Sexually transmitted diseases surged to a record high in the United States last year, with more than two million cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis nationwide, officials said Tuesday. This was “the highest number ever,” said the annual Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Report released today by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most… (more…)
Potential visitors are advised that while it is safe to travel to the Keys, recovery efforts are ongoing, especially in the Lower Keys and parts of Marathon which were hardest hit by the Category 4 storm. Not all lodging is operating on a normal basis currently and this includes RV resorts and other tourism facilities throughout the Keys. The districts of Key Largo and Key West were the least impacted, however, visitors planning to travel to the Keys in the coming months are advised to call ahead to ensure their chosen hotels1 and favourite attractions are open.
Motorists should use extreme caution when navigating Marathon and the Lower Keys regions and stay off side roads to avoid hindering restoration activities. Bridges on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway have passed inspections and any necessary repairs have been made.
Officials confirmed that the decision to open the Keys to visitors is based on some of the most immediate infrastructure repairs having been completed. Almost all power and water services have now been restored and mobile phone service is working well, however, the full restoration of television and internet connections is taking longer to re-establish. Throughout the Keys there are significant debris piles that are being removed by clean-up contractors.
Monroe County Mayor George Neugent commented, “We know we have a long way to go before the Keys fully recover, but because tourism is our top economic engine and many of our residents’ livelihoods depend on it, we also know that we need to begin asking visitors to return.”
UK travellers planning a visit to the Keys can access the island chain from this weekend through the normal gateway airports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. International airports in Marathon and Key West have also reopened to aviation traffic and The Port of Key West is now welcoming cruise ships again.
While some special events have been postponed or cancelled, key upcoming events include Key Largo’s Humphrey Bogart Film Festival (18-22 October) and Key West’s Fantasy Fest (20-29 October), both of which will take place as originally scheduled.
An HIV-positive former college wrestler from was sentenced in Missouri to 10 years in prison for knowingly transmitting HIV to one man and exposing four others to the virus. Michael Johnson, 25, also known as “Tiger Mandingo,” pleaded no contest to the charges Thursday, reports said. A no contest plea is used in criminal proceedings as… (more…)
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawsuit seeks to limit which agencies can claim objections, by asking a Detroit federal court to rule that an agency… (more…)
ATLANTA — A vigil at Georgia Tech to remember a student gunned down by campus police turned violent Monday night. A police car was set afire as about 50 participants marched to the Georgia Tech Police Department headquarters in Atlanta. It was unclear who set the blaze. An unidentified individual was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital… (more…)
A gang of men, in Plano Texas, who used gay dating websites to target gay men, have pleaded guilty to hate crime assaults. The three men, Chancler Encalade, Nigel Garrett and Cameron Ajiduah used gay dating sites to arrange meetings with men. once inside the victims’ home they would bound their victim with tape, assault them and verbally abuse them. They would also steal from their homes.
Once inside the victims’ home, they bound their victims with tape, assault them and verbally abused them. They would also steal from their homes.
According to Yahoo News, the men are facing life in prison sentences and a fine of up to $250,000.
A fourth man, Anthony Shelton is awaiting trial.
Pharma Bro Martin Shkreli has been jailed after a US judge revoked his bail. The businessman who was convicted of securities fraud last month for mismanaging two investment funds was out on a $5 million bail, whilst awaiting sentencing, but a judge ruled that his request for a strand of the former Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton was bail breaking.
Shkreli is notorious in the US for jacking up the price of an HIV medication from $13.50 to $750 overnight in 2015 when he ran Turing Pharmaceuticals.
Shkreli was questioned by US District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto over a Facebook post he published in which he asked for a strand of Clinton’s hair during her book tour, and would award anyone who managed to secure the hair with $5000.
His lawyer Benjamin Brafman argued that the post was “poor judgment” and insisted that his client “never intended to cause alarm or promote any act of violence whatsoever.”
The Judge disagreed and revoked bail and he was remanded to a detention facility saying, “The fact that he continues to remain unaware of the inappropriateness of his actions or words demonstrate to me he may well be an ongoing danger or risk to the community”.
He will remain there until his sentencing hearing, slated for 16th January 2018.
Ms Windsor’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, announced that the same-sex marriage activist had died at the age of 88, in New York, USA. The cause of her death was not given, but Ms Windsor had been struggling with a heart condition for years.
Commenting on her death President Obama said that she was a “quiet” hero for the equality cause. He said, “Few were as small in stature as Edie Windsor — and few made as big a difference to America.”
Ms Windsor was 81 when she brought a lawsuit (United States V. Windsor) which would end up being the turning point for LGBT rights in America. In 2009, after the death of her first wife, Thea Spyer, to whom she was married to in Canada, Ms Windsor was prevented from getting a marital deduction on Spyer’s estate, because their marriage was not legal in the US.
Ms Windsor was successful, with justices ruling 5-4 in June 2013. The law (the Defense of Marriage Act DOMA) was deemed unconstitutional and the stepping stones for same-sex marriage were in place. Same-sex marriage became legal in every state the US in 2015.
Ms Windsor remarried in 2016 to Judith Kasen, in New York City Hall.
Edith Windsor appeared at Washington DC pride in 2017 as the Parade’s Grand Marshall. She was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and worked for IBM from 1958. In May 1968, she attained the title designating the highest level technical position at IBM, Senior Systems Programmer. In 1975 she left the company and with her severance pay she began to focus on her activism.
In June 2016 the lives of countless LGBT+ people and their allies were changed forever when a gunman opened fire in the Pulse Nightclub causing the worst single act of violence against LGBT+ people since World War Two. Forty-nine people were killed and over 100 were injured in the attack.
Now, a little over a year fresh talks on reopening the venue have been renewed after the owner of the club, Barbara Poma has suggested that she’s looking for a new location to reopen the club.
According to The Orlando Sentinel, a spokeswoman said that Poma is “looking for a location somewhere in central or urban Orlando.”
Shortly after the shooting it was rumoured at the owner wished to reopen the club, on the original site, but the idea was dropped. It now looks like the original site will become a permanent memorial or museum to LGBT+ history.
San Francisco adult star, Jessie Colter has opened up after a failed attempt at his life. The star revealed that he was the target of two men, who lured him to a hotel.
The star, who has made no secret of also working as a sex worker, said that he was lured to a hotel by a singular man who claimed that he was a client. However, when Jessie turned up he was confronted by two men. The two, according to Jessie assaulted him and most alarmingly had plans to kill him. Thankfully, Jessie remarks, he was able to escape the two unnamed men and the hotel.
In the two-minute video, which he shared with his 110,000 fans, Jessie, said, that the experience was deeply traumatic and didn’t want to go into full details about the attack that has left the star shaken. He said he was making the video to help with his healing process and to make other people aware of the severity of the incident.
He said,
https://twitter.com/jessiecolterxxx/status/902699330464657408
Jessie says that the incident is now under investigation.
Congrats! We bet you’ve got enough on your plate and could spare having to plan the holiday of a lifetime on top of that. Have you come to the point where you’re pondering all the unanswered questions and steps that are separating you from actually jumping on that plane?
One question that should never be left ignored is whether you picked a honeymoon destination that is gay-friendly. With over 70 countries still having some form of anti-homosexuality law, it’s easy to see how your perfect holiday could go awry. Although not feeling comfortable showing your affection to your loved one in public is not something you should ever have to deal with, it’s an especially unwelcome feeling on this special occasion. So, we’ve put together a list of the most gay-friendly honeymoon destinations; areas filled with beauty, vibrancy and friendliness.
Previously THEGAYUK.com had suggested Brazil as a good location for a Honeymoon, however, due to the legal and criminal situation, we cannot advise going to this part of the world.
Barcelona is constantly at the top of the most LGBT-friendly lists — and with good reason. A great mix of delicious tapas, fabulous sandy beaches, stunning historical buildings, balmy year-round climate, and a selection of gay bars, saunas, cruises and hotels to boot make it easy to see why it’s a holiday favourite amongst the gay scene.
Same-sex marriage became legal in Iceland in 2010, but the country always had a relaxed and accepting attitude towards gay couples. For one thing, their prime minister is openly gay! Despite all this, the beauty of this outlandish country is what will captivate you the most. Don’t miss the Blue Lagoon: a geothermal spa located in a lava field where you can soak in milky blue water at any time of the year.
Gay marriage was legalised in 2010 in Argentina, but Buenos Aires was a mecca for gay travellers way before then. Dubbed the “most European place in South America,” it’s a sprawling city rich in history. Take a stroll hand in hand along the pedestrian Calle Florida in the Microcentro, or in the Recoleta, Palermo and marvel at all the beauty without a care.
Cancun has so much more to offer than the hedonistic reputation that precedes it. There’s a bit of everything for everyone. Sure, there’s the crazy night life if you fancy that, but there are also a whole throng of gay beaches and hotels to pick from, and a carefree, ‘live and let live’ vibe that’ll put you right at ease.
One wouldn’t always think of the African continent when it comes to gay-friendly travel destinations, but South Africa was the fifth country in the world and first in Africa to legalise same-sex marriage. Seen by many as one of the most beautiful cities in South Africa, Cape Town promises spectacular scenery, incredible beaches and exotic wildlife. Drive safely, though, as the baboons run free!
Taiwan may also come as a surprise for a gay-friendly destination, but it is one of the most accepting countries in Asia. There’s something for all tastes and tonnes to explore for such a tiny island, including nine national parks (don’t miss the Taroko National Park), a bustling metropolis, pleasant sub-tropical weather and beautiful, remote beaches.
The sun always shines in the South Californian desert oasis of Palm Springs. As a city that boasts the most same-sex (and the most clothing optional!) hotels in the world, it’s easy to see how you’ll have a great time. Rather go golfing? Hiking? Clubbing? There’s little that can’t be had in Palm Springs.
Parveen Nanda is an experienced blogger and travel expert at Luxtripper, supplying luxury four and five-star hotels and end-to-end package holidays.