TOPS: Gay Travel Book Finds European City With The Most “Top” Gay Men!

The Gay Travel Guide For Tops And Bottoms by Drew Blancs is set to be released on Amazon.com today. The tongue in cheek look at gay travel is based upon the sexual performance of the locals. The research is done by  two promiscuous gay male travelers (one exclusively top gay male and one exclusively bottom gay male).

The idea was set by Drew Blancs who became tired of the complaints of his top and bottom friends of their lack of finding compatible sex partners. " I wrote this book so that gay men can set out and find the city that fits them best, pun intended" says Drew Blancs, a frequent Los Angeles blogger and now first time author.

The book took over five years to complete due to the travel schedule of the two featured travellers. As the two narrators visit each country, they rate the local top or bottom  sexual performance on a 5 point rating system. At the completion of its scandalous journey, the book reveals which countries have the best tops and the best bottoms gay men. The Gay Travel Guide For Tops And Bottoms ($13.99) is available in eBook and paperback on Amazon with a general release scheduled for July 1, 2011.

As Gay Businesses Close, is The Castro Going Straight?

There's an old saying in San Francisco: Market Street is straight, until it reaches the Castro. Cartographically true, it refers to the city's famously gay mecca. But these days, there are concerns that the neighborhood is becoming slightly less bent.


A Different Light Bookstore, which specialized in gay and lesbian literature for 26 years, shut last weekend -- the latest in a series of closings of longtime businesses that were gay-owned and operated or catered to gay clientele. The neighborhood is littered with empty storefronts.

Amid this gloom, however, there is one burst of excitement that has crowds lining up, drawing visitors from throughout the Bay Area and beyond: Sunday brunch at Lime on Market. With "bottomless Mimosas," the restaurant and club has become so popular that it can take weeks to get a reservation. Patrons regularly defy stanchions and block sidewalks as they wait to cram inside where techno pop music blares at rock concert decibels.

Full Story at the Bay Citizen!

Las Vegas Hotel Bans Trans Woman for Life, then issues 'Apology and Lifts Ban' for Using Bathroom

A transgender woman was reportedly "banned for life" from the TAG approved Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas after going there for a drink and using the women's bathroom.

HotelChatter reports:
Here’s what happened. Stephanie goes to the Cosmo in the early hours of the morning – about 2.30am. She sits down at the Vesper Bar, in the lobby of the hotel, and orders drinks. Her drinks are good, the barman is pleasant, all is well. And then, at 4am, she realizes she needs the bathroom.

She goes, as is her wont, to the women’s restroom, just across from the bar. It’s empty, as you’d expect at 4am on a Monday. Not a single person in there. She powders her nose and exits the restroom, only to be met by two security guards who immediately say “Come with us” and start marching her out of the hotel. As they walk her, they demand to see her ID (to establish her legal gender). It’s in her purse, and she fumbles for it as she’s being forcibly marched through the lobby of the hotel. As she fumbles, one of the men tells her to hurry up. She is scared, and starts apologizing, saying she’s not trying to cause trouble, but it’s hard to walk and look for her ID at the same time.

They march her outside the hotel (the bathroom is near the main entrance) and she finds her ID. One of the guards checks it, establishes that her legal gender is male, and pulls out a yellow form from his pocket and starts writing in her details to the blank spaces. As he does so, he says, “Are you working?” Way to add insult to injury. She doesn’t say “Well as it happens, yes I am working, at the conference, douchebag.” She says no.

OUTscene The Seattle Lesbian Exclusive (INTER-view): Kelli Carpenter Finds Love on Both Land and Sea

Kelli with Business Partner, Gregg

Kelli Carpenter has found her niche. With four kids, a new relationship and an ever-expanding itinerary full of R Family Vacations, Carpenter is right where she is meant to be.

Sarah Toce spoke exclusively with the ex-Nickelodeon exec. about her children with Rosie O'Donnell, their new life, and her land and sea adventures with the company she has poured her heart and soul into for all the world to enjoy.

Click HERE for the FULL Interview!

Le Parc Suite Hotel Offers Guests a "Suite" Incentive to Donate to Japan Relief

Le Parc Suite Hotel in West Hollywood is proud to support relief for the crisis situation in Japan by offering an incredible five-night stay to one lucky guest who donates at least $10 to the American Red Cross.

As Japan is devastated by an earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear crisis, Le Parc, an all-suite boutique hotel in West Hollywood, invites guests to donate to the relief efforts of the American Red Cross.

Any guest who donates at least $10 for Japan will then be entered to win a five-night "Helping Hands, Happy Hearts" vacation package, partially sponsored by The Grove, Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Ridewell Worldwide Transportation.

Boystown Gets Block Party Brand!

Thanks to Larry Block, resident of West Hollywood since 1987 and owner of the Block Party clothing store in Boystown, the area of Santa Monica Boulevard between Robertson and La Cienega is officially a brand Now, according to WeHo.com.

T-shirts with the Boystown logo are now in stock at the shop in the old A Different Light bookstore building.

TRAVEL: Puerto Vallarta: A great gay spring getaway!

Wet and Wild cruise staff member Abraham Zavala
takes a quick break while the boat is near Los Arcos.
 Photo: Ed Walsh

Gay Puerto Vallarta is showing no signs of slowing down. More and more tours, hotels, bars, and restaurants are actively courting the gay community. That trend is backed by a recent survey. A 2010 poll by San Francisco-based Community Marketing, a gay marketing firm, found that Puerto Vallarta is the most popular gay foreign destination in the Americas, narrowly beating Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal, Details The Bay Area Reporter.

The gay scene in Puerto Vallarta is on the south side of the city in an area known as Zona Romantica, or the Romantic Zone. Some also call it the Old Town, but that is a misnomer since downtown Puerto Vallarta is much older.

Click Here For the FULL Article!

Barcelona's Mayor Unveils Gay Monument!

Barcelona Mayor Jordi Hereu unveiled a large triangle marble in Ciudadela Park dedicated to the LGBT community who has been persecuted throughout history.

"This is a necessary monument to remember the discrimination, repression, humiliation, persecution, attacks, and assassinations that the LGTB community suffered for centuries and very especially during the Franco dictatorship," said Antonio Guirado, secretary general of the Catalonian LGBT umbrella group Gay Lesbian Coordinator.

"We are honored as citizens to see recognized the persecution suffered, and above all the still-unmet challenge for social normalization."

Full Story from Passport Magazine

Andaz West Hollywood's RH Restaurant Announces Pierre Gornes as the New 'Sexy' Chef!

Chef Pierre Gornes

Andaz West Hollywood is pleased to announce Pierre Gornes as the new Executive Chef at its RH Restaurant. Bidding adieu to Chef Sebastien Archambault , who is departing to take on a new venture, Gornes will helm the kitchen delivering on the restaurants market-to-table model and continuing to serve guests some of the best French food in Los Angeles. It is with this news that RH wishes Chef Archambault much success and a fond farewell, reports SFGate.com.

Chef Sebastien Archambault

Gornes, who has served as sous chef at RH since 2009, is a natural fit for the principal position having a profound understanding of RH's dedication to dynamic and authentic cuisine as well as unyielding commitment to fulfilling the expectations of every RH guest. Like Archambault, Gornes was born in the Southwest of France and has worked in highly acclaimed kitchens including the Hotel Bel Air and two Michelin starred restaurants, Les Ambassadeurs at the Hotel de Crillion in Paris and the Alain Ducasse bistro Aux Lyonnais in Paris.

Gay Travel in Brazil's Gayest!

A few years after its debut in Florianopolis, Brazil,  "The Week" - the largest gay friendly club in town - shows they set up shop to make sure everyone's gonna have a blast while they're there.

Florianopolis is famously one of the gayest cities in Brazil, and every year you can find an increasing number of gay travelers from all over the world (specially Americans and Europeans) in town celebrating carnival. It's just bad that the "The Week," with clubs also in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro - is only open during summer.

The club located across the famous "Lagoa da Conceicao" (Conceicao Lagoon) can comfortably accommodate up to 3000 people every night, and for this year's Carnival celebration, the club owner - Andre Almada - made sure the line-up was filled with international DJs who rock the gay scene.

Full Story from GayTravel.com

Should Boystown Get Official City Designation?

From someone who has been to Boystown recently, WOW! 98% men, Mostly Gay, all gorgeous with all eyes on any 'Fresh Meat". A Great experience.

Should Boystown get an official designation, along the lines of Koreatown or Little Ethiopia? That’s what Larry Block thinks and tells WestHollywood.com.

TRAVEL: Cuba’s gay oasis?

SANTA CLARA, CUBA—Crowds of gay and trans people wait outside a ruined hotel with trees growing out the windows. Inside, a disco beat pounds. The throng files in and starts dancing, while a couple of lesbians kiss passionately in the middle of the courtyard. This is not a trendy nightclub in Havana—we’re in a small city in the central province of Villa Clara, an area that many tourists pass through without a second glance. The club is El Mejunje (which means, “The Mixture”) and they’ve been having discos and drag shows here for 20 years, reports the Toronto Star.

El Mejunje was founded by Ramón Silverio, an impoverished local kid who loved it when the travelling circus came to town. Silverio worked in education and theatre, and dreamed of a place where artists, rock musicians, drag performers and intellectuals of all kinds could gather and find acceptance.

LIST: World's Most Liveable City Is...

Looking for a new place to hang your hat? Consider Vancouver, which tops the list of the world’s most liveable cities for the fifth year running, Reuters reports. The annual survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit ranks cities on stability, health care, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure, and Vancouver scored 98%.




Other leaders:
Melbourne, Australia

Vienna, Austria

Toronto, Canada

Calgary, Canada

Do Canada and Australia continue to dominate? What's the top US city (which holds a sort-of dismal 29th place)? Find out here.

TRAVEL: What transgender travelers should know about the new TSA policies

By alley hector
Via QPDX:

The National Center for Transgender Equality just issued a helpful guide to the new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) policies that everyone is so upset about. It’s a good read. (And if you want a disturbing take on what folks are worrying about Brit joke rag The Squib has a story about a masturbating body scanner operator…)

NCTE opposes the routine use of full-body scanners and the new invasive patdown procedures. We have and will continue to work with the TSA to minimize privacy intrusions and ensure respectful treatment of transgender travelers.

We want all of our members and friends to have safe and uneventful travel this season; here are some ideas and information to help you do that.

First, it is important that you KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. Even if TSA personnel are not always familiar with travelers’ rights, such as the right to decline a full-body scan, you should know them. You may need to politely inform the officer of your rights and choices.

Second, calmly and clearly expressing your choices is very important. This makes it easier for the TSA agents to understand what your needs are and may help you get through the checkpoint more quickly.

What’s new
Airports are increasingly using full-body scanning technology to screen passengers, as a primary or secondary method of screening. These machines reveal intimate contours of travelers’ bodies. [For a fuller understanding of whole body imaging and transgender people, see NCTE's resource.]

You have the right to choose whether or not to be screened in this way. If you choose not to be screened with a full-body scan, which shows TSA personnel an image of your unclothed body, you will patted down instead.

New, more invasive, patdown procedures will be used for passengers who decline a full-body image scan, set off a metal detector, or are randomly selected for additional screening. They are not to be used on travelers under the age of 13.

The new procedures are much more intrusive than in the past. They involve TSA officers using their palms and fingers to touch underneath and between breasts, inside thighs, and in the groin area and buttocks. While the TSA has said these new procedures are intended to improve safety, many travelers find the techniques extremely uncomfortable and inappropriately intrusive.

The new policy presents transgender travelers with a difficult choice between invasive touching and a scan that reveals the intimate contours of the body. Unless and until NCTE and our allies can get these unreasonable policies fixed, NCTE encourages transgender travelers to think through the available options and make their own decisions about which procedure feels least uncomfortable and less unsafe.

Travel Tips
Travelers should keep the following points in mind:
Both travelers and TSA personnel have the right to be treated with dignity, discretion and respect. If you encounter any issues, politely ask to speak to a supervisor immediately. Remain polite. Do not raise your voice or threaten TSA staff; this only results in additional delays.

You have the right to opt out of a full-body scan in favor of a manual patdown. It is your choice.

You have the right to choose whether a pat down is conducted in the public screening area or in a private area, and, if in a private area, whether to be accompanied by a travel companion.

You have the right to have manual search procedures performed by an officer who is of the same gender as the gender you are currently presenting yourself as. This does not depend on the gender listed on your ID, or on any other factor. If TSA officials are unsure who should pat you down, ask to speak to a supervisor and calmly insist on the appropriate officer.

You should not be subjected to additional screening or inquiry because of any discrepancy between a gender marker on an ID and your appearance. As long as your ID has a recognizable picture of you on it, with your legal name and birth date, it should not cause any problem.

Foreign objects under clothing such as binding, packing or prosthetic devices may show up as unknown or unusual images on a body scan or patdown, which may lead TSA personnel to do additional screening. This does not mean that you cannot fly with these items, only they may lead to further screening. Be prepared to give a brief description of what they are or check them in your luggage so that you can minimize scrutiny and delays.

Items containing liquid, gel or powder substances will trigger additional security screenings and therefore we strongly recommend that you pack these items in your checked luggage or leave them at home.

Wigs or hairpieces may require additional screening if they are bulky or not form-fitting. If you have gone through a metal detector or body scanner and TSA personnel want to do additional screening of a wig or hairpiece, you may request that a patdown be limited to your hairpiece or that you be permitted to pat the area down yourself and have your hands swiped for chemical residue.

If you are carrying medically prescribed items, such as syringes for hormone injections or vaginal dilators, it is very helpful to have proof of the medical necessity of the item(s). Ask your doctor for a letter stating that he or she has prescribed the item or keep medical devices in their pharmacy packaging that includes a prescription label. Be prepared to briefly explain the purpose of the item if asked.

If you encounter a problem
Calmly state the problem and ask the TSA to take the appropriate action. If TSA personnel are unaware of your rights, there are sometimes placards with general information, such as the right to refuse to enter a full-body scanner, in the screening area. You can politely refer TSA screeners to them.

We strongly encourage you not to get in a confrontation with TSA personnel if at all possible. Threatening the TSA or other passengers or acting violently can result in very serious criminal charges. However, this does not mean that you cannot assert your rights, just that you should do so as calmly and positively as possible.

If you encounter a problem, you have the right to file a complaint about any incident with the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. We encourage you to do this immediately after the incident, or as soon as you are able, and to also let NCTE know of the problem. This helps both us and the TSA know of the problem and hopefully resolve and prevent future problems.

Changing the policies
NCTE is working hard and has spent considerable time and resources with the TSA to address the concerns of transgender travelers, and we will continue to do so. Realistically, the policies outlined above are not going to change because they are invasive to transgender passengers but because they are intrusive to everyone subjected to them. In this instance, joining our voices more generally with other Americans may be the most effective way to bring about change.

If you would like to take action as well, here are some suggestions:
Complete a feedback form on the TSA’s website: https://contact.tsa.dhs.gov/talktotsa/talktotsa.aspx as part of their “Talk to TSA” program. This sends your feedback directly to the agency.

Join together with other Americans who are protesting this policy, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, privacy groups and others. You can visit the ACLU’s Take Action and Tell Us Your Story pages:

Contact your members of Congress and urge them to take action. You can reach both your Representative and your Senators by calling the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.

If you decide to participate in other actions, such as the “Opt Out” day proposed for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, consider carefully any additional challenges or risks that might be present for transgender people when making your decision.

TRAVEL: Airline Changes Coach to 'Cuddle Class'

It’s not “economy” seating—it’s “cuddle class.” That’s the genius innovation cooked up by Air New Zealand, which is fitting its Boeing 777s with new “Skycouches,” rows of three regular seats that can convert into something vaguely resembling a bed. (Aol has a picture here.) Buy out the row—paying full price for two seats and half price for the third—and you should have room for two adults and a small child to sprawl out and nap.

“The days of sitting in economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone,” Air New Zealand’s CEO boasted. "Just keep your clothes on, thanks." The seats won’t be formally in place until April, but are scheduled to make an inaugural flight in December.

(0UTscene) HOTEL SPONSOR: Experience the Royality of San Francisco's Pacific Heights Crown!

by MK Scott

As Ryan and I traveled to San Francisco for the NLGJA National Convention, I certainly couldn't do it without the FAB People at the Queen Anne Hotel in Pacific Heights. How fitting 2 Gay Guys from Seattle staying at a Hotel with same name as Seattle's most classiest neighborhood.  

Wrap yourself in the splendid comforts of this finely detailed Victorian hotel and spacious guest rooms and suites, and delight in the inviting amenities including complimentary daily breakfast in our elegant Salon. Perfect for business and pleasure, the hotel offers impressive event space for weddings, celebrations, meetings, conferences and corporate retreats.

TRAVEL: Wanna buy a Greek Island?

What's a country with no money and thousands of islands to do? Greece is trying to pay off some of its massive debt by selling or offering long-term leases on some of its 6,000 islands, only 227 of which are inhabited, the Guardian reports. The country, which received a $135 billion bailout from the European Union last month, has also put its rail and water systems up for sale.

"I am sad—selling off your islands or areas that belong to the people of Greece should be used as the last resort," said the director of one property agency. "But the first thing is to develop the economy and attract foreign domestic investment to create the necessary infrastructure. The point is to get money."

TRAVEL: Now You Can Live in the Gayest place on earth!

For the child in all of us who happens to have a very adult-size bank account, Walt Disney Co. will offer vacation homes in its Florida theme park. The company, which unveiled the proposed 980-acre Golden Oak development today, is gambling on a rebounding luxury real estate market in a city that's been hard-hit by foreclosures: the homes will have a $1.5 million to $8 million price tag. The development will sit on two current golf courses within Disney's 40 square miles of theme park, and will feature 450 homes and a Four Seasons hotel.

Disney is sticking its toe back into the residential real estate pool for the first time since the mid-'90s, when it unveiled the Celebration development just outside its parks. While that was promoted as the new model of small-town living, Golden Oak is intended as a resort community focused more on the Disney vacation experience, reports the Wall Street Journal. Its first homes are expected to be finished next year. Interested? Start by plunking down $25,000 to get on a sales reservation list. Click here to see photos.

TRAVEL: 'Travel Gay Seattle - Where OUT is IN' Welcomes Visitors with New Online Travel and Tourism Portal

SEATTLE, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA), the nation's largest LGBT Chamber of Commerce, today launched Travel Gay Seattle – Where OUT is IN, an inbound travel portal designed to reach and attract LGBT visitors to Seattle.
Travel Gay Seattle, www.thegsba.org/travel, is a resource for travelers looking to "Get Here," "Stay Here" and "Play Here," offering a portal through which travelers can book their plane or train tickets and hotel stay, as well as find restaurants, shopping, unique neighborhoods and Seattle-centric activities. The website also includes a travel blog which provides local insight, reviews, photos and tips for discovering the local urban flavor that Seattle offers.

"Seattle is a great, welcoming and open community," said Louise Chernin, GSBA Executive Director. "There's an untapped opportunity for LGBT travelers to come and enjoy Seattle like current residents do. We're excited to showcase our city to the greater gay community."

To launch Travel Gay Seattle, GSBA has partnered with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines, a company with a reputation for flexibility and outstanding service, as well as an established reputation for LGBT-friendly travel. Additional support has come from the City of Seattle's Office of Economic Development and Sound Transit, a regional network of commuter rail, light rail, express buses, and local transit resources. Corporate sponsors include Sheraton Seattle Hotel, Amtrak and American Airlines. Visitors using the site are connected directly to online travel planning resources.

"We work hard to provide all our customers with genuine and caring service, and invite travelers to experience what we call 'Alaska Spirit'," said Glenn Johnson, Alaska Airlines' chief financial officer and executive vice president. "We are proud to partner with the GSBA and others to showcase the hospitality and diversity you'll find in our hometown."

Travel Gay Seattle has been largely supported by grants from the City of Seattle's Office of Economic Development.

"From the beginning, the city saw the value in what we are trying to accomplish, they have been great partners throughout the development of this portal," said Jerome M. Bader, Director of Marketing.

While Seattle has the second-highest percentage of openly gay residents in the country, it wasn't until 2010 that Seattle broke into the top 10 LGBT travel destinations, according to the 2010 Community Marketing, Inc. survey, which has been measuring gay and lesbian travel for 14 years. Community Marketing Inc. is a leading gay and lesbian travel research firm which classified Seattle "a rising city" in popularity among LGBT travelers.

"Nearly 60 percent of gay and lesbian travelers already book the majority of their online travel arrangements directly on hotel or airline micro-sites. Travel Gay Seattle is a one-stop online shopping destination for travel planning," Bader said. "Seattle has so much to offer LGBT visitors, whether they are young adults, couples or families with children, Seattle abounds with urban sophistication, world class dining, unparalleled natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities easily accessible from the heart of the city. Seattle has it all, it's the place you want to be and Travel Gay Seattle can get you here."

TRAVEL: Mount Everest Is the New 'Brokeback'! Would Heath and Jake go?

Nepal—a country that that considered homosexuality a crime until 2007—now hopes to turn Mount Everest into gay wedding destination. The plan is part of a country-wide push to double the number of visitors in 2011. A typical itinerary might include sky-high nuptials and an elephant safari honeymoon, tourist officials say. "All the sexual and gender minorities from around the world," are welcome.

"There are plenty of gays and lesbians who want adventurous, sporty, outdoors kind of tourism,” an openly gay Nepalese MP tells the Times. “In other Asian countries which offer this, they are either not welcome or considered criminals. Nepal's about-face on gay rights shows the dramatic changes sweeping the country since an uprising forced the king to renounce power in 2006.