From posh cocktails to getting down and dirty, Vegas has it all. With tight jeans, boots and spurs, the Nevada Gay Rodeo Association ropes you in to the BigHorn Rodeo Sept. 19 through 21.

Join the fun with events including the BigHorn Rodeo Bar Crawl, the Speedos and Spurs Pool Party at the fabulous Blue Moon Resort, plus plenty of dancing and entertainment at Horseman’s Park.

Gay Vegas will be in full swing for National Coming Out Day 2008. “The Loop,” just off the Las Vegas Strip, boasts numerous alternative hotspots and will host its Street Festival on Saturday, Oct. 11. Come early and stay late for a weekend of pride in the city where anything goes.

Popular among celebrities, Piranha Nightclub and 8 1/2 Ultra Lounge feature a second floor with a fabulous view of the Strip. Krave, the original high-profile gay club on the Las Vegas Strip, is a glitzy warehouse disco featuring alternating boy parties that will have you craving for more.

After dark, myriad entertainment options await. Kick things off with one of the hottest shows on the strip — ZUMANITY, The Sensual Side of Cirque du Soleil at New York-New York. It’s provocative and seductive, and it dares you to leave all your inhibitions at the door.

If you are looking for legendary, the iconic trio of Bette, Elton and Cher has taken over The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Elton John’s “The Red Piano,” Bette Midler’s “The Showgirl Must Go On” and Cher’s timeless performances are a must-see any time of the year. Beginning September 9, Donny & Marie will headline the legendary Flamingo showroom.

Beginning this Fall, Paul Oakenfold, one of the world’s leading DJ’s, will hold court at Rain Nightclub in his first Resident DJ position in the United States. “Paul Oakenfold Presents: Perfecto Las Vegas” will take place every Saturday through Summer 2009.

Oakenfold is slated to perform 26 show dates with other internationally acclaimed DJs making cameos in his absence. Las Vegas also welcomes some of the biggest entertainment in the world including Janet Jackson on Sept. 19 and Madonna on Nov. 8 and 9.

For more information on the gay festivities happening in Vegas right now go tohttp://www.visitlasvegas.com/.

WickedGayBlog reports that the folks in NOLA are getting upset with all the ‘hysteric’ reporting from other gay blogs about Hurricane Gustav.  Its easy to understand why, Decadence is a major boost during the city’s slow season.

I can’t blame them for showing caution.  I was scheduled to leave for the festival on Thursday but had to cancel due to family issues.  I am not sure if we would have canceled anyway, but I bet we would have left early.  If your not there already you probably shouldn’t go.

This really sucks for NOLA’s gay bars and hotels.

Legendary topless reviews, toll-free call girls, and old school machismo may lead one to believe that Sin City specializes only in vice of the hetero variety. Well, I have visited the new Las Vegas and there is plenty of sin [gay, straight, or otherwise] to go around. In fact the city has made a concentrated effort to attract the fun-seeking queer traveler. Restaurants, casinos, clubs, and shows are bending over backwards to position themselves in the gay market.

You will know immediately you have made it to Sin City when you spot the slot machines in the airport concourse. I do not imagine the pay-out at the airport slots is very high, but if your itching for some gaming you will have plenty of chances between your arrival gate and baggage claim.

There are very few hotels in town that offer free shuttles from the airport. There are a couple of private shuttle services, but I recommend taking a taxi, or if you do not mind the extra expense, hiring a sedan. Unless you plan on visiting some out-of-town attractions, there is not much of a need for a rental car in Vegas.

Ninety-percent of Las Vegas action can be found on the legendary Strip. This make the location of your hotel on the Strip a very important factor. I always aim for a center strip location and have never gone wrong staying at the Paris. Paris and its parent company Harrah’s have been leaders in reaching out to gay customers.

Jason and I felt very comfortable at Paris; the hotel didn’t even stumble during the “two-guys, one bed” check-in bit. Paris might be a little costly for some, but you can get a center-strip location at a discount with its sister-property, Bally’s. Paris is a luxury property but if you want to splurge you can stay across the street at Bellagio. Those who end-up staying at Paris might want to consider upgrading to a strip-view room. Many of these rooms have an excellent view of the Bellagio fountains.

There is plenty of other stuff to do but gambling is still Las Vegas’ center-piece. Every major resort on the strip is built around a large casino floor. Each casino has a distinct personality and atmosphere. The Paris casino surrounds you in old-world Europe while New York, New York has you playing in the middle of Manhattan. My favorite casino just happens to be one of the newest.

Next door to Paris is the Planet Hollywood Resort [not to be confused with the Planet Hollywood restaurant at Caesars]. The Planet Hollywood folks have taken the drab Middle-Eastern themed Aladdin and turned it into a colorful, modern, and hip joint. The casino floor is open and unmatched in its progressive theming. Out of all the casinos I visited [including the super-fancy ones] I felt most comfortable and relaxed at Planet Hollywood.

I also spent some time on the floor at the MGM Grand. MGM Grand is home to the only surviving Sigma Derby machine in Vegas. This old school machine is one of the few on the strip that still takes quarters [most of the casinos now use printed tickets]. Sigma Derby, a mechanical horse racing game, is my all-time favorite gambling pastime. It is located in the same section of the casino as the lion habitat, just ask someone who works there. I encourage everyone to make an effort to play of few rounds of Sigma Derby while the machine is still there.

When if comes to food Las Vegas is much more than a series of all-you-can-eat-buffets. In fact, while some of the buffets are not half bad there are several top-tier eateries not to missed. I always try to have a good time in Vegas and where I eat is a key part of that. Vegas has a good number of places that serve exceptional food in a relaxed atmosphere. One of my favorite places to grab a bite is Corsa Cucina and Bar at the Wynn. Here you can enjoy an eclectic mix of fine Italian and Mediterranean dishes. Do not be afraid to try new things. I had my first bite of Octopus at Corsa and it is now among my favorite foods. A nice breakfast spot is Morels Bistro inside of the just-opened Palazzo. Plan to spend at least one morning here and be sure to order the fresh bengiets. Diablo’s at the Monte Carlo is a great place to grab a quick and casual Tex-Mex inspired lunch. There are literally hundreds of other restaurants up-and-down the strip. You will find something so satisfy your pallet no matter how sophisticated your taste or limited your budget.

Perhaps the gayest side of Las Vegas can be found in its theaters and nightclubs. Cirque Du Soleil has always been a little queer, but it takes sexuality to new heights in its erotic and raunchy cabaret Zumanity. Zumanity is unlike any other Cirque show, it’s venue is smaller and more intimate. Yet the show is no less breathtaking than its bigger brothers. A delicate balance of humor and sensuality move the evening along while the awe-inspiring display of some of the most beautiful bodies on the strip keeps things interesting.

Zumanity is very gay friendly too. A lot of the humor comes at the expense of slightly uncomfortable heteros and gay-love is celebrated by performers [and real-life lovers] Arthur Kyeyune and Alejandro Castillo. I must also mention the Zumanity features Alan Jones Silva, who has to be the hottest little person in the world. Zumanity is playing at New York, New York.

Looking for something a little bit hotter than Zumanity? Then you will want to make sure your trip includes a Monday night stay. Every Monday legendary burlesque nightclub Forty Deuce trades bikinis for speedos. Ivan Kane’s Stormy Mondays Male Burlesque features well-toned and almost naked guys dancing and stripping. At different times during the evening the guys perform Tovaris Wilson choreographed numbers. These boys are not only hot, they are talented. The show starts at 10 p.m. every Monday at Forty Deuce inside of Mandalay Bay.

On the lighter side of gay entertainment is Monty Python’s SPAMALOT at the Wynn. The Vegas version of the Broadway smash has just celebrated its first anniversary. The show, which stars John O’Hurley of Seinfeld fame, is somewhat adapted for Vegas but retains the camp of the original. SPAMALOT is fun, quick, intermission-free journey into a treasure chest of British humor.

The current crown jewel of the Las Vegas entertainment scene is The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Celine Dion has left the building but Elton John and Bette Midler are filling the gap. Cher has also made the Colosseum her new home and will be debuting a new show there this summer. I have not seen Ms. Midler’s show but Elton John’s is spectacular. The Rocketman’s own fantastic showmanship is almost overshadowed by the superb David LaChapelle films that accompany some of the songs.

I have been able to barely scratch the surface of Las Vegas in my space here. On top of what I have written about there is also amazing shopping [like the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace], top-notch spas [like THEbathouse at THEhotel], and even interesting cultural attractions [like the Atomic Testing Museum]. The Disney Land Vegas of the nineties has largely disappeared and grown-up Vegas has taken over. This change has also made Vegas one of the top GLBT-friendly destinations in the United States. For a weekend or a week, Las Vegas always makes an unforgettable vacation.

© Cole Wakefield, All Rights Reserved

Nashville continues to attract attention as a destination for GLBT tourists.  The August issue of Passport Magazine, a leading voice on gay travel, features Nashville as a prime spot for a vacation. 

The article was written by Rich Rubin who visited Nashville earlier this year after being invited by the Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Some people might find Nashville an unusual choice, but covering Music City was an easy decision for Passport editor-in-chief Andrew Mersmann. Mersmann stated that he was ‘pleasantly surprised’ by the depth of Nashville’s gay scene and business community. 

Andrew Belonsky, editor of leading gay culture blog Queerty, also admits he was caught off guard by Nashville’s diversity. 

‘I had no idea Nashville’s culture ran so deep,’ said Belonsky, ‘The city has it all: music, museums and a thriving club scene.’ 

Increasing GLBT tourism in Nashville will benefit local businesses, gay-owned or otherwise. Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce President John Wade was pleased with how the article addressed a broad range of Nashville’s assets.

“This story could appear in any travel publication and would demonstrate to diverse demographics why Nashville would be on anyone’s list of travel destinations,” said Wade, “The fact that he made the case for the gay traveler makes it all the better!”

Additional coverage of Nashville in the GLBT travel media is expected over the next few years. Local hotels, businesses, and attractions have banded together to bring more gay writers into town and reinforce Music City’s welcoming atmosphere.

It looks like Gustav might ran on Southern Decadence this year.  Below is my recap of last year’s festival.

Enough with the rumors! New Orleans is open, safe and ready for the gays. I have just returned from what some are calling the most spectacular Southern Decadence yet. Various sources have claimed that over 100,000 revelers descended upon the Crescent City for this annual event.

Southern Decadence is a four-day long party in the New Orleans French Quarter. The celebration attracts gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender [GLBT] people and their friends from all over the world; I met a few Canadians and a really cute French boy. Southern Decadence is known for its loud displays of gay culture that the conservatives in our community wish would stay underground. It is a defiant celebration of spirit, sexuality, and who-gives-damn-what-you-think. Southern Decadence started about ten years before I made my first appearance on this earth. This iconic event began as a small, impromptu gathering of friends that evolved into an annual celebration of being different. There is no way that the handful of people who participated in the first Southern Decadence in 1972 could have conceived the scope the event would take on.

My partner, Jason, and I arrived at the Hotel Monteleone around 5:30 p.m. on Friday. We usually fly but this time decided to take the land route. The drive wasn’t bad, about eight hours. The Monteleone is a grand hotel in the classic sense. The Monteleone family have been taking care of New Orleans’ visitors since 1886.

The rooms here aren’t as large as some of the other, more modern four-diamond hotels in town, but the Monteleone’s location [on Royal, one block from Bourbon] and its century of charm and elegance more than make up for this. Besides, who goes to New Orleans just to hang out in their room? The Monteleone’s traditional rates can be pricey – it is a luxury property after all – but the size of the hotel means they can often offer great deals to help fill rooms. Even if you rest your head at one of the other boarding establishments in town, visit the Monteleone’s Carousal Lounge. The bar is modeled after the traditional carnival ride and makes a complete rotation every 15 minutes.

Friday night Jason and I were scheduled to go see Robin Tyler as part of DecaFest. DecaFest is a supplement to Decadence that focuses on the culture side of things. I didn’t know much about Robin Tyler before we went, but the show was a wonderful surprise.

Robin Tyler was a funny, famous lesbian before it was cool to be a funny, famous lesbian. In fact, she has stumbled her way through so many landmark moments in LGBT history it is hard to keep track. I was embarrassed to have not known more about her, until I realized I was in the majority. Robin Tyler: The most influential lesbian you’ve never heard of.

There is always something going on at Decadence, but most events are concentrated in the evening. The first thing I do when I get to New Orleans [for Decadence or any other time] is grab a copy of Ambush Magazine to see what’s happening when.

Jason and I decided to take it easy during the day and to not start drinking until early evening [you know, 3ish]. I have a hard time sleeping past nine no matter how long the night before was, so we had to do something to kill time.

Staying in the French Quarter meant that we could walk just about anywhere we wanted to go. We grabbed some delicious breakfast from Café Beignet, a block from the hotel. I then spent a couple of hours dragging Jason through the scores of unique galleries and antique shops on Royal Street. I was finally able to convince him all the browsing was worth it after we purchased a cute little piece featuring a cat smoking a cigar. After our brief period of playing ‘high-class gays’ we walked on down to my favorite New Orleans dive: The Corner Pocket.

One reason I like The Corner Pocket so much is that there is nothing like it here in Nashville. Many of New Orleans’ other gay joints have similar counterparts in Middle Tennessee but not The Corner Pocket, it stands alone. The Corner Pocket is a dive bar that turns into Twinks-on-Parade in the evening. It’s not as large, as loud, or [usually] as crowded as the other bars with dancers and that makes the experience more pleasant. The drinks here are stronger and cheaper than you’ll find at the Bourbon Street gay palaces, Oz and The Pub. The schedule sometimes changes, so it’s good to call ahead to see when the boys are dancing, but even of the entertainment hasn’t started, it’s still a good place to get a drink. Also, the staff and dancers at The Corner Pocket are some of the nicest and most interesting people you’ll meet in town. When you visit, tell bartender Bruce I said hello.

After a downing a few drinks and handing out some dollar bills, we grabbed a cab and headed toward the Central Business District. I had scored us reservations at John Besh’s new Restaurant, Lüke. Lüke is a hip joint that serves fine food in a relaxed atmosphere. I personally enjoy eating like a king without having to dress [or spend] like one. I admit that Jason is the foodie in our house, but I now understand what all the fuss is about. I’m not much of a seafood fan yet the oysters I had as an appetizer made my toes curl. The rest of the meal was just as amazing. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat at Red Lobster or Outback again.

Another cheap cab ride and short walk puts us back at Southern Decadence central, the corner of Bourbon and St. Anne. A free concert was going on and the intersection was jammed. This is where I got a true sense of what Southern Decadence is all about.

Partying together on the street where grandpas, grandsons, bears, boys, outrageous queens, bondage freaks and every other variety and sub-culture of our community. Everyone was out there and everyone was having a good time. Judgments and arguments were suspended and unity was encouraged. I think we have tried too hard to conform to the false norms of society. Putting an end to “if we act like them, they’ll like us” self-loathing is a key motivation behind many of those who go to Decadence [sex, booze and fun also being key]. Standing on the corner outside of my favorite Bourbon St club, Oz, I can’t help but think “we aren’t just like straight people……we are a hell of a lot better!”.

I have to mention the protesters. Now, I’ve been involved in gay advocacy since I was in high school, and I’ve seen my share of homophobic protest. I wasn’t surprised to see misguided God-warriors at Decadence, but I was surprised at how few of them showed up. It was truly the most pathetic show of intolerance I’ve ever witnessed. I almost felt bad for the suckers. I think they have posted a video over at YouTube so you can see how sad it really was. If they were God’s army, I must have God confused with someone else.

Sunday is parade day and trust me when I tell you the Southern Decadence Parade is like no other parade you’ve ever seen. It is chock full of men in trash-drag and wild costume. Many of the participants were older, much older, than Jason or I. Here was a street full of men who lived through some insanely rough times. These are the men who spent decades in the closet because there was no other option. I can’t imagine that any of these men would have been able to conceive of an event like Decadence when they were my age. So go ahead boys, flaunt it, be rude, be loud, be inappropriate, tell society to piss off, you have earned it.

Another note on the parade, Jason and I headed to Oz early so we could get a balcony view of all the action. We were standing next too a few boys who were scrambling for the attention of someone across the street. Who was this lucky person? It was none other than mega-gay Chi Chi LaRue. The king of queers and his team were tossing out beads like candy to throngs of hot boys hoping to be spotted by the Midas of gay porn.

Throughout our trip people had been telling us how many Tennesseans they had seen. This was strange because we didn’t meet any other Volunteer Staters until Sunday night. I had, of course, dragged Jason back to the Corner Pocket. There we ran into up and coming Nashville-based porn star, Ryan Conners. He is a sweetie. Keep your eye on him, this boy is going places.

Later that night, while snapping photos for my curious readers, I ran into another group of Nashvillians. Unfortunately they weren’t quiet ready to show their costumes to the hometown crowd. I ended things early on Sunday because Monday meant a drive back [I do all the driving, Jason does the packing].

I love New Orleans and I desperately want it to thrive. You should too. New Orleans, while it’s past isn’t perfect, has been there longer for the gay community than any other city below the Mason-Dixon Line [and most above it]. The cab drivers are delighted when scores of gay boys and girls descend upon their city in the dead of summer. The town embraces us and encourages us to be our outrages selves.

Outside of Decadence there is plenty to do; New Orleans is hopping year round. So, if you are looking for a good three-day weekend or even a week-long vacation, give NOLA a chance. The clubs are open year-round, the museums and gardens love visitors, and the people are the most amazing collection of races, languages and cultures that you’ll find anywhere in North America.

New Orleans has helped lift gay society out of the shadows and into the light. It is time to return the favor.

© Cole Wakefield, All Rights Reserved