Canada And Sweden Most LGBT-Friendly Travel Destinations

The recent introduction of marriage equality has improved Germany’s position in the SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index, ranking the most LGBT-friendly destination countries. Germany now shares third place with eleven other countries. Canada and Sweden find themselves at the top of the list. The SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index is updated annually and informs travelers on the situation of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgeCabnders (LGBT) in 197 Countries and Territories.

For the first time this year, the SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index also takes into account the legal situation of transgender individuals. Canada gets full marks in this criterion and thus manages to secure joint top spot in the Index for the first time, along with Sweden. The top ten LGBT-friendly countries further consist of mostly European Union countries that have already introduced marriage equality legislation, such as The Netherlands, France, Spain and Belgium. The SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index also sees improvements in Israel, Colombia, Cuba and Botswana. On the other hand, due to numerous killings of gays, lesbians and transsexuals in 2017, Brazil has been rated down markedly compared to previous years. The USA are also on the losing side, now being ranked on 39th rather than their previous 34th place. This is mostly due to attempts by the Trump administration to curtail transgender rights in the military as well as repealing anti-discrimination legislation that had been introduced under the previous government.

Overall, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Malawi garnered particularly negative scores, with Russian Federal Republic Chechnya coming dead last in the index, due to the the state-organised persecution and killings of homosexuals in 2017 taking place there.

The SPARTACUS Gay Travel Index is assembled using 14 criteria in three categories. The first category is civil rights. Among other things it assesses whether gays and lesbians are allowed to marry, whether there are antidiscrimination laws in place, or whether the same age of consent applies to both heterosexual and homosexual couples. Any discrimination is recorded in the second category. This includes, for example, travel restrictions for HIV positive people and the ban on pride parades or other demonstrations. In the third category, threats to individuals by persecution, prison sentences or capital punishment are assessed. Evaluated sources include the human rights organization “Human Rights Watch”, the UN “Free & Equal” campaign, and year-round information on human rights violations against members of the LGBT community.

The Latest Travel News From Isreal

THE LATEST TRAVEL NEWS FROM ISRAEL ISRAEL GOVERNMENT TOURIST OFFICE NORTH AMERICA israel.travel #VisitIsrael

THE ISRAELI OPERA TO HOST TWO FESTIVALS IN JERUSALEM AND ACRE THIS SUMMER  (Photo Credit: Yosi Sebkar-Selam) The Israeli Opera, Israel's principal opera company, will once again offer two exciting summer festivals, both staged in spectacular outdoor settings. The Jerusalem Opera Festival will take place from June 22-25, 2016 at venues throughout the city. The Sultan's Pool will serve as the stage for the main production of Opera Paradiso - Pretty Woman Meets The Fifth Elements, an opera combining clips from popular Hollywood films with vocal soloists. The Akko Opera Festival, from July 28-30, 2016, will be held in the northern Old City of Acre. Performances will include pieces from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as well as an original music composition exploring the sounds of the Spanish, Jewish and South American musical traditions.  For more information about the Summer Opera Festivals, click here.

ISRAEL'S MIDBURN FESTIVAL WILL BRING 8,000 PARTICIPANTS TO THE DESERT More than 8,000 participants are expected to attend this year's Midburn Festival from June 8-12, 2016. The Israeli "Burning Man" community will build a temporary city near Sde Boker in the Negev Desert, comprised of themed campgrounds, bars, a beach and even a post office. Creating a platform for communal living, more than 700 international "Burners" are expected to travel from the US, UK, Europe, South Africa, Japan and other countries to join the sandstorm of creativity.  For updates and information, visit the festival's facebook page.

TEL AVIV PREPARES FOR MORE THAN 180,000 PARTICIPANTS IN THIS YEAR'S GAY PRIDE PARADE (Photo Credit: Nir Keidar) As the much-anticipated Tel Aviv Gay Pride event approaches, the city has begun preparations for the waves of visitors expected to attend. From May 25 to June 9, 2016, more than 180,000 participants, including 30,000 international tourists, will attend events throughout the city. Tel Aviv's main event on June 3rd, The Pride Parade, is expecting hundreds of thousands of participants alone as festival-goers march along the Mediterranean coast before arriving at Charles Clore Park for a massive outdoor beach party. Conchita Wurst, winner of the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, will serve as the guest of honor for the parade.

NEW EXHIBITION AT THE TOWER OF DAVID MUSEUM OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF JERUSALEM BEFORE 1950 The Tower of David Museum will present the works of photographers living and working in Jerusalem during the first half of the 20th century with its new exhibition, The Camera Man - Women and Men Photograph Jerusalem 1900-1950. From May 26 through December 12, the exhibition will highlight the complex human and cultural heritage of the city and, for the first time, offer a complete look through the photographic eye of Christians, Jews and Muslims living in Jerusalem during this era.  For more information about the exhibit, click here.

URBAN ARCHITECTURE FESTIVAL INVITES THE PUBLIC INSIDE The public is invited to explore Tel Aviv's unique urban landscape in the 10th annual Open Tel Aviv urban festival from May 26-28, 2016. This year's event explores the influence of the city's coastline on the architectural identity of Tel Aviv. Free tours will explore design-driven private residences, municipal buildings and private offices. Highlights will include tours of the Herbert Samuel 48, a restored building transformed into a glass townhouse offering exquisite views of the Mediterranean Sea; the Royal Beach Hotel penthouse, a fusion of modern, Art Déco and classic architectural styles; and the hip Ecological Rooftop Apartment, featuring a rooftop that serves as a veritable urban farm.  For a full program of events click here.

FREE ENTRANCE TO ALL OF ISRAEL'S BEACHES THIS SUMMER Tourists and locals alike can benefit from free entrance to all Israeli beaches this summer. The vastly diverse Mediterranean, Dead and Red Seas are all included in this country-wide initiative to provide free access to the country's top bathing hot-spots. With Tel Aviv's designation as the #1 Best Beach Party Spot on the Planet by USA TODAY, the 13 beaches along the city's coastline alone will welcome more than eight million beach-goers this year. In addition to the country's see-and-be-seen beaches, Israel has received wide acclaim for its clean shores. Throughout the country, 21 beaches and two marinas have been awarded the Blue Flag of environmental excellence by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

FIFTH JERUSALEM WRITERS FESTIVAL WELCOMES WORLD- RENOWNED AUTHORS

The fifth Jerusalem Writers Festival, taking place from May 25-28, 2016, will feature lectures, conversations and workshops with dozens of acclaimed writers from Israel and around the world. The four-day event will also offer musical performances, children's activities and tours. Top featured authors will include: Irish novelist Colum McCann; Iranian-French writer Lila Azam Zanganeh; award-winning mother-daughter team from India, Anita and Kiran Desai; celebrated Colombian author Juan Gabriel Vásquez; and Mai Jia, a former Chinese intelligence officer and current bestselling author in China.   (Photo Credit: Xu Xiaolin) To buy tickets to the event, click here.

Miami Beach Is Buzzing With Deals And Activities For Gay Travelers

MIAMI BEACH, FL - Long the fun, high-end destination for gay travelers around the country and all over the world, this fall Miami Beach has lots of events, activities and deals for stimulating and exciting fall travel. From unique packages at several hotels to the one-of-a-kind White Party, one of the largest fundraisers in the country for HIV/AIDS, Miami Beach is buzzing with a calendar stuffed with experiences and happenings.

Global LGBT spending on travel is estimated to be more than $200 billion per year with millions of those dollars spent in South Florida. "Miami Beach has always been a haven for the LGBT community," notes Peggy Benua, Chair, Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority (MBVCA). "With each passing year, however, our hotels, cultural and social venues really turn up the heat on the quality of offerings available to this community. That's what makes our city so exciting to visit, the unpredictable but endless variety of lodging and entertainment that's accessible here."

The Gaythering, Miami Beach's only hotel exclusively built to accommodate the LGBT traveler, is a 3-minute walk from Lincoln Road and one mile from the beach. Gay travelers are treated to a steam room, a cedar sauna, a hot tub and a hammam and mud lounge. A low-key bar offers craft beers and cocktails made with locally sourced ingredients. There's also a library lounge and a coffee shop.

The Dream Hotel-South Beach on Miami Beach's Collins Avenue, directly behind the former Versace Mansion and two blocks from the beach, is offering a Same Sex in City package which includes complimentary "his & his" or "hers & hers" monogrammed beach towels, bottle of sparkling wine and chocolate-covered strawberries upon arrival. VIP entry and premium bottle service for one evening at Twist LGBT lounge; custom-curated itinerary of recommended cultural events, activities and experiences as well as personal concierge services; early check in/late check out and a waived resort fee.

"Miami Beach competes with Madrid, Prague and Amsterdam for the gay travel dollar, among other top-notch international destinations, and that's why our lodging, activity and event options are so superb and exceptional," says Grisette Roque, Executive Director, MBVCA. "Miami Beach strives to be a world-class LGBT city of choice at all times."

The city tries to make visitors feel comfortable in every way starting with the LGBT Visitor Center on Miami Beach, at 1130 Washington Avenue. Opening its doors to thousands of tourists from around the globe each year, the center is located in the historic Old City Hall building and provides information and resources as well as weekly support groups. The Gay & Lesbian Walking Tour of Miami Beach is offered by the Miami Design Preservation League. The tours, start at the Art Deco Welcome Center on Ocean Drive and take place the second Saturday of each month. The tour highlights the contributions of gays and lesbians to the history of Miami Beach.

One of the largest LGBT events of the year is White Party Week. It's an unparalleled week of fundraising parties and events culminating with the legendary White Party. Now more than 25 years old, White Party is the preeminent LGBT event of the season. More than 15,000 party-goers enjoy six days and nights of nonstop entertainment, all while raising awareness and money for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Can't make White Party week? Then there's a host of LGBT focused and friendly places to hang out during a Miami Beach visit including the Palace Bar with its infamous Brunchic on Sundays. Each week this Drag Brunch showcases performances and bottomless mimosas for $39.95 per person. You can also enjoy their Saturday brunch, Sabado Gigantes. Twist lounge and bar is the longest running gay nightlife venue in South Florida. A South Beach "must-do", it has continuously redefined itself in the past 18 years. Visitors can also check out Score nightclub and relax and soak up some sun in the daytime at 12th Street Beach or Haulover Beach Park.