Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! | |
GLAAD: Asian LGBTQ Advocate Amazin LêThi Talks The Power of Representation, AAPI Month, at 'You(th) Belong' Event in Atlanta | |
The transformative power of storytelling was on full display in downtown Atlanta, GA, on May 18 for the second installment of “You(th) Belong: Connecting Atlanta’s Youth with the City’s LGBTQ+ History, Legacy, & Culture"—a series of conversations in partnership with The LGBTQ Institute at The Center for Civil and Human Rights and Kaleidoscope Village. The latest in the series elevated the voice of renowned Asian-American LGBTQ advocate, author, and athlete Amazin LeThi, in observance of Asian American and Pacific-Islander Heritage Month (AAPI) celebrated each May. | |
LGBT MPA at IMEX Frankfurt | |
Join us at our booth F370 to learn more about LGBT MPA, connect with us, or pick up some custom LGBT MPA pins. You can also book an appointment with us to talk about LGBT MPA right in the attendee portal! | |
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Join us on Wednesday, May 24th at 5:00 to 6:00PM CET for a networking reception at VisitScotland's booth (F420) at IMEX Frankfurt! Come network and connect with us after your full day of meetings! RSVP at the link below or directly on our exhibitor page on the IMEX attendee portal!
We look forward to seeing you all in Frankfurt!
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Giving a Voice to the Meeting Industry’s LGBT Community | |
Until six years ago, no association represented the LGBT community of meeting professionals. That all changed when David Jefferys founded LGBT Meeting Professionals Association.
David Jefferys is the founder and executive director of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association (LGBT MPA), the first and only association dedicated to connecting, educating, and advancing LGBT professionals in the meetings industry. Jefferys is also President Emeritus of Altus Agency, which specializes in digital content marketing and brand consulting. An expert in LGBT tourism marketing, he created and produced the first LGBT advertising campaign for Philadelphia, “Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay.”
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The American LGBTQ+ Museum is Coming Into Focus | |
The American LGBTQ+ Museum continues to evolve as the organization prepares to open at the New York Historical Society in 2026. In March, the museum announced a new addition to its team: Suhaly Bautista-Carolina will join the organization as its first director of public programs and partnerships.
Bautista-Carolina will oversee the museum’s efforts to unify the institution’s vision, museum officials say.
“Suhaly will grow the museum on the national stage while ensuring it stays connected to local communities as a valuable resource,” according to a statement from the museum.
The museum’s executive director, Ben Garcia, says, “I could not be happier to have Suhaly as a partner in this work. They bring deep experience, kindness, and creativity to our vision for a museum rooted in LGBTQ+ liberation. And a sprinkling of queer magic as well.”
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Orlando Businesses and Events Based on LGBT Tourism Push Back Against Equality Florida's Travel Advisory | |
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When it comes to politics, Orlando is not Florida. But that won’t be enough to shield the city from the recent legislative assault on LGBTQ Floridians. This tension between local and state politics has set off disagreement over how to approach the “slate of hate” passed out of Tallahassee this year.
These new laws (along with laws that loosen gun control, roll back reproductive health rights, attack voting rights for people of color, target immigrant communities, etc.) are why the organization Equality Florida issued a travel advisory on April 12. It warned that the state “may not be a safe place to visit or take up residence” for members of the LGBTQ community. The Florida Immigrant Coalition has issued its own travel advisory, and the Florida chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has urged the same from the organization’s national board.
“I understand the reasoning behind the travel advisory from their standpoint,” Joseph Clark, CEO of Gay Days Inc., told Orlando Weekly of Equality Florida’s warning. “I disagree with this sense of almost encouraging people to stay away from Florida because of what's going on. In my opinion, it’s that we should be doing the opposite. We should be flooding Florida with the LGBTQIA guests.”
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Instant Booking Apps — Help or Hinderance?
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While big-brand hotels and specialized apps tout the advantages of instant booking, the cons may outweigh the pros when it comes to professional event management.
Big brand hotels are invested when it comes to instant booking. Most hotels are still reeling from staffing shortages and both undertrained and underskilled teams. Automated sleeping and meeting room blocks theoretically circumvent these weaknesses while boosting revenue. Similarly, consumerization across the industry has inspired more instant booking applications.
There are instances where leveraging an instant booking makes sense. However, most planners want and need to retain a personal approach to venue selection. They feel there is too much at stake to surrender entirely to digitization.
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The 'Culture and Business Pride' in Tenerife, an Unmissable Event with a Different Kind of Pride
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Tenerife will host the sixth edition of ‘Culture & Business Pride’ from 23 to 28 July, the first pride that brings together culture, business, technology, tourism and the rights of the LGTBIQ+ collective . An unmissable event with a different kind of pride that will once again be attended by important international personalities, organisations and groups.
The event, which will take place in different venues in the island’s capital, Santa Cruz, will feature activities for all audiences, with free access until full capacity is reached. These include presentations, round tables, networking, a concert for Human Rights and the Alan Turing LGTBIQ+ awards gala, which recognize figures from the collective who have fought for the rights and visibility of all human beings, regardless of gender or condition.
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Celebrate Pride Month in DC’s Wine Country® with the new month-long Pride in the Vines event. Grab a passport at any of the 15 participating wineries, collect stamps throughout the month and enter for prizes that range from private tastings and vineyard tours to wine bottles and event tickets. During Taste of Rosé weekend (June 10-11), earn double stamps. Pride in the Vines will end with special events at participating wineries including drag brunches, live music and more. | |
Wine Reserve at Waterford | |
Experience the ultimate celebration of pride on June 4 at Northern Virginia’s biggest and most colorful pride festival. Get ready for the exciting return of the Loudoun Pride Festival, now bigger than ever in 2023! We are thrilled to announce that this year Equality Loudoun anticipates welcoming nearly 3,000 attendees and over 100 businesses, all coming together to celebrate the vibrant LGBTQ+ community in Loudoun County! Hurry and get your tickets to enjoy everything from live music and yoga to drag shows and activities for all ages. | |
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS | |
LGBT Meeting Professionals Association, 755 North Taylor Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130 | | | | |
