What do you do when your traditional source of tourist income is dwindling because of a drawn out recession? You find a new source that isn’t.

Regional Map via Mapquest

On October 13 Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin and Porter Airlines CEO Robert Deluce announced the public-private effort to bring twice-weekly roundtrip air service from Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport to Burlington International Airport beginning December 15th and running until April 8th.

“This is a great partnership that will boost tourism in Vermont and provide an economic boost to our ski areas,” Gov. Shumlin said. “Our new service to Vermont is a perfect complement to our current winter schedule already featuring prime destinations such as MontTremblant and Quebec City,” said Deluce. “Burlington offers access to an incredible array of spectacular ski mountains, and many vibrant communities to explore.” Canada’s economy is, unlike ours, relatively robust.

Main Entryway, BIA (courtesy Burlington International Airport)

In a joint statement, Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, and Representative Peter Welch said, “Porter Airlines, Ski Vermont, Governor Shumlin, the Burlington International Airport and Customs and Border Protection came together to introduce the people of Toronto to the best skiing and riding in the U.S.A. This announcement underscores the ‘international’ in Burlington International Airport, creating seasonal scheduled nonstop service between Toronto and Burlington. While it will offer a much-needed influx of visitors to the state this winter, especially needed following the devastating blow of Hurricane Irene, it will also give Vermonters an unprecedented opportunity to visit and do business in Toronto.”

The Vermont Congressional delegation initiated this partnership by writing to Porter Airlines this past summer inviting them to begin service between Toronto and Burlington. This fall, the lawmakers have worked with the airport and other stakeholders to help iron out details surrounding clearing international visitors at the airport.

Fly the Friendly Skies (courtesy flyporter.com)

Porter Airlines, whose brand slogan is “Fly refined”, is a high-end regional airline based out of the Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. “In” the city is one of their touted benefits; they are not outside the city, with all the concommitent ground travel involved. They are five minutes from downtown. They fly a fleet of Q400 Bombadier planes, which are designed for greater passenger comfort than your average regional carrier. Their passenger lounge at Billy Bishop is all about comfort and convenience, with Wi-Fi and refreshements available in a living room atmosphere (no rows of plastic bucket seats). We’re not talking economy-class ambience here, so we’re also not talking skiing-on-a-shoestring visitors.

Funding for this international travel initiative is equal parts public and private. Vermont’s Global Trade Fund will invest nearly $200,000, while participating Vermont ski areas will invest $75,000 to market the new Toronto air route. Burlington International Airport will be making structural upgrades as part of the project.

Stowe 2007 Public Domain

The schedule will include weekly roundtrips on Thursdays and Sundays, with the exception of long weekends, which will offer Thursday and Monday roundtrip options. One-way fares start as low as $99, plus applicable fees and taxes, which should put the round-trip tickets in the reasonable range.

Currently Stowe Mountain Resort, Jay Peak, Smugglers Notch and Sugarbush are offering ski packages including air travel with Porter Airlines, available at www.skivermont.com. People wishing to book independently can go to Porter’s website to look for the right flights.

Unfortunately, there are no mass transit (buses or trains) routes between Burlington International Airport and the Rutland region, so the southwest part of the state loses out on this deal. Okemo in Ludlow may be able to cash in on it, as there are mass transit routes down to their neck of the woods.

Related articles

• Porter Airlines flying high as it turns 5 (thestar.com)
• Carrier goes retro, looks ahead (boston.com)

"American Girl In Italy" c. 1952, 1980 by Ruth Orkin

It is the men in the photo who date it. The young woman walking down the street in Florence, Italy, could be a contestant on Next Top Model today – classically beautiful, wearing a dress Kate Middleton would be comfortable in, striding tall and long legged. It is the men, in their loosely- fitting suits and slacks that date the photo to the 1950′s.

It was 1951 and Ninalee Craig, just 23-years-old, was traveling alone in Europe. In Italy, she met photographer Ruth Orkin, who was also traveling alone on a continent barely six years out of war, divided by the Soviet Union, struggling to recover, repair, restore normality. Craig and Orkin hooked up for a few days in Florence as Orkin photographed Craig in markets, in cafes and one day just walking along a street through a gaggle of 15 men who unabashedly admired the beautiful young woman in their midst. The photographer died in 1985 after a long and successful career in a field dominated by men. Ruth Orkin was nominated for an Oscar in 1956 for co-writing and co-directing the film Little Fugitive. Ninalee Craig is now an 83-year-old great-grandmother living in Toronto, still a stunning woman who proves that People magazine is wrong when they end their Most Beautiful Person edition’s “beauty at any age” sections with a 59-year-old.

Craig was interviewed on the Today show for the 60^th anniversary of this photo. She insisted that people view the photo in context, not as a symbol of sexual harassment, but “a symbol of a woman having an absolutely wonderful time.” It was not staged, but was totally spontaneous. The only “staging” consisted of Orkin suggesting that Craig repeat the walk for a second photo. Craig explained that none of the men in the photo approached her in any unseemly way. They simply admired her, took a moment of life-affirming joy out of their day.

I think Craig misses the point. The photo is neither a symbol of sexual harassment nor of a young woman’s joy. It is a symbol of a lost innocence, a freedom from reality that we no longer enjoy. Even traveling in a group is not safe enough, as Natalee Holloway showed us. Liam Neeson’s Taken, Mina Sorvino’s Human Trafficking, Rachel Weisz’s The Whistleblower, the Amanda Knox trial, even the episode of Absolutely Fabulous set in Morocco – these are the modern images of women alone in the world. A woman traveling alone today is as unsafe as women were in the days of Jack the Ripper.

1951 was an exceptional year in American and European social history. In spite of the war in Korea, there was a real sense of the world cleansing itself of the horrors, deprivations and pall of death that had hung over the two continents for 20 years, through the Great Depression and World War II, through the first years of reconstruction in Europe and adjusting to the realities of the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe. There was a present to enjoy and a future to claim and there was no urgency to either. We could stroll into the future and stop to smell the roses. We could admire the beautiful woman, the handsome man passing by us without a need to despoil or possess. We could believe that Annette Funicello was an American art student in Florence riding around on her cute little Vespa finding true love while solving some un-dangerous mystery.

That is what American Girl In Italy really represents – a time when a portion of our societies could convince themselves that they lived in a perfect world, a shining moment in human history between long periods of harsh reality. Unfortunately for both America and Europe, there are those who think that moment is normal and not a myth created as a collective catharsis for the decades that preceded it.

Related articles

• At 83, subject of ‘American Girl in Italy’ photo speaks out (today.msnbc.msn.com)
• An American Girl In Italy (thestar.com)
• Photos: An American Girl in Italy (theglobeandmail.com)
• Firenze (Florence) – Florence, Italy (travelpod.com)

7/4/2011

Almost everyone remembers watching the animated show Smurfs on NBC when they were little.  Those little blue people fascinated the child’s mind with life lessons and quirky humor for many years before being taken off air in December of 1989.  The show aired an amazing 256 episodes with a total of 421 stories.  Released on the big screen on July 29th 2011 Papa Smurf, Smurfette, and the whole gang returned for a 3D extravaganza staring vocal talents such as Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live, Kenan & Kel), Katy Perry, Paul Reubens (Peewee’s Playhouse), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), and many more.

The Smurfs producers went way out of the way to promote the film giving a new definition to the phrase “Smurf Fever.”  Juzcar, a remote village in southern Spain, which sits in the Genal Valley and is less than 2 miles wide, allowed Sony Pictures to paint it blue agreeing to host the film’s world premier on June 16th.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the project took 12 local painters who used up 4,000 liters of blue paint causing Juzcar to look like a giant blue dot in the midst of beautiful mountains and forests.  The town has already had an incredible increase in tourism.

Sony has agreed to restore the buildings to their original colors, however, it has been said that the town is considering leaving them all blue.  Whoever said there’s no such thing as a Smurf Village needs to recheck their information.

Melanie Nathan – San Francisco, CA, February 15, 2011

—The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is proud to announce that it has been selected as the sole beneficiary of this year’s Linashore Golf Classic, the renowned women’s charity golf tournament held during the Dinah Shore weekend.

Now in its 23rd year, Linashore—set for April 1-2, 2011—is one of the most popular events held during Dinah Shore, which each year lures hundreds of thousands of lesbians and bisexual women to Palm Springs, CA for a series of parties and social events.

This year’s Linashore is shaping up to be the best yet, with a number of events surrounding the golf classic—including a special dinner and dance—benefiting NCLR, a national legal nonprofit devoted to advancing lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality through litigation, public policy, and public education.

Since its start in 1977, NCLR—which helps more than 5,000 people each year—has embraced every aspect of the diverse LGBT community through its work, recognizing that the community comes from many different backgrounds and faces a wide range of issues. NCLR has always been on the cutting edge of legal and social issues, and was the first legal organization to create permanent projects for same-sex binational couples, LGBT asylum seekers, LGBT elders, transgender people, LGBT farmworkers, LGBT youth, low-income LGBT people seeking services from legal aid organizations, and LGBT athletes and coaches.

“We’re honored that Linashore selected NCLR and our life- and law-changing work as this year’s beneficiary,” said NCLR Executive Director Kate Kendell, who will be the guest of honor at the golf classic and will also deliver special speeches at a luncheon and dinner. “This is a great opportunity for folks to take part in an incredible series of fun events, while helping our work that impacts the lives of their friends, their families, their loved ones, and all members of our LGBT community.”

Caroline “Lina” Haines, founder and organizer of the Linashore Golf Classic, “chose NCLR as the beneficiary because it has been an unwavering advocate for women and LGBT people for 34 years, often the first to stand up for justice, and work alongside our community in a relentless pursuit of equality. It’s a privilege to be able to recognize such a worthy cause that has a national impact, helping anyone, anywhere.”

Other special guests at the Linashore Dinner Dance include the legendary Rosie Jones, who, before retiring, was the only openly lesbian golfer in the LPGA. After retiring, Jones worked for the Golf Channel and forged a new path for women in sports broadcasting as one of very few women in the industry.

Linashore events include:

Friday, April 1

Happy Hour—Welcome Reception
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Trio Restaurant
707 N. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA

Prize drawings and hosted bar with complimentary appetizers. Generously underwritten by NCLR’s Seattle supporters Joey, Nancy, and Leslie.

To RSVP, contact Eleanor Palacios at EPalacios@NCLRights.org (please include “Dinah Reception” in the subject line) or at 415.365.1309.

Dine Out for NCLR
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Trio Restaurant
707 N. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA

Early Bird Special from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Ten percent of dinner proceeds benefit NCLR.
Saturday, April 2

Linashore Golf Classic
8:00 a.m.
Indian Canyons Golf Resort
1100 E. Murray Drive
Palm Springs, CA

Linashore Dinner | Dance
6:30 p.m.
Agua Caliente Resort
32-250 Bob Hope Drive
Rancho Mirage, CA

In addition, NCLR is one of many non-profits participating in the second-annual Integrated Wealth Management Tickets Fore Charity Program at the 40th Kraft Nabisco Championship, held from March 28 through April 3, 2011. In its inaugural year, the Tickets Fore Charity Program raised $150,000 for various non-profit causes and has the goal of increasing that amount to $450,000 in 2011. Through this program, supporters can designate NCLR to receive the proceeds of their advanced ticket purchase.

For a complete list of events that NCLR will be participating in as well as ticket and sponsorship information, please visit: www.NCLRights.org/DinahShore

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Melanie Nathan- Nov 28-2010 - Any man found engaging in sexual activities with another man should be arrested,” Odinga said at a rally on Sunday, in the Nairobi slum of Kibera. “Even women found engaging in sexual activities will be arrested.”  Speaking to his home constituency, Odinga, also a member of parliament, argued that since August census results showed the national population was perfectly split between men and women, there was “no need” for homosexuality.

“This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in this country. Men or women found engaging in those acts deserve to be arrested and will be arrested,” Odinga said to cheers and laughter in the crowd. I believe that Kenya and the rest of the World was given a perfect NOD by the recent United Nations critical nod to arbitrary execution of gays and lesbians.

His comments came following criticism of a new constitution adopted in August with the backing of both Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki.

Some critics had argued the new basic law contained articles that were tantamount to tolerating same-sex marriages and abortion, but Odinga rejected the accusations.

“Those were lies from leaders who wanted to confuse Kenyans to reject the new law, the Constitution is very clear on that matter. It does not state anywhere that same sex marriage is legal in Kenya,” he said.

A move by neighbouring Uganda to introduce a bill that would further criminalise homosexuality and even gay rights advocacy has been described as “odious” by US President Barack Obama and sparked the ire of rights groups. But Mr. President shape up at home so your Global leadership has some credibility

AMERICAN LGBT Communities should be hitting the Streets for this:

1. USA Must Lead the World by Example; Immediate Passage of US Equality Legislation or we are perceived as believing there is NO NEED for homosexuality;

2. USA must Clean House and Help the World

3. The Genocide against Gays and Lesbian in Africa is beginning- it is time to clean house, effect sanctions and boycotts against every  country in Africa that professes freedom of religion  and democracy until they provide safety and protection to gays and lesbians (LGBT)

4. If implemented to negotiate with Kenya i to provide a 60 day moratorium for gays and lesbians to leave the Country and seek refuge in other countries who must sign on for saving lives.

This is targeted hate against LGBT communities- we cannot allow the USA and world to watch…….

SOURCE   http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/article788182.ece/Homosexuals-should-be-arrested-says-Kenyan-PM

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Of the more than 4,700 people surveyed by Community Marketing, 13% chose Kimpton. Starwood’s W chain came in second with 11%, trailed by Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott, according to USA Today. Kimpton and Starwood tied in 2009. In 2008, Starwood took top honors.

“Of all the hotel brands, (Kimpton is ) the most active in LGBT community,” Paisley told USA Today. “They have a website, they sponsor tons of events and they advertise in gay and lesbian media. W is very active and well respected, but they did fall behind.”

Headquartered in San Francisco, Kimpton does not miss a beat as an ever present at activist and fund raising events, often providing sponsorship. Annually the group co-sponsors an event at one their hotels to herald in  San Francisco Pride.  Last year’s was a co-sponsorship with National Center for Lesbian Rights where Kimpton also gave away rooms for the silent auction. They also provide valuable advertising dollars to LGBT publications.

What makes no sense in the San Francisco travel scene is the fact that Kimpton Hotels has been turned away from sponsoring or advertising by  San Francisco Pride , because another hotel chain, less supportive of LGBT community, has received an exclusive contract.  While we all know that SF GAy pride is hurting for funds, it is sad to note that SF Pride cannot include the very Group that now tops all Hotel Chains for travel by our community.

“BY KIMPTON  via their Website
Looking for a place that lets you be you? Welcome to Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants. Each of our one-of-a-kind hotels and restaurants is dedicated to you, your life and style. We hope that your Kimpton experience sparks your appetite for fun, delights your sense of sophistication and nurtures your commitment to make the world a better place.  At Kimpton, we consider every day, every moment, another chance to surprise, delight and celebrate you.”

source The Advocate.

Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com
@oblogdeeoblogda.com



11/23/2010- by Natasia Langfelder

If you had asked me in July what I thought of the TSA body scanners that show people nude on a screen, I would have said what a lot of people have been saying. “It’s not a big deal, as long as it keeps us safe.” I mean, I’ve never had problems with body image. Who cares if a grainy image of my naked body shows up on a black and white screen? But actually, I do care. I care a lot.

I’ve been through the naked body scanners twice, which is exactly half of the times I’ve flown since they have been operation. Basically, I get picked to go through once a trip. How does a 26 year old woman just happen to have a 50% rate of nude scanning? I don’t know. Maybe I imagined the male TSA guy smirking at me while he waved me into the box. Maybe the second time, when the lady TSA agent that looked like she played for my team sent me in, I imagined it too. But I know one thing, next time I fly, I’m sure I’m going to be sent through again. Why? I’m not really sure. Maybe because I don’t have a body like Susan Hallowell, director of the TSA research lab, she’s the lady in the picture that accompanies this post. See how easy it is to ridicule someone’s looks with this system? Yeah, I would kill myself if I had love handles like that. And now, thanks to the TSA, you can be judged on that sh@t everytime you fly! Thanks TSA!

I don’t want anyone to look at my nude body besides my partner.  I don’t think that’s too much to ask from society. I also don’t want some lady to run her hands over my vadge when I fly, I don’t want them to make me change out of a tight skirt and into a towel so they have easier access. (Brand new travel tip: wear pants otherwise you could find yourself wearing only a towel over your panties. Want another? Don’t wear a bra with an underwire, sorry full figured ladies! You’re screwed!) I never thought that would be too much to ask either. Don’t Ask Don’t Tell repeal, maybe a lot to ask. Strangers keeping their hands off my boobs, not a lot to ask.  

Women have always had a hard time in terms of being oogled and checked out. The body scanners take that to a new level. It’s invasive and gross and who knows who these TSA agents are, really. There has been an incident where a lady was made to show her breasts and then ridiculed, it won’t be the last. Then there is the problem of the body scanners showing men’s penis size. Basically, between breasts and penises, you know those agents are making fun of people. They are human too, it’s just the way we are. There is also the problem of children being patted down and looked at by god knows who. If I was a parent, I would be freaking out right now. The video of a topless child going through a security line is one of the most disturbing horrors of this new system.

The problem with the body scanners is that they aren’t going to help. Terrorists keep finding new ways to secret away weapons in places where TSA agents won’t go. The body scanners don’t detect and internal objects, so basically, a child could figure out how to play the new system. All the body scanners do is make flying an even more painful process than it already is. I’m thinking my next vacation will be a cross country road trip.  

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Last month I was feeling a little down and impulsively booked a trip with my grown son for a week in Mexico. Running off is one of my favorite ways of coping with the devastation of the break-up of my relationship of 27 years.

Max was on summer break from San Diego State and wasn’t booked for a home game at his job making Kettle Corn at Petco Park for a week. He is the one adult in my immediate family who was available and actually wanted to spend time with me, just me.

We’d settled into our casita in the little fishing village of Sayulita, Nayarit near Puerto Vallarta and were enjoying playing board games, eating street tacos, buying local crafts and surfing.

One afternoon, after spending the morning exploring the jungle paths for remote surf spots, Max came home from a swim at the beach to find me in tears. I told him I missed his other Mom and he gave me a hug and said: “I know how hard this must be, I guess you just have to let it out”.

How on earth did he get so wise? I was relieved he didn’t try to cheer me up or talk me out of my feelings. If I thought I felt proud when I heard him tell another young man out in the water that the woman who just caught a big wave was his Mother… it doesn’t compare to this.

I never know what blessings in life will get thrown at me and on the flip side I never know when the grief and loss will overwhelm me. I’m just grateful to have raised a boy that gets it. I know we were on the right track when my partner and I attended that Lesbians Considering Parenthood workshop all those years ago. We were the first of all our friends to go for it and we were so enamored with our son that we had another boy six years later. It’s been a wild ride, exhausting and fulfilling and everything in between.

When it’s all said and done, I have no regrets. We need more men in the world like my boys, and I am incredibly thankful for the blessing of having them in my life.

© 2010 Robin Lowey (permission to post on LGR granted)

Robin Lowey is the creative mastermind behind the new lesbian website Epochalips – www.epochalips.com. Epochalips is all about the generation of Lesbians who cleared the way for all Lesbian/Gay/Queer/Bi/ Transgender youth , celebrating diversity with amazing writers such as Jewelle Gomez, Monica Palacios and Margie Adam and many others. Epochalips is a cyber environment that empowers and heals, and validates common experiences. You’ll find anything from “Cub’s Corner” to “Ask a Battle Axe” and everything in between. Check us out!

Posted by Melanie Nathan with permission of Robin Lowey.

From a pale hotel room in Cambodia, they tell their story.  From a low-rent apartment in San Diego, they tell their story.  From a couch in East Berlin, they tell their story.  It turns out that they aren’t so average after all. They are gay, yes, but unlike most couples, their life together is threatened because they are from two different countries. Tony is American and Thomas is German. As a gay couple, they are excluded from immigration rights in the US. And in this exclusionary law, their story begins.

They met and fell in love in 1993.  After a year and a half traveling through Africa and the Middle East together, their lives were joined.  Permanent.  Committed.  Both in their early twenties, they couldn’t imagine that equal rights for American gay men and lesbian women would be too long in coming.  So, they started stringing together temporary solutions to their immigration problem.

First, a student visa.  Thomas gave up his career in banking in Germany, and settled into a new life as a Community College student in San Diego.  To stretch out his time on the visa, he took class, after class, after class.  Seven long semesters, making a round-about path to an AA.  He was proud to graduate as Valedictorian when he finished his Associate’s Degree.  But that meant his time was up.

In the meantime, they have tried every possible avenue to allow Thomas to stay in the US legally.  They formed a gay and lesbian political organization to fight for rights for bi-national couples.  They tried to find a sponsor for a work visa for Thomas.  They entered Thomas in the Green Card lottery every single year. Sitting in their tiny apartment in San Diego in 2002, Tony and Thomas tell us about all of these failed efforts.

One thing they don’t tell us about is when, out of desperation, they considered a fraudulent marriage to a woman.  It is Laurelle, their long-time friend, who tells us about this.  She shares her willingness to marry Thomas, her devotion to her dear friends, to do anything to keep them in the country.  But the risks are great.  More daunting than facing prison, deportation, and enormous fines, if Thomas married Laurelle, they would all three have to live a lie.  Briefly, for a fleeting few weeks, these risks seemed like they might be worth it.  In the end, it is Tony who says no.

So, Tony and Thomas embark on their next strategy for staying together: moving to Germany.  But before they go, they have to say goodbye to their life in California.   Tony’s mom Freda and step-dad Ken are heartbroken.  But brave. We meet them in their living room and they tell us their story.  They too are a bi-national couple.

Torn from their family in California and battling to come home, they can only wait outside its borders, hoping for equal rights to be granted.  Now, at age 40, they live their lives as nomads, perpetually traveling the world.  They have little left but the road.  And an angry kind of hope. Follow their 16-year journey of immigration struggle and exclusion.

A Film chronicles this horrendous inequity and the journey of this couple; Directed by Prof. Lisa M Nunn, PhD Director/Producer of “Excluded” Professor of Sociology, University of San Diego. In a comment to lez Get real Professor Nunn said, “I am glad to hear that you think the movie might be a useful tool for education and advocacy.  Please do keep in touch. I know how much it means to Tony and Thomas to hear from people who truly understand their difficult situation.  Thanks for your encouraging words. ”

Watch the movie online for free at:  www.excludedthemovie.com
and follow Tony and Thomas on their travel blog as they roam the world:  www.contemporarynomad.com/blog

Per Melanie:

PLEASE Ask Congress and Obama to support UAFA  (The Uniting American Families Act) as a stand alone BILL in this small window of opportunity.  It is time to show why RELYING on being included in CIR is tenuous to say the least. There is plenty of evidence at this TIME to prove this…. Also please how about a special VISA -? See my Petition and SIGN. (Change.org – Melanie Nathan Special Bi-national Visa Petition)

By, Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

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Rachel Wahba, Co-founder of Olivia Cruises and Resorts, is a psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco. She grew up stateless, an Egyptian -Iraqi Jew, born in India, and raised in Japan, before arriving in the United States.  Navigating diverse cultures and complicated emotions are her forte.

Rachel, an avid and talented photographer,  will be writing exclusively for Lezgetreal, in a column that will theme social and relationship issues, stories, and commentary through the eyes of this unique lesbian lens encapsulated in the context of lesbian history or histrionics…mmm.. let us see where it goes  .. The Editors at Lezgetreal know you are in for a treat.

Rachel’s first column will appear today – titled  ‘Lez-Talk  with Rachel’

Welcome Rachel

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Melanie Nathan 4-4-10.  Celesbians galore,  a 7.2 magnitude  Earthquake,  a grand welcome to Salt-n-Pepa,  after a ten (yes) year hiatus (I call that coming back from the dead baby!) Hey lesbian sisters, what more could you want of California?

The Dinah gave it its all this 20th Anniversary and Meredith was there too – OMG !   We at Lezgetreal heard that you are all having an amazing time at the Dinah. In fact when the earthquake hot (I mean hit…sheez mel! ) we here at LGR were so concerned that we sent a dove to check up on you, her name is Blackberry;  you saw her flying overhead?

Guess what Mariah‘s spokesperson told us?  We asked “Is anyone injured; are they scared?

Answer

no injuries,

everyone was WAY TOO DRUNK to be scared!”

Your interview on this Video certainly toils-the-tude™ (I get to trademark that one) of a classic 20th that only Dinah Dudes get!  Here goes some succinct comments out of the mouths of the Salty Peppery Two:-

“One big estrogen party;”

“After our ten year hiatus our following comes out….”  (kewl, thats purrfect for this performance); and they show us a

“Lot-a-love ” (Duh)

So in case you were not expecting it the World has changed and has not changed….  but undoubtedly if you attend a Mariah Dinah  now or 20 ago, you will have a blast and will never come OUT the same again!   Lotsa Love and Happy Anniversary MARIAH et al.

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Dlugacz, President and founder of Olivia Companies, a lesbian-oriented vacation company, commented that “so many of our passengers have been touched by the destruction and poverty in the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country. It is important that as LGBT Americans, we come together to show our community’s solidarity and support for those living through this unimaginable disaster.”

Rachel Wahba told Lezgetreal that Olivia has a history of helping in disasters mentioning the time when she and Judy visited a Club Med in Mexico on an Olivia vacation, soon after a hurricane had caused devastation.   The guests arrived after the hurricane and raised a lot of money which was matched by a local bank.

American Red Cross Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Floyd W. Pitts stated “We are thrilled with this partnership with the LGBT community and we are delighted to be working with organizations which take such a strong interest in humanitarian response”.

The other cruise groups involved include Atlantis and RSVP cruises (a subsidiary of Atlantis), has also joined the effort.

According to PR-USA.dot.net.  Atlantis/RSVP have pledged $15,000 in matching contributions, Olivia has pledged an additional $7,500 for a total of $22,500. Olivia is also offering a limited number of free cruises to those who contribute $7,500 or more. They are urging all LGBT individuals and organizations to contribute and provide matching funds when possible. To contribute to the fund, visit: http://american.redcross.org/LGBT-pub

“Olivia was created to serve a lesbian market that ranges from women who must live quietly in suburbia, to women who have the freedom to walk the streets holding hands. I am extremely blessed to have been part of this amazing experience. When the company launched 35 years ago, I never dreamed Olivia would become the company that it is today,” says Judy Dlugacz, President and Founder of Olivia.

Olivia’s has featured headliners such as Melissa Etheridge, kd lang, Heart and The Indigo Girls. Sports stars (Sheryl Swoops, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Rosie Jones, Diana Nyad) and comedians (Margaret Cho, Whoopi Goldberg, Lily Tomlin) are no stranger to Olivia, either. Olivia also has amazing house entertainers—fantastic singers, comedians and other performers who have become part of the Olivia family.

Olivia has also recently rolled out its Sisters at Sea™ and Sisters at Play™ programs, which are designed for lesbians of color and their friends and provide special programming and activities onboard or at the resort. Olivia also has a solos/singles program so women traveling solo can meet up for meals, excursions and special parties and activities designed just for them.

In addition, Olivia has a strong online presence in the lesbian community, and Olivia.com boasts a vibrant community of women from around the world. Olivia.com was designed with the needs of the lesbian market in mind, and enables lesbians of all ages, cultures and passions to connect online. The site allows women to network, find out about Olivia and its lesbian-friendly partners, as well as plan their next trips. Olivia seeks to create memorable community experiences and Olivia.com is an extension of that mission.

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Melanie Nathan LGBT ADvocate /Activist

 by Melanie Nathan
nathan@privatecourts.com

The tourism industry has suffered greatly since the recession hit. Many Americans are tightening their belts and lavish vacations are generally one of the first luxury items to go. However, NY1, New York City‘s 24 hour news channel, is reporting that the LGBT community is the only market that is actually growing in the tourism sector.

“Data show that a gay couple spends $7,000 on a week’s trip, about $2,000 more than their heterosexual counterparts.”

NY1 goes onto report that the LGBT community is more likely to look for gay tolerant cities and high end spa facilities, restaurants and a thriving nightlife. It seems that the largest deterrent is places that have historically displayed anti-gay tendencies, such as Jamaica.

If peace and love towards one’s fellow man won’t help these countries fix their attitude towards gays, maybe the sagging economy will.

http://www.ny1.com/1-all-boroughs-news-content/top_stories/111585/market-for-lgbt-travel-still-grows

The inclusion of the HRC logo was confirmed by Brian Hoyt, Orbitz’s vice president of corporate communications and government affairs.

This is not the first time Orbitz has marketed to the gay community. In June 2002, Orbitz launched www.orbitz.com/gaytravel within its main Web site. Going to the address you will find information about gay-friendly destinations and events.

Lezzymom has two kids and a wonderful partner. Her political commentary has appeared on C-Span and CSPAN.org. Visit her Lezzymom blog for more of her insights.

Olivia Travel offered its first all-woman cruise in 1990 and remains the only company in the world offering cruises that cater only to lesbians, according to Wikipedia.

“Olivia was created to serve a lesbian market that ranges from women who must live quietly in suburbia, to women who have the freedom to walk the streets holding hands. I am extremely blessed to have been part of this amazing experience. When the company launched 35 years ago, I never dreamed Olivia would become the company that it is today,” says Judy Dlugacz, President and Founder of Olivia.

According to the Olivia.com website 98% of the women who travel with Olivia Travel return.

This is due largely to the fact that Olivia cruises include exclusive entertainment for lesbians which includes popular celebrities such as Melissa Etheridge, kd lang, Heart, Belinda Carlisle, The Go Gos, Indigo Girls and Paula Cole; sports stars such as Sheryl Swoops, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King, Rosie Jones and comedians like Margaret Cho, Whoopi Goldberg, and Lily Tomlin.

The lesbian travel company prides itself on “featuring both international superstars and the latest up-and-coming performers, thereby catering to a wide cross section of women”.

Olivia rolled out its Sistas at Sea™ and Sistas at Play™ programs for lesbians of color; and in April 2008, one of the stars of the popular lesbian series “The L Word”, Leisha Hailey, signed on as Olivia’s spokesperson and voice to the company. The L Word featured the cruise line in some of their episodes, highlighting the fact that Olivia is part of the lives of most lesbians who love to travel. Leisha Hailey attracts fans of The L Word to the Olivia brand.

You can read more about what it’s like on an Olivia vacation on About.com here or watch a YouTube video commercial for Olivia.com below:

You can also find a social networking community on Olivia.com called Olivia Connect.

This portion of their website allows lesbians online to network and communicate, find out more about Olivia and its lesbian-friendly partners, and talk about their trips with Olivia Cruises. You can find my profile on Olivia Connect here where you will find that I post articles I write for the portion of Olivia Connect called Olivia Voices. Olivia Voices are blogs by lesbians online sharing their voices on different topics of interest to other lesbians. You can find my voice on Olivia here where I share the articles that I write for my blog Lesbian Mommy and LezGetReal.

I hope that you enjoyed this article and learning more about what Olivia has to offer lesbians worldwide.

They recently celebrated their first birthday and the company is making waves in the industry so to speak. Every one of Sweet’s vacations are “carbon neutral“, which means that they offset the pollution created by air, land and sea travel. Sweet also makes it a point to raise money for worthwhile causes and take part in meaningful projects all over the world. They claim to travel to “amazing places with the very best lesbian entertainers and off-the-hook parties”.

Here’s what else they have to say…

Sweet is for women who want to do it all on their vacations and in their lives. It’s for women who work hard and play hard, women with big hearts and big dreams. It’s about making life as sweet as possible. That means we’re producing fun events, raising money and awareness for causes about which we feel passionately and encouraging our guests to reach their personal goals all year round, in addition to running our business in a environmentally and socially responsible way.

As we’re making decisions about pricing, policies, entertainment, partnerships, even where to go for lunch, we ask ourselves, “Is that Sweet?” or “How can we make that Sweet?” As you browse our web site, you’ll see that sweetness at every turn.

If that sounds “sweet” to you then be sure to check them out!

Their website is DiscoverSweet.com where you’ll find vacation information, event information, and a discussion forum as well.

Here is a promo video as well just for fun…

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.

I first saw Bump! on the LOGO channel with lesbian host Shannon McDonough in Valencia and I was hooked, plus I liked the show too. *wink* Shannon took us through many features of the area that you wouldn’t be able to find on your own, so if you are a lesbian traveler you’ll want to be sure to take a look around the Bump! website and catch the show if you can. You shouldn’t have a problem because Bump! is shown around the world! Along with LOGO here in the U.S., you can find Bump! being aired in Canada on OUT TV, in France and Belgium on pink TV, and in Israel on Ananey. In Europe, use your mobile phone to watch Bump! anywhere Mango TV is available.

I never wanted to go to Spain before, but now it’s on my list. Thanks Shannon! Anyhow, there are two other hosts you’ll find on Bump! – Charlie David and J.R. Anderson. You can find out more about all three on the Bump! website here. The website also features fun stuff and helpful links for travelers so be sure to visit the website at
BumpTV.com.

You can also find Bump! podcasts iTunes Store Home Page, or find previous episodes on DVD at Amazon:

Newer episodes of Bump! can also be found on the LOGO website. Enjoy!

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.
]]> http://lezgetreal.com/2009/01/lez-travel-bump-tv/feed/ 0 http://lezgetreal.com/2009/01/lez-travel-girlports/ http://lezgetreal.com/2009/01/lez-travel-girlports/#comments Sun, 18 Jan 2009 03:30:00 +0000 ~Julie Phineas~ http://lezgetreal.com/?p=818 It’s the time of year when things start warming up around here, and for some it’s ripe time for a getaway to any place that’s a bit warmer.

Lez Travel is a new column here on LezGetReal.com aimed at sharing insights on the travel industry and travel must-knows for all real lesbians (while making you aware of the locations in the world that are lesbian friendly and which are not). In our first issue of Lez Travel I want to make you aware of a lesbian travel site online fixed with all the trimmings a traveling lesbian is a looking for called Girlports. Girlports is for lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered women to find travel information and events of importance to women like us. They also provide a place for these women to share their travel experiences and encourage us to support lesbian friendly communities around the world. Girlports was launched in September, 2007.

Who I’d like to meet:
All lesbians, bisexual, trans and questioning women who love travel as much as I do. There are so many cool spots and people in this world, and this is a great place for us to meet. I’d love to hear about your favorite destinations and lesbian events around the world, so I can add them to www.girlports.com. Incredibly enough, Girlports is the world’s only lesbian travel site, and I think we deserve to have more travel information written exclusively for us!

You can sign up for the Girlports Newsletter to keep up to date on the latest in lesbian travel from Girlports here or visit the Girlports main page for more here.

Julie Phineas is a work at home mom of 2 who lives in Southern California. You can find out more about her online by visiting her website at www.juliephineas.com.
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