AND I’M GONNA GET MARRIED… DESTINATION WEDDINGS FOR THE GAYS by joel martens
June is here soon, a traditional month for marriage, which makes me think about all things white (do not say a word, people with glass houses and all that). Yes, yes, I know, why would we want to follow any traditional idioms from our straight counterparts, you say? Ulti- mately for me, it’s because spring is about rebirth/renewal and I love the time of year when florals are freshest and travel is often easiest. Finally, I just wanted to—I am now channeling my inner bridezilla— so deal or it won’t be just a bouquet I’ll throw! At any rate, the idea of marriage was not even in the realm of pos- sibilities not so long ago. Thankfully we now have options, real options both spiritually and legally—with many more to come soon. So I began to wonder about the reality of it and where we can go to do the actual deed. Who is the most welcoming around the world? Where are the most romantic of destinations?
HERE ARE FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FINDS: BARCELONA
since 2005. As with a tr
Spain has allowed gay marriage traditional
union, one of the same-sex partners must be a Spanish resident, having been legally in Spain for at least two years and
registered with the
municipality. A civil marriage in Spain allows homosexual couples the same legal, adop- tion and inheritance rights as heterosexual couples. P
I’M GOIN’ TO THE CHAPEL…
CAPE TOWN
Africa is about life in extremes. The vastness of the country is remarkable and its beauty unparalleled. There are dense tropical forests teeming with diversity, its famed rivers such as the beautiful Congo and the mysterious Nile, the great plateaus (the largest of these level areas being the Great Karoo), the height extremes between the 19,340 foot summit of mighty Kilimanjaro and the vast deserts of the Kalahari and Sahara (the latter being largest in the world), it is a place of mystery and romance—just ask Baroness Von Blixen. The country’s stance on marriage is also extreme, same-sex mar- riage is legal in South Africa (since 2006) and the constitution safeguards LGBT rights there. In places like southern Nigeria though, homosexuality is illegal and carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison. Sharia penal code (Islamic religious law), enacted in 12 states in northern Nigeria, subjects homosexuals to penalties as harsh as execution by stoning—so it is a place to be avoided. Stick to Cape Town in South Africa which has become one of the world’s most popular gay destinations with many supportive and wonderful options for your nuptials. Check out
gaymarriagesabroad.com
Perfect, now you just have to fall in love with fall in
a Spaniard—I am so working on that. I have studied Gaudi ad nauseum and am a total architecture buff, so this is the place for me. His otherworldly, unfinished cathedral La Sagrada Familia is captivating beyond words and the city is steeped with many other architectural jewels, art and history. No better place could be found than
the delightful
Barcelona for your wedding, although a close second might be the beaches at Sitges. For help planning yours check out: wedding-
barcelona.com
A A Place to stay in Barcelona: tury building with 66 a r
business center, a roof terrace, a gym, pool you need! Check them out at:
axelhotels.com Hotel Axel Barcelona
Calle Aribau, 33, 08011 Barcelona, España Tel: +34 93 266 0562
E-mail:
info@beautyandthebeach.net 50 RAGE monthly | MAY 2012
building with 66 individually designed rooms, a r a gym, pool and Jacuzzi—pretty much ev
Well I guess it had to happen… it was inevitable, the first gay hotel “chain.” They have three locations and Barcelona hap- pens to be one of them. This Catalonia gem is centrally located in a restored 16th cen- restaurant, everything
A Place to stay in Cape Town: The intimate Mannabay Boutique Hotel is in the center of Cape Town and
A
offers seven uniquely designed suites for the ultimate in luxury. Intimate and private, with well-appointed common rooms and sophisticated extras that will make you never want to leave. Included in your stay are full break- fasts, daily high tea and a complimentary airport transfer.
mannabay.com
Mannabay Bay Boutique Hotel
1 Denholm Road (Cnr Denholm and Yeoville) Oranjezicht, 8001
Cape Town, South Africa
Telephone: + 27 21 461 1094 Fax: + 27 21 461 8915
E-mail:
res@mannabay.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76