Queertrip

Gay Russian Flight Attendant Forced To Marry A Woman To Keep Job

2012-02-01T11:33:00.000-08:00

Via PerezHilton.com

Awful!

A gay flight attendant says Russia's leading airline forced him into a heterosexual marriage to keep his job.

No, this isn't our pitch for a for a shitty rom-com, it's Maxim Kupreev's real life.

The 25-year-old flight attendant claims that when he tried to found a gay support network at the airline, Aeroflot, the company heads shut it down.

A spokesperson for the airline said they didn't need an LBGT group because:

"One should separate personal and professional life."

Yet, that's not what happened a year later when Aeroflot gave him a really weird ultimatum to either marry his high school girlfriend beard, Sofia Mikhailova or lose his job.

That's not fair to ANYONE!! Especially not Sofia (even though she gets 10% off the flights now) because she was already married! Where are the family values in that??

Aeroflot is insane.

Gay activists in Russia are planning to ask air passengers to boycott Aeroflot and not to use its services until the creation of equal conditions for all workers. We fully support this boycott!!

If you are planing a trip near Russia PLEASE do not travel with Aeroflot!

The Canadian rule which bans transgender flight

2012-01-31T10:22:00.000-08:00

By Jane Fae via: Pinknews.co.uk

Canada is now officially a transgender no-fly zone.

This is the result of new rules, introduced last July, but only now coming to light, which state that an air carrier “shall not transport a passenger if … the passenger does not appear to be of the gender indicated on the identification he or she presents”.

The reason that it has taken so long for this provision to percolate through to public awareness is that it was introduced not through formal legislation before the Canadian legislature, but as part Identity Screening Regulations, implemented unilaterally by the Ministry of Transportation, in support of Canada’s so-called Passenger Protect programme.

Its impact will be felt first by members of the Canadian transgender community, who may only change the ‘sex’ designation on a Canadian Passport, on provision of proof that surgery has taken place, or will take place within one year. This, it is argued by blogger, Christin Scarlett Milloy, means that non-operative transgender persons, gender nonconforming (genderqueer) persons, and the vast majority of pre-operative transsexual persons will find it literally impossible to obtain “proper” travel documentation.

However, there is likely to be some degree of impact on trans persons from any other country travelling through Canada on documents that fail to meet these new criteria.

A petition calling on the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to have these regulations set aside has been launched on change.org.

Meanwhile, cynics are speculating whether this move is ill-thought accident – or a rather more sinister piece of revenge by Conservative MP and Minister for Transport, Denis Lebel.

The change to regulations took place shortly after the federal election in 2011. In the previous parliament, Bill C-389, a bill to amend the Human Rights Code to explicitly enshrine protections against discrimination for transgender people, had successfully passed in the House of Commons, only to die on the Senate floor when the election was declared.

As Ms Milloy asked yesterday: “Is the timing of this disturbing and blatantly discriminatory regulatory adjustment merely a coincidence?

Analysis

Some people have been asking how many individuals have actually been prevented from flying by these regulations: but that misses the point entirely – which is that the use of perceived gender in this fashion is deeply offensive not simply to trans men and women, but to all men and women who fail to live up to societally imposed “norms” of gender and appearance.

A particular issue, which i have reported on in the past, is how women whose appearance is in any way “butch” or masculine frequently report difficulties in some women’s spaces.

While some will inevitably defend this move on grounds of “security”, it is important to understand what is being required here. No-one is objecting to government rules that require an individual’s appearance to match to their description on their pasport – or indeed that they should be allowed to duck out on biometric measures such as fingerprinting or retinal scans.

But this is about something else: whether an individual fits with the preconceived notions of what a border guard believes constitutes a “normal” appearance for their declared gender.

Over the last twelve months, Australia has stated its aim of permitting an “indeterminate” status to be recorded on passports for intersex individuals: and the UK Government has revealed that it is examining the entire question of whether gender markers on official documents are useful – not just, as critics would have it, for reasons of “political correctness”, but because there are genuine doubts that it really adds much that is useful.

This makes the Canadian regulation looks all the more like a seriously retrograde – and spiteful – step.

Jane Fae is an independent writer and sexual rights activist.

New Airline rules taking effect January 24, 2012.

2012-01-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

By Jeremy Bryant

Taking effect today, airlines and online sellers of travel have new rules to abide by. With these new rules going into effect this week, we’ve compiled a list of what’s changed.

What to expect from the new rules for airlines.

• Airlines & online sellers of travel must include all mandatory taxes and fees in published airfares.
• Baggage fees must be disclosed to consumers buying tickets.
• Information on baggage fees is required on all e-ticket confirmations.
• Passengers now will be able to hold a reservation without payment for 24 hours or cancel a reservation during that period without penalty. (Not applicable with 1 week from departure.)
• Airlines also will be required to notify passengers of delays of more than 30 minutes, as well as flight cancellations and diversions.

Our site is in compliance with the DOT’s news rules and supports the new rules for consumer disclosure.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at support@queertrip.com.

Queertrip Team!

New York City's First Gay Hotel Is About To Open Its Doors

2012-01-13T12:24:00.000-08:00

By Julie Zeveloff via: businessinsider.com

In March, The Out NYC, which bills itself as New York City's first gay hotel, is set to open its doors to guests.

The boutique hotel, which bills itself as an "urban gay resort," is located in Hell's Kitchen (where else?). It will include 105 rooms and XL Nightclub, which the creators say is the first nightly gay dance club to open in the city in the last 15 years. XL is slated to open this month.

Plans for the hotel also include a three courtyards and a massive gym.

Rooms will start at around $250 a night, with sleep shares starting at $99 a night.

With gay marriage now legal in New York, you can be sure The Out will become a go-to wedding destination.

Car Rental Agency Sued for Offering Gay and Lesbian Discounts

2012-01-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

By Dave Rice via: Sandiegoreader.com

An Arizona woman has initiated a class-action suit alleging discrimination based on her sexual orientation by Avis Rent A Car.

Lynn Evenchik claims that Avis’ practice of offering discounts to members of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association and National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce constitutes a violation of California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits businesses from offering discounts to customers based on sexual orientation.

Evenchik paid $311.36 to rent a car from Avis at San Diego International Airport for a period of one week in July of 2011. She later learned that members of the aforementioned groups received discount codes entitling them to 20 to 25 percent off standard rental rates due to marketing agreements Avis had entered into with the organizations.

“These unfair and unlawful business practices result in many consumers who are not affiliated with those organizations paying substantially higher rental rates than those made available to gay and lesbian renters,” the complaint states.

Evenchik is seeking damages and restitution on behalf of anyone who rented a car from Avis since the company began offering the discounts, which is believed to have begun around September 2010.

She also seeks an injunction to stop Avis from continuing to offer reduced rates to members of the gay and lesbian organizations.

Gay Marriage In Cancun, Mexico Suspended

2012-01-12T10:39:00.000-08:00

Via ontopmag.com

The upcoming weddings of six gay and lesbian couples near the tourist destination city of Cancun, Mexico have been suspended, La Reforma reported.

The weddings were expected to take place later this month after two gay couples said their lawyers successfully argued in front of judges that the Civil Code ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giff the Mexican state of Quintana Roo does not specifically bar such marriages from taking place because the state's marriage application is gender neutral.

Quintana Roo Secretary of State Lois Gonzalez Flores has ordered a review of the legality of such marriages.

Patricia Novelo, the spokeswoman for the gay rights group Diversity Collective, announced that she married her partner in the state in November by exploiting the loophole and that a second gay couple had as well.

Novelo and gay travel groups said they were preparing to market the state as a destination for gay couples to marry. Spanish news agency EFE had earlier reported that travel agencies on average receive about 200 requests per month from gay tourists wishing to marry in the Mexican Caribbean.

The city-state of Mexico City legalized gay marriage in 2010 and remains the only municipality in Mexico where such marriages are officially allowed.

New rules for airline fees are a partial victory for travelers

2012-01-10T10:23:00.000-08:00

By Jeremy Bryant

Starting Jan. 26, a new U.S. Transportation Department rule will require airlines to include all taxes and fees in their advertised fares. Other provisions of the rule -- banning post-purchase price increases and allowing passengers to hold certain reservations without payment or to cancel them without penalty for 24 hours after booking -- will take effect Jan. 24.

The DOT is also requiring airlines to disclose baggage fees when passengers buy a ticket, mandating that the same baggage allowances and fees apply throughout a journey, and stipulating that those fees be shown on electronic ticket confirmations.

As you can guess, the airlines aren't thrilled about these new rules. The industry's stated reasons for these objections are not political but technical. It says that the systems aren't yet in place to offer such disclosure. "Critical sources of information needed to comply with these rules do not yet exist," says Steve Lott, a spokesman for Airlines for America. "This extension would give carriers essential time to overcome fundamental changes in baggage rules that require substantial investment and re-engineering of carrier reservations, check-in and baggage information systems, in addition to retraining of airline employees."

An extension might also allow airlines to continue earning more money from baggage fees until 2013. Even a small rule change could interfere with a revenue stream (in the billions) that has by most accounts allowed the industry to remain profitable in recent years.

The DOT hasn't made a decision on the extension yet. But some believe that regardless of how it rules, the government needs to do more.

The problem is that airlines continue to remove fees from their fares -- a process called unbundling. For example, the first checked bag, a confirmed seat reservation, even the ability to carry a bag onto the plane all used to be included in a base fare but now might not be. Breaking them out leads to confusion and ultimately to customers paying more than they thought they would.

Until now, airlines have claimed that their baggage fees are simple and that normal travelers can easily figure them out. But it turns out that the system isn't that straightforward, even for the airlines that run it. All the exceptions and reservation rules make it kind of complex, actually.

As the battle continues in the courts, who will win? My hope is for the consumers.

Civil union law set to boost LGBT travel to Hawaii

2012-01-04T09:21:00.000-08:00

Via: Etravelblackboard.us

A new law legalizing civil unions in Hawaii is expected to lead to an upsurge in gay and lesbian travel to the state, meaning a windfall for the islands’ hotels, resorts and event planners.f

News of the legislation, which came into effect on January 1, has seen a spike in the number of hotels actively reaching out to the gay and lesbian community, as same-sex couples look to the state to formalize their relationships, according to The Maui News.

Chuck Spence, owner of the Maui Sunseeker LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Resort in Kihei told the newspaper forward bookings at his property had risen by 50 per cent over the year before.

"We've had 10 ceremonies booked so far," he said.

"Already we've also seen an immediate boost in bookings, and not just because of civil unions, but because the law also opens up the perception by the gay and lesbian community that Hawaii is truly a welcoming state.”

Among the resorts looking to lure same-sex couples their way is the Grand Wailea, whose managing director Matt Bailey said that reaching out to gay and lesbian travelers not only made good business sense, but was also “the right thing to do”.

“Maui has a nurturing and welcoming environment, with a small-town feel and open-mindedness to it,” he remarked.

“I wish I could say it was all altruistic, but we're not trying to make a political statement.”

State Senator Roz Baker, who represents West and South Maui said she hoped the law would add to the appeal of Hawaii as a destination for couples.

"The wedding business has always been good to Maui,” she commented.
"Let's face it, too, nowhere is the weather nicer in January, or are there as many beautiful places to visit year round, than in Hawaii.”

Not so Hungry... New Hungarian constitution comes into effect with same-sex marriage ban

2012-01-03T17:00:00.000-08:00

By: Stephen Gray via: PinkNews.co.uk

Hungary’s new constitution, which bans gay marriage and does not explicitly protect gay people from discrimination, has come into force amid public unrest.

The constitution was enacted 262-44 in April of last year, with 80 members of parliament boycotting the drafting and voting process, and took effect on 1 January 2012.

The document specifically restricts marriage to straight couples and appears to ban abortion by saying that fetuses will be protected from conception onwards.

It does not protect citizens from discrimination on the grounds of age or sexual orientation, and Amnesty International said last year it would not satisfy international human rights laws.

Viktor Orban, leader of the ruling Fidesz party, which came to power with two-thirds majority in the parliament last year, has been dubbed “Viktator” for his leadership style by the crowds who are now protesting the constitution in Budapest.

Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of the capital to voice their opposition to the new state framework.

The former constitution dated back to 1949, with major amendments following the fall of Communism in 1989, and Fidesz argued a new set of rules was vital to deliver the economic growth it had promised Hungary.

But the new text has reportedly removed the safeguards the 1989 amendments put in place, causing wider civil unrest.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had last year urged Orban to enshrine “the independence of the judiciary, a free press, and governmental transparency” in the text.

In a Leader editorial entitled ‘Back to Autocracy?’, The Times highlighted the discrimination against gay couples and said the constitution “is an extraordinary affront to basic liberties.”

But Gergely Gulyas, a Fidesz MP, told Reuters when the constitution came into force: “Despite political debates we think it is an important value that for the first time, a freely elected parliament created the Basic Law.”

Lawmakers said the constitution was based on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, but gay rights activists have questioned why it does not mention discrimination protections for LGBT people, when gender and race are protected.

The Hungarian organization of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights said last year the constitution “expresses a preference for an explicitly defined family model, a certain way of life and conveys the message that it does not wish to become the constitution of those who wish to pursue a different way of life”.

Hungary decriminalized gay sexual acts in 1961 and allows gay couples to register their partnerships but does not allow them to adopt. Since 2002 it has had an equal age of consent and gay people may serve in the military.

Cancun Plans to Pass Gay Marriage Bill to Attract Tourists

2011-12-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

Via: Fox News Latino

Cancun and other resort areas on the Mexican Caribbean will have a new attraction for gay and lesbian couples from the United States, Canada and Europe, allowing them to legalize their unions thanks to a quirk in the local civil code, activist Patricia Novelo told Efe. "This market niche ... is very attractive for European, Canadian and American (homosexual) couples," said the spokesperson for Colectivo Diversidad.

Novelo said that in January the first same-sex group wedding will be held in the resort area as part of local support for the human rights of the gay community.

She said that already several couples have expressed their wish to formalize their unions at the ceremony.

Eight couples have been confirmed to marry in January, most of them Mexican, but she said that more are expected and preparations are being handled by the groups Colectivo Diversidad, Fusion G, Gaytoursmexico and the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association.

The activist said that before the unions of same-sex couples in Quintana Roo state were legally recognized, a great demand from travel agencies for such marriages in Cancun and other resorts already existed from abroad.

Therefore, she said, agreements have begun to be struck with different airlines and hotel chains to hold these marriages all along Mexico's Caribbean coast.

Novelo said that this "is something very positive. Besides the social part there are many economic benefits because the gay community generates between 45 and 60 percent more income on top of conventional tourism."

She said gay and lesbian marriages are possible in Quintana Roo, "thanks to a legal gap in the Civil Code," which only makes mention of "people interested in getting married," without specifying their gender.

Mexico City passed a same sex marriage bill in 209. Through Dec. 15 of this year, 1,246 gay couples have been married in the city, many involving citizens of other countries.

Gay Couple Sue Hawaii B&B, Claim Discrimination

2011-12-28T16:41:00.000-08:00

by The Associated Press via: NPR.com

HONOLULU (AP) — Two Southern California women filed a lawsuit Monday against a Hawaii bed and breakfast, saying the business denied them a room because they are gay.

Aloha Bed & Breakfast discriminated against Diane Cervelli and Taeko Bufford, a couple living in Long Beach, Calif., claims the lawsuit filed on behalf of the women by Lambda Legal in First Circuit Court in Honolulu.

Cervelli, 42, called the business in 2007 to book a room because it's in Hawaii Kai, the same east Honolulu neighborhood where the friend they were visiting lived. When she specified they would need one bed, the owner asked if they are lesbians. Cervelli responded truthfully and the owner said she was uncomfortable having lesbians in her house because of her religious views, the lawsuit said.

Refusing to let the couple book a room was solely based on their sexual orientation because the owner indicated that if they were married, she would not have allowed them to stay there, said their attorney, Peter Renn of Lambda Legal's Los Angeles office. She also would have a problem if they were an unmarried heterosexual couple, he said.

The lawsuit claims the business violated Hawaii's public accommodation law prohibiting any inn or other establishment that provides lodging from discriminating based on sexual orientation, race, sex, gender identity or expression, religion, ancestry or disability. Lambda Legal said there are 21 states that have public accommodation laws that protect against sexual orientation discrimination.

The couple ended up booking a room in Waikiki and the experience with the bed and breakfast "soured" their trip, Cervelli said Monday while in Honolulu with Bufford, 28. "In my past experiences in Hawaii, people have been so friendly," she said. "It was just hurtful. It made me feel we weren't good enough."

Reached by phone, owner Phyllis Young declined to comment and referred questions to her attorney. Honolulu attorney Jim Hochberg said he is representing her on behalf of the Alliance Defense Fund, an organization of attorneys representing people whose religious freedom is infringed. He said he hadn't yet seen the complaint.

According to the lawsuit, the Hawaii Civil Rights Commission investigated. During the investigation Young told the commission homosexuality is "detestable" and "defiles our land." The commission issued a notice of "reasonable cause to believe that unlawful discriminatory practices have been committed" and notified the couple of their right to sue.

The lawsuit wants the business to be ordered to comply with the law, for the court to issue a declaration making clear what happened was illegal and for the couple to be awarded unspecified monetary compensation, Renn said: "No amount of money is going to erase the humiliation and pain."

Renn said Lambda Legal is also looking into whether the bed and breakfast is licensed to operate. Aloha Bed & Breakfast is not on a list of properties approved for transient vacation unit or bed and breakfast use that have been issued nonconforming use certificates by Honolulu's Department of Planning and Permitting.

Latin American Airline Launches Gay Site

2011-12-28T11:59:00.000-08:00

Via Press Release:

LAN Airlines is proud to announce the launch of its new LGBT travel website dedicated specifically to gay and lesbian travelers. The airline's new dedicated LGBT site, found at www.LANdiversity.com, showcases the diversity found throughout South America, and is a one-stop-shop resource for LGBT travel to South America.

LAN's new LGBT microsite features a host of information and resources for the prospective traveler to South America. It includes detailed descriptions of key South American destinations with information of interest to gay and lesbian travelers. The site also features recent LGBT-related news pertaining to countries throughout South America, as well as events of interest to gay and lesbian travelers to South America, including trips from leading LGBT tour operators.

"If you're traveling to Buenos Aires, not only can you purchase your ticket from the online booking engine, but you can read current news relating to LGBT topics in that region, view dates for the Buenos Aires International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival or Buenos Aires Pride, and find restaurants and hotels in the city that are popular among gay and lesbian travelers," said Katitiza Mandakovic, Leisure Director, LAN Airlines North America. "Our goal was to make LANdiversity.com a trusted source for news and information on LGBT travel to South America and we are so proud to be able to offer such a unique resource to travelers all over the world."

The new LGBT microsite also features interactive Facebook and Twitter feeds to enable visitors to share their comments and connect with other like-minded travelers. Through the microsite, LAN will also offer periodic deals, specials and sweepstakes for travel to South America on LAN Airlines and its affiliate carriers.

LAN has been a major supporter of the LGBT community for a number of years. In 2009, LAN became the first Latin American airline to develop an advertising campaign specifically targeting the LGBT community. The campaign highlighted the importance of diversity and showcased South America's diversity.

LAN has also been a proud sponsor of organizations such as the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, the Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, and San Francisco Pride, as well as a Gold-level Global Partner with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, IGLTA.

LAN was nominated "Best Airline" in LOGO's 2010 TripOut Gay Travel Awards and "Favorite International Airline" in 2011 by Edge Publications, the largest network of local LGBT news portals in the world.

"LAN is proud to be a supporter of the gay and lesbian community and is honored to be recognized as a valued partner," added Mandakovic. "We pride ourselves on being South America's premier airline and the best choice for LGBT travelers to the region. Our new LGBT travel site is a way to create an even better travel experience for gay and lesbian travelers and our hope is that more people will be able to discover the many wonders found only in South America."

For someone who has dreamt about climbing Machu Picchu at sunrise, swimming with the giant turtles of the Galapagos, frolicking on Ipanema Beach in Rio, or experiencing any of the other wonders that can be found Only in South America - today LAN Airlines brings those dreams one step closer for LGBT travelers with the launch of the dedicated, new LGBT travel website.

Adam Lambert blames arrest on travel and alcohol

2011-12-27T10:45:00.000-08:00

Via: The Times of India

Adam Lambert has blamed getting arrested in Finland on a combination of travel, alcohol and confusion.

The former 'American Idol' star was taken to a police station and questioned after a fight with his boyfriend, Finnish reality TV star Sauli Koskinen, in Helsinki gay bar Don't Tell Momma became physical in the early hours of this morning (22.12.11). Sauli was also arrested following the incident but both men have been released following what Detective Superintendent Petri Juvonen called a "not very serious incident".

Really? Fighting because of travel? We understand the alcohol part, but when did traveling become a gateway for brawling?

Thai Airline Hires Transgender Flight Attendants

2011-12-15T12:31:00.000-08:00

By Neal Broverman via The Advocate

Recognizing how difficult it is for gender-variant people to find stable employment, Thailand's P.C. Airlines has made it policy to hire transgender flight attendants.

Four transgender female flight attendants worked on a recent flight out of Bangkok publicized by the airline. P.C. Air — a charter carrier that runs from Bangkok to China, South Korea, and Japan — featured one of their new employees in a moving commercial. In the ad, a young boy transitions into a beautiful woman.

HRC's Corporate Equality Index

2011-12-08T16:52:00.000-08:00

By Jeremy Bryant

The HRC's CEI report, released each fall, provides an in-depth analysis and rating of large U.S. employers and their policies and practices pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

To achieve a perfect score and the coveted distinction of “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality,” companies must have fully-inclusive equal employment opportunity policies, provide equal employment benefits, demonstrate organizational LGBT competency, evidence their commitment to equality publicly and exercise responsible citizenship.

In the first year of the CEI, only 13 businesses achieved a top score. This year, 190 corporations, across industries, geographies and size, earned a 100 percent score on significantly more stringent criteria.

Even with the new scoring criteria, most of the nation's leading hotel and airline companies received high scores.

So where do the airline and hotel companies rank? The list is below.

Airlines:

Alaska Air Group Inc. (Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air): 90
AMR Corp. (American Airlines): 100
Delta Air Lines: 90
JetBlue Airways Group: 90
Southwest Airlines Co.: 90
United Continental Holdings Inc.: 100
US Airways Group: 85
Virgin America: 90

Hotels:

Caesars Entertainment Corp. (Caesars/Harrah's): 100
Carlson Companies Inc. (Radisson): 85
Choice Hotels International Inc.: 100
Hyatt Hotels Corp: 100
Kimpton Hotels and Restaurant Group Inc.: 100
Marriott International Inc.: 90
MGM Resorts International: 90
Starwood Hotel and Resorts Worldwide (W Hotels/Westin): 100
Wyndam Worldwide Corp: 90
Wynn Resorts Ltd.: 90

As a result of HRC's new scoring criteria Hilton Hotels Corp. and InterContinental Hotels Group Americas scores dropped significantly. With a score of 60, Hilton dropped 30 points from the previous year; and InterContinental received a 65, down from 85.

HRC's complete report including the scoring criteria is available online here: http://www.hrc.org/resources/entry/corporate-equality-index-2011

U.S. to Use Foreign Aid to Promote Gay Rights Abroad

2011-12-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

By HELENE COOPER via NewYorkTimes.com

WASHINGTON — The United States will begin using American foreign aid to promote gay rights abroad, Obama administration officials said on Tuesday.

President Barack Obama issued a memorandum directing American agencies to look for ways to combat efforts by foreign governments to criminalize homosexuality.

The new initiative holds the potential to irritate relations with some close American allies that ban homosexuality, including Saudi Arabia.

But Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton underscored Mr. Obama’s remarks, in a speech delivered in Geneva on International Human Rights Day.

“I am not saying that gay people can’t or don’t commit crimes,” she said. “They can and they do. Just like straight people. And when they do, they should be held accountable. But it should never be a crime to be gay.”

The directive comes after the Parliament in Uganda decided to reopen a debate on a controversial bill that seeks to outlaw homosexuality, a move that could be expanded to include the death penalty for gay men and lesbians. That bill had been shelved earlier this year amid widespread international condemnation.

“I am deeply concerned by the violence and discrimination targeting LGBT persons around the world,” Mr. Obama said in the memorandum, referring to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, “whether it is passing laws that criminalize LGBT status, beating citizens simply for joining peaceful LGBT pride celebrations, or killing men, women and children for their perceived sexual orientation.”

Specifically, Mr. Obama said in the memorandum that the State Department would lead other federal agencies to help ensure that the government provides a “swift and meaningful response to serious incidents that threaten the human rights” of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people abroad.

It was not immediately clear whether that would mean a cut-off of American aid to countries that target the gay community, but it suggests that American agencies will have expanded tools to press foreign countries that are found to abuse the rights of gays, lesbians and others.

Based on findings in the State Department’s latest annual human rights report, several countries, including several vital American allies, could face increased pressure over their treatment of gays and others.

The report said that in Saudi Arabia, under Sharia law as interpreted in the country, “sexual activity between two persons of the same gender is punishable by death or flogging. It is illegal for men ‘to behave like women’ or to wear women’s clothes and vice versa.”

The law in Afghanistan “criminalizes homosexual activity, but authorities only sporadically enforced the prohibition,” the report said. And in Pakistan, homosexual intercourse is a criminal offense, though rarely prosecuted.

Homosexuality is accepted in most of Europe. In India, law permits consensual sexual activities between adults. In China, according to the report: “No laws criminalize private homosexual activity between consenting adults. Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1997 and removed from the official list of mental disorders in 2001.”

With campaigning already under way ahead of the 2012 presidential election, Mr. Obama’s action is bound to be viewed through a political lens, as well. While the gay community tends to vote Democratic and would seem to be a natural ally of his, and has generally been supportive, he has faced criticism for failing to clearly support a right to same-sex marriages.

He has, however, received praise from many in that community for moving to repeal the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

The presidential memorandum issued by the White House said that federal agencies engaged abroad had been directed to “combat the criminalization of LGBT status or conduct abroad; protect vulnerable LGBT refugees and asylum seekers; leverage foreign assistance to protect human rights and advance nondiscrimination; ensure swift and meaningful U.S. response to human rights abuses of LGBT persons abroad; engage international organizations in the fight against LGBT discrimination; and issue reports on progress.

Mr. Obama has frequently made use of presidential directives to protect the rights of gays and lesbians, particularly when political sensitivities might have made legislative action impractical.

SAS follows up LGBT success

2011-11-28T15:16:00.000-08:00

Via: etravelblackboardasia.com

Scandinavian Airlines is following up its LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) campaign “Love is in the air”, one of 2010’s most successful social media campaigns, with an improved LGBT micro site (www.flysas.com/gay) and a gay version of the popular SAS Crew Guide concept. SAS has also won numerous awards for its LGBT focus this year.

“We launched ‘Love is in the air’, a campaign ending with the world’s first gay and lesbian weddings in the air, as we had fallen behind our competitors in attracting LGBT customers. As the campaign reached over 150 million people worldwide and we had over 550,000 unique visitors to the Love-site, we managed to position us as one of the world’s leading airline amongst one of the most loyal and high-yield customer groups,” says Anders Lindström, PR Director, SAS.

The SAS Crew Guide concept has for the past seven years been a global success, and earlier this year it was turned into an app. For the LGBT audience, SAS has now created a gay video version of the popular concept, with three videos where SAS crew shows Anton Hysén the best of Stockholm has to offer in terms of restaurants, museums and activities. Hysén made headlines all over the world earlier this year when he became the first active and youngest sportsman to come out. The three videos – Eat, Play and See – are now available on SAS’ LGBT microsite www.flysas.com/gay. A preview of the films made its Hollywood premiere last week at a major PR event organized by VisitSweden.

The microsite is aimed as a one-stop shop for LGBT travelers going to Scandinavia, with introductions, maps, tips and links for the Nordic capitals. The content is provided by the various tourist boards, as well as Swedish gay network QX and the Stockholm Gay and Lesbian Network. SAS was the first European airline to launch a microsite specifically for the LGBT market, whereas most US carriers have had one for almost a decade.
“Compared to our competitors, who spend a lot of money creating pretty ads claiming they’re LGBT-friendly, SAS is focused to create activities that clearly show that we are LGBT-friendly. We have noticed that this creates a greater value for SAS within the LGBT community,” says Anders Lindström.

Approximately 6-8% of the population in the Western world is LGBT, whilst LGBT travelers account for approximately 15% of total revenue within the travel industry. At SAS, it is estimated that every 13thcustomer is LGBT.

SAS has also been praised for its LGBT focus within the last year. IGLTA (International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association) named SAS Innovator of the year and Flightglobal awarded SAS Online Campaign of the year, whilst the Love campaign was also nominated as PR of the year at Sweden’s Stora PR Priset, Social Media Campaign of the Year at the prestigious European-wide Digital Communication Awards and most recently for the Brand Experience Award.

Gay Couple Called Antigay Slur By United Airlines Agent

2011-11-28T10:07:00.000-08:00

By Julie Bolcer via the Advocate

Billy Canu and his partner said their holiday travel was disrupted when a United Airlines agent called them “faggots” during an exchange about access to the lounge at Denver International Airport on Saturday.

ABC 7 News reports that Canu and his partner were waiting for their flight home when they became confused about access to United’s Gold Lounge on Concourse B. They approached nearby United agents and were met with “a very condescending, sort of rude” answer that prompted them to complain. A manager approached and escalated the situation, even threatening to throw them off their flight to San Diego if they continued to complain, according to the couple.
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“As we were walking away he goes ‘idiots,’” Canu told ABC 7. “So, my partner turned around and started walking up to him and said, 'I'm sorry. What did you say?'"

"He [the manager] says, ‘What f*****s,’” said Canu.

ABC 7 declined to identify the accused United employee, but in a more detailed account on Facebook, Canu identified him as Rodney Hill. In a statement to the news station, United said it was reviewing the complaint and “does not tolerate discrimination of any kind.”

Canu and his partner are seeking an apology from the airline.

Logo’s New Now Next Travel Award winners announced!

2011-11-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

The people have spoken, the votes have been counted, and the winners have been chosen.

According to Logo voters New York is the #1 gay travel destination in the U.S. while Montreal is the #1 worldwide travel destination. But this year’s true surprise is that voters named Columbus, Ohio it's NewNowNext destination!

And here are the Winners…

Best US Destination: New York City
Best Global Destination: Montreal
Best Luxury Hotel: Peninsula Chicago
Best Resort: Encore Las Vegas
Best Hotel Chain: W Hotels & Resorts
Best Airline: Jet Blue
Best Annual Event: Mardi Gras, Sydney
Favorite Travel Show: The Amazing Race
Sexiest Spot: Rio de Janiero
NewNowNext Destination 2011: Columbus, Ohio

Did you vote? Do you agree with the list?

ABOUT NEW NOW NEXT:

NewNowNext is Logo Digital’s hub for the latest in music, TV & movies, fashion, design, travel, beauty and health.

Tour operators forbidden from marketing Vancouver as gay-friendly in China

2011-11-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

By: Justine Hunter via TheGlobeandMail.com

In its new China tourism strategy, the B.C. government has agreed to ignore the fact that Vancouver is a destination for gay tourism.

A marketing document released on the eve of Premier Christy Clark’s trade mission to China states that tourism operators marketing trips to the province for Chinese people must agree not to promote casinos, gambling or gay tourism.

The directive has angered gay activists in B.C.

B.C. Tourism Minister Pat Bell, in conference call from China on Monday, said the federal government accepted the terms when it negotiated approved-destination status with China last year, and B.C. had no say in the matter.

Mr. Bell’s office last Thursday released How to Market Your Business to China, one of its a tourism business essentials guides. Buried midway through the 60-page document is a single line noting that B.C. operators are prohibited from promoting casinos, gambling and gay tourism in China.

Approved-destination status allows tourism operators in Canada to market their services in China, and Chinese tour operators to organize and promote travel packages to Canada.

“Those are identified by the Chinese central government as areas where they don’t think there is opportunity to market into British Columbia,” he told reporters. In a later call, he said B.C. simply wanted to ensure that its tourism operators understood the rules: “We’re not necessarily endorsing the specifics.”

Ms. Clark, in a conference call from Shanghai, was caught off guard when asked about the restriction. She refused to comment, telling reporters she wasn’t aware of the details. “One of the things we want to do in our relationship with China is engage more. ... That will help further some of the ideals we hold dear in Canada.”

Tourism Vancouver devotes an entire section of its website to gay tourists, enthusing: “The largest gay population in Western Canada lives in this ocean-wrapped and snow-capped city [with] a wide variety of restaurants, coffee shops, pubs and boutiques catering to gays and lesbians.”

Candice Gibson, Tourism Vancouver’s consumer marketing director, said gay tourism is worth more than $60-billion annually around the globe. “Vancouver is a gay-friendly destination,” she said. “Obviously, we want people all around the globe to be aware of that – but our focus is on the U.S. market.”

Jennifer Breakspear, executive director of Qmunity, which bills itself as B.C.’s queer resource centre, said she was disappointed that B.C. would accept the restriction as the price of doing business in China.

Her organization hosted thousands of international tourists at Pride House in Vancouver and Whistler during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. “We had a lot of media exposure about how Vancouver, British Columbia, is a very progressive and accepting destination where tourists could be comfortable being who they are,” she said. “I guess the government is going to toe the line in China, but it’s troubling back at home.”

Spencer Chandra Herbert, the New Democratic Party critic for tourism, said the province should have at least expressed some regret in accepting China’s terms.

“For the provincial government to be putting out a brochure without a disclaimer is troubling to me,” he said. “It sends the wrong message when we are supposed to be – and should be – a society fighting discrimination and standing up for love, whether it be between two men or two women or a man and a woman.”

Passenger sentenced to 21 months for dealing drugs on gay cruise

2011-11-03T10:55:00.000-07:00

By Fran Golden via USAtoday.com

A judge in the U.S. Virgin Islands yesterday sentenced a California man to 21 months in prison for dealing drugs to fellow passengers on the 5,400-passenger Allure of the Seas.

Steven Barry Krumholz pleaded guilty to the charges in July.

The West Hollywood man had been arrested in February when the ship docked in St. Thomas. The Allure of the Seas was at the time chartered by Atlantis Events, the sailing on the world's largest ship billed as the world's largest gay cruise.

U.S. District Court Judge Curtis Gomez said Krumholz used his cabin on the cruise ship "as if it was an apothecary for controlled substances," the Associated Press reports.

Police at the time of his arrest said they found more than 142 ecstasy pills, methamphetamine, a small amount of ketamine, and about $51,000 in cash in Krumholz's cabin.

He had faced up to 20 years in prison.

Royal Caribbean said it fully cooperated with authorities during the investigation.

Halloween: America's Gay Holiday

2011-10-31T18:13:00.000-07:00

By: Irene Monroe via Huffingtonpost.com

Halloween is America's gay holiday.

In the words of the lesbian poet and scholar Judy Grahn, Halloween is "the great gay holiday."

And this weekend of lavish costumed theatricality will attract everyone, but especially lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) revelers.

Back in the day Halloween, the night before All Hallows Day (All Saints Day), was linked to the ancient Celtic festival Samhain in the British Isles, meaning "summer's end." And because the celebration is associated with mystery, magic, superstition, witches and ghosts, the festivity, not surprisingly, was limited in colonial New England because of its Puritanical belief system.

But today it's an LGBTQ extravaganza that rivals -- if not out-showcases -- Pride festivals.

Long before June officially became Gay Pride Month and October became Coming Out Month for the LGBTQ community, Halloween was unofficially our yearly celebrated "holiday," dating as far back as the 1970s, when it was a massive annual street party in San Francisco's Castro district.

By the 1980s, gay enclaves like Key West, West Hollywood, and Greenwich Village were holding their annual Halloween street parties. And the parades the night of Halloween did and still do draw straights and gay spectators out to watch.

Gay cultural influence on Halloween has become such an unstoppable phenomenon here and abroad that anthropologist Jerry Kugelmass of University of Florida published a book in 1994 on the new trend, titled Masked Culture, describing Halloween as an emerging gay "high holiday."

"The 'masked culture' first developed by the gays of San Francisco has reached across the lines of orientation -- and now jumped across the boundaries between nations and languages. It's not just a party. It's an ideal of personal emancipation, self-expression and self-fulfillment -- an ideal that loses none of its power when it takes the form of a sexy nurse's outfit," CNN contributor David Frum wrote last year in "Halloween craze started in gay culture."

Nicholas Rogers, author of Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night, points out that while Halloween is enjoyed by everyone, "it has been the Gay community that has most flamboyantly exploited Halloween's potential as a transgressive festival, as one that operates outside or on the margins of orthodox time, space, and hierarchy. Indeed, it is the Gay community that has been arguably most responsible for Halloween's adult rejuvenation."

Halloween allows many LGBTQ Americans at least one night annually, Oct. 31, of safely being out and "unmasked" while remaining closeted. The community revels the entire night like there is no tomorrow, and for many there isn't. Like its pagan roots, Halloween provided an outlet for us cross-dressing and gender-bending LGBTQ outsiders who are ostracized by mainstream society.

As Halloween flourishes as a gay cultural phenomenon, so, too, flourished a backlash by the fundamentalist Christians with their "Hell Houses."

And these Christians targeted our children.

(Believing Hell Houses are no longer up and running in 2011, I'll speak of them in the past tense.)

Hell Houses were a contemporary form of both anti-gay bullying and witch-hunting. Created in the late 1970s by the Reverend Jerry Farwell, the deceased fundamentalist pastor, Hell Houses were religious alternatives to traditional haunted houses. They were tours given by evangelical churches across the country designed to scare and bully people away from myriad sins. And one of those sins is homosexuality.

In 2006 the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) put out a report titled "Homophobia at 'Hell House': Literally Demonizing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth," explaining how hell houses specifically targeted youth.

"Instead of spooking youth with ghosts and monsters, Hell House tour guides direct them through rooms where violent scenes of damnation for a variety of 'sins' are performed, including scenes where a teenage lesbian is brought to hell after committing suicide and a gay man dying of AIDS is taunted by a demon who screams that the man will be separated from God forever in hell," the NGLTF stated.

A study published in the Journal of Psychology stated that a strong belief in Satan is directly related to intolerance of LGBTQ people.

Religious leaders who supported Hell Houses believed that by scaring LGBTQ youth into "heterosexual" behavior, they were saving their souls.

However, the message that "homosexuals" are going to hell can have a deleterious impact on our youth. But with Halloween flourishing as a gay cultural phenomenon, our children, too, can joyfully go door-to-door trick-or-treating.

Our influence on culture is being acknowledged and celebrated more as we come out.

As Kwanzaa is a black holiday, and St. Patrick's Day is an Irish holiday, maybe someday soon Halloween will be officially acknowledged as a gay holiday.

Happy Halloween!

Denmark expected to legalize same-sex marriage in 2012, says minister.

2011-10-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

By Brody Levesque via LGBTQNation.com

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — The Danish government is set to introduce a bill in early 2012 that will allow gays and lesbians to marry, positioning Denmark to become the eighth country in Europe to recognize same-sex civil marriages.

The government’s appointed Church minister, Manu Sareen, a social liberal, said that the government plans to introduce the bill just after the New Year which will allow same-sex couples to hold weddings in the Church of Denmark and be “married” legally as recognized by Danish law, reported Jyllands-Posten, a leading Danish newspaper.

Currently under the law, same-sex couples are allowed to have “registered partnerships,” a civil status, but are barred from marriage and church weddings.

“The first same-sex weddings will hopefully become reality in Spring 2012. I look forward to the moment the first homosexual couple steps out of the church. I’ll be standing out there throwing rice,” Sareen said.

Sareen’s appointment to the post of minister was one of the more more controversial of the new coalition government.

He is a professed religious “doubter,” who, before becoming church minister, came close to writing himself off the national church registry, in direct protest against its long-standing ban on same-sex marriage.

Denmark was the first country in the world to allow gay civil partnerships with legislation in 1989. But the country stopped short of calling it “marriage” and same-sex couples still are not allowed to have marriage ceremonies in the Church of Denmark.

Public polls taken over the years, and as recent as last week, suggest around 69 percent of the population supports same-sex marriage.

In Europe, only The Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, and Iceland currently recognize same-sex civil marriages.

Jupiter Hotel GM Al Munguia puts PDX hospitality on the map

2011-10-07T12:27:00.000-07:00

By Ryan J. Prado via JustOut.com

It’s hard to imagine Portland’s hospitality industry without the Jupiter Hotel. For more than six years the former motor inn has attracted exceedingly diverse clientele to Southeast, trading in the baiting of corporate executives, so synonymous with big box hotel chains, to instead welcome—sometimes with a Bear hug—an inclusive guest list.

It’s likewise difficult to think that any of it might have happened without Jupiter general manager Al Munguia.

Munguia, 49, relocated to the Rose City following a distinguished run working for corporate hotels along the West Coast. Originally a student of political science and international relations, Munguia had global ambitions—namely to work for the United Nations. But during college, he accepted a position as a telephone operator at a hotel—a decision that would change the trajectory of his career.

“It was a way of paying the rent, and it just sort of got in my blood,” Munguia explains.

After climbing the corporate ladder at hotel chains like Marriott, Holiday Inn and Starwood, Munguia sought to further his resume—and creativity, and diversify the hotel experience for guests. For the former high school disco dancing champion—yes, really—the general manager position at the Jupiter couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Most of my experience has been nothing like this,” Munguia says of his time with the Jupiter. “That’s one of the reasons why I enjoy this so much. With traditional corporate properties, it’s all recipes that you follow with very little regard to thinking outside the box. Jupiter was just opening up, and speaking to the owners I realized that there was this mass flexibility that was going to allow me to really challenge myself from a creative standpoint.”

For Munguia, the variety has been there since the beginning. Just a few days after accepting the job, Munguia got a taste of this freedom with his first booking: Darklady’s annual Masturbate-a-Thon charity event.
“That moment to me was really [one of], ‘I entered a whole new dimension,’” Munguia says. “We would never touch this—excuse the pun—at Marriott.”

As a gay man, Munguia set to ensuring that the Jupiter’s marketing efforts would welcome the LGBTQ traveler. One of the first phases of that approach was to connect with Community Marketing, Inc. to begin the company’s Travel Alternatives Group (TAG) training. For a hotel to become TAG certified, staff and management undergo diversity training, specifically as it applies to the LGBTQ community. The Jupiter Hotel became Portland’s first TAG-approved property, and is also a member of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA).

“It really is about awareness,” Munguia says. “It’s about those micro-aggressions that we use on a daily basis that we may not really be conscious of in our speech, or in our body language as we interact with people.”

Upon TAG certification, staff and management take an exam designed to assure they can deal effectively and positively with issues sensitive to the LGBTQ community—and, most importantly, says Munguia, have been trained not to make assumptions.

“We all grow up with prejudices, and pre-formulated ideas as to how people want to be treated,” he says. “The certification just lets the LGBTQ traveler know that this property is aware of who they are.”

Linking the entire community to the experience of the Jupiter was a cornerstone strategy for Munguia, and has established the property as a makeshift headquarters for many regional organizations and annual fundraising events. The Oregon Bears’ BearTown has turned to the Jupiter as host hotel and event epicenter.

Similarly, Portland Latino Gay Pride—co-founded by Munguia’s late partner José Ornelas—is a perennial partner, and an organization that until this year held its primary base of operations at the Jupiter. The hotel has also served as host site for the Rose City Softball Association’s Cascade Cup and Pride Northwest functions.

“We have a saying: ‘As in God’s house, all are welcome at the Jupiter,’” Munguia says. “We just don’t care whether you’re gay or straight, black or white, hipster or business suit-by-day. We want people to be able to come and feel accepted and free to be whoever it is that they may be and however it is they define themselves.”

This June Munguia’s efforts were recognized on a grander scale, when Governor John Kitzhaber appointed him to the Oregon Tourism Board. As a member of this administrative body, it’s Munguia’s duty to review spending strategies and allocate funds for grants to increase the state’s viability as a tourist destination. The board’s suggestions and decisions are then implemented by Travel Oregon.

Since Munguia’s appointment came after the 2011-12 strategies were established, his input is likely to be felt more in the coming years of his four-year term.

“As a Latino, I bring that perspective of, ‘What do we need to do from the Oregon perspective to really make Oregon attractive to this segment of the population?”

Munguia explains. “And then as a gay man, I bring that perspective of, ‘What are we as a state doing to promote LGBT tourism to the state?’ Those are going to be my big focuses.”

Under Munguia’s wing, Oregon’s widely touted hospitality isn’t just hype. It’s fact.

Lesbian couple kicked out of local hotel for kissing

2011-10-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

By Courtney Gousman via KSDK.com

Two women say they were the victims of discrimination after they were asked to leave St. Louis' Four Seasons Hotel for kissing.

The lesbian couple tells News Channel 5, they were trying to enjoy a day by the rooftop pool at the Four Seasons, when they say they were harassed for openly displaying affection. The hotel tells News Channel 5, it wasn't that simple.

"When we got into the Jacuzzi, and we were sitting close to one another and we were kissing that a member of security came over to us," said Teresa Folds.

Folds says the hotel security officer told her and her girlfriend, Juleigh Snell, they weren't allowed to kiss on the hotel property. They asked to speak with a manager.

"He said that they didn't even allow heterosexual couples to kiss on their property," said Folds.

"When we were explaining how gay people have rights, he basically insinuated that we were not a normal couple and should not be kissing," said Snell.

Folds and Snell say the manager stated the couple was acting inappropriately and that the hotel had received complaints.

"They have yet to tell us what that inappropriate activity is. Other than the kissing, that's all they can say because that's all we were doing," said Folds.

The couple says they were left alone, and they continued to kiss. They were approached again.

"Told us that they wanted us to leave, and I mentioned that the pool didn't close until 8:00," said Folds.

Folds and Snell say when 8 p.m. rolled around, they were approached by a security guard who showed them the door.

"I was disheartened by the whole experience," said Snell.

"It was very much understood that they were kicking us out," said Folds.

News Channel 5 reached out to the Four Seasons about the incident.

General Manager Alper Oztok sent this statement to News Channel 5:

"Four Seasons respects the behaviors of our guests, except where doing so may be a breach of law or create tensions among people. This was the case on the night in question, as our staff received several complaints about the guest's behavior. I can assure you that the gender of the couple was never at issue."

The couple says they've reached out to Gay Pride St. Louis and the Human Rights Campaign to make them aware of this incident.

They say all they want is an apology, and for the hotel to be clear about its kissing policy.