David Buckel, one of the most renowned and nationally acclaimed champions for gay rights, was found dead in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York, after he set himself on fire early Saturday morning. Before he self-immolated, Buckel clarified he was committing the act as a protest against the use of fossil fuels. (more…)
Tag: New York News
Get the latest LGBT+ New York news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in New York in the USA.
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LGBT Rights Lawyer Sets Himself On Fire In New York Park
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‘Angels in America’ Set for Broadway Return
After receiving stellar reviews in London, the revival of Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize–winning drama Angels in America descends on Broadway. Opening March 25, Part One: Millennium Approaches and Part Two: Perestroika will run on consecutive nights. (more…)
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Did you know it’s illegal to dance in most of NYC’s Bars?
Legal ballet to end New York prohibition on dancing
Due to licensing this article must be read on our website
Dancing is technically illegal in thousands of bars, clubs and restaurants in the city that never sleeps, but New York campaigners are finally in sight of getting the law overturned. The “cabaret law,” passed in 1926, requires public spaces that sell food and drink to acquire near impossible-to-obtain permits to authorize dancing indoors. (more…)
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The Best Places for Gay Travel 2017
Planning a gay vacay this year but not sure where to go? While there are a lot of amazing destinations for gay travel, there are a few spots that are extra special when it comes to welcoming LGBTQ travellers, and some that have naturally become gay hotspots because of their fabulousness.
Hipster, designer and gay travel blogger extraordinaire Adam Groffman put together a list of some of the Best Places for Gay Travel in 2016 on his Travels of Adam site that he has kindly shared with THEGAYUK. Read on to get your inspiration for amazing gay travels for 2017.
Here’s the thing about gay travel—you can pretty much do it anywhere. If you’re gay and you travel, guess what!? You’re gay travelling 😉
But, still… there are some places which are just so much more welcoming, more friendly and more fun for gay travellers. Some travel companies make concerted efforts to court LGBTQ travellers, while others just naturally become hotspots thanks to their location, their creed or their clientele. Finding gay places when travelling can sometimes be a challenge—a lot of it depends on word of mouth (whether that arrives to you from friends, friends of friends, or through a gay dating app). But then there are also a handful of gay websites which make finding gay places easier. Probably the biggest international directory of gay cities is, predictably, GayCities.com. Their mix of user-generated content, stories, photos essays and events is all-encompassing.
Each year, GayCities.com puts out a survey of the best gay cities, places, hotels and other travel things. It’s a fun survey where you can vote for your favourite gay places (I’m always voting for Berlin, hoping that it will win!).
THE BEST PLACES FOR GAY TRAVEL 2016 MY PICKS!
Best Gay City
BERLINAs my adopted home, Berlin makes it to the top of every one of my lists—it’s great for foodies, for budget travellers, for luxury travellers, for sex tourism, for hipsters and for film fanatics. The other options on GayCities’ list of best cities are decent, but honestly: Berlin has a bit of something for everyone. New York City and Chicago are probably at the top of my list for best USA gay destinations, but with early closing times for the nightlife, it’s hard to really top Berlin.
Best Foodie Paradise
CHICAGOChicago, nestled in the middle of America, is one of America’s most surprising cities. Unlike NYC and LA on either coast, Chicago sits right there in the middle, with the best of both worlds but its own distinct identity. When I last visited Chicago, I quite literally ate all the food—from fried pickles and pancakes to hipster donuts and BIG brunches. If ever there was a city designed for foodies, it is Chicago.
Best Up-and-Coming City
STOCKHOLMI think there are a lot of rising stars among the most gay-friendly cities. I’m currently writing this from Texas, where some of the Texan cities are surprisingly gay and—actually!—cool. But, in Europe, Stockholm’s pull makes it one of the coolest places to visit today. Stockholm doesn’t usually make it immediately on most USA tourists’ first-time trips to Europe, but with new budget airline connections, it’s only going to get more cool.
Best Capital of Culture
NEW YORK CITYNew York City is an absolutely overwhelming city—it’s no wonder that it’s one of the world’s most popular cities. There are millions of things to see and do in NYC, from world-class museums, historic buildings and shopping—so much shopping! This year, the U.S. National Park Service even recognized the historic gay bar, the Stonewall Inn, as a historic monument. And don’t even get me started on Broadway—so much of the great theater and musicals originate here. Creativity and culture are bursting out of every pothole in this amazing city.
Read more: Cheap and Free Things To Do in NYC
Best Airline
AMERICAN AIRLINESAs a Oneworld alliance member, American Airlines is at the top of my preferred airlines. (It also helps that I grew up flying in and out of DFW airport in Texas—their hub.) While some frequent fliers might find AA more stuffy and business-oriented than other airlines, it’s surprisingly cool for being—literally—the world’s largest airline! Their Instagram is a fun sneak peek into the company culture—and it always goes rainbow each LGBT pride month.
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One dead and three wounded at NY gay club after shooter opens fire
A gun attack has left one dead and three wounded in a gay club in Albany New York
CREDIT: Google Maps Police responded to an emergency call out when shots were fired at a gay bar in Albany, New York at 2:00AM Thursday morning. Police report that four people were shot inside the Rocks On Central Avenue night-club.
The venue’s management describes it as “proudly gay owned and operated”.
Among the injured were two men and two women. Of the men, one died from his injuries according to reports.
Three others had injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.
WTEN reports that at least one person was taken into custody.
Police believe that the venue was not targetted because of the patron’s sexuality but that the shootings happened for no specific reason.
Steve Smith, a spokesperson for the Albany Police Department, told Time Warner Cable News.
“The one thing we want to let members of our community members know, especially the members of our LGBT community know that this is not a random act, this bar was not targeted for any specific reason.”
No motive has been made clear at this time and the suspect’s details have not been released.
America’s LGBT community have been on high-alert since June 2016, when a lone shooter killed 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
Were you near the area or affected by the situation please get in touch with us.
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The top gay travel destinations revealed
So you’re owed some holiday time. It’s time to pack your shiz up and go on vacay.
Are your work colleagues starting to give your work station a wide berth and “concerned” look because you’re giving off that all-work-no-play-makes-Jack-go-crazy look?
But where to go? The world is your oyster.
Well users over at Ranker.com have been voting on the best holiday destinations to go to if you’re LGBT…
Here’s where they suggested:
San Francisco
Ah, possibly the gayest location on earth. Don’t forget to visit the Castro and breath in all that gay history.
Paris
I mean they say Gay Paris don’t they!
Seattle
The weather may not always be perfect, but its stance on equality has always been incredible having legalised same-sex marriage in 2012 and having provisions for gay state employees since 2001. Bravo.
New York City
How you doin’…
Montreal
First of the Canadian cities to get voted on… Best time to go would be early August when the city celebrates Pride.
Vancouver
CREDIT: Pixabay / gtriay Let the vibrant city invigorate. Check out Davie Village and Commercial Drive.
Melbourne
It’s where Please Like Me is filmed… and find out what our roving travel guy Nick Baker thought of it.
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Is London failing the gay dating scene?
London is failing gay singles according to an industry expert who says that the UK’s capital is not providing gay men the right opportunities to meet long-term partners.
CREDIT: dolgachov-bigstock If you’re looking to find a long-term partner you’re more likely to find him brunching in New York and not in London, so says matchmaking expert Jacqueline Burns at the Vida Consultancy.
The award-winning consultant blames the lack of social spaces for gay people and London’s “hedonistic” drinking culture.
She told THEGAYUK,
“There aren’t enough places where gay men can socialise, and those that do exist, either in Soho, Vauxhall or Clapham can be quite hedonistic and are mainly party areas.”
She also warns that nighttime prowling could be damaging to your chances of finding love in London.
“The majority out and about are younger men, looking for fun, and they may still be in the early stages of exploring their sexuality. Trying to meet someone after 8pm is not the ideal environment to be your true self and meet someone whose values reflect your own.
Booze Cruise?
According to the expert, New York’s dating scene is more “day focused” with an active brunch scene, weekend trips to the Hampton’s or boat trips to Statue of Liberty. London on the other hand has a Saturday night focus which revolves around boozing.
Burns also warned that as well as problems with drugs and promiscuity in most gay clubs in London, it is increasingly unsafe for gay men.
Recent studies show that around 9000 men are raped each year in the UK, that’s 12% of the national total reported, whilst in London, 307 men reported being raped to the Met Police, a 120% increase over 2012 figures. These figures may be much higher as sexual crime has a notoriously low levels of reporting, even more so among men.
She continued,
“While the Tinder revolution means there is now an endless choice of sexual partners, many gay men are actually looking for marriage and children and London’s hedonistic and fragmented social scene is not conducive to this.”
ALSO READ: London’s most gay friendly neighbourhoods revealed.
ALSO READ: Top 10 gay dating apps reviewed
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Man threatens to “come back Orlando style” in NY gay bar
Police in New York have confirmed that a man has been arrested after allegedly threatening to “come back “Orlando-style” to a bar’s security guard.
A man in Bushwick, New York, has been arrested after an alleged verbal and physical assault on a the Happyfun Hideaway‘s security guard.
According to witnesses the man shouted abuse and allegedly threatened to come back “Orlando-style” just days after a gun shoot out in the Orlando Pulse nightclub left 49 people dead.
“I’m going to shoot this place up and get my 50 just like Orlando, Florida,
“I’m going to come back Orlando-style!”
According to the NYPD, Justin Rice, 40, was arrested soon after the incident which happened at 11.00PM at the Happy Hideaway bar on Monday night.
He was charged with aggravated harassment and attempted assault.
Rice had been at the bar when he was taken outside by bouncers, he is due back in court on the 17th June and bail was set at $10,000.
A comment left on the bar’s Facebook page thanked its customers for their support.
“We are open for business and, bewilderment at what an odd world we live in aside, everyone is free of harm and proud to be part of such a loving community that doesn’t stand for hate… the best thing you can do to show the world that we believe in love is to continue to support us and all of our queer and artistic communities…”
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HOTEL REVIEW | Hilton Times Square
Gloriously central and fabulously touristic, the Hilton Time Square is the perfect place to book if you’re staying in New York for the first time.
Right in the heart of it Overview | The Room | The People | The Location | The Gay Scene | The Verdict
One of the things you’ll find if you’re staying in Manhattan is that hotel rooms come in two sizes. Small and extra small – that is unless you’re staying at the Hilton near Times Square.
Some may argue that the location is too conventional and too safe and that the “real” New York happens several blocks away, but if you’re a Big Apple novice and you’re looking for a friendly place in a city of over 8 million people, the Hilton is a perfect choice.
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That Awkward Time Demi Lovato Sang With A Boner
You have to hand it to Demi. She can pretty much perform anywhere and with anything as she proved recently with a pop up performance in a gay bar in NYC.
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NYC Hotelier: “Gays Are Cheap”, “Gays Are Entitled”
A gay hotelier who was slammed last week after hosting an anti-gay Republican Senator has hit out at the gay community, calling them “entitled” and cheap, complaining that his venture the Out NYC hasn’t yet shown a profit.
Speaking to New York Magazine, Ian Reisner, was talking about how hard he has found it making profit from the gay community. Last Monday a rally was organised outside his New York hotel The Out, after he controversially hosted a reception for Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who has opposed marriage equality, protecting LGBTs from discrimination and banning conversion therapy.
Reisner said that he wanted to invite everyone at the boycott in for an open dialogue, however the police and security suggested that he didn’t.
Speaking about hosting Mr Cruz, Reisner took to Facebook to say:
“…I made a terrible mistake.
“I was ignorant, naive and much too quick in accepting a request to co-host a dinner with Cruz at my home without taking the time to completely understand all of his positions on gay rights.
“I will try my best to make up for my poor judgement. Again, I am deeply sorry.”
However in his latest interview with New York Magazine speaking about the incident out side his Hotel he said,
“You know, it’s so ironic — I wanted to build kind of a community center in the gateway to Hell’s Kitchen, which in 2008–2009 was already a gay place and now it’s even gayer.
“Very close to Broadway. We decided there’d be so many different ways to give back to the community. We show gay artists there.
“For gay performers, we have let this cabaret club go on for three and a half years. And you don’t make money when you let drag queens in on Tuesday night and 30 people drink at $10 a drink and you have to pay five people to watch over the place.
“You don’t make money … My only point is, this has not been a profitable venture. Gays are cheap. They’re frugal; gays are frugal. Let me retract that … gays are entitled …
“Do you know how challenging it is to make a penny off a gay person? ‘I’m gay, I don’t pay cover. I’m gay, where’s my comp drink?’ [Everyone laughs.]
No, I’m being serious! The Out NYC has not shown a profit yet …