NY Travel Expo to Feature Gay Travel Panels (from www.gayapolis.com)
If you've got the travel bug, be sure to be at the Javits Convention Center in New York City February 27-28 for the New York Times Travel Show and expo.
With over 500 exhibiting companies, five Regions of the World Pavilion Stages, seven Travel Trade Conferences featuring 34 conference sessions, the Travel Industry Reception, 24 Consumer Conference sessions, and the Tourism Cares live auction benefiting the September 11 Memorial and Museum Fund, there will be no shortage of informative avenues to help you hone your knowledge and skills as a jet-set world traveler.
Most important, don't miss the two LGBT conferences that weekend cohosted by PlanetOut Travel contributor and gay travel guru Ed Salvato and friends. The world's foremost gay and lesbian travel experts will update you on the world's gay-friendliest destinations, hotels, cruises, airlines, and more. Attendees will also have access to special deals and offers available exclusively to gay travel panel audience members.
If you've got the travel bug, be sure to be at the Javits Convention Center in New York City February 27-28 for the New York Times Travel Show and expo.
With over 500 exhibiting companies, five Regions of the World Pavilion Stages, seven Travel Trade Conferences featuring 34 conference sessions, the Travel Industry Reception, 24 Consumer Conference sessions, and the Tourism Cares live auction benefiting the September 11 Memorial and Museum Fund, there will be no shortage of informative avenues to help you hone your knowledge and skills as a jet-set world traveler.
Most important, don't miss the two LGBT conferences that weekend cohosted by PlanetOut Travel contributor and gay travel guru Ed Salvato and friends. The world's foremost gay and lesbian travel experts will update you on the world's gay-friendliest destinations, hotels, cruises, airlines, and more. Attendees will also have access to special deals and offers available exclusively to gay travel panel audience members.
Read the Full Story：www.gayapolis.com
New York City Gay Men's Chorus in Financial Trouble (from www.towleroad.com/)
The New York City Gay Men's Chorus is struggling to stay afloat due to "severe financial problems" according to a press release from the group, which was founded in 1979 and was the first gay chorus to perform in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, the first American gay chorus to tour Europe, and the first to have a recording contract with a major label.
The findings come from a study of 96,128 men, 66 years or older, who underwent cataract surgery in Ontario, Canada from 2002 to 2007. Of these patients, 3550 had taken tamsulosin within 14 days of surgery and 7426 had recent taken other so-called alpha-blocking agents.
Said Rick Clodfelter, Chairman of the Board of Big Apple Performing Arts, Inc., the umbrella organization for the NYCGMC: “Like so many nonprofit arts organizations in this economic downturn, we are hurting. Decreasing donations, limited resources and the rising costs of production make it more difficult than ever for a community arts organization to survive. Our goal is to raise $500,000 to enable us to retire debt, proceed with our 30th season and ensure we are better positioned to advocate for equality in the future...Artistically, we are the best we’ve been in years due to the direction of Dr. Charles Beale, former director of the London Gay Men’s Chorus, who joined us two years ago. However, NYCGMC has always been about much more than putting singers on a stage. At a time when LGBT visibility wasn’t as prevalent as it is today, the Chorus provided an opportunity for New Yorkers to see out, proud gay men on stage. Today that seems commonplace, but thirty years ago, it was revolutionary. And just as the LGBT movement has evolved, today the Chorus voices its support for marriage equality, LGBTQ youth support and other issues relevant to the community."
Read the Full Story：www.towleroad.com/
Gay Tel Aviv (from Cleveland Indy Media Center)
NEW YORK - Tel Aviv welcomes gay tourists
It's not the first image that comes to mind when you think of the Middle East.
Thousands of gay people and their supporters marching through streets decorated with rainbow flags to a beach packed for a gay pride festival. But that was the scene last weekend in Tel Aviv as Israel's Mediterranean metropolis greeted its 11th Pride celebration that is coinciding this year with the city's 100th birthday.
Tel Aviv is one of the most gay-friendly cites in the world. Although there are no official numbers, estimates put the gay population at anywhere from 15 percent to 30 percent. The city's population is estimated at 391,000.
That political clout has translated into the city building and fully funding its LGBT center and footing the bill for the Pride parade. Tel Aviv's mayor, Ron Huldai, told the Bay Area Reporter last week that his city very much welcomes gay tourism.
When hearing that this reporter was from San Francisco, Huldai said, "You are the capital of the [gay] community."
When asked if he had ever been to San Francisco, Huldai, said, "Yes, I like San Francisco very much."
Gays in Tel Aviv are not only protected by the city government, but by the Israeli government.
Read the Full Story：Cleveland Indy Media Center
Flomax linked to cataract surgery complications (from www.reuters.com)
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older men who take tamsulosin -- better known by the brand name Flomax -- for BPH or benign prostate enlargement within 14 days of cataract surgery have a somewhat increased risk for complications, according to a report in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association.
Other similar medications do not increase the risk of these complications -- which include lens loss, retinal detachment, and inflammation -- according to Dr. Chaim M. Bell, from St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, and colleagues.
The findings come from a study of 96,128 men, 66 years or older, who underwent cataract surgery in Ontario, Canada from 2002 to 2007. Of these patients, 3550 had taken tamsulosin within 14 days of surgery and 7426 had recent taken other so-called alpha-blocking agents.
Overall, 284 patients experienced an adverse event related to cataract surgery, and 280 of them were matched by age, surgeon, and year of surgery to 1102 patients who did not experience complications.
The report shows that the patients with complications were 2.3 times more likely to have recently taken tamsulosin than the comparison group. By contrast, no significant differences were noted in recent or prior exposure to other alpha-blockers.
The researchers calculate that for every 255 cataract surgery patients who have recently taken tamsulosin, 1 will develop a serious postop complication.
Read the Full Story：www.reuters.com
Dutchess receives $1.4 million in HIV/AIDS funding (from www.midhudsonnews.com)
POUGHKEEPSIE - Dutchess County has been awarded more than $1.4 million for the development and expansion systems of care to meet the primary care needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS, including racial and ethnic minorities disproportionately impacted.
“Dutchess County has been a proactive participant in the national Ryan White initiative to mitigate the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic,” said County Executive William Steinhaus. “These funds enable us to maintain the community capacity we have built and provide the needed services that would be difficult to achieve relying solely on our local budget funds.”
The awards include $1.3 million from the 2009 PART A Title I funding stream of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006, and $115,000 made available through the Minority AIDS Initiative of the same Act.
The Ryan White Program was amended in December 2006, when Congress established a new competitive Minority AIDS Initiative grant program in response to the growing and disproportionate impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in some minority communities. The most recent data available from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows racial and ethnic minorities represent the highest number of new AIDS cases nationwide, and 70 percent of people living with AIDS. HIV disease has become a leading cause of death for African Americans.
Read the Full Story：www.midhudsonnews.com
New York City Launches Gay-Friendly Travel Deals (from travel.latimes.com)
New York City's marketing arm is reaching out in an international effort to promote gay travel to the Big Apple. NY1's Valarie D'Elia filed the following report.
The arches of the rainbow will be spanning the continents this year as NYC & Company embarks on a multi-million dollar advertising campaign to solidify the city's place as the number one destination for gay and lesbian travel.
The Big Apple commands almost one quarter share of all gay leisure travel and has a reputation for being very gay-friendly.
The "Rainbow Pilgrimage" initiative is timed to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in Greenwich Village, which sparked the Gay Rights movement and the resulting Gay Pride Celebration that takes place annually in late June.
The tourism campaign will reach out domestically as well, to the gay market in Canada, Great Britain and Spain. It will emphasize a visit to New York as a "rite of passage" for the gay and lesbian traveler.
A special micro website includes listings of gay landmarks, gay-friendly restaurants, clubs and a calendar of events, as well as a Travelocity booking engine.
Now here's a D'Elia's Deal you don't want to miss to make a rainbow pilgrimage visit to New York City. Buy one night at any one of 26 participating New York City hotels or one ticket to an attraction or Broadway show and get the second for half off.
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Read the Full Story：travel.latimes.com
International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association partnered with Cruise Lines International Association
(from Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida)
Florida — The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) are proud to announce a new cooperative agreement that will bring the two organizations together on a variety of educational, marketing and member recruitment opportunities.
Under the new agreement, IGLTA and CLIA will not only exchange memberships, but also work together to identify prospective members and joint visibility opportunities in domestic and international markets. Both organizations will support and recognize each other as industry partners at their respective events and annual conventions, including registrations and trade show exposition space.
“With a growing and diversifying membership, IGLTA and its leaders have been focused on increasing the organization’s strategic ties within the travel industry, and this new partnership with CLIA is a major component of that continued outreach,” said IGLTA Executive Director John Tanzella. “I have no doubt that our working together is going to mean many great things for both our membership rosters and the industry at large.”
Read the Full Story：Steve Rothaus' Gay South Florida
As America’s seventh largest city, San Diego ranks fifth as the most visited – and for good reason. With the best climate in North America, averaging 70 degrees year-round, it sits like a painting with the Pacific Ocean at its feet and puffy white clouds hanging overhead. And it’s gay friendly, making it the perfect spot to take your honey to, or suggest he take you to.
Sure, it’s got Sea World, and Tijuana is just a taxi ride away, but this beach city is also home to the nation’s only gay surf club (eye candy alert!) and tons of shopping. Oh, and there’s lots of culture, including the city’s world famous Balboa Park, which houses museums, horticulture and America’s best zoo.
The best places to rest your head and make your base at are in the historic Gaslamp district. We recommend the Lofts on 5th Avenue at the Hilton in the Gaslamp Quarter (hilton.com). The 30 unique, private “hotel within a hotel” lofts are spacious, hip and regal without being stuffy. We love the in-room spa tubs for two, and suspect even Paris would proclaim this place as “hot.” Head Concierge Mike Denton will steer you toward boys’ town’s best, a short cab ride up to Hillcrest.
Read the Full Story：www.gaytravelnews.com
In the aftermath of 9-11 attacks in 2001, gays were among the first to board planes and travel, providing a lifeline for South Florida tourism. Marketers swooned over the resilience of gay tourists, who tend not to have children and generally travel more than average.
But in today's global recession, even gays are cutting back on trips. While lesbians and gay men still travel more than most, they too are reducing the frequency of their holidays, the days they stay and how much they spend, often booking last-minute to secure value deals.
South Florida, home to three major U.S. destinations for gays in Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach and Key West, also finds more rivals chasing the lucrative gay market, especially advertising powerhouse Las Vegas.
The upshot: South Florida's travel industry can't count on as many gay travel dollars this year.
"No segment of the market is immune today — not gays and not luxury travelers," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Nationwide, gay travel is conservatively estimated at 5 percent of U.S. travel spending, or about $70 billion last year, according to San Francisco-based Community Marketing, which specializes in gay travel research.
In South Florida, the impact is greater. Broward County Click here for restaurant inspection reports estimates that gays account for 10 percent of visitor spending, or roughly $1 billion last year, the tourism bureau said. Gays say they enjoy the area's easy access, warm weather and the active resident gay community that operates more than 150 businesses geared toward gays.
But gay hotelier Roger Handevidt, owner of the 14-unit Orton Terrace in Fort Lauderdale, can testify to tough times now. His hotel had 12 percent more rooms empty in December than a year earlier, and he's sweetened deals to lure guests this winter: three nights paid, one free.
Read the Full Story：www.palmbeachpost.com
Travel agents hoping to cash in on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender market should advertise a specialisation.
Community Marketing, a gay and lesbian market research company, argues holidaymakers in the LGBT market are seasoned travellers with disposable income as they are not restricted by families and are in double-income relationships.
Community Marketing president Thomas Roth said while agents will be expected to have some sensitivity towards the gay market, for instance knowing which destinations are gay-friendly, it will be their own specialisations which act as the draw.
Roth said: "[LGBT customers] don't just sit in front of a travel agent and say: 'I want to take a holiday' they'll have some idea of what they want.
"The more specialist agents are, the more likely they are going to be successful with the LGBT market."
However, Roth said the LGBT community needs guidance on how package holidays have changed in recent years.
Roth said: "The market needs education. When we talk to our focus groups they feel that package holidays restrict them too much. They feel they are very seasoned travellers and they don't want to be put in a box and shipped off.
"What they don't realise is that the package market has changed an awful lot and offers customers more choice."
Roth advised agents to find out more about the LGBT market by reading the gay press and using Spartacus gay travel guides.
Read the Full Story：www.travelweekly.co.uk
Santa Rosa officials last week certified an environmental document, clearing the way for construction of the county's first full-spectrum LGBT retirement community.
After some 45 minutes of comments, the city's planning commissioners voted unanimously to approve the environmental impact report for Fountaingrove Lodge, a 148-unit development that Oakmont Senior Living plans to build in the east Santa Rosa hills.
The city has designated the scenic Fountaingrove Ranch area for both individual and group living developments like Fountaingrove Lodge.
At the November 13 hearing for the plan, commissioners listened quietly as a handful of project opponents said the EIR did not adequately address environmental concerns on the 9.85-acre site.
Jim McMillan, a member of the Fountaingrove Ranch Master Association, called the proposed retirement home "a mass intrusion into our neighborhood," and said the EIR was "unresponsive to community issues."
Saying they were concerned about such issues as air quality, greenhouse gases, tree removal, earthquake safety and traffic, association members had turned the normally one-year EIR process into a two-year ordeal. The lengthy process cost developers over half a million dollars, according to Wes Winter, marketing director for Fountaingrove Lodge.
Winter said the EIR for Varenna, a larger retirement community the developers built a few years ago close to the Fountaingrove Lodge site, took only a year. The difference, according to Winter, is that Varenna is not geared to gays and lesbians.
But, in the end, planning commissioners disagreed with Fountaingrove Lodge opponents, saying the EIR is complete enough to be a starting point for further negotiations over construction of the retirement community.
While voicing his approval of the EIR, Santa Rosa Planning Commissioner John Walsh admonished association members for saying their concerns were only environmental when, in his opinion, they were based on prejudice.
"We shouldn't find cause to keep score on the peaceful activities of our neighbors," he told them.
But most of the 100-plus people who packed the city council chambers were there to support the project, wearing chartreuse armbands provided by the development company. Several of them spoke before the commission, urging its members to let the project move forward.
Read the Full Story： http://www.ebar.com/