Gay-iendly towns red stat draw LGBTQ tourists: 'We're here to be normal for a weekend'

Contents:

• GAY-IENDLY TOWNS RED STAT DRAW LGBTQ TOURISTS: 'WE'RE HERE TO BE NORMAL FOR A WEEKEND'
•  ARKANSAS LBIAN AND GAY BARS, RTRANTS, LODGG, PRI EVENT, BS MAPS
• LGBTQ+ AFFIRMG THERAPISTS FAYETTEVILLE, AR

GAY-IENDLY TOWNS RED STAT DRAW LGBTQ TOURISTS: 'WE'RE HERE TO BE NORMAL FOR A WEEKEND'

— On the unt of three, about 50 gay upl kissed their partners the public square of a small town the Ozark Wilks, the event’s anizer, told the crowd to do over.

 ARKANSAS LBIAN AND GAY BARS, RTRANTS, LODGG, PRI EVENT, BS MAPS

But Eureka Sprgs, Wilks, who ns Out Eureka, an LGBTQ event and rmatn anizatn, is workg to create what he se as an oasis: a space for LGBTQ people to explore a quat Southern town while beg weled exactly as they ci and towns red stat have also begun urtg lbian, gay, bisexual, transgenr and queer tourists, as a way of showg their openns and bee there’s money to be ma. ”Oklahoma Cy tri to entice LGBTQ tourists wh s annual Memorial Day gay roo and s small but thrivg southwt of Eureka Sprgs, Fayetteville is on a siar missn, tryg to appeal to LGBTQ people Arkansas and neighborg stat, for whom gog on vatn to a major cy is st prohibive — or not at all sirable.

LGBTQ+ AFFIRMG THERAPISTS FAYETTEVILLE, AR

“Fire Island is fun, ” he add of the gay statn east of New York Cy, but Wilks wants to rema “te to who Eureka is” — a small town that’s wood, Southern and super gay.

’Fayetteville recently beme the first cy Arkansas to jo the Internatnal Gay and Lbian Travel Associatn, which provis ee rourc, travel suggtns and safety tips to LGBTQ travelers. Courty Vcent GriffExperience Fayetteville tak out ads gay newspapers nearby ci and neighborg stat toutg s attractns and makg sure queer and trans folks know they n vis whout worry.