Sapphic sightseers, delight: A judge has dismissed the lawsuit brought against a Greek national LGBT group regarding the use of the word "lesbian," which was decided by the court to not refer generally to the residents of the island of Lesbos. The plaintiffs even faced a mutiny among islanders, some of whom credited the legend of Sappho with boosting tourism to the island.

Coming on the heels of the tempest in a teapot that was the proposed "South Carolina Is So Gay" ads, European tourists at whom the US ads were aimed should go to Greece instead. If you're not sold, see "Mamma Mia!"--a good time for gay and straight alike.

Related Stories:
· Frivolous Lawsuit Travel: Greek Island Not Pro-Gay Rights [Jaunted]
· Court Rules Lesbians Are Not Just from Lesbos [Reuters]
· A new Tourism Ad Creates an Uproar [Newsweek]
· Movie Set Travel: "Mamma Mia!" [Jaunted]
· LGBT coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: John and Mel Kots]]]> egw 2008-07-22T13:50:21-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/6/3/141543/9408

Looking to celebrate Pride Month out of town? Look into Pride Toronto, which is so much more than a march: Held June 20 to 29--that's right, over two weekends!--the citywide celebration includes such diverse events as a Mount Olympus-themed gala featuring comedian Sandra Bernhard, a party hosted by Limelight head honcho Peter Gatien and a ceremony to honor the Grand Marshal and co-chair of Jamaica's first LGBT organization.

As in many affairs of state, Canada has so far led the US as a whole in recognizing the rights of its gay and lesbian citizens, from a minister of justice's statement in 1969 that "the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation" to legalizing same-sex marriage in 2005.

Toronto's first pride event was held in 1970, and the mayor himself will be in attendance this year.

Related Stories:
· Pride Toronto [Official Site]
· LGBT Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo from Pride Toronto 2006: mangomargarita]]]> egw 2008-06-03T16:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/30/121048/495

If a woman says, "I'm a lesbian," most people would assume she's making a statement about her sexual orientation, not declaring she is a resident of the Greek island of Lesbos. That's something a few Lesbians (capital L, denoting geography after this mention) would like to change, as three Greeks are taking the Homosexual and Lesbian Community of Greece (OLKE) to court to demand the removal of the word "lesbian" from the group's name.

The term derives from the island's most famous inhabitant, the ancient Greek love poet Sappho whose poems described infatuation with women. Plaintiff--and Lesbian--Dimitris Lambrou told a judge:

Our geographical designation has been usurped by certain ladies who have no connection whatsoever with Lesbos...[This lawsuit] is not an aggressive act against gay women.

Since Sappho lived some 2,600 years ago, one wonders why this has become an issue now. The word "lesbian" with the definition related to sexual orientation, not geographical locale, was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 1890.

Related Stories:
· People of Lesbos Take Gay Group to Court [AP, via Yahoo]
· Gay Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: downthedip]]]> egw 2008-04-30T13:45:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/1/11/112451/336

American Airlines unleashed a new print campaign featuring retro styling and two men walking off a "Casablanca"-style airplane to what looks like a Hawaiian vacation. (Though as Queerty notes, what gay man would wear socks with loafers?)

In addition to AA's LGBT-specific website, the ad also mentions that the airline has been recognized for six consecutive years by the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index. That basically means that it's a company that treats all of its employees equally regardless of orientation.

Meanwhile, the travel industry as a whole is making Budget Travel editor Erik Torkells proud with lots of companies scoring well on that HRC Index. (American is among the 20 he mentions.) But he won't be snapping up an Avis rental car or a Royal Caribbean cruise: They still have progress to make, Torkells says, and they won't be getting a dime of his cash until thing change.

Related Stories:
· American Airlines Flies First Gay Print Ads [GayWired.com]
· Travel Industry, I'm Proud of You [Budget Travel]
· LGBT Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2008-01-11T11:30:13-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/12/13/45054/322

Heading out on a gay cruise was already a bit yesterday when Aussie company AllGayCruises started up earlier this year, but now they've taken things to the next level. The company's now creating Australia's first gay island.

Strictly speaking, the island already exists--it's Lindeman Island off the Queensland coast--and it will only be gay for a week. But it sounds like it'll be a particularly colorful event. For six days immediately following the Sydney Mardi Gras in March 2008, AllGayCruises has basically rented out the whole of Lindeman Island for a massive gay party.

Seven big dance parties, a swimwear model contest, comedy nights and even the Gaylimpics will make sure that the fun really doesn't stop on Lindeman. You can already book accommodation, meal and party packages starting at A$1,299 per person ($1,150). Btw, the whole event is called Shipwrecked!, which we hope is not a bad sign of things to come.

Related Stories:
· Shipwrecked Island [Official Site]
· Australia Will Have First Gay Island [eTravel]
· Gay Cruising Catches Up Down Under [Jaunted]

[Photo: St. Murse]]]> amandak 2007-12-13T09:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/12/5/143833/840

Buenos Aires, the capital of the land of tango and macho gauchos, is going gay. Exhibit A in the transformation is the newly opened Axel Hotel, the first specifically-for-gay-customers property to open in the city. And though it offers up a marketing campaign featuring much racier photos than the hotel-provided pic above, the Axel isn't driving the change in attitudes. Instead, says Alexei Barrionuevo in the New York Times, the hotel is the result of a newly open society.

This summer the city hosted a soccer World Cup for gay players, soon after a TV dating show made waves by showing gay men kissing on camera. Five years ago, BA legalized same-sex unions. Before that, Argentina's president declared equal rights, regardless of sexual orientation. And as Buenos Aires warms, gay travelers have started dropping by. Trying to capitalize on the tourism boomlet, of course, is the Axel Hotel.

That said, there's more to see than the hotel. Partiers of any orientation are welcome at Kim y Novak, a grungy bar with nothing but debauchery on its blog. Downtown, Palacio Alsina draws a mixed crowd with its drag queen hostess and go-go dancers. And mega-club Amerika is still the gold standard for those into the gay clubbing scene.

Related Stories:
· Axel Hotels [Official Site]
· In Macho Argentina, a New Beacon [NYT]
· Gay Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]> pbb 2007-12-05T15:00:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/6/7/232926/5608

Sunday, Santa Monica Boulevard will close its roadway for the people who patron most of its shops. The Pride 2007 Parade struts down the boulevard from Fairfax Avenue to Doheny Drive starting at 11 a.m.

A poll on the site asks attendees their motivations for attending the parade. It found 25 percent want to end hate, 25 percent hope for marriage equality, 23 percent are looking to find love, 8 percent are prompted by activism, and 4 percent by a love of volunteerism. Finally, 16 percent of attendees are simply searching for the perfect martini, they say. That's 101 percent. Apparently "mastering basic math" isn't one of the incentives.

With Paris chained to her mansion, looks like newly-out former NBA player John Amaechi will take on grand marshal duties this year.

Related Stories:
·LA Travel [Jaunted]
·Hotels in Los Angeles [HotelChatter] ]]> ced138 2007-06-08T11:44:12-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/