lifeonq.com

Where Not to Go on Your Gay Vacation

The International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA) has released a new poster that maps LGBTI rights around the world. Think of it as an important reference for your gay travel planning. The map is color-coded to indicate where you may be subjected to the death penalty (seven countries) or imprisonment (76 countries and six other governmental or territorial entities) for being homosexual. It also indicates where you are protected by anti-discrimination laws (49 countries and 33 entities) and where you can get gay-married (19 countries and 14 entities). You may view the full map here.

ILGA created the map as a part of its celebration of the organization’s 30th anniversary. ILGA will also release a report on state-sponsored homophobia in time for the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17.

Members of ILGA will receive a copy of the map free of charge. Others who would like to own a copy or distribute multiple copies should contact the ILGA at information@ilga.org.

ILGA is a federation of more than 600 groups and businesses campaigning for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights. Every continent and over 90 countries are represented.

NYC Wants Gays and Lesbians to be a Part of It

NYC & Company, New York City’s official tourism organization, has launched the city’s first-ever effort to attract LGBT tourists. The New York Post reports that the group will air commercials on LOGO, MTV’s gay and lesbian channel, has placed a three-page ad in the Decmeber/January issue of Out magazine and will buy ads on several LGBT Websites. The GLBT campaign is a part of a $30 million marketing campaign called “This is New York City,” targeting 19 different countries. It’s all part of Mayor Bloomberg’s inititative to bring 50 million visitors to New York City by 2015.

The LGBT-targeted promotion will continue over the next several weeks, then accelerate in time for Valentine’s Day. NYC & Company told the Post that it is targeting the GLBT community because market demographics show the community “contains a large number of big spenders, usually with two incomes and no children. They are ‘highly desirable and considered a dream market due to high incidence of travel and discretionary income.’”

NYC & Company also offers LGBT information and links for travelers on its Website in a section called Gay and Lesbian New York.