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At one time the only refuges for an "out" vacation, gay and lesbian resort towns have come into their own in the last couple of decades. Not only are the long-established ones maturing and becoming more sophisticated in their offerings, a fresh crop of new ones are popping up all around the world.
While some parts of Asia are a little bit backward when it comes to tolerating, let along embracing, alternative lifestyles, there are a few cities that are leading the pack with gusto and are happy to be gay. Gay-friendly towns with big GLBT nightlife scenes, gay cruise and tour operators are emerging. |
If you’ve never been to a Pride Parade, it should definitely be on your bucket list; right up there with climbing Kilimanjaro or swimming with dolphins. From giant floats to dancing divas and pumping music to colourful displays of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuality, the parades take over their respective cities in a dazzling spectacle of love and celebration.
Enjoy the Pride Parades around the world, they are festive and simply amazing, bring out your rainbow flag and swing it in the breeze as you walk down the avenue in a show of respect, love and solidarity. |
Traveling the globe in search of the next best party or a crop of sultry partner(s) is an essential element to every individuals youth.
Here are some of our suggestions for the best places you can visit. Some do, naturally, have lots of beautiful people.
Some are bustling metropolises; Some are incredible party places. But all of them will guarantee a great experience.
And if you do go solo, then all of them will afford you a great chance of finding someone as interesting as the cities they inhabit.
Here are some of our suggestions for the best places you can visit. Some do, naturally, have lots of beautiful people.
Some are bustling metropolises; Some are incredible party places. But all of them will guarantee a great experience.
And if you do go solo, then all of them will afford you a great chance of finding someone as interesting as the cities they inhabit.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Touted as LGBT capital of Europe, estimates put of gays here at nearly 20%. There are more than 100 bars and nightclubs, gay hotels, bookshops, sport clubs, choirs and support services. Amsterdam hosts the only water-borne gay-pride parade in the world, known as the Canal Pride, it is a procession of up to a hundred decorated boats that make their way down the city’s waterways. Plenty of cultural events, museums and art galleries offer special gay themes. Also reading sessions, concerts and debates |
New York City, USA
The birthplace of the modern Gay Rights movement, the Big Apple is the world’s most famous city and its annual Pride Parade is one of the biggest and most diverse on the planet. The parade makes its way down Fifth Avenue, passes by the Stonewall Inn—where gay history changed forever in 1969 with the famous Stonewall riots—and culminates at Greenwich Village. Celebrations start a week before the parade at Central Park’s Summerstage on the corner of 72nd Street and Fifth Avenue. |
Toronto, Canada
An international destination known around the world for its electrifying street events, shops, bars and services but mostly for the many different types of people that attend it streets. The best thing about queer nightlife in Toronto is that it stretches far beyond the Village. This year's Pride Parade theme is "Celebrate & Demonstrate." Kick off from the intersection of Church and Bloor streets, along Bloor Street going all the way down to Gerrard Street, where the parade turns its final stretch, ending at Church Street. |
Berlin, Germany
Berlin’s legendary liberalism has spawned one of the world’s biggest LGBT scenes. Openly gay mayor Klaus Wowereit outed himself with ‘I’m gay, and that’s a good thing’. The Pride Parade in Berlin is known as Christopher Street Day (CSD), The parade is held at the end of month-long celebrations. Over 300 events scheduled to take place including Smart Art: Art Auction for Man-O-Meter, CSD official opening party, Queer Movie Tour, ComedyBus, Respect Gaymes and much more. |
London, England
Chosen as World Pride Parade destination, celebrations will be even bigger, better and louder. The venue is Trafalgar Square, from where celebrations will begin and finally conclude in Soho, the beating heart of London’s gay community. Stages will be set up, food and drink will flow and music will blare over loudspeakers as Pride Week comes to a frenzied end. For more than 100 years Brighton has been a gay haven. There’s even a ‘Gay’s the Word’ walking tour. |
San Francisco, USA
Rainbow flags adorn apartment windows and bar entrances in many San Francisco neighbourhoods, with nearly every bar and business in the Castro catering to gays and lesbians. Pride Week is capped by the often-outrageous ‘Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Pride Parade’ – where half a million people party in the street on the last Sunday in June. It is held on Sunday morning of the Festival and is probably the largest LGBT gathering in US. Also in June is the long-running queer film festival. |
Sydney, Australia
Here gay is the new straight. LGBT culture forms vocal, vital, organised and colourful part of Sydney’s social fabric. Host of the 2002 Gay Games, Sydney also plays host to Australia’s biggest annual tourist event the Mardi Gras. The joy-filled hedonism-meets-political-protest parade is attended by more than half a million people. The program includes Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Sports, Film, Community, Youth and Social events. Beach life also reigns here, so boys should buff up before hitting the sand. |
Shanghai, China
Your best bet for going gay in China. Its gay scene is undergoing a cosmopolitan growth spurt. Shanghai recently hosted its first gay pride week and published its first gay magazine last year, and same-sex nightclubs are getting hotter by the minute. The festival featured events such as an art exhibition and film screenings. The city's de facto gay central is at the French Concession, where top nightspots Eddy’s, Shanghai Studio, and Transit Lounge makes up the so-called “Gay Triangle.” |
Bangkok, Thailand
Asia’s undisputed queer capital, with too many places to count, anything-goes local attitude, and some pretty lookers too. Sharing the title with is the ultra-liberal Pattaya, with beautiful beaches packed with beautiful bodies, a sultry night scene, and a yearly gay pride parade. Pattaya makes headlines for hosting the glam Miss International Queen, a beauty pageant for transsexuals & transvestites staged by extravaganza cabaret Tiffany's Show. |
Manila, Philippines
It will be hard not to have a good time here, being full of gorgeous gay-friendly beaches and welcoming gay bars. In the capital Manila, gay revelers flock to the intersection of Maria Orosa Street and Julio Street in Malate, which is lined with happening gay nightspots. Baguio, Boracay, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu are all gay-friendly cities and the region of Puerto Galera is known for being a prime hottie-spotting area. |
Nepal
The very beautiful Nepal, is now being touted as the next big gay travel destination in Asia, with the tourism board toying with the idea of promoting same-sex weddings on Everest and elephant safaris for gays. Actually Nepal's first gay public marriage took place in 2006 and is making great strides in the recognition of gay rights. Infact on cards is its firs LGBTI Sports festival in Kathmandu this year. |
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