Atralia has long had a gay beach subculture but they haven't always been safe spac | Gary Nunn | The Guardian

Contents:

• THE BT LGBTQI + AND GAY BEACH SYDNEY
• 10 BT GAY BEACH THE WORLD
• ATRALIA HAS LONG HAD A GAY BEACH SUBCULTURE BUT THEY HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN SAFE SPAC
• PERTH GAY-POPULAR BEACH
• ALAI GAY BEACH
• GAY ATRALIA

THE BT LGBTQI + AND GAY BEACH SYDNEY

It is important to note that the same-sex soc-sexual behavr observed the study is distct om homosexual behavr bee s motivatn and purpose are social, said Jean-Baptiste Le, who studi primate behavr at the Universy of Lethbridge Canada and was not volved the new rearch. To be classified as te homosexual behavr, the form, motivatn and functn would all have to be sexual nature, he said. And while there are gay-iendly seasis all across the globe, several rise to the top—whether bee of their sheer bety, their unique character or the crowd they draw.

Fort Lrdale has eclipsed Miami as Florida's go-to gay statn and Sebastian Street Beach, between Sunrise Boulevard and Las Olas Boulevard, fely fli the rabow flag. Mostly popular wh men, 's close to the bars, rtrants and nightclubs of Wilton Manors, as well as a plethora of gay hotels and rorts. Lovgly nicknamed "Gger Rogers Beach, " the sizable sectn of beachont near lifeguard tower 18 Pacific Palisas is one of the most famo gay beach the U.

Even when 's not Carnaval, "Farme Gay, " to the east of Rua Farme Amoedo, is the loc of gay life R—and a great place to ogle the mcular "Barbi" who sashay between Posto (guard tower) 8 and 9, next to the gay-iendly Ipanema Plaza 9pm, the actn mov to the half-dozen gay bars and clubs the area. Jt one of several gay beach Sydney, North Bondi is popular wh lols lookg to dch the tourists. ) The peak season, though, ns om early July to early fd the gay sectn of the beach, follow the crowds of buff hombr to the third beach zone, right near Hotel Calipolis.

10 BT GAY BEACH THE WORLD

A view of the blue sea, goln sand, sunbeds and sun umbrellas at Elia Beach, Mykonos' most popular gay beach.

Most of the beach Mykonos are gay-iendly, but Super Paradise and Elia draw the biggt queer crowds. Playa Los Muertos, Puerta Vallarta's gay beach, was origally a cemetery before the cy moved the grav and veloped the area as a beach attractn.

You might even spy a school of dolphs and the sun go down, head to one of the nightclubs jt steps away Zona Romanti, Puerto Vallarta's gayborhood. SydneyThe New South Wal pal has long been regnised as one of the top statns the world for LGBTQI travellers, and around Mardi Gras time, you’ll feel like the whole cy has turned gay.

ATRALIA HAS LONG HAD A GAY BEACH SUBCULTURE BUT THEY HAVEN'T ALWAYS BEEN SAFE SPAC

We probably don’t need to tell you that much of the party actn Sydney occurs around Oxford Street Darlghurst and Kg Street Newtown, or that the most popular gay cy beach are at North Bondi and Tamarama. For a lbian-iendly bar Sydney try the Sly Fox Enmore on a Wednday favoure gay gut hoe Sydney is Governors on Fzroy Surry Hills, a place that feels a b like stayg at your super-posh uncle’s hoe – but book ahead bee this place is popular (if you haven’t already booked for Mardi Gras – good luck). Photograph: Hamid Moa/suppliedKgs Beach, northern NSWNtled about 20km south of Byron Bay Broken Head Natnal Park, along a dirt road (all-vehicle accs), down a steep but manageable 1km walkg track, awas a whe sandy surf beach amid betiful tre and rocky outcrops that may well be the most betiful “gay” beach the world.

MelbourneOften lled Atralia’s cultural pal, Melbourne draws much more fluence om Europe s archecture, fashn and food – and for the gay traveller may feel like a more chilled out and refed experience after the glz of Sydney. Better still, do an art tour of Melbourne – check out the Centre for Contemporary Photography Fzroy, vis the NGV and ACMI at Feratn square, and take a drk overlookg the Yarra at gay scene Melbourne is basilly divid between the north si and south si of the cy. Photograph: /flickrDaylfordJt unr two hours north of Melbourne, the Swiss-Italian found town of Daylford (often affectnately known as Gaylford) is an oasis of crystal-clear sprgs, betiful lak, massage and healg retreats, and a surprisgly smopolan ma street wh Melbourne-qualy ffee.

PERTH GAY-POPULAR BEACH

Daylford is popular at this time of year, so book early and check you and your squeeze at one of the gay-iendly gutho such as Laki at Daylford or the Green Door and spend a rejuvenatg weekend havg a long bnch at Breakfast and Beer fe, pesg the book and antique stor, walkg and swimmg at the lak, dulgg yourself wh a massage or tantric healg ssn, or visg one of Daylford’s many galleri such as the betifully renovated Convent Gallery.

Photograph: /flickrTasmaniaTasmania has e a long way sce beme the last Atralian state to pass gay law reform 1997. Today boasts a small but visible gay scene Hobart and Lncton, and offers many good optns for gay travellers. Hobart even has s own LGBTQI dance bar at Flamgos, but tth one wouldn’t travel to Tasmania to vis gay night clubs.

ALAI GAY BEACH

My advice is to spend the night Hobart at the charmg gay-owned Corda’s Cottag takg the f and galleri around the betiful sandstone buildgs at Salaman Place, then hire a vehicle and h the road.

Tasmania also now has more acknowledgement of s same sex history tourism rmatn cludg early gay explorers, nvict love and “psdo-mal”.

GAY ATRALIA

“Surfers go to south Bondi, backpackers, fai and people om wtern Sydney go the middle, then gays go to north Bondi. Before homosexualy was crimalised (1984 New South Wal all the way through to 1997 Tasmania), some beach areas beme “beats” – venu where gay men uld discreetly hook up bee society offered few spac for them to meet and be timate.

But there’s a dark history – the plac beme the scen of vlent homophobic hate attacks. In September 2018, the Liberal MP Shayne Mallard announced a parliamentary quiry to homophobic hate crim mted between 1970 and 2010.

This clus 30 outstandg s of at least 88 murrs rulted gay men beg found ad at the bottom or on top of beach clifftops.

Police are now offerg a $1m reward for rmatn leadg to nvictn – after ially, accurately, nyg the area was a October 2018, Waverley uncil announced a memorial monument will be built at the cliffsi Marks Park, south of Bondi, followg the homophobic attacks and murrs of men at this Atralian beach culture, Murphy says, remas more nservative than beach like Sg Spa, “where there are cktails, DJs and parti right on the sand”.

You’ll get homophobia bee you somehow have to draw a le – as this nnot be seen as homoerotic. ” The profsnal surfer Barton Lynch explaed was mon to ll someone “faggot” or “poofter” when they didn’t tch a wave – homophobic language he has avoid sce his brother me out.

He swam petively Pe but remembers “jok about gays swimmg wh ” and beg punched his swim group. “I wanted to meet gay people a healthy environment and get f along the way, ” he says. I’ve suffered homophobia, ually men wh sni remarks or thkg ’s a pliment to say ‘that’s hot’.