My shameless annual pic with two of the hottest and sweetest guys in Dallas!
Links:
HX Gay Travel Expo in Dallas
We attended this expo in Dallas this year with John Tanzella of the IGLTA... enjoy the pics from the event!
Links:
Links:
IGLTA Convention - May 2008 - Las Vegas, NV
This was one of the most incredible IGLTA Conventions ever, with over 475 attendees breaking a new record in attendance.
The week started with us at the Ritz Carlton Resort in Lake Las Vegas... from there we enjoyed several days of touring Las Vegas daylife and nightlife, ending with a wild night at the Vegas Pride Parade and then at Krave.
The final night Gala at the Flamingo Resort was over the top, and ended what for many will be a Convention to Remember!
More photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mattskal/IGLTAMay2008LasVegas
The week started with us at the Ritz Carlton Resort in Lake Las Vegas... from there we enjoyed several days of touring Las Vegas daylife and nightlife, ending with a wild night at the Vegas Pride Parade and then at Krave.
The final night Gala at the Flamingo Resort was over the top, and ended what for many will be a Convention to Remember!
More photos here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mattskal/IGLTAMay2008LasVegas
IGLCC Conference in Montreal
Over 150 of us attended the first ever IGLCC Conference in Montreal April 24th - 26th, 2008. The conference was an incredible success and had companies ranging from IBM to ING represented there. We can't wait for the next conference in Copenhagen next year, tied in to the OutGames 2009.
More photos found here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mattskal/IGLCCApril2008Montreal
Link: www.iglcc.org
More photos found here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mattskal/IGLCCApril2008Montreal
Link: www.iglcc.org
The Pink Banana in Canada
Our trip started in Ottawa, where I met up with Bruce and Darrell of TravelGayCanada.com and the CGLCC (Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce). We got the rest of our team together and hit the road like true road warriors, telling the story of the GLBT Market from both a Canadian perspective and a more global online perspective. We then hit Kingston and Niagara, ending our presentations in the wonderful city of Toronto.
I had the pleasure of reconnecting with my dear friend and inn owner, Ric Tremaine, of the Gloucestor Inn in Toronto, and later that week, we did a presentation about Web 2.0 and the GLBT market to the folks at the Ontario Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, as seen below. John Kenyon, their president, was amazing and made the trip one of my highlights of 2008 (plus, he invited me earlier in the week to the ProudFM.com 1-year anniversary party at Circa and kept plying me with drink tickets, so perhaps that influenced me as well!).
Me presenting my PowerPoint
Great crowd!
Links:
www.TravelGayCanada.com
www.cglcc.ca
www.gloucestersquare.com
www.oglcc.com
www.inandoutmoments.com
www.bc3strategies.com
I had the pleasure of reconnecting with my dear friend and inn owner, Ric Tremaine, of the Gloucestor Inn in Toronto, and later that week, we did a presentation about Web 2.0 and the GLBT market to the folks at the Ontario Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, as seen below. John Kenyon, their president, was amazing and made the trip one of my highlights of 2008 (plus, he invited me earlier in the week to the ProudFM.com 1-year anniversary party at Circa and kept plying me with drink tickets, so perhaps that influenced me as well!).
Me presenting my PowerPoint
Great crowd!
Links:
www.TravelGayCanada.com
www.cglcc.ca
www.gloucestersquare.com
www.oglcc.com
www.inandoutmoments.com
www.bc3strategies.com
Spotlight on Gay Dallas 2008
Everything is Bigger in Texas! At least that's how the saying goes, and in Dallas' gay & lesbian community, they couldn't be more right. The city has the largest gay population in the state of Texas with approximately 120,000 GLBT residents. Dallas also boasts the largest gay & lesbian church in the world, the Cathedral of Hope, with over 30,000 national members.
As a work and business center, Dallas consistently ranks as one of the top labor markets in the US, with one of the youngest and most diverse populations in the country. Nineteen Fortune 500 companies are headquartered here in Dallas, and the Dallas / Ft. Worth airport is the 3rd busiest in the world. In addition, Dallas is technologically savvy, ranked as the 2nd most wired region in the US.
On the financial side, Dallas has no personal income tax and a low cost of living, leaving more "discretionary" income for personal enjoyment and travel.
Gay life in Dallas is found all throughout the city, but the Oak Lawn neighborhood on Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue, is the definite gay hub of Dallas. Sporting a wide variety of gay clubs, bars, restaurants and retail outlets, the Oak Lawn neighborhood is quite busy during the day but extraordinarily lively by night, especially on the weekends!
Popular bars and clubs include the Round-Up Saloon for those looking for a country-western flair, and S-4 for late night dancing and entertainment on multiple floors, Woody's, JR's and Mickey's for that neighborhood bar environment, Kaliente and Escandalo for the latin crowd, and Buddies II and Sue Ellen's for the ladies.
In the print media, Dallas has several major publications, the Dallas Voice, a local 20-year old fixture in the gay & lesbian community and GAB Magazine, covering news and entertainment all across Texas. The Dallas Voice has a readership of over 44,000 every Friday, and is distributed all throughout Dallas as well as over 80 7-Elevens throughout the city. They also publish the Dallas Voice Yellow Pages, a local gay & lesbian business directory and one of the oldest in the state of Texas. Some of the key individuals at the Dallas Voice and the TXT News Magazine include Robert Moore (Publisher), Leo Cusimano (Advertising Director), Kris Martin (Promotions Manager) and Daniel Kusner (Lifestyles Editor).
In business, Dallas has the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce with more than 250 business and corporate members including American Airlines, Best Buy, Texas Instruments, and Brinker International. Along with its publication partner, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Chamber publishes the Community Resource & Visitor Guide. The Chamber also produces networking events and educational programs. Its website www.glbtchamber.org provides a searchable directory of Chamber members, a community calendar and the area’s only GLBT focused job posting/employment program. The Chamber’s programs and operations are managed by its president, Tony Vedda. Its board of directors is made up of business people from a variety of business types and sizes; Sherry Briggs, a small business owner, currently serves as the Chairman of the Board, Derrick Brown, executive director of a nonprofit organization, is the Chairman-Elect. The Chamber serves as the business hub of Dallas and North Texas for the GLBT community.
Local companies with strong diversity initiatives for gay & lesbian employees include:
CEI Rating: HRC Corporate Equality Index is a tool to measure how equitably companies are treating their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.
The City of Dallas has enacted sexual orientation in their job discrimination civil rights laws as of 2002. They have also included a written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation in their employee handbook and they do have discrimination policies in place that cover same-sex couples and domestic partner benefits.
Unique to Dallas is the Dallas Tavern Guild, a gay business organization bringing the various gay bars and clubs of Dallas together for fundraising and events. Founded in 1984 as resource for organizing the nightclub businesses in Dallas, the Dallas Tavern Guild is one of the key gay business leaders of Dallas. Michael Doughman, the current Executive Director of the organization, has a long and storied history with gay Dallas goes back to the early years when gay business life and fundraising here in this city was just starting. The Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade is one of the most notable events produced by the Dallas Tavern Guild and named for its founder. Each year, 20-25,000 people gather to celebrate this September Pride Event that culminates with a Rally in historic Lee Park.
The Parade is part of a weekend celebration in mid September that includes Gay Day at Six Flags, a community sponsored event spearheaded by the Dallas Voice. Each year more and more regional GLBT members and families attend this festive celebration held the day before the parade and rally at the popular Arlington theme park. Also, the day before the parade as an early-morning offering there is the Pride Run, a 5k run through the streets of Oak Lawn, coordinated by The Front Runners, a locally gay and lesbian running club.
Every year, the Dallas-Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner is held. This event and organization is a non-profit that raises funds for gay & lesbian supportive organizations, and in 2004 raised over $1,000,000 for 20 local beneficiaries and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). In fact, the HRC, the largest national gay and lesbian advocacy organization, recently honored the Dallas-Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner as the premier fundraising event in the country. With an average attendance of over 3,000 guests during the past decade, the Dallas-Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner is the largest formal sit-down dinner of its kind in the country both in attendance and charitable contributions. Since 1982, Black Tie has distributed over $8 million to local gay and lesbian charities and the HRC.
It should be pointed out that this event is often held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, one of the largest hotel and conference centers in the region, offering more than 341,000 square feet of space including 6 major ballrooms, 76 meeting rooms and 128,600 square feet of exhibit and function space.
For smaller local events, as well as to stay in the heart of the Oak Lawn district, the Melrose Hotel is an excellent venue (www.MelroseHotel.com).
As was mentioned in the beginning of this article, the largest gay & lesbian church in the world is found in Dallas, the Cathedral of Hope. Founded in 1970 by a circle of twelve friends, the Cathedral of Hope has grown into one of the most important ministries of faith for gays & lesbians of all denominations. Average weekly attendance is now over 1,500 with almost $200,000 in contributions offered monthly by parishioners. Of note is that the average age of attendees is considerably lower than that of most churches, owing to the Cathedral of Hope's outreach to youth organizations in the region. The plans are now underway for a major expansion which will place the Cathedral of Hope on the map as one of the most influential religious organizations worldwide.
Major events held annually here in Dallas include the Dallas Purple Party, a major party on the gay circuit, held each year at the end of April. The Texas Circuit Boyz also hold a variety of events each year including Valley of the Dolls and Skeleton's Ball held in October. The annual Gay Pride festival is also one of the larger ones in the region, held annually in September. Out Takes, the local gay & lesbian film festival, started in 1999 and has grown to become one of the leading gay & lesbian film festivals in the US. The film festival is held annually in November.
Lastly, Dallas has its own John Thomas Gay & Lesbian Community Center, offering a local focal point for the variety of gay & lesbian organizations found throughout the greater Dallas area. Offering meeting rooms to accommodate up to 150, as well as a local hotline and switchboard and an archives and research library, the John Thomas Community Center serves a vital and important purpose for Dallas gay & lesbian community. It is aptly named in memory of the gay rights activist and leader of the Dallas community for many years. The memorial bell wall at the Cathedral of Hope also bears his name.
PRINT
Dallas Voice: www.DallasVoice.com
Gab Weekly: www.GabWeekly.com
Dallas Voice Yellow Pages: www.GayYellow.com
EVENTS
Black Tie Dinner: www.BlackTieDinner.org
Dallas Black Gay Pride: www.DallasBlackGayPride.com
Dallas Gay Pride: www.DallasPrideParade.com
Dallas Purple Party: www.DallasPurpleParty.com
Out Takes Dallas: www.OutTakesDallas.org
Texas Circuit Boyz: www.TexasCircuitBoyz.com
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
Dallas CVB: www.GLBTDallas.com
Dallas Tavern Guild: www.DallasTavernGuild.org
North Texas GLBT Chamber: www.GLBTChamber.org
ORGANIZATIONS
Cathedral of Hope: www.CathedralofHope.com
Caven’s Party @ The Block: www.caven.com
Dallas Gay & Lesbian Alliance: www.dgla.com
Dallas Gay & Lesbian Bar Assoc.: www.dglba.org
DIFFA/Dallas: www.DIFFADallas.org
Gay & Lesbian Residents of Oak Cliff: www.galroc.org
Gay Men's Chorus: www.TurtleCreek.org
GLSEN Dallas: www.GLSENDallas.org
Home For The Holidays: www.HomeForTheHolidaysTexas.org
PFLAG Dallas: www.PFLAGDallas.org
Resource Center of Dallas: www.RCDallas.org
Women's Chorus of Dallas: www.twcd.org
Youth First Texas: www.YouthFirstTexas.org
SPORTS
Oak Lawn Ski & Scuba Club: www.olssc.org
Oak Lawn Soccer Club: www.OakLawnSoccerClub.org
Team Dallas Aquatics: www.TeamDallasAquatics.com
Texas State Gay Rodeo: www.TexasGayRodeo.org
Texas Twisters: www.TexasTwisters.org
Dallas Independent Volleyball Association: www.divadallas.org
Dallas Diablos RFC (Rugby): www.dallasdiablos.org
Pegasus Slowpitch Softball Association: www.dallaspssa.org
As a work and business center, Dallas consistently ranks as one of the top labor markets in the US, with one of the youngest and most diverse populations in the country. Nineteen Fortune 500 companies are headquartered here in Dallas, and the Dallas / Ft. Worth airport is the 3rd busiest in the world. In addition, Dallas is technologically savvy, ranked as the 2nd most wired region in the US.
On the financial side, Dallas has no personal income tax and a low cost of living, leaving more "discretionary" income for personal enjoyment and travel.
Gay life in Dallas is found all throughout the city, but the Oak Lawn neighborhood on Cedar Springs Road and Oak Lawn Avenue, is the definite gay hub of Dallas. Sporting a wide variety of gay clubs, bars, restaurants and retail outlets, the Oak Lawn neighborhood is quite busy during the day but extraordinarily lively by night, especially on the weekends!
Popular bars and clubs include the Round-Up Saloon for those looking for a country-western flair, and S-4 for late night dancing and entertainment on multiple floors, Woody's, JR's and Mickey's for that neighborhood bar environment, Kaliente and Escandalo for the latin crowd, and Buddies II and Sue Ellen's for the ladies.
In the print media, Dallas has several major publications, the Dallas Voice, a local 20-year old fixture in the gay & lesbian community and GAB Magazine, covering news and entertainment all across Texas. The Dallas Voice has a readership of over 44,000 every Friday, and is distributed all throughout Dallas as well as over 80 7-Elevens throughout the city. They also publish the Dallas Voice Yellow Pages, a local gay & lesbian business directory and one of the oldest in the state of Texas. Some of the key individuals at the Dallas Voice and the TXT News Magazine include Robert Moore (Publisher), Leo Cusimano (Advertising Director), Kris Martin (Promotions Manager) and Daniel Kusner (Lifestyles Editor).
In business, Dallas has the North Texas GLBT Chamber of Commerce with more than 250 business and corporate members including American Airlines, Best Buy, Texas Instruments, and Brinker International. Along with its publication partner, the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Chamber publishes the Community Resource & Visitor Guide. The Chamber also produces networking events and educational programs. Its website www.glbtchamber.org provides a searchable directory of Chamber members, a community calendar and the area’s only GLBT focused job posting/employment program. The Chamber’s programs and operations are managed by its president, Tony Vedda. Its board of directors is made up of business people from a variety of business types and sizes; Sherry Briggs, a small business owner, currently serves as the Chairman of the Board, Derrick Brown, executive director of a nonprofit organization, is the Chairman-Elect. The Chamber serves as the business hub of Dallas and North Texas for the GLBT community.
Local companies with strong diversity initiatives for gay & lesbian employees include:
| Company | CEI Rating* | Fortune 500 Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliated Computer Services | 80 | 424 |
| American Airlines | 100 | 101 |
| BNSF Railway Co. | 30 | 157 |
| Brinker International | 100 | 502 |
| Dean Foods | 73 | 246 |
| EDS | 90 | 111 |
| Haynes and Boone | 75 | |
| Hotels.com | 85 | |
| JC Penney | 100 | 116 |
| Kimberly Clark | 85 | 137 |
| Nokia | 50 | |
| Radio Shack | 40 | 466 |
| Southwest Airlines | 90 | 276 |
| Texas Instruments | 75 | 162 |
CEI Rating: HRC Corporate Equality Index is a tool to measure how equitably companies are treating their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.
The City of Dallas has enacted sexual orientation in their job discrimination civil rights laws as of 2002. They have also included a written non-discrimination policy covering sexual orientation in their employee handbook and they do have discrimination policies in place that cover same-sex couples and domestic partner benefits.
Unique to Dallas is the Dallas Tavern Guild, a gay business organization bringing the various gay bars and clubs of Dallas together for fundraising and events. Founded in 1984 as resource for organizing the nightclub businesses in Dallas, the Dallas Tavern Guild is one of the key gay business leaders of Dallas. Michael Doughman, the current Executive Director of the organization, has a long and storied history with gay Dallas goes back to the early years when gay business life and fundraising here in this city was just starting. The Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade is one of the most notable events produced by the Dallas Tavern Guild and named for its founder. Each year, 20-25,000 people gather to celebrate this September Pride Event that culminates with a Rally in historic Lee Park.
The Parade is part of a weekend celebration in mid September that includes Gay Day at Six Flags, a community sponsored event spearheaded by the Dallas Voice. Each year more and more regional GLBT members and families attend this festive celebration held the day before the parade and rally at the popular Arlington theme park. Also, the day before the parade as an early-morning offering there is the Pride Run, a 5k run through the streets of Oak Lawn, coordinated by The Front Runners, a locally gay and lesbian running club.
Every year, the Dallas-Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner is held. This event and organization is a non-profit that raises funds for gay & lesbian supportive organizations, and in 2004 raised over $1,000,000 for 20 local beneficiaries and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). In fact, the HRC, the largest national gay and lesbian advocacy organization, recently honored the Dallas-Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner as the premier fundraising event in the country. With an average attendance of over 3,000 guests during the past decade, the Dallas-Fort Worth Black Tie Dinner is the largest formal sit-down dinner of its kind in the country both in attendance and charitable contributions. Since 1982, Black Tie has distributed over $8 million to local gay and lesbian charities and the HRC.
It should be pointed out that this event is often held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, one of the largest hotel and conference centers in the region, offering more than 341,000 square feet of space including 6 major ballrooms, 76 meeting rooms and 128,600 square feet of exhibit and function space.
For smaller local events, as well as to stay in the heart of the Oak Lawn district, the Melrose Hotel is an excellent venue (www.MelroseHotel.com).
As was mentioned in the beginning of this article, the largest gay & lesbian church in the world is found in Dallas, the Cathedral of Hope. Founded in 1970 by a circle of twelve friends, the Cathedral of Hope has grown into one of the most important ministries of faith for gays & lesbians of all denominations. Average weekly attendance is now over 1,500 with almost $200,000 in contributions offered monthly by parishioners. Of note is that the average age of attendees is considerably lower than that of most churches, owing to the Cathedral of Hope's outreach to youth organizations in the region. The plans are now underway for a major expansion which will place the Cathedral of Hope on the map as one of the most influential religious organizations worldwide.
Major events held annually here in Dallas include the Dallas Purple Party, a major party on the gay circuit, held each year at the end of April. The Texas Circuit Boyz also hold a variety of events each year including Valley of the Dolls and Skeleton's Ball held in October. The annual Gay Pride festival is also one of the larger ones in the region, held annually in September. Out Takes, the local gay & lesbian film festival, started in 1999 and has grown to become one of the leading gay & lesbian film festivals in the US. The film festival is held annually in November.
Lastly, Dallas has its own John Thomas Gay & Lesbian Community Center, offering a local focal point for the variety of gay & lesbian organizations found throughout the greater Dallas area. Offering meeting rooms to accommodate up to 150, as well as a local hotline and switchboard and an archives and research library, the John Thomas Community Center serves a vital and important purpose for Dallas gay & lesbian community. It is aptly named in memory of the gay rights activist and leader of the Dallas community for many years. The memorial bell wall at the Cathedral of Hope also bears his name.
Dallas Voice: www.DallasVoice.com
Gab Weekly: www.GabWeekly.com
Dallas Voice Yellow Pages: www.GayYellow.com
EVENTS
Black Tie Dinner: www.BlackTieDinner.org
Dallas Black Gay Pride: www.DallasBlackGayPride.com
Dallas Gay Pride: www.DallasPrideParade.com
Dallas Purple Party: www.DallasPurpleParty.com
Out Takes Dallas: www.OutTakesDallas.org
Texas Circuit Boyz: www.TexasCircuitBoyz.com
BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
Dallas CVB: www.GLBTDallas.com
Dallas Tavern Guild: www.DallasTavernGuild.org
North Texas GLBT Chamber: www.GLBTChamber.org
ORGANIZATIONS
Cathedral of Hope: www.CathedralofHope.com
Caven’s Party @ The Block: www.caven.com
Dallas Gay & Lesbian Alliance: www.dgla.com
Dallas Gay & Lesbian Bar Assoc.: www.dglba.org
DIFFA/Dallas: www.DIFFADallas.org
Gay & Lesbian Residents of Oak Cliff: www.galroc.org
Gay Men's Chorus: www.TurtleCreek.org
GLSEN Dallas: www.GLSENDallas.org
Home For The Holidays: www.HomeForTheHolidaysTexas.org
PFLAG Dallas: www.PFLAGDallas.org
Resource Center of Dallas: www.RCDallas.org
Women's Chorus of Dallas: www.twcd.org
Youth First Texas: www.YouthFirstTexas.org
SPORTS
Oak Lawn Ski & Scuba Club: www.olssc.org
Oak Lawn Soccer Club: www.OakLawnSoccerClub.org
Team Dallas Aquatics: www.TeamDallasAquatics.com
Texas State Gay Rodeo: www.TexasGayRodeo.org
Texas Twisters: www.TexasTwisters.org
Dallas Independent Volleyball Association: www.divadallas.org
Dallas Diablos RFC (Rugby): www.dallasdiablos.org
Pegasus Slowpitch Softball Association: www.dallaspssa.org
Gay and Lesbian Social Networking
Advertising - Marketing - Community
For the full-color PDF version of this story, go here:
http://www.PinkBananaMedia.com/pdf/gmg2008-dallas.pdf
To subscribe to the PBM Monthly Gay Business Report, go here:
http://www.PinkBananaMedia.com/BusinessReport/
For the annual PBM Gay Market Report, go here:
http://www.PinkBananaMedia.com/MarketReport/
April 2008 Gay Business Report Now Available
In This IssueTechnology
Facebook vs. LinkedIn: Which is Better for Professional Networking, Job Hunting and Collaboration?
This in-depth review investigates how the two social networking sites compare for business purposes
Travel Industry
Highlighting some of the current trends and the market research focused on the GLBT Travel Community, with updates from Community Marketing, Witeck-Combs and a special feature from Jeff Guaracino, author of Gay & Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide to Marketing. Offering a comprehensive look at the business of travel in the GLBT marketplace.
Spotlight on Dallas
Everything is bigger in Texas! Featuring a fully updated summary of GLBT life in Dallas, from a business perspective. Focusing on the ever-growing number of companies now scoring a perfect 100 on the HRC Corporate Equality Index, as well as the variety of resources available in this region supporting both the smaller GLBT business community and those corporations wishing to target the GLBT consumer.
Spotlight on Gay Hawaii
Each year, the "Aloha State" welcomes millions of visitors from all over the world. Some even come to Hawaii on vacation and decide to stay after realizing the isolated islands have more to offer than a temporary escape. From beaches to nightlife, local foods to the generous doses of sunny skies, Hawaii offers the GLBT community a unique variety of activities that will have them coming back for more, if not staying altogether! Oahu, home to most of Hawaii's population, is the best island for visitors looking to pack the most tourist punch into a short amount of time. For the most concentration of Hawaiian GLBT life, for instance, you really don't need to leave Honolulu's tourist Mecca: Waikiki! You can get a local beach outing, authentic Asian/Pacific cuisine and international designer shopping experience all in one day.
For the seasoned "shopaholic," Waikiki is a virtual buffet of boutiques: High-end designers targeting the Japanese market have their best Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Diesel on display. But Waikiki's best-hidden secret lies in its quirky vintage stores, such as 88 Tees and Spark. They don't always have thrifty prices, but if you're on the lookout for vintage Adidas and Nike not found since 1985, these stores-and Waikiki-should be on your travel agenda.
For bargain-hunters there is the Duty-Free Galleria, where the first two floors are open to the public while the exclusive higher floors are open only to shoppers with international tickets. Visitors also should visit the International Marketplace, home to hundreds of kiosks selling kitchy Hawaiian essentials like beach towels and dashboard hula-girls! Don't leave your bartering skills at home, because you won't be happy leaving this place until you convince a few merchants to bring down their prices.
Choosing from hundreds of hotels sprinkled around town can be confusing, but finding gay-friendly accommodations is a much easier task. The Cabana at Waikiki, located near Waikiki beach, has long been considered a premier gay-friendly hotel. Secluded off main roads, The Cabana's 15 one-bedroom suites (which include kitchenettes) are perfectly situated near Queen's Beach.
Named after Queen Kapioloni, Queen's Beach is the best place to find local gay and lesbian beach bunnies. It is also known as a dependable surf location, so there is never a shortage of hot surf bodies roaming the beach.
Going back toward the hotels you can grab a bite along Waikiki's dense choice of restaurants specializing in everything from seafood and sushi to burgers. If you'd like to visit a gay-friendly eatery, Paniolo Grill - located right in the heart of Queen's Beach - is a perfect place to nibble on snack foods like hot dogs, nachos and ice cream.
Another gay-friendly hotel can be found in The Grand Waikiki. It boasts an ideal location, just across the street from Kapiolani Park and the Honolulu Zoo. The hotel offers affordable rentals that include all the amenities you could ask for. Conveniently housed within The Grand Waikiki is 80% Straight, a gay boutique with the latest in beach wear and club wear. Also located in the Grand is Hula's Bar and Lei Stand, Hawaii's oldest and most famous gay bar and nightclub. Tourists and locals mingle over mai tais while keeping an eye on the panoramic view of Diamond Head Crater and Waikiki beach. If you're lucky enough to be in town Thursday through Sunday, you'll have the chance to see the 808 Boys, a troupe of go-go dancers who rule the stage and have even collected their own group of dedicated admirers.
After you've experienced Hula's, trek over to Angles or Tapas, both located on busy Kuhio Street. There you can catch another drink or perform karaoke before making your way next door to Fusion Waikiki Nightclub. Fusion is the only gay club in Honolulu open until 4 a.m. and is known for its two-story, bass-thumping dance floors where, by the end of the night, most party-goers are still dancing with their shirts off. Fusion features all-male strip shows and drag shows on both Friday and Saturday. Another venue for lovers of drag shows is Venus Nightclub, located just outside of Waikiki, which caters to the gay crowd on Saturdays.
If you need to get on the Internet, a great place to check your e-mail and sip your latte is gay-owned Café G, located on the other edge of Waikiki. While there, don't forget to visit Honolulu's famous gay-owned Diamond Head Video, which is always well stocked with and ready to satisfy any and all of your fantasies.
The Aloha Bears are a big part of the GLBT Hawaii community. Every second Sunday of the month they host their own two-hour Catamaran cruise. Visit alohabear.org for more information on the group and their outings.
To satisfy your artsy side, Honolulu boasts two major film festivals during the year: the Louis Vuitton Hawaii International Film Festival and the Rainbow Film Festival.
In the last few years, Honolulu's Chinatown has had a major revival with the opening of new bars and clubs. Fridays are the best nights to mingle with the über-trendy young professionals, culture afficionatos, metro-sexuals and power gays after they get off of work downtown. On "First Fridays," the first Friday of every month, the Chinatown streets flood with locals and tourists alike who flock to the open art galleries. Some places not to miss while downtown: Indigos for their cozy ambience and extended wine and martini menu and Club Next Door if you're looking to hear underground house music and dance all night long. Other gay-friendly places in the area include Red Dragon, with its live jazz performances, or nearby karaoke dive, Kekai's.
If you want to check out a more local hangout, go to the Kaimuki neighborhood. Just stay on the main road of Waialea Avenue and you will discover a diversified range in its restaurant row to satisfy any palate. There are many "mom and pop" restaurants that have been favorites for generations as well as newer, trendy ones like Town Restaurant, the only Hawaii entry on this year`s Conde Nast "Hot List" of new restaurants.
The best thing about Oahu is that you can have that relaxing island getaway you were looking for and still have the cultural and party experience seen in other major metropolitan cities. Of course, although there's enough on Oahu to last an entire trip, there's also plenty to see and do on its neighboring islands.
Take Maui, which offers a little more relaxing experience than Oahu. Catching a helicopter ride is the best way to see the entire beauty of this island's lush greenery. And while it is possible to see most of this island without a rental car, it is best to have one so you can take a beautiful scenic drive. Nature lovers can take advantage of guided eco-tours and nature hikes, or go horseback riding along the beach or by waterfalls.
When visiting Maui, visitors should not miss Front Street in historic Lahaina Town, which still preserves much of the charm of its old whaling days. Stop by on of its surf, bath and body shops, then stop in any one of the town's waterfront eateries and catch a great meal and a perfect sunset. Another historical town worth your time is Makawao, an alternative community of cowboys and new-age hippies, with galleries, boutiques and restaurants.
The Maui Sunseeker, located in the south shores of Kihei, is the perfect hotel for any visitor who wants to stay in a gay-owned and operated location. From one of their 16 newly renovated rooms you can stroll along Mai Poina 'Oe La'u Beach. The hotel also is a short drive to "Little Beach" at Makena. Once you get to the beach, make a right and keep going to the end. You may also catch some nude sunbathing, although it's not technically permitted.
The best nightclub on Maui is Hapa's, a straight bar that hosts a gay night every Tuesday.
If you're looking for an even more tropical vacation, Kauai was made for you. The island's waterfalls, sea cliffs, arid canyons and scores of beautiful white sand beaches will take your breath away. You will regret not taking a helicopter ride through the scenic Waimea Canyon, which take you along the waterfalls and sea cliffs of the Na Pali coast and the crater of Mount Waialeale, which are not accessible by road.
The Kauai gay and lesbian community is smaller then on other islands, but it's definitely alive.
Grab a coffee at a local lesbian-owned and operated Small Town Coffee Company in old Kapaa Town in the old Roxy Square. Likewise, Donkey Beach, located North of Kapaa, has a mixed crowd but is also a local gay favorite (sunbathe nude at your own risk).
Kauai, as well as Maui, does a great deal of business each year performing civil ceremonies for gay couples. If you're feeling like taking your relationship to the next level, what could be more romantic than to commit to one another with a tropical or beach landscape as your backdrop?
For what it lacks in nightlife, Kauai makes up with its art. Every Friday is Art Night in historic Hanapepe, "Kauai's biggest little town," where several galleries and retail stores stay open late into the cooler evening hours. Take a mellow stroll while listening to music or take the opportunity to meet local artists and gallery owners.
Hawaii, or the Big Island, is best known for having the world's most active volcano, Kilauea. It constantly enriches the soil, producing the deliciously famous gourmet Kona coffee and macadamia nuts. The volcano also produces the black sand beaches and picturesque waterfalls the state is known for.
The island is one of the most ecologically diverse environments in the world, ranging from the desert plains of Ka'u, to the rain forests above Hilo, to snowcapped Mauna Kea-none of which should be missed on your trip to Hawaii. Just remember to bring a complete wardrobe for the widely varying temperatures.
The Big Island has several GLBT hotels from which to choose. Absolute Paradise B&B is located in the Puna District, along the southeast coast, and its owners are especially proud all of their rooms have ocean views. They're also conveniently located near Kehena Beach, the clothing-optional and gay-friendly beach that has breathtaking black lava rock beaches. Remember to bring your hiking shoes to walk their trails. If you are looking for a getaway more focused on nature and health, check out Kalani Oceanside Resort-Retreat, which offers workshops and classes in yoga and hula, to name a few.
Raw nature is the Big Island's best asset. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo are some of the biggest draws on the island. Sports lovers may like to know this island is known as the "Golf Capital of Hawaii," with over 20 golf courses and several more scheduled for construction. For the ultra athletic type, the island hosts possibly the most famous triathlon in the world, the annual Ironman World Championship.
If you need a drink to finish off your active day, drop by the Mask Bar. Located in the Kopika Plaza in Kailua-Kona, this is the island's only gay bar and one of its best.
- DaKine Magazine: www.dakinemagazine.com
- Odyssey Magazine Hawaii: www.odysseyhawaii.com
- www.gayhawaii.com
- www.hawaiiG.com
- www.outspokenhawaii.com
- www.outinhawaii.com
- www.hawaiipridemagazine.com
- Maui Gay Pride: www.mauipride.com
- Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival: www.hglcf.org
- The Center Hawaii: www.thecenterhawaii.org
- Maui AIDS Foundation: www.mauiaids.org
- Aloha Bears: www.AlohaBears.org
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