4/30/2008 at 1:45 PM
Tags: Lesbos, Frivolous Lawsuit Travel, Islands, LGBT, Gay Travel (all tags)
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]
by egw
3/19/2008 at 5:26 PM
Tags: Travel Advertising, LGBT, Travel Marketing (all tags)
Philadelphia has a new tourism marketing campaign called "Philadelphia: Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay."
As you can probably figure out, the campaign is targeting gay travelers and will feature Philly locals who have helped to make the city a premier gay travel destination.
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and Southwest Airlines launched the campaign on March 14. Print advertising can also be found in 40,000 Where magazine gay-friendly guides and in program book ads at national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) events.
The first Philly local to kick-off the campaign is Matthew Izzo, owner of Matthew Izzo Boutiques. He'll be joined by other well-known locals like Mark Segal, the journalist/publisher/gay pioneer of the Philadelphia Gay News and Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, owners of Lolita, Bindi, Grocery and Open House.
Related Stories:
· Philly's New Nabe: Midtown Village [Jaunted]
· Travel Advertising coverage [Jaunted]
by juliana
1/11/2008 at 11:30 AM
Tags: LGBT, Gay Travel, Travel Marketing, American Airlines, Travel Advertising, Erik Torkells (all tags)
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]
by pbb
6/04/2007 at 9:16 AM
Tags: Celeb Travel, California, Laguna Beach, LGBT (all tags)
Now here's something you never saw on MTV: Apparently Laguna Beach -- the town starring in the guilty-pleasure television series which claimed to depict "The Real Orange County" (unlike that other show) -- has a gay bar. And that gay bar, the Boom Boom Room, is in trouble, because the building that holds the club is currently up for sale, future unknown. The L.A. Times even mentioned the spot, a former clubhouse for semi-closeted actors like Rock Hudson, as an example of "heterosexualization," noting "once-blighted neighborhoods that were settled by gays--often because they felt unwelcome elsewhere--now are so gentrified, in many cases, that younger people can't afford them."
Some residents of Laguna who are actually old enough to get into the Room are looking to Brad Pitt and George Clooney, who had been in on a previous deal to buy the building (it never went through) to save their club, CBGB style--sort of. Save the Boom thinks having the actors on their side will give them a higher profile, and maybe convince a developer to leave their little corner of paradise alone. Will the lifelong bachelor and Mr. Angelina Jolie step up to the plate? Boys, it's the least you can do for Pride Month. But the bar's lease is up in September, so you have to act now.
[Photo: Save the Boom]
Related Stories:
· Hotels in Laguna Beach [HotelChatter]
by egw
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