In 2003, Visit Philadelphia created a groundbreaking tourism campaign that integrated the city’s deep U.S. historical roots with embracing the LGBTQ+ community. The award-winning “Get your history straight and your nightlife gay” campaign was the first of its kind by a major U.S. city to court LGBTQ+ travelers. 20 years later, its impact is still […]
Category: Travel
Posted inTop Stories
Creating your ultimate queer bucket list: 50 unforgettable experiences to seek in a lifetime
Life is an adventure and a bucket list can be your guide. What experiences do you want to have before you “kick the bucket?” The term “bucket list” has been around since the early aughts and was made famous by the film of the same name, starring Jack Nicolson and Morgan Freeman. Since then, it […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: A “Selling Sunset” wedding, LGBTQ+ small business grants and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1xq5KMzUdk&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ffoundersfirstcdc.org%2F&embeds_origin=https%3A%2F%2Ffoundersfirstcdc.org&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo New LGBTQIA+ National Grant for LGBTQ+-owned small […]
Posted inNews
What to expect from Disney’s first “Pride Nite”
If you’ve been following the DeSantis vs. Disney news, you may have seen that on the same day that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posed the idea of building a prison complex near Disney, the megacorporation announced its first-ever “Pride Nite” on social media. The DeSantis administration has been in a very public battle with Disney […]
Posted inTravel
Byron Bay, Australia: A queer-welcoming coastal vacation oasis
While driving from the Ballina airport to Byron Bay, New South Wales, I came across two things I’d never seen before. The first was a “Watch Out: Koalas Spotted” sign. The second was a police station covered with rainbow banners and flying a Progress flag. While in Sydney for WorldPride, I, a few fellow journalists […]
Posted inArts and Entertainment
News is Good: Outfest Fusion kicks off, Utah bans conversion therapy and more
Welcome to our weekly column, News is Good, where we feature positive news about the LGBTQ+ community. Too much of what we see in mainstream media coverage focuses on the challenges we face and not the celebrations. Here are a few things we’re excited about this week. Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff publishes new book […]
Posted inTop Stories
Spectacular Sydney WorldPride: LGBTQ+ event attracts visitors from around the world
Imagine a place where rainbow flags fly from every corner. Everything from the local dentist to the world-renowned art museum rolls out the rainbow carpet. A place where even the sharks donned their finest gay apparel. (More on that later.) This was the reality of Sydney WorldPride, which offered 17 days of celebrating the LGBTQ+ […]
Posted inTop Stories, Travel
Best travel spots for LGBTQ+ families
If you are an LGBTQ+ parent or part of an LGBTQ+ family, finding a welcoming vacation spot is important. Where can you go where you can hope to be treated with respect and kindness? Here are some vacation ideas, from big-time cruises to summer camp-style adventures where LGBTQ+ families can be themselves. Cruises are great […]
Posted inTravel
Exciting LGBTQ+ vacation ideas for group trips
The best-laid plans often involve the best of friends. Vacationing with friends and chosen family can be a welcome respite or a weeklong party – it’s up to you! Whether you are looking for a destination close to home or traveling to a far-away city, there are LGBTQ+-friendly options if you know where to look. […]
Posted inTop Stories
Sydney WorldPride is planning a celebration like no other
WorldPride is heading Down Under in 2023. Sydney, Australia, has been named the official location for WorldPride next year, and the cosmopolitan city is planning to go all-out to welcome LGBTQ+ guests from all over the world. Consistently named one of the most LGBTQ+-friendly cities in the world, Sydney has 17 days of events and […]
Posted inCommunity
12 small but mighty Pride celebrations around the US
Much of the Pride coverage we see is of the massive events that happen in big cities like New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. However, LGBTQ+ people live all over the United States. Rural communities and suburbs from Maryland to Arizona have their own smaller, but just as important Pride celebrations that are worth […]
Posted inTravel
After two years of Covid, LGBTQ+ travel is bouncing back
When the first wave of COVID-19 began, it didn’t take long to see that travel would be one of the industries hardest hit by the pandemic. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s recent report, the travel industry suffered a loss of nearly $5 trillion in 2020 or more than a 50% decline in […]
Posted inTravel
Spaces for queer women experience a renaissance in Portland, Oregon
Update: Doc Marie’s is now scheduled to open on July 1. Spaces for lesbians and queer women have been on a steep downward trend for decades. Since the late 1980s, 90% of the estimated 200 lesbian bars in the United States have shuttered. Those that remain have faced intense challenges due to Covid-19, forcing some […]