Want to support a state that still respects your right to marry?

It has been legal for same-sex couples to marry in the Bay State since 2004. In July, Massachusetts repealed an arcane law that had prohibited out-of-state couples from getting married there. Unfortunately, Proposition 8, which passed November 4, states that only a marriage between a man and a woman will be recognized in California, so you shouldn’t expect any legal rights when you return home after marrying in Massachusetts or Connecticut, which legalized gay marriage in October. But the press secretary for California Attorney General Jerry Brown, Christine Gasparac, told the Bay Area Reporter that the question of whether California would have to recognize out-of-state marriages would ultimately be an issue that the courts would likely decide.

Tourism officials in Massachusetts are embracing the state’s long-standing gay-friendly political climate and you should be hearing more about that soon. The state plans a promotional campaign to attract more LGBT visitors.

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Lidana latest operator to collapse after XL

Yet another specialist operator has collapsed following the unexpected demise of XL Leisure and its subsidiary XL Airways, leaving 200 holidaymakers stranded.

Gay operator Lidana – which traded as Respect Holidays and Wildwind Holidays – was forced to declare bankruptcy over the weekend after Atol called in a bond of more then £108,000.

Its failure comes on the heels of XL’s unexpected collapse two weeks ago, which left some 80,000 travellers stuck abroad and has heightened concerns over the state of the industry.

Around 46,000 XL passengers have now been repatriated, and while the numbers abroad with Lidana are far lower, Travel Mole reports that only half had flown out on Atol-protected packages.

An additional 1,000 or so holidaymakers have now had their forward bookings cancelled, prompting Andrew Roberts of Amro Worldwide to advise all travellers to ensure they are covered.

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Would you vacation in a “so gay” spot?

American gays and lesbians represent about 10 percent of the travel industry, and surveys have shown that the community travels more, stays longer and spends more while on vacation (in general) than their heterosexual counterparts. From a tourism standpoint alone, it makes sense to highlight locations that might appeal to such a lucrative group of travelers. If you Google “gay travel”, you’ll find numerous web sites direct you to travel agencies that do just that.

Miami Beach has designated gay beaches, and I see how cities like Atlanta, with its thriving gay and lesbian community, would be considered friendly to gay travelers. But what makes a place “so gay”? Is it activities targeted to the homosexual population, the number of gays and lesbians living there, or the general attitude toward homosexuals among the population?

If you are gay or lesbian, would you seek a “so gay” locale? Does that designation mean anything or would such a label impact your travel plans?
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Amsterdam hosts one of the largest Gay Pride of Europe:

The year 2009 witnessed a major event in the history of gay society in this part of the world. The wedded gay couples here are now allowed to adopt children and bring them up like any man and woman tied in knots. Are you planning to escape to this part of the world with your partner? Then let us discuss some of the essentials of this dream gay destination.

The Gay Clubs, Gay Hotels and Gay Bars in Amsterdam

Being a place of utmost pleasure for the gays, Amsterdam hosts more than hundred gay bars scattered all over the central districts. A copy of the Bent Guide having a regional map will provide you with the perfect aid in locating the top gay destinations of Amsterdam. The revolving bar in April, the huge two storied bars Soho and Habibi and the bar for Arabic gays are some of the most spectacular spots of gay delights.

The Famous Gay Pride of Amsterdam

Amsterdam hosts one of the largest Gay Prides of Europe. If you want to feel the thrill of Amsterdam Pride, spend the last week of August in Amsterdam. This wonderful event is featured by exhilarating water parades on the gaudy boats adorned by unique decors. Hundreds of these magnificent boats with beautifully dressed participants navigate through the Amstel and Prinsengracht rivers. The experience is truly awesome. It is a must watch for all gays at least once in their lifetime!

Gays march with Pride in Indian cities:

In a first of its kind in India, a Gay Pride parade was held in three Indian cities on Sunday. Bangalore, Delhi and Kolkata saw hundreds of people embracing their identity and proudly proclaiming their sexuality through a celebration of colour and music.

Over 500 sexual minorities marched five km in Bangalore, asking for rights to exist and to repeal section 377 of the constitution, which criminalizes sexual minorities. Many of the people, most of them from the lesbian and gay community, as well as transgender, came out most proudly with a host of supporters looking on.

For transgender like Chandni, the march was an opportunity to tell the world and her family, that she was proud of her sexual identity.

Chandni struggled for over 15 years with her identity till she changed her gender. A job with an NGO that works with transgenders helped her professionally and financially. She set up home in one of Bangalore’s best-known residential areas.

With an adopted daughter to raise, Chandni says she wants to make sure others like her get a chance at life.

”Nobody accepted me. My family asked me to leave. There were a lot of expectations as I was their only son but I decided I would only be happy if I face my fear. Now I have a daughter and I am happy and here to create awareness about people like me,” said chandani, participant.

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