Gay Travel News: Spend! Spend! Spend!

Marriott International is joining an increasing number of American businesses embracing the power of the pink dollar by targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender customers.

A campaign featuring Jason Collins, the first openly gay National Basketball Association player, and Geena Rocero, the transgender model, has been launched as more resorts attempt to make LGBT tourists feel more welcome.

The annual spend on tourism by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is set to exceed $200 billion for the first time this year, according to Out Now Global, a specialist tourism trade association. The expansion of marriage equality laws in the United States — 19 states have legalised gay marriage — has led to a wave of other campaigns, including Las Vegas’s “Everyone’s welcome. Even straight people.”

Kristine Friend, senior director of segment marketing for Marriott International, said that the company wanted to shift the perception of its brand. “We are committed to ensuring that all of our guests feel comfortable at all of our hotels and are proud to stay with Marriott,” she said...

The Times.

$200 billion, you say?

Sure.
But can you show us your workings?

This figure has come from Out Now Consulting - famed for making up ludicrous over-estimations of gay spending power.

Why? Because they are a company that's all about marketing to the LGBT community, so have a vested financial interest in telling big business; 'There's gold in them there fags!'

Here's an old favourite of Fagburn's claiming that The Gays in Britain earn 25% more than the national average!

Sure - we all get paid extra just for being fabulous.

The myth of the Pink Pound has been thoroughly debunked on the thoroughly researched blog Gay Money: The truth about lesbian and gay economics - all serious research suggests gay men earn less btw. 

And how strange that much of the gay media is running the new ad campaign for Marriott Hotels.
Invariably accompanied by excitable advertorial/editoral about how wonderful it is.

Here's a fawning article on Gay Star News about Marriott's #LoveTravels campaign - the hotel chain are one of GSN's sponsors. 

It's one of the world's largest Mormon-own companies - you'll often find a copy of the Book of Mormon snuggling up to a Gideon Bible in your room. 

Here's what the Latter Day Saints official website has to say about homosexuality...

The Mormon Church is firm on its position condemning homosexuality as sinful behavior. One of the tenets of Mormon doctrine is the Law of Chastity. It permits sexual relations only between a husband and wife who are legally married...

The topic of gay Mormons is a difficult one right now because of the swing of popular opinion toward acceptance, but the Mormon Church cannot compromise the laws of God and counsels those who wish to follow Christ but suffer from same-sex attraction to work to overcome it.

Though they do really love you, or at least your money; by way of example CEO Bill Marriott issued a statement to reassure you that he didn't donate to California's anti-gay marriage Proposition 8. 

'The Bible that I love teaches me about honesty, integrity and unconditional love for all people. But beyond that, I am very careful about separating my personal faith and beliefs from how we run our business.'

Phew! That means the gay media don't have to call for a Dorchester-style boycott.

But does it just mean Bill knows being openly homophobic would be bad for business?


Don't know about you, but Fagburn didn't know whether to laugh or barf.

Brüno's Gaybashing Friends Sued

Self-confessed gay journalist, Mike Skiff, is suing Sacha Baron Cohen claiming he was assaulted by members of his film crew during location filming for Brüno in 2008, according to TMZ.
Seems Mr Baron Cohen didn't like Mr Skiff outing him when he appeared in character at a pro-gay demonstration in California against Proposition 8 - which proposed banning gay marriage in the state.
TMZ also claim the lawsuit alleges members of the Brüno crew "carried 'Yes on Proposition 8' signs contrived for the sole purpose of inciting and sparking unrest to enhance the dramatic effect of what they may capture for their film" - meaning they pretended to be homophobes protesting a gay rights rally to manufacture confrontation for their movie.
Only it looks like some of the crew weren't protesting.
Skiff was "physically yanked" and harrassed and intimidated by members of the film crew - Skiff filmed all this.
It makes for pretty grim viewing, especially towards the end when members of the Bruno film crew can be seen chanting "Yes to 8" at Skiff.
Interesting to note that Brüno was made by a bunch of homophobic bullyboys.
Watch Mike Skiff's film here.

Celebrity Vs News: Famous Man Bites Gay Dog

"How we have reached this pass is one for tomorrow's cultural historians to unravel, and the best of luck to them with that. But, somehow, the war crimes trial of a suspected genocidal tyrant has been transformed, by the catalyst of celebrity, into Agatha Christie's The Mystery of the Blood Diamond. This tale is so suffused with Agatha touches... that the slaughter of untold numbers of West Africans and the butchering of their babies struggle to make the cut as side issues. Even BBC Radio 4, global flagship of high-minded reporting, could summon the strength to lead bulletins with the trial only once Naomi Campbell had made her peevish and petulant way, like a spoilt Eurotrash teenager dragged to church on Good Friday, to The Hague," Matthew Norman rages - quite correctly - in today's Independent.
For further evidence of how for some media, news only becomes newsworthy if a celebrity is involved, take a look at how The Daily Express covered the biggest gay story this month; the overturning of California's Proposition 8.
"Martin & DeGeneres Celebrate Gay Marriage Ruling: Gay stars including RICKY MARTIN, ELLEN DEGENERES and LANCE BASS are celebrating after a U.S. judge branded legislation outlawing same sex marriage in California "unconstitutional". (August 5th).
"Takei Celebrating New Turn In Gay Marriage Debate: STAR TREK actor GEORGE TAKEI is celebrating the news that gay marriage could soon be legal again in California, insisting opponents of the legislation should mind their own business." (August 6th).
"Let Gays Marry, Says Schwarzenegger: California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and attorney general Jerry Brown have filed legal motions calling for same-sex weddings to resume in the state." (August 7th).
Okay - we'll let the Daily Express off the last one, seeing as Arnie is the Governor of California.
And presumably Princess Diana was unavailable for comment.

The Economist: On Gay Marriage

'Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same sex couples.'

"Those two lines, from Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to overturn Proposition 8 in California, are as fine a summary of Perry v Schwarzenegger as you'll find. In arguing for gay marriage back in 2004 we asked, "Why should one set of loving, consenting adults be denied a right that other such adults have and which, if exercised, will do no damage to anyone else?" In the end, proponents of Proposition 8 could not answer that question, nor could they support their flimsy claims that gay marriage does damage to children and the institution of marriage," argues The Economist this week.

Surprised?
You shouldn't be - The Economist first came out for gay marriage back in 1996, arguably the first mainstream UK-based publication to do so.
And following liberalism to its logical, non-hypocritical conclusion, The Economist has also repeatedly argued for the legalisation of drugs.

The Hollywood Closet: Glad To Be Toby

Now I don't care about you, but I think the world would be a much better place if everyone went around telling other people what to do.
Surely no-one is more qualified to tell someone how to live their life than someone who knows fuck all about it?
Thank flip then for men like Toby Young, over on his blog for the Daily Telegraph he has announced; 'Hollywood is the home of gay hypocrisy'.
Oh really? Why's that then, Tobes?
Here is Mr Young's argument in a pistachio nutshell;
"Hollywood films are constantly championing heroic individuals who take a stand against prejudice and discrimination at great risk to themselves... Yet virtually no major stars are willing to jeopardise their careers by publicly admitting they’re gay. Proposition 8 only passed by 52 per cent of the vote and if more celebrities had been out of the closet at the time there’s a strong chance it would have been defeated."
Well, yes and no.
It's true that there are still no big name American movie stars who are out - though they've happily embraced a few British ones.
And yes, homophobia has dissipated as more people have come out, both public figures, and - more crucially, I believe - family members, friends, neighbours, and workmates.
But this is an argument as circular as the one about the chicken and the egg.
I agree that staying in the closet is a collusion with homophobia, but it's also a product of that same homophobia.
Mr Young's conclusion is positively dripping with sanctimony; "I’m fed up with being lectured by Hollywood luvvies about the the evils of discrimination. Until they put their own house in order, what right have they to criticise anyone else?"
Really, Toby? Sounds like a non sequitur to me.
Well, I'm fed up with being lectured by Hampstead pundits who blame the victims of discrimination for perpetuating discrimination.
What right has Toby Young to criticise gay men who are in a situation he will never have to deal with?
Though - it's worth noting - Mr Young has himself recently decided to "come out".
In May he wrote in his column for The Spectator; "Four weeks ago, I made one of the toughest decisions of my life. Ever since I was a child I’ve known I was different but I’ve done my best to conceal that fact. For most of my adult life I’ve pretended to be ‘normal’ and my late mother, God bless her, went to her grave without knowing the truth. But I cannot continue to live a lie. At the beginning of the election campaign I finally came out. Ladies and gentleman, I am a Tory."
I hate to say this, but I could have told him he was years ago.

Gay Marriage: Will Prop 8 Eat Itself?

California's Proposition 8 same-sex marriage ban has just been ruled unconstitutional.
This is huge news.
The excellent American blog, Queerty, have written about this and its import much better than I can; "And how is your day going?"
Still confused? Here's a breakdown by Poliglot on what it all means.
See you at the Supreme Court.