In the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 43 percent of respondents reported having at least one problem related to being transgender in the past year.
One respondent is quoted as saying a TSA agent referred to him as “it” when he went through screening following gender reassignment surgery, then — after repeatedly being told he wasn’t a man — had to argue with TSA that a male employee needed to do the pat down after being informed a woman would be more appropriate.
Another respondent was quoted as saying TSA subjected them to a longer screening as TSA searched their bag, pulled out intimate items and called friends to look and laugh. The respondent reported having “to remove my wig to prove I was the same person” and being “humiliated.”
The Screening With Dignity Act would require TSA to conduct two studies within 180 days. The first would evaluate the cost and feasibility of retrofitting advanced imaging technology screening equipment, or developing new equipment, that would operate in a gender-neutral manner. The second study would assess the impact TSA’s screening has on self-identified transgender and gender-nonconforming passengers compared to other travelers.
Further, the bill would codify vital privacy and anti-discrimination rules for travelers on the basis of numerous characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
The legislation has 15 original co-sponsors and support from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, the Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Transgender Equality.
Harper Jean Tobin, director of policy for the National Center for Transgender Equality, said the bill is a crucial step in alleviating the challenges transgender passengers face in TSA screenings.
“The TSA is broken, and it has been broken for all travelers for a long time,” Tobin said. “For many transgender people, every vacation or business trip begins with invasive body scans and humiliating pat-downs. No more empty promises – the TSA needs to make real changes to both the ineffective machines that cause so many false alarms and their training and procedures.”
According to the Mexican news site ContraMuro.com and Forbes Mexico, a 248-room LGBT resort featuring five bars and three restaurants will open next year on or near (this is unclear) Cuba’s resort island Cayo Guillermo.
The “luxurious five-star” hotel is reportedly the project of MGM Mutha Hotels, which currently operates about two dozen resorts in Europe and India, and already has two locations in Cuba, including one on Cayo Guillermo.
According to the first report linked above, further details on the project will be revealed once Cuba’s National Assembly votes to reform the country’s constitution, which would include the legalization of same-sex marriage. The first draft of the reform was approved last week.
For the third year, Greater Fort Lauderdale will host the longest-running transgender conference in the United States, the Southern Comfort Transgender Conference, on Sept. 6-8, 2018. The informational forum will welcome hundreds of attendees for a series of workshops, seminars, and networking events hosted at the Riverside Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Conference activities include legal and medical presentations, as well as informative sessions on family, relationships, sexuality and much more. During the conference, participants will have the chance to experience Greater Fort Lauderdale’s stunning natural scenery, exciting nightlife, and exquisite dining.
“We are proud to welcome back the Southern Comfort Transgender Conference to our sunny shores,” said Richard Gray, Vice President of LGBT+ for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Greater Fort Lauderdale is committed to inclusion and equality, and we are continuously working to reach the transgender community to show them we are a destination that is diverse, welcoming, authentic and accepting.”
On Thursday, Sept. 6, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., The South Florida Transgender Medical Consortium, a collaborative partner with the Southern Comfort Transgender Conference, will host an in-depth professionals’ training program geared towards medical and mental health practitioners, and nursing and medical students, as well as their support staff. This part of the conference is free, and onsite registration for this day will be available. The remaining two days of the conference require registration, which can be done at sccfla.org.
On Friday, Sept. 7, Marie Trottier, policy advisor at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will also speak to conference attendees. She recently helped develop a video focused on helping transgender travelers through the security screening process and letting them know what to expect.
On Saturday, Sept. 8, the keynote speaker will be Gia Gunn, a transgender activist, entertainer and TV personality. She was a contestant on Season 6 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She will be speaking about pressing issues addressing the transgender community.
“We are looking forward to returning to Greater Fort Lauderdale – from the hotels to the cuisine to the nightlife, our attendees have been wowed every step of the way,” said Lexi Dee, President of Southern Comfort Transgender Conference. “Our partnership with the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau continues to grow each year as we work together to support our common interests and provide invaluable resources for the transgender community.”
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau has been welcoming LGBT+ travelers since 1996 when it became the first Convention & Visitors Bureau with a dedicated LGBT+ marketing department. Since then, Greater Fort Lauderdale has continued to break down barriers and facilitate visibility for the LGBT+ community at large, acting as a pioneer in the hospitality industry and ensuring that the destination is inclusive and welcoming with a diverse, safe and open community for all travelers.
On January 9, 2017, the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a new global marketing and advertising campaign featuring transgender models, making it the world’s first destination to use transgender models in mainstream destination advertising. The campaign, which also features straight, gay and lesbian models, follows the destination’s long and storied history in LGBTQ marketing.
Most recently, Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County opened the area’s first LGBT+ Visitor Center in Wilton Manors, Broward County’s gay-centric district with the destination’s largest concentration of gay residents and businesses. It is located at 2300 NE 7th Avenue in Wilton Manors.
Greater Fort Lauderdale is also home to one of the largest Pride Centers in the country, the world’s first AIDS museum, the global headquarters of the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association, and the Stonewall Museum, one of the only permanent spaces in the U.S. devoted to exhibitions relating to LGBT+ history and culture.
Greater Fort Lauderdale welcomes an estimated 1.5 million LGBT+ visitors who spend $1.5 billion annually. For more information on LGBT+ travel in Greater Fort Lauderdale, visit sunny.org/tlgb and www.sunny.org/lgbt. To see how welcoming Greater Fort Lauderdale is, click here.
For more information on the Southern Comfort Transgender Conference, please visit sccfla.org. The conference is produced and run by volunteers.
About Greater Fort Lauderdale
From the seagrass to the sawgrass, Greater Fort Lauderdale, located in Broward County, boasts more than 34,000 lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, luxury spa resorts, and Superior Small Lodgings reflecting a “beach chic” vibe. Visitors enjoy 23 miles of Blue Wave certified beaches, discover 300+ miles of inland waterways that run from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Everglades, dine at thousands of restaurants and eateries, get immersed in a thriving arts and culture scene and indulge in top shopping.
For more information, contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 22-SUNNY or visit www.sunny.org. Get social and engage with Greater Fort Lauderdale on social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest: @visitlauderdale.
Brace yourselves: Pride season is less than three months away.
The unofficial pride month in the US is June, in recognition of the Stonewall Riots. The Riots – in response to a police raid on the Stonewall Inn, a queer bar in New York City on 29 June 1969 – were a turning point in the history of sexual equality.
As such many major cities holding their LGBTI festivities across this month – many on the same weekend. Which means now is the perfect time to decide between them…and get your travel plans sorted!
Here are five such extravaganzas for your diary, taking place in blockbuster US destinations all accessible from Heathrow Airport near London, the largest in Europe.
Head to the Go-Heathrow search portal to hunt for the best flight deals to your destination of choice.
The largest city in California hosts one of the most popular Prides in the country. With most of the action taking place in the gayborhood of West Hollywood (WeHo), LA Pride is yet to announce its headliners. But past performers include the Boy Is Mine singer Brandy and Confident singer Demi Lovato, who filmed the video for Really Don’t Care at LA Pride in 2013.
The annual LA Pride Parade will take place on Sunday 10 June while the LA Pride Festival will take place on Saturday 9 June and Sunday 10 June in WeHo. Tickets for the LA Pride Festival will be on sale soon.
A three-and-a-half-hour drive from Miami is the fabulous, tropical island city of Florida Keys. It’s one of America’s LGBTI-friendliest cities, not least because seminal gay writer Tennessee Williams used to live here.
Pride provides the perfect opportunity to explore the rest of the Keys destinations, such as Islamorada. They’re all easily accessible via the Overseas Highway, a 113-mile mostly-bridged road connecting each island like a threading needle.
The capital of Tennessee is also the music capital of America. As such, performers in recent years have included En Vogue and the openly bisexual Vanessa Carlton. As well as the Main Stage entertainment, be sure to check out the Equality Walk and the Drag Stage.
In time for Pride, British Airways is launching a new, non-stop route. It will fly five times a week from Heathrow Airport in London to Nashville. It will be the first direct route to the city from Europe!
This year’s theme for one of America’s biggest LGBTI fests is ‘defiantly different’. And it’s a description that could be used for the star performer at NYC Pride’s Pride Island party, too. Australian starlet Kylie Minogue will take to the stage on Sunday 24 June.
The Wow singer has conquered the world since blasting onto the music scene in the late 80s. However, mainstream success in America has mostly evaded her. That said, the gay icon has a small but dedicated fanbase in the states. Thus, she is a fabulous, curveball inclusion on this year’s lineup.