gaycation magazine - issue 17 pride issue
DESCRIPTION
This is a free sample of Gaycation Magazine issue "Issue 17 Pride Issue" Download full version from: Apple App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id903033857?mt=8&at=1l3v4mh Magazine Description: Gaycation Magazine was created because the personality of LGBT travel is changing. The world has grown smaller and more accessible, yet more homogenized and less exotic. Our goal is to inspire and guide those who travel the world to connect with its people, experience their cultures, and understand their perspectives. Todays LGBT travelers demand more than the superficial, the mass-produced, the mass-consumed and the mass-experienced. They look for the authentic in people, destinations, and prod... You can build your own iPad and Android app at http://presspadapp.comTRANSCRIPT
June 2015 Issue 17
Hoosier Pride
Little City, Big Pride
Exploring Indiana’s Gay Side
ExtremeWeddings
10 Pride Events Around the U.S.
Where to Stay During Gay Pride
Gaycation
3 DAYSGIVE INDY
MOST UNDERRATED LGBT DESTINATIONS.DISCOVER ONE OF AMERICA’S
VisitIndy.com/LGBT Find the perfect plan for a three-day weekend at
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
VisitIndy-Gaycation-5.15.pdf 1 5/18/15 2:16 PM
4 | Gaycation Magazine www.gaycationmagazine.com
m a g a z i n eGaycation
Founder/Editor-in-ChiefDJ Doran
Executive EditorAaron Drake @theaarondrake
Feast EditorJoe Morales
Webmaster / ITNic Baslock
ContributorsHeather Cassell
Aaron Drake @theaarondrakeGregory L. Kiep @gregorykiep
Mark A. LeeAuston Matta
Meg Ten Eyck @dopesontheroad
Advertising [email protected]
John [email protected]
National Advertising RepresentativeRivendell Media212-242-6863
Subscription [email protected]
Article and Photo [email protected]
General [email protected]
Social MediaGaycationMagazine
GaycationMag+Gaycationmagazine1
GaycationMaggaycationmagazinegaycationmagazine
June 2015 Issue 17
Send address changes and subscription info to:Gaycation Magazine
931W 75th St Suite 137-215Naperville, IL 60565
About the above photo: Circle City IN Pride Festival by Monument Circle in Indianapolis, IN. Pride cover courtesy of IM ImageBank
ISSN 2378-7279 (print)ISSN 2378-7287 (online)
Gaycation Magazine | 5www.gaycationmagazine.com
CONTENTSLetter from the Publisher 6
The Wire 10LGBT travel news and information
Hoosier Pride 18Exploring Indiana’s Gay Side
Events 27
Postcards 32
Little City, Big Pride 3610 small city Pride events around the country
There’s This Place... 46El Nido, Philippines
Wedding Extreme 50Celebrating marriage equality with an adventure ceremony
Book It! 60Recommendations of LGBT friendly hotels and resorts. Exploring Revere Hotel
Gaycationers 64Photos of people showing off their best gaycation.
Urban Fresh Day Spa RejuvenatesAlbuquerque 68Urban grit never looked so fresh before this spa hit Albuquerque’s mean streets
Classifieds 76
Advertising Index 84
COLUMNSAn Explicit Guide to Gaycationing 72Where to stay during Gay Pride
Greg’s Gaycations 80Exploring New Zealand
About the above photo: Monument Circle in the center of downtown Indianapolis has come to symbolize the city and the state of Indiana. Designed by Bruno Schmitz and constructed between 1887 and 1902. Photo courtesy of Mark A. Lee
6 | Gaycation Magazine www.gaycationmagazine.com
Letter from the Publisher
This is a very special Gaycation Magazine. It not only marks our first anniversary, which many did not think we would celebrate, but the cover of our JUNE/PRIDE ISSUE has special meaning too. When I first launched Gaycation Magazine I made a promise to myself and to our readers that Gaycation would be focused solely on LGBTQ travel and the lifestyle of traveling, edited from a mature perspective, and I have kept that promise. I set out to create a publication that inspired you to travel, explore and experience the wonders of this world without distraction or deviation.
In our PRIDE issue we are featuring 10 prides from across the country, with one that I am particularly proud to be part of, Circle City/Indianapolis Pride in Indiana. Yes, that Indiana. I have lived in the Midwest (Chicago) and I have seen first hand the welcoming kindness of the people and they are much more than the talking points or sound bites that you have heard on the news of late.
Recently, I attended the IGLTA Global Convention in Los Angeles and was astounded by the overwhelming calls for boycotting the entire state and the jokes being made about why you should not travel to Indiana, especially by too many of the featured speakers. Over the few days of the convention I began to realize that what I was hearing was taking on a different tone for
me. It was less about helping change the situation in Indiana through constructive means, but rather it seemed like a mob mentality had evolved and people were just piling on.
Granted, Governor Pence and his cronies deserve everything that that have received and more for their wrongheaded and divisive legislation; but did the entire state and everyone contained therein deserve to be vilified and ostracized by the entire LGBTQ traveling community? I didn’t think so.
It was during particular breakout session that I attended and which was being hosted by a representative from the White House that I finally decided to stand up and call them on the carpet. I explained that although it was easy for everyone to join in the calls for boycotting the whole state of Indiana because of SB101, what about those LGBTQ people that lived and worked there and why weren’t we offering them support instead of making it even harder by creating an economic hardship.
I will never know whether or not my statement had an impact, but it did remind me of the importance of standing up for what you believe in and that’s why we are featuring a photo from a previous Indy Pride on our cover. Indianapolis is indeed proud of their rich LGBTQ history and what they have accomplished and continue to accomplish for their community so we wanted to show our support for them. Especially now.
So while most are encouraging you to steer clear of Indiana and Indianapolis when you are making travel plans, we hope you will consider visiting the Hoosier state and explore, as we have, the wonderful things to see and do throughout the state and experience the warm welcome of Midwest hospitality.