Margaret Cho Does the Desert Proud

Story by Aefa Mulholland. Photo courtesy Visit Tucson.

Rainbow flags will be unfurled in the desert next month at Tucson’s 32nd Pride on Parade and Pride in the Desert (October 9-10).

Pride on Parade will kick off the festivities with a parade at 6:00 p.m. on Friday October 9th at the corner of 4^th avenue and 2^nd street, ending at the Eon Youth Lounge where there will be a free block party. This year‘s Grand Marshals are award-winning comedian and LGBT advocate Margaret Cho and Tucson's very own LGBT Chorus, Desert Voices. 

Pride in the Desert will take place from 10am -8pm on October 10^th at Reid Park around the DeMeester Outdoor Auditorium. This year‘s main stage headliners include: Jonny McGovern & Team Pimp, Ari Gold, Adam Joseph, and God-des and She.

For more information on this year’s events, performers, or to purchase discount tickets, visit http://www.tucsonpride.org/.

To (and from) Manchester with Pride

Story by Ed Salvato; photos courtesy of Manchester Pride (above and below); Ed Salvato bottom.

I recently had the pleasure of discovering Manchester Pride. I'd heard a lot about how fun it was but thought, a Pride is a Pride is a Pride, right? Wrong! This 10-day celebration of the arts, culture and sense of fun of the LGBT community really is one of the best Pride events I've ever attended. It seems to have just the right balance of really fun events, cultural events and even a stirring candlelit vigil to honor those taken away from us by HIV and AIDS.

Here are a few photos so you can get a sense the experience, but the best way to really do that is to plan now to attend. It's held the last week in August to coincide with a national bank holiday. It's especially fun to discover something new about England if you've already visited London or elsewhere in the United Kingdom. And the best part is the Mancs or Mancunians, as the locals are known: They are incredibly hospitable hosts!

I've written a short guide for enjoying Manchester beyond Pride. Click here to see it. For more official gay and lesbian trip-planning information from the Visit Manchester tourism folks, click here.

Getting there gay

To get to Manchester, I flew direct on American Airlines in business, which really is the only way to travel to  Europe or any destination that requires an overnight flight, and discovered that the American's gay and lesbian employee Group, GLEAM, was founded in 1994, thus celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. AA.com/rainbow, their dedicated LGBT-specific website, founded in 2006 and also a first for any major carrier, is still going strong. It's a great place to find exclusive offers for gay and lesbian travelers.

In addition to these, AA boasts a whole slew of LGBT-related firsts, like being the first major airline to implement same-sex domestic partner benefits in 2001. You can read more about it at AA.com/rainbow and book your next gaycation on a demonstrably gay and lesbian friendly airline. Also, it's worth nothing that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Admiral's Club.

Pridewatch: Amsterdam

Photos in Order: (1,4) copyright DutchAmsterdam.nl, (2) by Quentin Xerxes Zamfir, (3) courtesy Getty Images, (5) courtesy Geert van der Wijk
Story by Joseph Alexiou

One of Europe's gay-friendliest capitals, Amsterdam is host to a legendary pride celebration with unique parade floats that, in their utility, top almost any others across the globe: They actually float (!), because Amsterdam's Pride Parade takes place in its majestic canals.

Gay pride weekend is officially July 30 to August 2, with the official opening ceremony on Thursday at the city's famous Homomonument, one of the few permanent civil homages to queerdom. Located in Westemarkt, the 6 p.m. ceremony extends to midnight and will be officiated Frank van Dalen, the sexy former president of COC Nederland and an active member of VVD, a liberal dutch political party. Also unique to Amsterdam is the GreyPride party at Paleis van de Weemoed. This monthly fête celebrating LGBT's who are 40 and older will also take place on Thursday starting at 6 p.m.

 However Friday is the "first real party night" of  pride, with street parties along some of the many intricately named Amsterdam thoroughfares: the young and trendy gays will collect along Reguliersdwarsstraat and Amstel Westmarkt (near the monument), while women tend to gather along Paardenstraat. Other gay street parties will be going on at Thorbeckeplein and Amstelveld, popular streets for the general population of the city (the last two will be the most mixed of the parties).

Club Rapido's Reflexxx party and Club Exit's pride party are the main indoor events, while Furball will serve the bear community. The Next Door Dance women-only party will get down at Club Rain.

The Canal Parade on Saturday, August 1 requires no trucks, but 75 "spectacularly decorated boats with beautiful boys and girls." With over 350,000 spectators from the bridges, banks, and boats on the river, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., the party boats will drift by on the Prinsengracht and Amstel River.

Ever the party town, the highlight nighttime event will be Fresh at Club Marcanti—featuring beats by world-famous Israeli DJ Offer Nissim. Powerzone will feature the Amsterdam White Party while Bear Neccessity (muscle bears and lovers) will head to Club Odeon—while all of the Perverts will head over to Church (no, really; the leatherboy party "Perverts" takes place in Club Church).

 For those in need of nearby lodging, the four-star Eden Rambrant Square is very close to the gayborhood and the favored property by NightTours, an Amsterdam gay nightlife guide (and Pride organizer). Also recommended is the gay-owned Jolly Carlton. Located on Reguliersdwarsstraat, you can't get much closer to the party than this location.

With nothing but dancing and celebrating planned for 48 hours, the Sunday recovery party is a late afternoon celebration at the Stopera, with more artists and DJs and a very mixed and Amsterdam-ish crowd. For those with the strength still in them, the circuit party Rapido will start at Paradiso from around 5 p.m. until 2 a.m., for those who can't get enough "booze, boys and beats."

Pridewatch: Manchester

Photos Courtesy of Manchester Pride
Story by Joseph Alexiou

Across the Atlantic sea, as they say, is Manchester, the second city of England. Well known for its culture and vibrant nightlife, if you missed London Pride but still want to party with the rude boys, then you would do well to make it over there the weekend of August 28 for Manchester Pride.

And if that isn't enough to get your tweed vests out of the cedar closet, we have one word for you: Bananarama. That's right, the legendary 80's sensation will perform in the beginning of Pride Weekend.

But you have a whole week to travel, the festivities actually begin on Monday August 24 and continue on leading up to "The Big Weekend," as the Mancunians refer to the weekend of the parade. Additionally, our own Editor-in-Chief, Ed Salvato will be one of the specially invited attendees, a great opportunity to meet our resident travel expert first-hand! Tickets to the festival are £12.50 ($21) and can be purchased at www.manchesterpride.com/tickets (VIP tickets, which include three free drinks a day, exclusive views of the Main Stage and a luxury goody bag, are available on the website or by calling +44-1-612-367-474).

Some interesting pre-weekend happenings: the Lesbian and Gay Film Season at Cornerhouse; a Pride Gallery Tour; "Burlesque and drag king workshops and honest disucssions about sex" at Secrets of the Lady Garden; a pre-weekend canal bank run followed by eat and drinks; and short films dealing with trans issues by MORF and Transforum Manchester.

Once the Big Weekend rolls around, say goodbye to your Cruel Summer by dancing to Bananarama's Opening Ceremony show on Friday August 28. Other top festival acts include The Whip, The Blow Wave, and the newest electro-pop diva to hit the charts, Little Boots (performing Saturday—no need to upstage Bananarama!).

The parade itself is on Saturday, August 29 from 1-3 p.m. at the city centre (that's how they spell it in England!). You can bet your tuppence on some excellent color, sexy folks of all genders and orientiations, and all of the general parade insanity, including the undoubtably sexy Greater Manchester Fire Brigade—with any luck they'll require hosing down from the late-August heat.

After the parade, the Lifestyle Expo and Market Area will continue on through Monday, with lots of cute guys and gals hawking their products while heavily socializing. There's also the Sackville Gardens stage, which will be chock full of local bands and good old Manchester entertainment—local bands will play during the Sparkle space event on Saturday.

Partygoers will be happy with the list of great gay nightspots in the festival brochure—Manchester has a vibrant gay bar and club scene that will not disappoint those interested in late night revelry.

The celebrations culminate on Monday evening with the heavily attended candlelit George House Trust Vigil at 9 p.m. An AIDS memorial, quiet reflection in the idyllic Sackville Gardens is the "spiritual heart of the Macnchester Pride festival." Organizers describe the atmosphere as "magical and moving."

Looking for lodging? The Macdonal Manchester Hotel and Spa is a great 4-star property and is the official Manchester Pride partner, but there are a variety of great suggestions on the event website.

Girls do Toronto proud

Story by Aefa Mulholland. Photos by Aefa Mulholland (1, 2, 3) and Sian Davies (4).

There are some places girls really come out on top during Pride. After last weekend, I can happily report that Toronto is up there with San Francisco, New York, and Sydney for girl Pride antics. With hot girl bands aplenty, a lesbian pie eating competition, and a staggering slew of women’s parties, Toronto gets my vote as the top pride for girls. This year saw the boisterous Dyke March take over the streets on Saturday afternoon. Thousands thronged Yonge Street as the march strutted south in the sun. The 519 beer gardens teemed with hundreds of women all afternoon and until 11 p.m.

While the cast responsible for producing practically my entire back catalogue of 45s (from ABC to Wang Chung to Cutting Crew) graced Sunday’s stages, The Cliks, Esthero, Ferron and local garage rockers Dance Yourself To Death entertained the masses on Dyke Day. Gorgeous playwright Catherine Hernandez took to the stage as part of the Proud Voices Readings and read from her Dora-nominated (the Canadian equivalent of New York’s Tony Awards) play, Singkil. 

(Below: playwrights Mark Shyzer and Catherine Hernandez at the Proud Voices Readings)

Toronto’s is definitely not the Pride for indecisive Sapphic socialites. The list of girl parties on offer this weekend was incredible; Snatch, Apples, Lick-it, Libido, Girls with Grills, Cherry Bomb, The S-word, Concrete and Diamonds. On Saturday we hit Cherry Bomb – the official after party -- where 1200 queer women, gay boys, trans people, and friends milled, mingled, and cavorted to the sounds of DJs Denise Benson and Cozmic Cat, M.C. Benni E, and Philadelphia’s Fuse DJs Phoenix and Kit. The sounds were thrilling, the women stunning, and the atmosphere electric.

(Below: Hillary and Maggie at the 519 Beer Garden)

Sunday, my accomplices and I hit the the Beaver, a sliver of a bar in my neighborhood, West Queen West. A hot crowd of West End hipsters milled in the tiny bar and on the packed back patio, including local, queer indie names; singer Gentleman Reg, rapper/MC Nolan Natasha, Owen Pallett (of Final Fantasy), Katie Sketch and Jenny Smyth (formerly of the Organ), and writer Jennifer Code.

 

 

Doing Toronto Proud

Story and photos by Aefa Mulholland

(Above: Ahmed and Evan on Church Street, Toronto's Gay Village)

Without any doubt one of the world’s absolute top Pride celebrations, Pride Toronto celebrated its 29th thrilling year at the weekend with an astounding run of parties, parades, and events.

(Above: Hot bodies on Church Street)

Despite a rainy start to Sunday, the parade sashayed off in style and drew up to a million spectators. LGBT fire fighters, police, and representatives of all armed forces paraded down Yonge Street alongside politicians, Quebec’s Cirque du Soleil, and a fantastically, outrageously colorful slew of others.  

(Below: Toronto bike cop at the parade)

New York Gay Pride 2009

Pridewatch: Montréal

Photos in order (2, 5, 6) Courtesy of Montréal Pride, (3,4) courtesy Divers/Cité by Aydin Matlabi
Story by Joseph Alexiou

There's no denying it: we here at Out Traveler love Montréal. Quebec's premier gay destinations is holding two super LGBT events in the upcoming months: Diver/Cité in July 26 to August 1, and the main Pride, also known as Celebrations de la Fierté, from August 13 to 16. Originally one big Pride festival, the arts and music festival was so popular that it was split became its own unique event.

Divers/Cité, translatable French wordplay for "Diverse/City,"  bills itself as an modern, avant-garde arts festival. 55 hours of live shows, concerts and cinema screenings will run alongside photo exhibitions. Talented drag performers Joey Arias and Justin Bond (featuring Our Lady J) will perform in the Cabaret de Minuit's "New York Series." If that's not enough drag, Mascara, La Nuit des Drags features 80 performers, outdoors on the night of Saturday, August 1.

Spinning at various parties that night are world-class DJs David Morales (playing the Sunset Party and opening the D/C Party) and Peter Rauhofer, who will play the late night set at D/C from 4 to 10 a.m. For the ladies, Lesbomonde features all night partying, from the 7 p.m. Cocktail hour at Suco Lounge featuring DJ and vocalist Sandy Duperval, to the club night at Musée Juste pour rire. This features DJs Betti Forde, circuit fave Alyson Calagna, and JD Samson from Le Tigre (yet another New York visitor).

The numerous pride events begin officially on August 13, but the parties begin Friday with the loungy Bring Your Own Lesbian POP Fiesta. Saturday is all about the BBCM party in Altitude 737, a restaurant-club on top of Place Ville-Marie—these experts de la fête have brougth the kickoff to one of the city's biggest skyscrapers. Beginning at 1 p.m., the all-day event includes beautiful panoramic views and DJ Alain Jackinsky, Stéfane Lippé, and Patrick Guay. Those looking for free events can easily hit up Place Émilie-Gamelin, including the Café des Arts presentation of Per7eption and the work of Yvon Goulet and Kat Coric, who will perform live painting.

The parade itself begins on Sunday at 1 p.m., at Lorimier Avenue and René-Lévesque Boulevard East. The westward procession of leather and feathers will finish at Saint-Hubert Street, and celebrations continue at Parc Émilie-Gamelin (for a T-dance featuring, DJ Mark Anthony, Mexican sensation Oscar Belazquez and more Stéfane Lippé) and also Sainte-Catherine St. between Saint-Hubert and Papineau.

We could all use a few relaxing days in Montréal's very agréable summer climate and laid back culture—alors, allez-y directement, especially now that the U.S. dollar is worth $1.15 Canadian again—enfin! (finally!)

Video Postcards from EuroPride Zurich 2009!

Story and videos by Dennis Hensley

Regular Out Traveler columnist Dennis Hensley just got back from EuroPride 2009 in Zurich and sent us two typically hilarious -- yet very informative! -- video postcards from his trip.

Some 50,000 reportedly attended this weekend's Europride festival in "the little big city" of Zurich, Switzerland. OutTraveler's Dennis Hensley and his handy Flipvideo camera were there among the throng. In part one of his two-part video postcard, he meets Zurich's openly lesbian mayor, Corine Mauch, learns the difference between Mr. Switzerland and Mr. Gay Switzerland and chats up U.S. porn stud Johnny Hazzard on the "best night of his life."

Don't rain on our Europride parade!

In Part 2 of his video postcard from Zurich, Dennis Hensley pokes around the float prepping area, discovers his inner Showgirl, and floats a provocative theory about Euro-boys and their "nifty black jacket" obsession.

Pridewatch: Denver

Photos Courtesy of Denver Gay Pride
Story by Joseph Alexiou

If there was ever a sleeping gay giant in the United States, you would find him (or her...or hir!) at the Denver PrideFest, which takes place on the weekend of June 27-28. The 34th annual celebration will see an attendence of over 250,000 people, which includes the estimated 100,000 parade attendees—now that's nothing to turn your nose up at.

Although the week leading up to PrideFest has a few events, Saturday will kick off (spike off?) bright and early with an all-day volleyball tournament. Organized by the Colorada Gay Volleyball Association, the
 first game starts at 8 a.m. Other speciality events include the Denver Dyke March, taking place for the first time ever! Starting at 3 p.m. at Charlies, the march down Colfax will finish off with "women-focused entertainment" on two stages at Civic Center Park. The all-day stage lineup includes the Denver Women's Chorus, the Drag Kingz of Transcend, singer/songwriter Jill Brzezicki, the Shelvis & Dancehall Girlz Show, and more.

Saturday's celebrations also includes the Latino stage located at the corner of Colfax and Banno, with dance instruction, performances by Ballet Folklorico and haunting Mariachi music by Antonio Reyna. A day for family celebration, the Civic Center Park will have all sorts of entertainment for all ages, food and beverage stands, retail and commercial booths, and even a Dogs in Drag Parade (seriously!). For the main stage, SIRIUS radio personality Romain Paterson emcees,

However Sunday's parade, which expects up to 100,000 attendees, will begin at 10 a.m. at Cheesman Park and heads towards a second day of festivities at the Civic Center Park. The theme is "Worldwide Pride...Connect the Dots," which spreads awareness of pride events all over the globe: Denver's links up with Phillipino city Baguio. The after party, which has hosted big acts like Tiffany and Martha Wash in the past, will feature Cleopatra Jones, RuPaul's Drag Race finalist Nina Flowers, and several stage events featuring gay icon Matthew Rush.

If you're itching to see Colorado during the hot season, Denver Pride recommends three properties to rest your head: the Curtis Hotel and the Magnolia Hotel both offer special $99 a night rates for the events, just ask for the special PrideFest rate. There's also a Residence Inn that offers a special rate. Wake the sleeping giant, cause he (she? zee?) will want to party with the massive crowd at one of the United States' top ten Pride Celebrations!