Logo and IGLTA (International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association) will co-sponsor “The TripOut Gay Travel Awards, co-hosted by IGLTA” where TripOutGayTravel.com Editor-in-Chief, John Polly, will announce this year’s winners at the World Travel Market. The awards once again honor the most stylish, exciting and hottest destinations and services that attract, pamper and market to the LGBT traveler.

“Our participation in the World Travel Market proves that TripOutGayTravel.com is a highly-regarded resource for gay-friendly travel,” said John Polly, Editor-in-Chief, TripOutGayTravel.com. “This recognition, in addition to our partnership with the IGLTA, showcases us as one of the premier sources for gay travel planning.”

This year’s winners reveal valuable news for the travel industry and the traveler looking for “gay approved” travel destinations and businesses. TripOutGayTravel.com recruited an academy of seasoned writers, editors and travel experts covering the LGBT travel market to comprise this year’s list of nominations. However, it is up to the site’s readers and fans to determine who deserves the title for the best gay destination, tour operator or hospitality service. Some highlights include:

* New York City reigns supreme as the premier LGBT global travel destination for 2010 by winning “Best Global Destination.”
* Returning favorites won for a second year in a row including: American Airlines for “Best Airline,” “The Abbey” in Los Angeles for ” Best Gay Bar in the World ” and Madrid Pride for Best Annual Gay Destination (Party or Event).
* Canada solidifies its position as a well-known “gay approved” travel destination winning “Best Breakout Destination” for Toronto. In addition, Charles Lapointe of Tourisme Montreal receives “The Gay+ Award for Achievement in Making Our World Gayer.” Lapointe can aptly be described as a forefather and architect of Canadian and Montreal LGBT travel.
* Rio De Janiero won the popular vote of “Sexiest Place on Earth” destination by a staggering 58% of the user-generated votes.

In addition, TripOutGayTravel.com recognizes Charles Lapointe of Tourisme Montreal with the “The Gay+ Award for Achievement in Making Our World Gayer.” The award goes to an organization or travel professional who has increased awareness of the LGBT consumer in the world of travel, tourism and hospitality. Charles Lapointe is a former delegate to the United Nations, a former Canadian Cabinet Minister and since 1989 he has been President and CEO of the Greater Montreal Convention and Tourism Bureau (Tourisme Montreal). In 2002, he also became Chairman of the Canadian Tourism Commission.

For more information about the winners and nominees listed below, please go to TripOutGayTravel.com. A full list of nominees and winners for each category is listed below.

The Second Annual “TripOut Gay Travel Awards”:

Best Global Destination (City or Country)

Berlin, Germany

Buenos Aires, Argentina

London, United Kingdom

Madrid, Spain

Montr e al, Canada

New York City, United States (WINNER)

Best U.S. Destination

Chicago, IL

Fort Lauderdale, FL

Las Vegas, NV

Philadelphia, PA

Provincetown, MA

San Francisco, CA (WINNER)

Best Airline

American (WINNER)

Delta

JetBlue

LAN

Southwest

Virgin America

Best Hotel Chain (Collection)

Ace Hotels

Andaz Hotels

Axel Hotels (WINNER)

Four Seasons

Hyatt

Kimpton

Best LGBT Tour Operator

Alyson Adventures

Atlantis

Olivia

Out Adventures

Sweet

Zoom Vacations (WINNER)

Best Annual Gay Destination (Party or Event)

Amsterdam Gay Pride

The Dinah & Dinah Shore Weekend, Palm Springs

Madrid Gay Pride (WINNER)

Manchester Pride

Provincetown Bear Week

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras

Best Ultimate Luxury Hotel/Resort (Global)

SkyLofts at MGM Grand – Las Vegas, NV

The Raleigh – South Beach, Miami, FL

Park Hyatt Paris – Vendome – Paris, France (WINNER)

The London, West Hollywood – West Hollywood, CA

Hotel Kura Hulanda Spa & Casino – Curacao, Dutch West Indies

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok – Bangkok, Thailand

Best Breakout Destination

Dallas, TX

Mexico City, Mexico

Reykjavik, Iceland

Tel Aviv, Israel

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (WINNER)

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Sexiest Place on Earth

Barcelona, Spain

Key West. FL

Las Vegas, NV

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (WINNER)

Tel Aviv, Israel

Palm Springs, CA

Best Gay Bar in the World

The Abbey, Los Angeles, CA (WINNER)

Club Manana, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Roscoe’s, Chicago, IL

The Round-Up Saloon, Dallas, TX

Royal Vauxhall Tavern, London, UK

The Week, Rio/Sao Paulo/Florianopolis, Brazil

The Gay+ Award for Achievement in Making our World Gayer

Charles Lapointe, Tourisme Montreal

Our friends at the AMP Organization are at it again with their 3rd Annual Cut and Paste Rock and Roll event tomorrow night!  The event which will be held at DiPiazza’s in Long Beach (5205 East Pacific Coast Highway) starting at 7:00 PM and will feature ten different out and proud bands, live art from LGBT artists, vendors, crafters, tons of free stuff and lots of queer fun.   Proceeds from the night will benefit the The AMP Organization’s (Art, Music and Philanthropy) Queer Youth Scholarship fund supporting local LGBTQIA students who are passionate about art and the queer community.

Cut and Paste Rock and Roll is a grassroots night of celebration and recognition of queer musicians, artists and community organizations within the Los Angeles area. Based in Long Beach, CA founder Annie Parkhurst first organized this event in response to the queer movements happening in larger cities like San Francisco “Long Beach and LA need to hear our local queer voices” Parkhurst said “and the queer people of socal need a place to call their own, something different than the mainstream gay events.”

People from all over Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Diego, Bakersfield and more gather together to be apart of this event each time. The queer performers range from indie bands to spoken text and art is displayed on the walls, table tops…and people! You’ll find crafts on every table allowing every attendee to make their own queer art all night for free.

At every CPRR local artists, bands, companies and other groups pitch in to the Queer Survival Kits given to each attendee. These bags are hand decorated by local queers and in the past have included treats from: Condom Rev, Blackheart Records, Daisy Rock Guitars, Queer Control Records, The New Gay and The Trevor Project just to name a few.

Attending CPRR is fun, here is what you get!

- Free Queer Survival Kit gift bags (toys, stickers, zines ,safesex info & more) for all attendees while supplies last. Bags are hand decorated by the MYTE youth group at the Long Beach Center

- 5 Tokens to give to your favorite bands,the band with the most wins $200 in Sam Ash Music Store gift cards at the end of the night

- Be sexy and get tested for free at CPRR#3 http://www.aidshealth.org/ Free HIV Mobile Testing courtesy of AIDS Healthcare Foundation

- The Miracle Bookmobile, activating redistribution of used literature will be there with FREE BOOKS FOR ALL http://bit.ly/br7kTr

Out and Proud Queer Performers:
7PM The Bellhaunts (LA) http://bit.ly/9gnNV9
7:45 Fancy Pants (Arizona) http://bit.ly/9AZVIG
8:30 Once a Pawn (Nebraska) http://bit.ly/b3Kv7u
9:15 Wendy Ho (LA/NYC) http://bit.ly/c1KmmY
10PM Rough Duchess (LA) http://bit.ly/9V8rpM
10:45 LONG BEACH DRAG KINGS!!!!!!!!!
11:30 Metahuman (LA) http://bit.ly/aptry4
12:15 Spare Parts For Broken Hearts (OC) http://bit.ly/bZrfCe
1:00 Box Squad (SF) http://bit.ly/aahueu

Giveaways and raffle prizes will include:
- Hot Topic basket full of rocknroll clothes, gear and gift cards
- Wine basket and accessories from Wild Coyote
- Passes to the Long Beach’s Aquarium of the Pacific
- Passes to Long Beach Comic Con
- Annual passes to AMP events
and more!!

LGBT Community orgs & Crafty Vendors include (Bring CA$H)
- There Goes the Neighborhood
- Long Beach YELP
- Haute Green Designs
- Sew Gay
- Queer Trash
- Kristen DeWitt
- Gilardi
- Conciencia Femenil

Live art by: – Kale Likover

Stage props and art by: -Nick Lopez

CPRR#3 Photo booth by: D’licious Chaos

CPRR Online: http://www.cutandpasterockandroll.com/

AMP Online: http://www.amporg.org/

Fabulous’ guests can now visit www.MyFabulousVegas.com to select from their choice of MGM Resorts hotels listed above, then choose from four Fabulous packages offering varying levels of VIP access to private parties, preferred entry to the hottest LGBT events and exclusive opportunities with some of Las Vegas’ top shows. The four packages, ranging from $50 to $575 plus hotel, will provide a flexible approach for guests to be as Fabulous as they want to be.

The Fabulous weekend will serve up drink specials at participating pool bars from noon to 7 p.m. each day. Every day also will feature the LOGO Lounge at eyecandy sound lounge & bar at Mandalay Bay from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and a Fabulous Happy Hour across all host properties from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. LOGO Lounge will be the center of activities offering guests meet-and-greets with LOGO TV personalities, sponsors and other Fabulous guests. For guests who have not purchased their package online, LOGO Lounge also will serve as a purchasing location.

Evenings will heat up with concerts, shows and exclusive parties. Select Fabulous packages include tickets to the sold-out Monster Ball starring Lady Gaga, tickets to Zumanity, the sensual side of Cirque du Soleil, and private parties at ROK Vegas and Studio 54.

Further celebrity mingling is an option as guests will have a chance to meet and socialize with proud out Chef Susan Feniger at her restaurant Border Grill and get up close and personal with the artistic and talented casts from seven Cirque du Soleil shows at the Cast After-Party at ROK Vegas. Fabulous guests also will receive preferential treatment at Las Vegas’ most popular LGBT events – Heaven at Bare Pool Lounge, Closet Sundays at The Beatles REVOLUTION Lounge and Temptation Sundays at Luxor’s South Pool. Other Fabulous events include blackjack and slot tournaments with the casts of Thunder from Down Under and FANTASY, docents tours of the Fine Art Collection at CityCenter and fashion events at Crystals, Las Vegas’ newest and most extravagant shopping district.

For one weekend, this town is Fabulous, and the LGBT community owns it. Start following @MyFabulousVegas on Twitter and Facebook or visit MyFabulousVegas.com for more information, updates and to book your Fabulous package.

NOW FRIDAY NIGHTS ARE GAY NITES AT LA TRAVIATA..
From 7:30 p.m. Happy Hour & Wine flights…..

301 Cedar Ave, Long Beach, Ca 90802
562-432-8022
Latraviata301.com

WHAT: SHE RAW, the queerest rock-n-roll dance party ever
WHEN: Friday May 21st
WHERE: Que Sera (7th and Cherry) in downtown Long Beach
WHO: Superheros, Queens, Queers and friends!

SoCAL’s nastiest queer DJ’s include:
- Devin Tait
- Mizchif
- Ono- Sendai

Money raised from this event will help support the AMP Organization, Promoting LGBTQIA creativity, culture and community. Check out what the AMP Organization is up to: http://www.AmpOrg.org/

Last night hundreds of people packed Pine Avenue between Broadway and Third, decked out in Pink and ready to celebrate.   With pink cocktails, music from DJ Able, the Drag  Diva contest and even a surprise appearance from a Lady Gaga Flash Mob (update: video below thanks to Shout readers!) the night was a great way to kick off the weekend!

The Long Beach Pride festival officially opens today at 12:00.  For more information on parking, tickets and entertainment visit LongBeachPride.com.

For more pictures from the Pink Party check out our Flickr page!

All of our guests will have the chance to win an awesome SEX TOY basket!!

Bands: BLACK FAG-The Absolutely Fabulous Tribute to Black Flag, and A PRETTY MESS

Don’t miss our Special Guest Performers: THE BEAUTY KINGS! (L.A.’s PREMIER Drag King troupe)

DJ’s: Sticky Pete & Dee Jay (Spinning the absolute best in 80′s, Punk and Rock n’Roll)

Admission: $10 or $6 for anyone dressed in DRAG!
21+ doors at 9pm

Only at The Que Sera’s HANKY PANKY Night, this ain’t yo momma’s night club!! P.S. SEX TOY BASKET giveaway to 1 lucky attendee!!!!!!

For more information check out myspace.com/hankypankynights or myspace.com/gypsy3productions or email: gypsy3productions@yahoo.com

The inaugural Long Beach Mardi Gras Parade will roll around Rainbow Harbor at 3 p.m. A Dixieland band, Second Liners, Samba Dancers, Roller Girls and lots of beads thrown to the crowd will make you feel like your down on Canal St. in downtown New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day!

At 6pm the Mardi Gras Funky Fête party will begin at the bandshell at the Pike.  This is a paid event so make sure to get your tickets early.

Official Mardi Gras Schedule:

12:00 pm – 6:00 pm: FREE events around Rainbow Harbor

AQUARIUM – In conjunction with African American Heritage Festival

* Live Jazz on front Plaza
* LALAs Mardi Gras Second Line Performance
* Drum Performance
* DJ

SHORELINE VILLAGE

* Chris Barber Jazz Quartet
* 3rd Degree Blues Band
* New Orleans Marching Dixieland Band
* Kids Costume Contest, mask and bead making, face painting
* Merchant Events / Promotions

the PIKE

* Jazz Music with the Jazz Angels
* Gospel Swamp Blues Band
* Fire Dancing with Sirena Serpentina
* Mask making, Bead Making
* Carnival Games / Attractions
* Merchant Events / Promotion

3 pm: Long Beach Mardi Gras Parade

* Join the Fun at the FREE Parade with the theme “Mardi Gras Loves Long Beach”

6 pm – 11 pm: “Mardi Gras Funky Fête” @ the Bandshell – ticketed concert & party

* The METERS EXPERIENCE featuring guitarist Leo Nocentelli
* Long Beach funkmasters, Delta Nove
* Samba Dancing, Mardi Gras Second-Liners
* Jewels – Emcee and Hostess of the Costume Contest
* Cajun food, Hurricanes and Abita Beer!

For more information or to get your tickets visit LBMardiGras.com.

Beginning at 6PM on New Year’s Eve, the Red Bull New Year: No Limits event will take center stage along the
picturesque waterfront, where famed stuntman, Travis Pastrana, will add another jaw-dropping feat to his
already impressive resume. Thousands of fans and party-goers will watch as Pastrana attempts to set a new
world record, jumping a car off the Pine Avenue Pier, flying 250 feet over the water and landing on a barge
floating in Rainbow Harbor with the legendary Queen Mary as a backdrop.

The daredevil stunt, set to take place at 9PM (PST) will be part of ESPN TV’s live East Coast New Year’s Eve
show – historically one of the most watched television productions of the night, second only to Dick Clark’s
Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. Following the jump, festivities will continue along the waterfront with music, dancing
and a flurry of exciting events leading up to Midnight.
Pine Avenue (at Pine & Broadway), the heart of Downtown’s dining and entertainment district, will host a
party of its own beginning at 7PM with a 60’s, 70’s and 80’s flare. Patrons will enjoy live performances by
world-renowned Beatles cover band, American English, the Disco Kings and Knyght Ryder while strolling
around one of Southern California’s Top Ten Restaurant Rows (as named by ABC7 TV).
A few blocks away, in the eclectic East Village Arts District (at 1st & Elm), a third celebration will take place with
an all-ages bash that will include live performances by local independent artists, Avi Buffalo, Royal Sons and
Dusty Rhodes & the River Band beginning at 8PM. Audiences at both the Pine Avenue and East Village
celebrations will be treated to a live feed of the activities at the waterfront via large screen projections on
each stage as well as replays of the record-breaking jump throughout the night.
At midnight, all of Downtown Long Beach will ring in 2010 with a dynamic light show courtesy of Downtown’s
state-of-the-art L.E.D. light system as well as a fireworks show that will light up the sky.
“Downtown Long Beach has always been a great place to celebrate New Year’s Eve,” said Kraig Kojian,
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown Long Beach Associates. “This year’s events will set a

new standard, drawing a much larger audience and will allow us to showcase the many incredible assets ourgreat City has to offer.”

Reserved parking and restaurant reservations can be secured via the DLBA website at
www.downtownlongbeach.org.  Additional information about New Year’s Eve in Downtown, as well as
parking, transportation and street closure details are also available. All events are free and open to the public.
For more information about the DLBA, please call (562) 436-4259 or log on to www.downtownlongbeach.org.

Club Oasis is an exclusive event for theGay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender( GLBT) and friends community. Club Oasis will provide a safe place for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons to have fun on a Wednesday eve.  Friends of the community are invited as well.

The Club Oasis event will open when the restaurant closes at 9:00 pm and will continue till 1:00 am. What will happen? — no cover charge, a $1.00 taco bar, drink specials, great ambiance, plenty of free parking. Encore Entertainment will provide a full club atmosphere for dancing in the main bar next to the patio. Will you have fun? How can you not?

Location:

The Reef

880 S Harbor Scenic Dr
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562)435-8013