By gathering information from the LGBT community around the world, it would assist our "family" of travelers in planning their vaction/holidays.

Start by NAMING your city/state/province/country and then choose "criminalizes," "Tolerates," or "Accepts" LGBT travelers. Following that, you might explain your perspective.

I'll start!

NEW ORELANS, LOUISIANA, USA
Accepts LGBT travelers!

New Orleans actually throws one big GAY PARTY for the LGBT community every Labor Day Weekend (first weekend in September)SOUTHERN DECADENCE! Google this and see what comes up! It's a huge gay-party with parades, festivities, circuit parties and a typical "Mardi Gras anything-goes" kind-a feel to it! It also books quickly! Reserve your accommodations early! (See my sig for worldwide savings for LGBT travelers!)

Personally, I prefer New Orleans on the "no-event" times, as the pace is slower, you can actually MEET people, and you can get a drink quickly (and not worry about the line to the toilet!)

Just remember that -- like any major city -- there are laws that are deemed CRIMINAL. Exposing your genitalia (extremely popular with drunk gay-men)is a crime -- though MANY people do it for some cheap plastic beads -- it is still illegal and CAN land you in jail. Women who expose their breasts are generally overlooked; but ONLY in the French Quarter! Don't do it on a parade-route in the Garden District! And REMEMBER, your breasts might appear on next years postcards or on the internet with your face also exposed! Men exposing their privates is illegal EVERYWHERE (French Quarter, too!) and you could go to jail.

In a city where the "rules" are bent it makes it doubly difficult for the traveler -- LGBT or otherwise! In New Orleans, you can walk down the street with a cocktail; but if you appear intoxicated, it CAN land you in jail.

Don't forget to eat! The bars are open 24 hours a day and you can quickly lose track of time! Eat! We have some of the BEST restaurants in the world! PETUNIA's in the French Quarter is VERY GAY FRIENDLY, my waiter was also an "ex-boy-dancer" and extremely friendly!

The best thing you can do in New Orleans is have fun! Eat, drink and be "merry!" But remember, anything to excess is not usually good for you. I've seen many visitors to our city forget this, drink too much, and going to jail or getting "mugged" can quickly ruin a good vacation!

Like any major city, there are criminals who will take advantage of someone who appears to be intoxicated and has money -- a nice watch, rings, jewelry, etc. Use your common-sense, don't become a victim. Taxi cabs are CHEAP in New Orleans, use them if you are going several blocks (especially if you are walking off of Bourbon Street at night and you've had a few too many).

Leave your expensive Rolex and all those gold chains and diamonds in the safe in your hotel! Just be yourself, that will impress more people than your "stuff!"

Recovery is still going-on in New orleans, but the French Quarter had very minimal damage and quickly recovered! Now is the time to "ask for bargains" -- chances are they want your business -- especially at off-event times before and after Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest, Southern Decadence, etc.

Tell 'em LewLew sent you!

Well since my country... South Africa has just become the 5th country in the world to legalise same sex marriages... i'd say SA tolerates and even accepts LGBT tourists! Cape Town is said to be one of the gay capitals of the world!

Austin, Texas is accepting of the LGBT community. Austin is the liberal island in the whole of Texas.

Here are some links:
- Austin Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce
- Out in Austin
- Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival
- Austin Pride Parade

Well I live in Vancouver..so I would say yes! Totally accepting of LGBT tourists.

I would say lots of places on Canada are accepting..with Vancouver and Toronto being the biggest ones.

Dublin - Ireland

Definitely accepting. If anyone is planning on travelling here, The George or The Front Lounge would be the two best clubs/pubs. The George went on fire on New Years Eve but it's open again!

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
Totally Accepting of LGBT.

We have lots of gay clubs and pubs and have Gay Pride (I think around August every year)...

We have Soho which is very very very gay friendly and is in the Centre of Town...

Hey dudes and dudesses,

I am moving to Bali, Indonesia in summer of 2007. Currently make my home on the central coast of Oregon. Bali is Animist Hindu in religion, very observant of the faith. There is no word for *gay* in Bali, as it has always been a part of the culture, though opposite sex marriage is almost manditory in the local's lives. People are accepting on the island, and there is a community, of sorts, in the southern part of the island tourist areas of Seminyak and Kuta. Native people seem more interested in haggling for money that discriminating in where it came from.

Malaysia and Indonesia are mostly Muslim nations and from what I gather not terribly gay friendly places. There does seem to be a brother/sisterhood there but, not in the open western way. Harsh punishments can still be brought if you are a resident. All of my travels there were done with a friend, who is hetro and a woman, so I was under no scrutiny. Recommend to maintain decorum when in these countries.

Best to be described *as the countries of no smiles* ('specially Malaysia) though I experienced no difficulties, I didn't go out of my way to create them. An aside, did make a trip to Malacca which was wonderfully hot. And did meet a nice local chap in Kuala Lumpur, who studied in England and worked for a major western corp., he recommended us to a wonderful hotel in Malacca, so not all the natives are unfriendly. I can't escape my western identity, as I am 6'+ and have very fair features. As for traveling Gay, I still worry when I return to Idaho for a visit (and sometimes it's scarrier).

Thailand *the land of smiles* is very welcoming. I traveled through the south of the country with little problem, by train. Perhaps, naive, for the Thai's are experiencing their own insurggent Muslim clashes in the area and I don't recommend travel through the area at this time. Quite tense at the border crossings.

Bangkok was delightful. Nice people, fairly easy to get around, though a very large metro area. Great nightlife and *queer* entertainment areas. Haven't heard that there are any difficulties since the coup. Most everything there seems normal, except for government, so what's so unusual about that. One can travel economically here and many do.

Please to remember, the bombing events in Bali have been very highly publicized. They are in fact very isolated instances. Indonesia has no interest in rocking the boat in Bali, as it is a cash cow in GNP and tourism. I would rate the island as being very safe overall. Just watch out for pickpockets.

Thanks for the forum,
cliffie

Oh,

I almost forgot about home! The Oregon coast is about as quiet a place as there is on this planet. Lots of retired folk, and the well to do with second and third homes. The local folk are working and that needs little explanation.

The coast is home to stray artists, lots of writers, and travelers from everywhere. You will experience everything from AtoZ here peoplewise. Oregon rednecks to world leaders.
Quite a mix.

For a scenic trip with lots to see and experience, I would rate the area high. Lots of outdoorsy types of things to do.
Excellent hiking and backpacking. Wonderful five star places to camp, too. Great lighthouses and art galleries.

Cheapest time of year is now, lots of people come this time of year for the raging sea storms. Best weather times bring big bucks for the local businesses, but there are still plenty of camping spots and yurts for rent at the state parks. Driving is a pain, so get out of the car and on the beach, way peaceful, head clearing experiences.

People here don't give a hoot (except the rednecks) if you are gay, or nay. Lots of married types, not much nightlife.
We go to Portland for that.

It's a lot like Bali. More so than you might think.

cliffie

"the imagination is the most wonderful thing, it allows me to be who i am"

San Francisco, CA.

We welcome LGBT with open arms! I think a study just came out recently that this is one of the most popular destinations.

I am not LGBT, but I appreciate growing up/living in an area that doesn't think twice about this stuff. There are always ignorant people (see: the rich kids beating up the Yale kids), but overall...I am always stunned when I see LGBT being an issue. I like to live in my own little SF silo sometimes

Milwaukee Wisconsin USA

Milwaukee is surprising welcoming. Although the Gay-scene keeps relatively quiet, it does pretty well. We have PrideFest and other events and a very supportive LGBT community center and a reasonable concentration of bars, etc. People in general here are very respecting and the queer community is pretty well integrated.

Currently in Le Mans, France.

VERY welcoming of LGBT Tourists. I think it was actually one of the first places in France to publish a carte of LBGT friendly businesses and has a pretty active Centre Gay et Lesbienne.

Not a huge or terribly exciting town outside of the 24 hours race, so there are still only a couple specifically gay bars/clubs, but overall I've seen most places in France to be pretty similarly welcoming of LGBT Tourists.

Vancouver is definetely accepting. Big pride festival here. Davie street area (gaybourhood) is in one of the most beautiful parts of the city along English Bay. Some fun gay clubs/ bars.

Seattle (my hometown) also very accepting especially around Capital Hill, downtown, Wallingford, Fremont etc.

Portland, OR--in the downtown area, extremely accepting. Probably about as gay-friendly as you can get. However, some places further out in the metro area (like Milwaukie) are not so friendly towards.

NYC for sure, though that doesn't hold true for much of northern ny