10 of Europe’s bt statns for LGBTQ+ travellers this Pri season | Gay and lbian travel | The Guardian

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• TOP 10 GAY CAPALS FOR TRAVELAUGT 25, 2021 BY EDOR--CHIEFDPE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE STILL POLIL REGIM AND EVEN SO-LLED SOCIAL GROUPS AND RELIG ANIZATNS THAT FAIL TO PREHEND THE TE MEANG OF EQUALY REGARDLS OF WHO PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LOVE, HOW THEY CHOOSE TO LOOK PUBLIC, AND WHO THEY CHOOSE TO BE, MORE AND MORE DIVIDUALS – AND UPL – ARE NOW G OUT TO THE OPEN PUBLICLY ANNOUNCG TO THE WHOLE WORLD THEIR TE INTI. AND WHILE THE RT OF THE WORLD IS SLOW G TO TERMS WH THE RIGHTS OF THE LGBT MUNY, THERE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE OPENLY EMBRACED THEM AND PROVID A SAFE HAVEN FOR THOSE WHO RELISH EQUAL RIGHTS REGARDLS OF SEXUAL PREFERENC OR ORIENTATN. INED, THE UNTRI AND CI HAVE PROVID REFUGE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FACED RIDICULE AND NMNATN THEIR OWN UNTRI AND CI.WHILE ON THE WHOLE, THE WORLD IS A MUCH MORE AMENABLE TO GAY VISORS THAN ED TO BE, THERE ARE CERTA STATNS WHERE GAYS FEEL MORE FORTABLE AND WELE THAN OTHERS. THIS ARTICLE FOC ON TEN TOP STATNS THAT AREN’T JT GAY IENDLY; THEY ACTIVELY ENURAGE GAY VISORS AND GO ALL OUT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BT TIME EVER.WHAT IS THE GAY CAPAL OF THE WORLD? SAN FRANCIS IS UALLY THE THE PLACE MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY IS THE GAY PAL IF ASKED, BUT IF PENDS HOW YOU FE PAL. WE REARCHED THE HIGHT GAY MUNI PER PA, BUT EVEN THE DATA FOUND IS OUTDATED AND NOT PERFECT. THE REARCH N BE BASED ON PER PA, BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT ALWAYS OPEN AND HONT WHEN SURVEYED.REARCH HAS ALSO BEEN RRIED OUT BY HOW ‘GAY IENDLY’ CI ARE WHICH IS MUCH MORE MEASURABLE.WHAT IS THE GAY CAPAL OF THE USA?THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPA (HRC) NS A YEARLY MUNICIPAL EQUALIY INXCI ARE RANKED BY:NON-DISCRIMATN LAWS MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT POLICI CLIVENS OF CY SERVIC, LAW ENFORCEMENT (CLUDG HATE CRIM REPORTG) MUNICIPAL LEARSHIP ON MATTERS OF EQUALYTHOUGH THE MA NTENRS LIKE SAN FRANCIS, NEW YORK ARE HIGHT RANKED, THERE ARE MANY OTHER CI THAT DO VERY WELL UNR THE ABOVE CRERIA. WELL DONE PHEONIX, ORLANDO AND ATLANTA!!WHAT IS THE GAYT COUNTRY EUROPE?ACRDG TO REARCH, GERMANY HAS THE LARGT LGBT MUNY EUROPE, 7.4% OF GERMANS SAID THEY INTIFIED WH LGBT.ACRDG TO RABOW EUROPE THE BT UNTRY TERMS OF GAY IENDLY LEGISLATN MALTA!BT GAY CI THE WORLD (ACRDG TO )
• AND THE GAYT CY EUROPE IS... (DISVER OUR TOP 10 WNERS)
• GAY CAPAL OF EUROPE
• GAY SPA - OUR 6 FAVOURE PLAC TO EXPERIENCE LGBT SPA
• WHERE IS THE GAY CAPAL OF THE WORLD? TEN FABULO CONTENRS… ?
• EASTERN EUROPE WAS ONCE A WORLD LEAR ON GAY RIGHTS. THEN RAN OUT OF SPEGOATS
• AMSTERDAM, THE GAY PAL OF {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY ARJAN TIMMERMANSMARCH 23, 2009/9:17 AMBY ARJAN TIMMERMANSMARCH 23, 2009 / 9:17 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"AMSTERDAM, THE GAY PAL OF EUROPE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2009-03-23T13:17:30.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2009-03-23T13:17:30.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ARJAN TIMMERMANS","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AMSTERDAM IS LLED THE GAY PAL OF THE WORLD FOR GOOD REASONS. EVER SCE THE CY STARTED TO FLOURISH THE 17TH CENTURY, HAS BEEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR EVERYBODY WHO’S BEEN NSIRED “DIFFERENT.” WHATEVER YOUR RELIGN, POLIL AFFILIATN, NATNALY OR SEXUALY, AMSTERDAM HAS BUILT A REPUTATN FOR WELG PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY. AND SCE 2002, GAYS N MARRY LEGALLY. LOOKG TO PLAN A HONEYMOON?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SUATED CLOSE TO THE NORTH SEA AST EUROPE’S LOW LANDS, AMSTERDAM IS ONE OF THE SMALLER EUROPEAN PALS SIZE, BUT ONE OF THE NTENT’S MOST FAVORE GAY HOTSPOTS. ITS PROXIMY TO LONDON AND PARIS MAK AN IAL CY TO CLU YOUR EUROPEAN TRAVEL ERARY. JT HOP ON A HIGH-SPEED TRA AND YOU WILL BE PARIS AND LONDON JT A FEW HOURS. THE BY AMSTERDAM SCHIPHOL AIRPORT IS A MAJOR GATEWAY FOR MANY U.S. AIRL, WHICH MAK A GREAT CY TO START YOUR EUROPEAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOST PEOPLE FET THAT AMSTERDAM IS LOTED SEVERAL FEET UNR SEA LEVEL. BUT NO WORRI. THE DUTCH HAVE BEE EXPERTS AT WATER MANAGEMENT AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENGEER SOLID DIK AND OTHER PREUTNS TO PREVENT THE CY OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AMSTERDAM HAS BEE A BEAN OF TOLERANCE AND DIVERSY OVER THE PAST FEW S. THE DUTCH WERE ONE OF THE FIRST UNTRI THE WORLD TO PASS EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS FOR GAYS AND LBIANS, CLUDG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. WHAT YOU MIGHT FD UNUAL WHEN YOU VIS AMSTERDAM IS THAT THE CY HAS NO DISTCT GAY NEIGHBORHOOD. BARS ARE STTERED ALL OVER THE CY, WHICH SHOWS HOW GAY CULTURE N SUCCSFULLY BEE PART OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND Y, IF YOU WANT TO “SMOKE” YOU N DO THAT HERE, TOO. THE LOLS MAY MOSTLY ABSTA, NSIRG THE PUFFG OF A JOT TO BE A THOROUGHLY “TOURIST” ACTIVY, BUT YOU’RE WELE TO LIGHT UP, IF THAT’S YOUR THG. AVOID THE ROWDY “FFEHOPS” (WHERE MARIJUANA IS SOLD; YOU ORR OM A MENU, EVEN) CRAMMED WH EAGER U.S. LLEGE KIDS, AND CHOOSE A MORE LOW-KEY OPTN AWAY OM THE MAJOR TOWN SQUAR. IT’S JT MORE PLEASANT, THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN YOU GO TO AMSTERDAM, THERE ARE A FEW MT-SEE SIGHTS. IF YOU’RE TERTED THE ARTS AND CULTURE, MAKE SURE TO HEAD OVER TO MMPLE TO SEE THE RIJKSMM AND VAN GOGH MM FOR HISTORIC ART LLECTNS. IF YOU ARE TERTED AMSTERDAM’S HISTORY, GO TO THE ANNE FRANK HUIS AND THE HOMO MONUMENT, WHICH IS A MEMORIAL FOR GAYS AND LBIANS PROSECUTED WORLD WAR II BY NAZI GERMANY. IF YOU ARE LOOKG TO LET LOOSE A LTLE, GO TO THE FAMO RED LIGHT DISTRICT AND SURROUNDG STREETS FOR A TASTE OF THE CY AFTER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A NOTE ON HOTELS... PRETTY MUCH ANY HOTEL YOU NSIR AMSTERDAM WILL BE GAY IENDLY, WHICH LEAV THE RT OF THE CISN UP TO YOU! DO YOU WANT HIGH-END LUXE, OR BUDGET AND BUZZWORTHY? DO YOU WANT A QUAT NAL HOE HOTEL, OR A SLICK BOUTIQUE OPTN. EHER WAY, THERE’S PLENTY ON OFFER. IT’S A PACT CY WH PACT BUILDGS, SO ROOMS N BE SMALL AND STEPS N BE STEEP. AND IF YOU N, ASK FOR A ROOM WH A NAL VIEW. YOU WON’T REGRET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• GAY BERL
• GAY PAL OF EUROPE

TOP 10 GAY CAPALS FOR TRAVELAUGT 25, 2021 BY EDOR--CHIEFDPE THE FACT THAT THERE ARE STILL POLIL REGIM AND EVEN SO-LLED SOCIAL GROUPS AND RELIG ANIZATNS THAT FAIL TO PREHEND THE TE MEANG OF EQUALY REGARDLS OF WHO PEOPLE CHOOSE TO LOVE, HOW THEY CHOOSE TO LOOK PUBLIC, AND WHO THEY CHOOSE TO BE, MORE AND MORE DIVIDUALS – AND UPL – ARE NOW G OUT TO THE OPEN PUBLICLY ANNOUNCG TO THE WHOLE WORLD THEIR TE INTI. AND WHILE THE RT OF THE WORLD IS SLOW G TO TERMS WH THE RIGHTS OF THE LGBT MUNY, THERE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE OPENLY EMBRACED THEM AND PROVID A SAFE HAVEN FOR THOSE WHO RELISH EQUAL RIGHTS REGARDLS OF SEXUAL PREFERENC OR ORIENTATN. INED, THE UNTRI AND CI HAVE PROVID REFUGE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FACED RIDICULE AND NMNATN THEIR OWN UNTRI AND CI.WHILE ON THE WHOLE, THE WORLD IS A MUCH MORE AMENABLE TO GAY VISORS THAN ED TO BE, THERE ARE CERTA STATNS WHERE GAYS FEEL MORE FORTABLE AND WELE THAN OTHERS. THIS ARTICLE FOC ON TEN TOP STATNS THAT AREN’T JT GAY IENDLY; THEY ACTIVELY ENURAGE GAY VISORS AND GO ALL OUT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE BT TIME EVER.WHAT IS THE GAY CAPAL OF THE WORLD? SAN FRANCIS IS UALLY THE THE PLACE MOST PEOPLE WOULD SAY IS THE GAY PAL IF ASKED, BUT IF PENDS HOW YOU FE PAL. WE REARCHED THE HIGHT GAY MUNI PER PA, BUT EVEN THE DATA FOUND IS OUTDATED AND NOT PERFECT. THE REARCH N BE BASED ON PER PA, BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT ALWAYS OPEN AND HONT WHEN SURVEYED.REARCH HAS ALSO BEEN RRIED OUT BY HOW ‘GAY IENDLY’ CI ARE WHICH IS MUCH MORE MEASURABLE.WHAT IS THE GAY CAPAL OF THE USA?THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPA (HRC) NS A YEARLY MUNICIPAL EQUALIY INXCI ARE RANKED BY:NON-DISCRIMATN LAWS MUNICIPAL EMPLOYMENT POLICI CLIVENS OF CY SERVIC, LAW ENFORCEMENT (CLUDG HATE CRIM REPORTG) MUNICIPAL LEARSHIP ON MATTERS OF EQUALYTHOUGH THE MA NTENRS LIKE SAN FRANCIS, NEW YORK ARE HIGHT RANKED, THERE ARE MANY OTHER CI THAT DO VERY WELL UNR THE ABOVE CRERIA. WELL DONE PHEONIX, ORLANDO AND ATLANTA!!WHAT IS THE GAYT COUNTRY EUROPE?ACRDG TO REARCH, GERMANY HAS THE LARGT LGBT MUNY EUROPE, 7.4% OF GERMANS SAID THEY INTIFIED WH LGBT.ACRDG TO RABOW EUROPE THE BT UNTRY TERMS OF GAY IENDLY LEGISLATN MALTA!BT GAY CI THE WORLD (ACRDG TO )

Ined, the untri and ci have provid refuge for those who have faced ridicule and nmnatn their own untri and on the whole, the world is a much more amenable to gay visors than ed to be, there are certa statns where gays feel more fortable and wele than others. Bt Gay Ci the World (acrdg to )Contents San Francis Sydney BrightonAmsterdamBerl Mexi, Puerto Vallarta Chelsea and Greenwich Village (NYC) R Prague BangkokCopenhagen: The Birthplace of Gay RightsToronto: The Bean of LGBTQ Rights San FrancisFor those who have been before, will e as no surprise to see San Francis at the top of the list. Kls Wowere, the openly gay mayor, outed himself wh the immortal words “I’m gay and that’s a good thg”, and beftg the centralised nature of the cy, there is no specific gay ghetto, and there are tablished scen throughout Berl.

Copenhagen: The Birthplace of Gay RightsLong before the equaly qutn me to the nscns of the global muny the early 90s, this cy well-known for s lorful history, s LEGO herage, and s Nordic cuise, pneered champng the rights of lbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenrs when , as a natn, was the first to openly regnize same-sex relatnships or partnerships 1989. Wh a functnal yet very edgy fashn scene, Copenhagen has been a perennial favore of world-class gay uturiers, stylists, artists, and signers who fd Denmark’s exceptnally warm and vg hospaly as major reasons for settg up shop the land.

AND THE GAYT CY EUROPE IS... (DISVER OUR TOP 10 WNERS)

Of urse, the Danish enomy and fancial astcture are one of the bt Europe and has been the blueprt for other enomi the are also an exceptnal array of gay-iendly cktail bars and boutique acmodatn that are pecially signed for same-sex partnerships. All year round, queer events pack the lendar, further attractg tens of thoands of foreign gay visors the untry eher to partake the celebratns or to simply make a vow of loyalty and openns to their rpective partners.

One n always try Café Intime, Osr Bar and Café, Vela, and Jsie at Jolene, jt to name a the tourism partment of Denmark aptly puts s advertisg mpaigns, Copenhagen is where you make iends, fall love, and make tly lastg memori regardls of whether you’re gay or not.

For the bt openly gay tablishments, head to Queer Wt as has an excg array of bs, f, bars, rtrants, and galleri owned and managed by gays and may not have been the first regnizg same-sex partnerships, but Toronto n hold the distctn of extendg the equaly bate to clu queer dividuals.

GAY CAPAL OF EUROPE

You’ll fd a number of monuments around the cy memoratg the many LGBTQ victims of WWII, wh the Schwul Mm documentg the art, culture and history of Berl’s homosexual muny, which was long centred , Nollendorfplatz is still the place to be if you’d like to see the cy’s bt fetish clubs and leather bars, wh September brgg wh the Folsom Europe BDSM and subculture ftival. Drawn through wh waterways and nnected by hundreds of photogenic bridg, Amsterdam is the cy of the cyclist, allowg for scenic ris along the Prsengracht nal and the Amstel River which both bee awash wh para boats durg the annual gay nal pri. At all other tim, you n fd Amsterdam’s gay scene centred on Reguliersdwarsstraat, particularly at the cy’s olst gay bar, Cafe t’ Mandje, a popular late-night meetg pot wh kschy dér datg back to the 1920s.

GAY SPA - OUR 6 FAVOURE PLAC TO EXPERIENCE LGBT SPA

While explorg the cy, be sure to look for the Homomonument, a se promoted as a livg monument to homosexuals opprsed and persecuted around the world, also learng more of the cy’s LGBT history at the Pk Pot rmatn sk close by. Copenhagen, DenmarkWh Denmark beg one of the first European natns to legalize same-sex marriage 2012 (and same-sex unns back 1989), ’s pal of Copenhagen certaly has the crentials to be crowned gay pal of Europe. Though smaller events like World Aids Day and the EuroGam are celebrated throughout the year, the pnacle event for the gay muny mt be Copenhagen Pri, which actually happens twice a year both June and well as your ual dance clubs, Copenhagen go one better wh a selectn of sophistited gay spots near Cy Hall, while the alternative scene meets nearer Central Statn or Vterbro, the cy’s old Red Light District.

Bis hostg the UK’s largt pri para, Manchter also hosts Queer Contact arts ftival, Drag Ft UK and Sparkle Ftival, wh more drag events and themed nights happeng nightly the Gay Village on Canal Street the cy’s bt gay bars, clubs and LGBTQ venu.

WHERE IS THE GAY CAPAL OF THE WORLD? TEN FABULO CONTENRS… ?

Mgle good gay pany on Sat-Jaqu, fdg most of the nightlife actn on Marché Au Charbon, particularly the month of May when the narrow streets and sloped lan behd Grand Place fill wh revellers for an entire week of pri celebratns, culmatg on Saturday for Pri Day Bssels.

EASTERN EUROPE WAS ONCE A WORLD LEAR ON GAY RIGHTS. THEN RAN OUT OF SPEGOATS

Hostg 250, 000 people each year for s Pri ftival, Brighton remas a meltg-pot for gay culture year round, a trend started the 19th century when men om across the untry me to meet up wh soldiers statned here.

Vis durg Febary to attend a number of LGBTQ History Month events held across the cy, otherwise tryg for Trans Pri and Ey Wi Open Ftival, or for regular performanc by the Gay Men’s Chos or edy nights at Bent Double. Each superblock offers a new theme, though the gay muny n ually be found around Eixample the LGBT district, meetg up at the cy’s bt gay bars, rtrants and a balny view or an al tapas spot for a lazy afternoon on the square, or otherwise make mov to the cy’s nearby beach statn of Sg, jt 30 mut away by tra. Though Sg certaly has pri, ’s Barcelona cy centre wh the biggt store of events, cludg the ma pri para June, Bear Pri March, Circu Ftival Augt and the Internatnal Gay and Lbian Film Ftival October.

AMSTERDAM, THE GAY PAL OF {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}LIFEBY ARJAN TIMMERMANSMARCH 23, 2009/9:17 AMBY ARJAN TIMMERMANSMARCH 23, 2009 / 9:17 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"AMSTERDAM, THE GAY PAL OF EUROPE","DATEPUBLISHED":"2009-03-23T13:17:30.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2009-03-23T13:17:30.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"ARJAN TIMMERMANS","ARTICLESECTN":"LIFE"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AMSTERDAM IS LLED THE GAY PAL OF THE WORLD FOR GOOD REASONS. EVER SCE THE CY STARTED TO FLOURISH THE 17TH CENTURY, HAS BEEN A SAFE HAVEN FOR EVERYBODY WHO’S BEEN NSIRED “DIFFERENT.” WHATEVER YOUR RELIGN, POLIL AFFILIATN, NATNALY OR SEXUALY, AMSTERDAM HAS BUILT A REPUTATN FOR WELG PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY. AND SCE 2002, GAYS N MARRY LEGALLY. LOOKG TO PLAN A HONEYMOON?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SUATED CLOSE TO THE NORTH SEA AST EUROPE’S LOW LANDS, AMSTERDAM IS ONE OF THE SMALLER EUROPEAN PALS SIZE, BUT ONE OF THE NTENT’S MOST FAVORE GAY HOTSPOTS. ITS PROXIMY TO LONDON AND PARIS MAK AN IAL CY TO CLU YOUR EUROPEAN TRAVEL ERARY. JT HOP ON A HIGH-SPEED TRA AND YOU WILL BE PARIS AND LONDON JT A FEW HOURS. THE BY AMSTERDAM SCHIPHOL AIRPORT IS A MAJOR GATEWAY FOR MANY U.S. AIRL, WHICH MAK A GREAT CY TO START YOUR EUROPEAN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MOST PEOPLE FET THAT AMSTERDAM IS LOTED SEVERAL FEET UNR SEA LEVEL. BUT NO WORRI. THE DUTCH HAVE BEE EXPERTS AT WATER MANAGEMENT AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ENGEER SOLID DIK AND OTHER PREUTNS TO PREVENT THE CY OM {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AMSTERDAM HAS BEE A BEAN OF TOLERANCE AND DIVERSY OVER THE PAST FEW S. THE DUTCH WERE ONE OF THE FIRST UNTRI THE WORLD TO PASS EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS FOR GAYS AND LBIANS, CLUDG SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. WHAT YOU MIGHT FD UNUAL WHEN YOU VIS AMSTERDAM IS THAT THE CY HAS NO DISTCT GAY NEIGHBORHOOD. BARS ARE STTERED ALL OVER THE CY, WHICH SHOWS HOW GAY CULTURE N SUCCSFULLY BEE PART OF THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AND Y, IF YOU WANT TO “SMOKE” YOU N DO THAT HERE, TOO. THE LOLS MAY MOSTLY ABSTA, NSIRG THE PUFFG OF A JOT TO BE A THOROUGHLY “TOURIST” ACTIVY, BUT YOU’RE WELE TO LIGHT UP, IF THAT’S YOUR THG. AVOID THE ROWDY “FFEHOPS” (WHERE MARIJUANA IS SOLD; YOU ORR OM A MENU, EVEN) CRAMMED WH EAGER U.S. LLEGE KIDS, AND CHOOSE A MORE LOW-KEY OPTN AWAY OM THE MAJOR TOWN SQUAR. IT’S JT MORE PLEASANT, THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHEN YOU GO TO AMSTERDAM, THERE ARE A FEW MT-SEE SIGHTS. IF YOU’RE TERTED THE ARTS AND CULTURE, MAKE SURE TO HEAD OVER TO MMPLE TO SEE THE RIJKSMM AND VAN GOGH MM FOR HISTORIC ART LLECTNS. IF YOU ARE TERTED AMSTERDAM’S HISTORY, GO TO THE ANNE FRANK HUIS AND THE HOMO MONUMENT, WHICH IS A MEMORIAL FOR GAYS AND LBIANS PROSECUTED WORLD WAR II BY NAZI GERMANY. IF YOU ARE LOOKG TO LET LOOSE A LTLE, GO TO THE FAMO RED LIGHT DISTRICT AND SURROUNDG STREETS FOR A TASTE OF THE CY AFTER {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}A NOTE ON HOTELS... PRETTY MUCH ANY HOTEL YOU NSIR AMSTERDAM WILL BE GAY IENDLY, WHICH LEAV THE RT OF THE CISN UP TO YOU! DO YOU WANT HIGH-END LUXE, OR BUDGET AND BUZZWORTHY? DO YOU WANT A QUAT NAL HOE HOTEL, OR A SLICK BOUTIQUE OPTN. EHER WAY, THERE’S PLENTY ON OFFER. IT’S A PACT CY WH PACT BUILDGS, SO ROOMS N BE SMALL AND STEPS N BE STEEP. AND IF YOU N, ASK FOR A ROOM WH A NAL VIEW. YOU WON’T REGRET {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

Whether you want to dance wh the betiful people around you, plan to drk cktails all night a terrific bar, or want to spent a night a bar wh iends: the gay and lbian scene of Amsterdam is unprecented.

GAY BERL

Everywhere there's somethg to see and do Amsterdam, but most of the gay f, bars and stor are the center of the cy, four popular districts: Amstel, Kerkstraat, Reguliersdwarsstraat, Zeedijk and Warmostraat. Equalx, a llaborative knowledge base for the global LGBT movement that maps the legaly of homosexualy, intifi a number of factors cludg eedom to change genr and to adopt – although hasn’t ranked untri or ci orr of bt to x om the Human Rights Campaign looks at municipal servic, law enforcement and the cy learship’s public posn on equaly across the US. Arguably the size of the LGBT populatn urban areas uld reflect the level of iendls, as “many LGBTI folk head to ci om ral areas bee of the promise of a eer, more tolerant life there, ” says André du Plsis, executive director of the Internatnal Lbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Associatn.

GAY PAL OF EUROPE

San Francis has often been lled the “gay pal of the world” for s culture of tolerance and vibrant even when ci seem progrsive on the surface, the lived experience of members of the LGBT muny n tell a dramatilly different story.

“For a certa social strata [sic], Cape Town and Johannburg are gay mecs, but at the same time black lbians livg poor areas there are alg wh vlence and targeted rape, ” says Graeme Reid, director of the LGBT rights programme at Human Rights Watch.

And November, Jared Polis beme the first openly gay man to be elected as a US state Poland, one of Europe’s most Catholic and nservative untri, voters the small cy of Slupsk this year elected a gay atheist mayor, Robert Biedron.