NEW GAY TRAVEL GUIDE

BREAKING NEWS! Pregnant Transgender Man Thomas Beatie Just Gave Birth to Baby Girl!

michael snell — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:44:53 GMT

The transgender man who made national news earlier this year when he revealed he was pregnant has given birth to a healthy baby girl.

Thomas Beatie, 34, became pregnant through artificial insemination. The Oregon man is resting and healthy. The birth was natural.

He was registered under a fictitious name and separated from other birthing mothers. - He actually gave birth Sunday, but news hit the Internet just hours ago.

Beatie, who was born a woman, kept his female sex organs.

"I actually opted not to do anything to my reproductive organs because I wanted to have a child one day," he told Oprah Winfrey earlier this year. "I see pregnancy as a process and it doesn't define who I am."

Gay Comedian does US of ANT - LOGO TV and ANT Tackle Small Town Gay Living

michael snell — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:43:06 GMT

DO SMALL TOWNS WITH NO GAYS SCARE YOU??

It scared gay comedian ANT too! However, some interesting things were discovered along his journey.

U.S. of ANT follows the often outrageous and always comical writer/comedian as he travels across America in search of gay life.

From East to West and all points in between, ANT captures the diversity of the LGBT community and the personal stories of small town gay America through the eyes of both the gay and straight residents. His journey across the country reaffirms that spirit and humor are alive and well in the gay heartland.

It wasn't easy but he found a few gay people in Montana, and a few more in Mississippi. Then he went to North Carolina and he found some gay couples raising kids. Alabama, Texas, and the not-so-popular gay spots of Florida, ANT crawls through them all!

I was born a little city town boy and was 18 I ran the hell away and never looked back. I am big city guy. I love lots of options and freedom of choices in a big city. But hey, everyone likes something different. Some want the quiet gay life. To each his own.

ANT did 7 episodes for LOGO tv and you can rent the DVD online today!

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San Francisco Gay Pride Parade LIVE

michael snell — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:53:51 GMT

Can't be in a big city for Pride? Get your Pride on online!

The San Francisco Pride Parade will broadcast LIVE Sunday 29th @ 10am!

(they didn't tell us if that Eastern time? or Pacific.....sorry)

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Police Ready For Possible Attacks For Budapest Gay Pride

michael snell — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:03:52 GMT

Budapest police are preparing for organised attacks by Hungary's far right during the upcoming gay pride parade. Far-right leaders Gyorgy Budahazy and Laszlo Toroczkai have published a statement on the internet, inviting "Hungarian patriots" to travel to Budapest on July 5 to "protect Hungary's honour" from the international gay community.

    Police are reluctant to say how many far-right protesters they are expecting to disrupt the event and decline to give any details of police preparations for security reasons.

    But police are expecting harsher and more frequent attacks than during last year's gay pride march when a dozen people, including a German citizen, were beaten in various parts of the city by skinheads and eight attackers were arrested, said the paper.

    Only one anti-gay demonstration has been officially registered. Rendszervalto Forum, a far-right group, will follow up the gay pride parade by marching the same route after the event.

    On June 11, the Budapest police chief published an online statement banning this year's gay pride event, claiming that it would obstruct main traffic arteries in central Budapest. Following protests by numerous civil organisations, the Budapest mayor and liberal politicians, he withdrew the ban the following day.

VISIT GAY BUDAPEST

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Taschen's BIG PENIS BOOK and BIG BOOK OF BREASTS

michael snell — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:01:37 GMT

You are probably asking yourself, "What do these books have to do with travel??"

Well, they feature breasts and penis from around the world and are must have summer reads!

(Though they are a bit heavy and BIG to tote to the beach....)

Shipping any day! THE BIG PENIS BOOK - 7 pounds of penis

12" x 12" hardcover for $60 with 400 pages!

After the bust out success of The Big Book of Breasts TASCHEN presents the perfect companion, the fascinating phallus illustrated throughout history.

In The Big Penis Book we explore the centuries-old fascination with the large phallus, a fascination common to men and women alike. This hefty book is profusely illustrated with over 400 historic photos of spectacular male endowments, including rare photos of the legendary John Holmes. The majority of the photographs are from the 1970s, when the sexual revolution first freed photographers to depict the male entirely nude. Photographers include Bob Mizer of Athletic Model Guild, David Hurles of Old Reliable, Colt, Falcon, Sierra Domino, Third World, and Champion Studios, with each of these iconic photographers interviewed or profiled, along with information about each of their models.

See a video of the editor Dian Hanson

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Top Israeli Court Refuses to Ban Gay Pride Parade Event

michael snell — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:58:00 GMT

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM-

Israel’s Supreme Court has rejected a petition to ban this year’s Jerusalem Gay Pride parade, an annual event that has been the focus of violent controversy in the Holy City in the past.

The petition, submitted by a group of hardline Jewish activists, called the parade scheduled for Thursday a “provocation.”

Jerusalem municipality had also objected to the event, with city spokesman Gidi Schmerling warning that it “harms social relations.”

But the court said in its ruling that the organizers of the event declared that they did not intend the parade to be provocative.

In 2005 an ultra-orthodox Jew stabbed three participants and was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison.

The following year the venue was switched to a sports stadium following violent protests by ultra-orthodox Jews and rightwing opponents who consider the event “a profanity” of the Holy City.

Last year about 2,500 gays and activists marched down King David Street despite protests by thousands of people.

Jerusalem Open House, the gay rights group organizing the event, said the parade would put Jerusalem and Israel “to the true test of democracy and civil rights.”

“Though we expect the struggle to be tough, we will not let the threats of violence silence us or challenge Israeli democracy,” the group said in a statement.

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Halifax Gets Gayer and Gayer - Rosie and R Family Docks There Next Month

michael snell — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:27:38 GMT

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA -

Perched on the edge of the Atlantic, the beautiful port city of Halifax promises to welcome gays with opens arms and get your gay travel adventure off on the right foot! We love that when cities do that!

Much of the downtown and historic waterfront of this seaside city has been preserved and lovingly restored, creating a wonderful array of art galleries, museums, intriguing shops, sidewalk cafés, restaurants, lively pubs, and stirring nightlife. So it's no surprise that Harper's Bazaar magazine rated Halifax as one of North America's hippest towns. For gay travel and adventure with groove, this is your city.

When Rosie O’Donnell and the R FAMILY Cruise first came to the city in 2005, Halifax received international recognition as a gay friendly travel destination. O’Donnell strongly praised Canada for its openness and leadership in gay rights.

Halifax’s reputation for gay friendly travel will be reaffirmed with the return of R Family Vacations’ cruise with Rosie O’Donnell and guests this July 13-20. O’Donnell, along with more than 2000 gays, lesbians, their families and friends will disembark from the Norwegian Dawn in Halifax’s historic port to enjoy the welcoming gay travel destination.

The timing of the 2008 cruise coincides with preparations for Halifax Pride Festival, Atlantic Canada’s biggest Pride Festival, which launches the week after Rosie and crew visit Halifax.

"Everyone at R Family Vacations is excited that our cruise is returning to Halifax again this summer,” says Gregg Kaminsky, founding partner of R Family Vacations.

“It is a port that we've known we wanted to visit again.” Kaminsky says that Halifax is a perfect gay family travel destination because of the incredible variety of excursions and sightseeing opportunities.

“In our five years, Halifax is certainly one of the most welcoming ports we've ever experienced,” he says.

Visit Gay Canada HALIFAX and Gay Halifax and Rainbow Halifax for more Gay Halifax information!

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What is GAY PRIDE Anyway?

michael snell — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 16:43:00 GMT

June is GAY PRIDE month around the world!

It is traditionally celebrated the last Sunday of June, in most cities. Pride celebrations stemmed from the Stonewall Riots in New York City.

The Stonewall Riots were a series of violent conflicts between LGBT people and New York City police officers that began during a 28 June 1969 police raid, and lasted several days. They were centered at the Stonewall Inn and are widely recognized as the catalyst for the modern-day movement towards LGBT rights.

Gay pride or LGBT pride refers to a world wide movement and philosophy asserting that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

Heterosexual people have sometimes asked me, "Why do you have to have a pride day? Why are you so proud? We don't have straight pride day?" - It's about not feeling ashamed of who we are. It's about showing people our numbers, that we are in fact EVERYWHERE. We come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
Gay pride is about appreciating yourself and other members of our community for being different. GAY PRIDE means accepting yourself and celebrating who you are.

Gay pride advocates work for equal "rights and benefits" for LGBT people. The movement has three main premises:

- that people should be proud of their sexual orientation and gender identity,

- that sexual diversity is a gift,

- and that sexual orientation and gender identity are inherent and cannot be intentionally altered.

Someone at Cedar Rapids Pride said, "Often the hardest person to come out to is yourself. GAY PRIDE doesn't just happen. It is hard work to overcome the profound effects of abusive religion and cultural abandonment that afflict all minorities. Self-esteem is the greatest achievement that you can reach in life. Your sense of self-worth is so valuable, that you work hard all of your life to find and express it. To reach your goal of self-esteem and happiness requires knowledge and positive experience."

Jed Ryan from Lick The Web says, "So, what is "Gay Pride?" It may not be so important that we find a universal definition. What's more important is that all of us feel positively and lovingly about being who we are-- in our case, definitely including but not limited to being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered-- at least for one moment in our lives and hopefully more. And that can be in June or any other month, at the Parade or any other location, or whether you're 17 or 70. Ultimately, the real and most important meaning of "pride" is in within each one of us."

Marches celebrating Pride (pride parades) are celebrated worldwide, and every year, the number of gay people and their supporters grows bigger and bigger! We're here, we're queer, you'd better get used to it!

Michael Snell

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ATTENTION! Gay Couples 18-28 Planning To Marry This Summer....MTV WANTS YOU!

michael snell — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:30:51 GMT

In the last few months, there have been thousands of articles cranked out by the media around the topic of gay weddings, especially in California. - So why not make a reality show about it?!

Enter MTV. From Hawaii to California, Gay Destination weddings are becoming incredibly popular. Are you Gay and going somewhere far from home to tie the knot?

MTV wants to hear from you if your heading to California this summer to tie the knot! Make your wedding even more extraordinary by having MTV document your journey.

TRUE LIFE: I’m Having a Destination Wedding

True Life employs first-person narrative storytelling to provide a window into the lives of young Americans. The show will focus on the growing trend of young people choosing to get married thousands of miles from home. - Especially for gay people who may be taking off to California or somewhere else, to be legally recognized for their partnership.

"We're looking to follow young people who are getting married this July or August that appear to be between the ages of 18 and 28. Email married2@mtvstaff.com and tell us your story. Please be sure to include your name, age, location, date of the wedding, phone number, and a photo."

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GLAMPING and the Clayoquot Wildness Resort

michael snell — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:37:39 GMT

GLAMPING? What is it?? I just found out!

While doing some research I came across Clayoquot Wilderness Resort and their blog. They are located in the fragile Clayoquot Sound Biosphere reserve near the seaside village of Tofino, British Columbia.

In the decade since opening, the resort has grown its 'soft adventure and soft beds' program into one of the most exclusive and unique vacation offerings in the world.

Clayoquot Wilderness Resort promises discriminating travellers an ultra-luxurious eco-destination, four-star accommodations, otherworldly coastal cuisine, super natural adventure, and some of the most breathtakingly beautiful wilderness frontier left on the planet.

Glamping- It’s on everyone’s lips. So why not provide a definition, especially from us, the original glamping destination outside of Africa. We’ve been glamping for over eight years, so as a glamping authority here is our definition.

Glamping is:
• Stepping into the middle of a rainforest after a fresh rain
• Feeding eagles from the side of your kayak
• Horseback riding in the morning and deep sea fishing in the afternoon
• Enough fresh air to make you dizzy
• Able to push your comfort levels
• Dodging black bears
• Five star Adirondack amenities
• A hot stone massage on the side of a rushing river
• Able to remind you of times gone by
• A place where your family can join you
• Unlimited choice- when you want to dine, when you want to play, when you want to relax
• Socializing

Glamping is not:
• Your typical 5 star experience
• A chocolate on your pillow
• Just a place to put your head at night
• A minibar
• Dodging traffic
• A suit and tie for dinner
• Where you play video games
• Dinner and a movie
• Stuffiness
• Solitary

I hope this helps in explaining what ‘true’ glamping is, from the mouths of those that started the trend.

Visit their site and blog and discover Clayoquot Wildness!

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Eric and Todd Dammann - Hottie Twin Gay Guys in Seattle with Voices, Guitars and a Webcam!

michael snell — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 09:40:47 GMT

Ah, Seattle!

The 5 best things about Seattle:

1) Seattle is gorgeous.

2) The proximity to a lot of outdoor activities.

3) The people in general are more polite than the rest of the country.

4) The culture is great. Great restaurants, and great arts.

5) The Dammann Twins - Eric and Todd.
They sing, play guitar, and are both gay!

YouTube is an amazing tool that wasn't around when I was a kid! Now anyone with a webcam and some talent have amazing opportunities and in fact, can be discovered through the Internet.

The guys covered Brittney's GIMME MORE and it has been viewed by nearly half a million people!

At 21, these two Seattle boys are finishing college, packing their bags and heading to sunny California!

I caught up with the guys this week, in between finals!

"Moving to California is definitely next on our priority list. After we finish up some college work here in Seattle, we will be doing all we can to set up home base somewhere near Los Angeles. With all of the opportunities for performing and promotion down there, it is something we are looking forward to.

We want our fans to know that we are working hard to write and record some great music that is going to be very symbolic of who we are as artists. So many people have reached out to us and given us words of support and encouragement. We appreciate it all so much and everyday are more and more surprised and flattered by the messages and letters our listeners are sending. It is our ultimate hope to someday tour and see all these fans in person!

We don't have a record deal yet. This project is more of a demo than a full fledged album. The record we are working on is about 75% complete. We still have to finish writing and recording a few songs to make sure we have material that is not only work we're proud of, but a collection that is as diverse and well rounded. After that, we will spend some time mastering the tracks and making sure all of the kinks are worked out.

It's our first time really doing something like this by ourselves. Everything from the song writing, recording, and mixing, to the vocals and instrumentals are being done by us alone. It's a big task to undertake but this is something we've always wanted to do. Music is our life, and we couldn't imagine living without it!"

The duo was recently interviewed by Out magazine / PopNography ,
What inspired you to start putting videos up on YouTube?
Eric: YouTube really has become one of the cultural artifacts of this technology dominated/cyber space century. We love to sing and perform, so we figured, why not put it up on a site that would allow all our family and friends see what we're up to? I love the idea of being able to have a digital platform where you can share your creative abilities with anyone who cares to watch.
Do you think part of the appeal is that a lot of people have twin fantasies?
Todd: I honestly laugh at the whole twin fantasy idea. I guess as a twin, it's hard for me to look past my own relationship with Eric when I think about it. But I guess if that makes people listen, then I'm cool with it! If they come into it with that fantasy, I hope they'll discover the talent underneath the fantasy!

The guys were asked recently if they have tried out for American Idol before?

"We tried out for the last season of American Idol. It was an interesting experience to say the least. Out of the 10,000 contestants trying out in Seattle, we made it to the top 100. We were obviously thrilled, but after continuing on, it became increasingly obvious that this was hardly a singing competition. Just like all "reality" shows, there's very little real anything on the show."

Don't worry guys -

you are well on your way!

Stop by their MySpace page and listen to their music!

Eric has his own page and so does Todd as well.

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It's Official ! Gay Couples Can Get Married in California!

michael snell — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:00:07 GMT

According to the Associated Press - Dozens of gay couples were married Monday night after California became the second state to allow same-sex nuptials, offering a preview of the euphoria and anger to come as gay couples from across the nation head west to wed.

At least five county clerks around the state extended their hours to honor specific couples or to mark the historic occasion, and many couples exchanged vows on the spot. The May 15 California Supreme Court order overturning bans on same-sex marriage became final at 5:01 p.m.

"I never thought I'd see this," Michael Groark, 61, said at a San Francisco sports bar, watching on television as Mayor Gavin Newsom officiated the first same-sex wedding in the city. Newsom helped launch the series of lawsuits that led the court to strike down California's one-man-one-woman marriage laws.

A big rush to the altar was expected today, when most counties planned to start issuing marriage licenses to gay couples. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of couples nationwide are expected to seize the opportunity to make their unions official in the eyes of the law.

Groups that oppose same-sex marriage have pursued several legal avenues to stop the weddings, including asking the California Supreme Court to postpone its decision until after the November initiative. The high court denied that request.

In Sonoma County, Melanie Phoenix, 47, and Terry Robinson, 48, were first in line to get a license. Together for almost 26 years, they plan to wed in August.

"It's a historic occasion," Phoenix said. "I never believed it was really possible until Gavin Newsom took the first step in 2004."

Unlike Massachusetts, which legalized gay marriage in 2004, California has no residency requirement for marriage licenses, and that is expected to draw a great number of out-of-state couples. The turnout could also be boosted by New York state's recent announcement that it will recognize gay marriages performed in other jurisdictions. Gov. David A. Paterson has directed all state agencies to begin to revise their policies and regulations to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions, like Massachusetts, California and Canada.

A UCLA study issued last week estimated that half of California's more than 100,000 same-sex couples will get married over the next three years, and 68,000 more out-of-state couples will travel here to exchange vows.

GOOD TIMES WE ARE LIVING IN!

CELEBRATE!

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Valeriya...The Russian Madonna?

michael snell — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:42:27 GMT

She's had 17 number one hits in her homeland, sold 100 million records but the so-called 'Russian Madonna' has remained unknown in the UK and the US – until now. Enter Valeriya.

Andy McSmith from the Independent UK says, "She is A slim, blonde singer with a vulnerable look and an involved history may be about to burst upon us, as Russia's biggest cultural export since Shostakovich. Or she may just be another artist trying to break into the Western music market and not making it, the victim of a cultural prejudice that says that countries where they don't speak English can't do rock'n'roll."

Adam Lake from PinkNews, UK interviewed her a few weeks ago...

Valeriya desperately needs to get herself a fan base. With comparisons to the likes of Madonna and Kylie, does she envisage become a gay icon?

By the look on her face she doesn’t seem too keen on the idea:

"I am original, I have a different style and a different voice."

"I don’t like the term gay icon, I just want to be an icon!

"I wouldn’t mind if they like me, why not. I think that the gay people are very creative, they feel everything very well and have good taste."

She recently worked with Bee Gee's Robin Gibb on a remake of "Stayin Alive."

Next stop? The US?

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3 Islanders sue Lesbos!

michael snell — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:23:33 GMT

ATHENS, Greece - Three islanders from Lesbos told a court Tuesday that gay women insult their home‘s identity by calling themselves lesbians.
Also known as Mytilini, Lesbos was the home of the ancient poet Sappho, who praised love among women. It is a major travel destination for gay women.
A spokeswoman for the group accused the plaintiffs of homophobia.
"What will they do next, sue the United Nations? They, too, use the term lesbian," Vlami said.
Lawyers from both sides are to submit written arguments on Wednesday, and the court is expected to issue its decision in the next six months.

Are they serious?!

According to PINK NEWS-

"This would be hilariously funny if it wasn't so pathetic - and so scary.

"Since it's a universally legally recognised term, their case will likely be thrown out, but with the New Democracy regime, one never knows how much pandering will go on."

A survey published on December 2006 showed that 16% of Greeks surveyed support same-sex marriage and 11% recognise same-sex couple's right to adopt.

These figures are considerably below the 27-member European Union average of 44% and 33% respectively and place Greece in the lowest ranks of the European Union along with Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus.

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Florent Restaurant New York City to Close This Month

michael snell — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:26:12 GMT

SAD BUT TRUE!

The legendary gay 24/7 Florent Restaurant in New York Citys meat packing disctrict will close it's doors on Gay Pride June 29th!

High-end boutiques, high-end hotels, and the soon-to-be unveiled high-end high-line park have forced Florent’s rent up from $5,000 to $45,000 a month. They are currently holding auctions on EBAY of
Flo-morabilia, with proceeds benefiting the staff.

The bistro's goodbye is in the final weeks; each week was dedicated to one of the Kubler-Ross stages of grief. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.

Each theme week has special dishes, decor and performances by familiar faces like burlesque star Dirty Martini, all leading up to a big sad send-off on June 29th, Gay Pride Day.

The quirky French bistro – housed in an old diner that was a speakeasy in the ‘20s and a favorite greasy spoon for longshoremen and meatpackers in the ‘50s – has become even more cherished in recent years as a corrective to the fratastic Bridge and Tunnel scene dominating the neighborhood.

Owner Morellet, however, refuses to be maudlin about Florent’s fate. “I used to be the light in the middle of the darkness, and now I suppose I am the dark spot in the middle of the light,” he told me. “Of course I have prayed that maybe I would be saved at the last minute by a collapse of the world economy. And when it became real? Yes, I drove out to my lake house in New Jersey and wept for three days straight. But,” he quickly added, “only three days!”

READ MORE IN NY MAG!

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Jay Leno Shows Support for Gay Marriage at Abbey in West Hollywood

michael snell — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:48:24 GMT

Talk show host Jay Leno showed up at the symbolic mass commitment ceremony at the Abbey in West Hollywood Wednesday night to show his support for gay marriage.

Leno - who several times has been criticized for being insensitive towards LGBT people on his late night talk show - said he didn't understand why people are concerned about gays being allowed to marry.

Daily News' Greg Hernandez
interviewed Leno at the event:

Greg: What do you think about gay marriage in California and all that's happened in the last few weeks?
Jay: "Well, I come from Massachusetts and they have it there and the sky didn't fall in, everyone seems to be fine. It's one of those things where it's a matter of time, you sort of ease into it and you see what happens."

Greg: Do you have any friends who you want to see married?
Jay: Oh, I have a lot of gay friends. We have a couple of gay couples at 'The Tonight Show' who've been together 7,8,9 years.

"But you know what's so funny to me, it's how people miss out on the economic benefits just in terms of catering and flowers and planning. The services that come with it. I see all the companies that have benefited from gay travel. If you look at it, gay people have probably the most disposable income of any group and the businesses that cater to them do very well. So it just seems like common sense. Gas is four bucks a gallon. For me to worry about what Larry and Bob are doing seems sort of ridiculous.

Greg: Were we too hard on you over the whole Ryan Phillippe thing? (Leno was blasted for asking the actor to give him his "gayest look" while guesting. He later apologized for any offense)
Jay: "That seemed a little over the top to me, I have to admit. Only because it was not my intention. When I've had straight actors on who've played sexy roles, I'll say, 'Give me your sexiest face.' So, when I said it to Ryan, we had said he's a kid from a Baptist community who was now playing a gay part and I said, 'OK, now give me your gayest look' knowing he wouldn't do it. You laugh and OK fine. Obviously it upset some people. Hey look, I'm an entertainer, sometimes you annoy people, you make people mad. Alright, that happens. But, I really think there are bigger issues than that. That's a classic case where you're not talking about morality or lifestyle, you're just talking about silly stuff."

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BREAKING NEWS - Clinton Concedes to Obama

michael snell — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 08:50:58 GMT

Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will end her presidential bid Saturday in Washington, D.C., surrounded by supporters, some of whom are devasted and angry that her campaign to become the nation's first woman presidential nominee has ended.

The former first lady is expected to thank supporters, formally endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and urge Democrats to unite behind him in an effort to defeat presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain in November.

It's a dramatic end to one of the longest, most closely fought primary races in recent history, and one that is unbelievable to many of Clinton's most ardent supporters.

READ MORE AT ABC News !

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Powerhouse Books - NYC Go-Go

michael snell — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:45:34 GMT

Slava Mogutin, the notorious Russian dissident-turned-art star and creator of the critically acclaimed Lost Boys (powerHouse Books, 2006), returns with his second monograph, NYC Go-Go, a tribute to the golden age of New York City nightlife.

The once glittering club world had all but disappeared by the time Mogutin arrived in America in the mid-1990s. Under Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s controversial “Quality of Life” campaign, downtown clubs paid the ultimate price: owners were branded community pariahs and paid crippling fines for alleged disruptiveness, while others were prosecuted for criminal acts; many legendary night spots were wiped off the map altogether.

In his new book, Mogutin documents the ever-shrinking downtown gay scene, taking us inside a few remaining joints like the Cock, Boysroom, and Mr. Black. NYC Go-Go is a raunchy journey into the underworld inhabited by hustlers, go-go boys and their admirers.

Some of them are “rough trade”—thugs with criminal pasts, busted for prostitution, drugs or armed assaults—while others are “gay for pay,” married with kids and hustling for their families. NYC Go-Go captures the spirit of a scene under fire with Mogutin’s trademark raw, in-your face style.

The Best of Gay New York and New Gay Travel Guide

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Gay Czech Republic Steps Up with First Pride Parade

michael snell — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:40:37 GMT

For the first time, the city of Brno in the Czech Republic (South Moravia - about 2 - 2.5 hours from Prague by car) organizes an LGBTIQ pride event – the parade and an accompanying programme. June 28th!

The Queer parade in Brno supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and all queer people's rights, visibility and self-identity.

"Come and join us to show your queer pride and promote tolerance, respect and colourful society!"

Although the Registered Partnership Act was adopted in 2006, by which the Czech Republic has joined countries promoting respect for sexual minorities, there are still many problems that call for general attention. We want to contribute to the public discussion on issues ranging from the rights of same-sex parents, through the absence of equal rights for individual adoptions for registered partners, bullying of LGBTIQ youth, the invisibility of LGBTIQ seniors, to severe violations of transgender persons amounting to breaches of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Indeed, the Czech Republic still lags behind some Western European states that have gone much further to ease barriers for same-sex couples. There is low public support for allowing gay and lesbian couples to adopt children, homophobia lingers, and there is a growing concern that not enough public resources are devoted to addressing the growth in HIV infections, particularly among homosexual men.

Nevertheless, gay organizations from across the region continue to look to the Czech example. Its law on registered partnerships makes the country a uniquely liberal outpost in post-communist Central Europe. Julius Kolenic, head of Slovakia’s Inakost (Otherness), says one of his organization’s biggest concerns is the “the homophobic speech of some [Slovak] politicians.” Regarding same-sex couples’ rights, Kolenic laments that “once again the Czech Republic is ahead of us.”

At the end of the year, the country’s two largest cities, Prague and Brno, will host their ninth gay and lesbian film festival, Mezipatra (Mezzanines).

And the country is still seen as an oasis for gay activists in neighboring Slovakia and Poland. According to an international poll conducted in the fall of 2005, the Czech gay server 004.cz reported, only 39 percent of Slovaks agreed with registered partnership for same-sex couples. In the same poll, 36 percent supported the idea in Hungary and 42 percent in Poland.

My partner and I just got back from Prague - And I can tell you, it was a wonderful trip and we can not wait to go back! In the coming weeks, we will feature several stories on Gay Prague and the Czech Republic.

Going to Prague? Visit Prague Saints
The best gay run travel services for all your questions and needs!

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Gay Paris - Not So Friendly

michael snell — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:32:39 GMT

I have heard from straight people that they found Paris to be unfriendly. But we went with an open mind. Afterall, being gay is like being part of a brotherhood. Usually, the gay community is very welcoming, very friendly, and very eager to meet tourists, wherever we go.

Not really so in Paris. I expected rudeness and unfriendliness in the non-gay areas. But even at the gay clubs and restaurants, people were just not friendly, overall. No one was rude to us - they just didn't want to be bothered. - Where in comparison, we had just been in Prague for a week, and the men there were so welcoming and friendly. Even if they spoke no English, they wanted to meet us and tried to communicate.

We had heard about a sauna in Paris called SUN CITY. 62 bd Sebastopol. We were told it was one of the best in Paris! And it was a Gorgeous place! Huge! 3 floors decorated in a neo-Indian motif. Very clean. Spent 2.5 hours here and would NEVER go back. The Parisian gays are just NOT friendly. And all they want to do is stand and pose and not be touched! We had a couple cocktails, relaxed in the hot tub and beautiful swimming pool, and no one wanted to talk or even make eye contact. A lot of people here sleeping by the pool and 20 people watching DIE HARD in the video room! Where is the porn?! Plus they charged us 20 Euro / $30 each to get in.

The place was busy too - about 100 people maybe 125. It was 6pm on a Saturday. But no one was nice. Save your money ! - It's funny, the same owners own a place around the corner - Le Depot, 10 rue aux Ours . It's a bar / nightclub and the biggest crusing bar with private cabins in Paris. 1400 square meters of corridors and labyrinths. Much cruisier. More friendly there, but still some attitude to deal with. The boys can be beautiful but walk for hours! Admission was about 8 euro / $12. And the DJ, a girl by the name of Benji de la house, rocked the place! You go late, like aftr 10 pm and they stay open till about 8 am. - Overall, still more fun and better deal than Sun City. Much more fun at least.

We did not make it to L'impact, 18, rue Greneta, but was told that was a great place to go next time.

Parisians maintain a rather blase, even discreet, attitude about personal issues, from sexuality to religion to politics. Paris does have one distinctly gay neighborhood, the eminently walkable and unabashedly romantic Marais, on the right bank of the Seine. If you're expecting a robust gay scene complete with storefronts draped in rainbow flags and mammoth queer discos pulsing to state-of-the-art sound systems, you may be a little disappointed. The gay offerings here are decidedly low-keyed although generally quite cozy and inviting.

Marais gay bars tend to be guy-oriented and a tad cliquey, but the cafes, most of which have pleasant seating along the sidewalks, draw gay men, lesbians, and plenty of heteros. With few exceptions, the Marais is not especially known for memorable dining, although the neighborhood's gayest sector does buzz with lively restaurants - just be prepared to be more impressed, in most cases, with the decor and people-watching than with the food. - And what I would call pricey - from an American perspective. Most places charged $10-$14 for a glass of cheap wine, and $15 - $20 for a sandwich - which was bland.

I am so glad I got see Paris - it is a beautiful city. But I would not run back there.

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