Texas, N.M., Arizona and Nevada all gear up for a hot time with the gays
HOT ENOUGH FOR YA? | Las Vegas begins a series of Pride-related events starting this month, and continuing through late summer. (Photo courtesy Las Vegas News Bureau)
It’s coming up on National Gay Pride Month, and groups from all over are reaching out to make sure you know it. Best of all, not everything takes place in June — there are attractions all through the summer.
Nevada
This year, Las Vegas will welcome a wide-variety of special events, conferences and programming specific to the LGBT community, from one end of the Strip to the other. Among the activities:
The biggest gay dance festival of the summer, Matinee Las Vegas, takes place May 23–26. The four-day festival will take over Rumor Hotel with events at Havana Room at The New Tropicana, Share Nightclub and Rain at the Palms Casino Resort. Matinee Las Vegas features eight parties, 20 DJs and welcomes thousands of LGBT partiers from around the world. And you have a chance to make a name for yourself, too: Just enter the 2014 DJ contest to win a prize package, including flights, accommodations and a chance to do a guest DJ set at the main party.
Bears should rally behind Bigger Vegas, July 9—14, at the Tuscany Suites & Casino. Special hotel rates, activity packages, pool parties, poker and karaoke are among the activities at one of the largest social events for chubby gay men and their admirers.
Show off your high kick and high score at the Las Vegas Showgirl Invitational bowling tournament, Aug. 29–31. The gay event takes place at Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall and includes team competition, singles and doubles tournaments during Labor Day weekend.
Like Dallas, Vegas pushes its main gay celebration a little later than most — Las Vegas Pride takes place Sept. 5– 7 with a lineup of events that celebrate the diversity and pride within the Las Vegas LGBT community. Events include the annual Pride Night Parade on Sept. 5; the Pride Festival in Downtown Las Vegas on Sept. 6; and a Sunday pool party to close out the weekend. And for the third year in a row, Southern Nevada welcomes Gay Days Las Vegas, Sept. 2–8. This all-encompassing event features four full days of pool parties, guest DJs, a travel-retail expo and various events around town. At the same time, lesbians take over Vegas for Shedonism (Sept. 4–8), at the Rumor Hotel. Hosted by DJ Lisa Pittman, and some of the hottest female DJs, this ladies-only event features day parties, nightclub experiences, comedians, showgirls, a poker tournament, and the Las Vegas Dyke march at the Pride parade. To learn more, visit LasVegas.com/GayTravel.
You don’t need to come any time in particular to take advantage of the service Las Vegas: The Game. It’s the brainchild of Chad Hardy, founder of MormonsExposed.com, and it pranks your friends (and yourself) in a variety of nightlife experiences. You can practically replicate boondoggles like The Hangover as professional pranksters target unsuspecting guests with a series of misadventures. But it always culminates with a successful event — restaurant, nightclub, VIP pool party and such. Learn more about it at LasVegasTheGame.com.
Texas
Galveston Island was recently named one of the “Top 10 Destinations on the Rise in the U.S.” by Trip Advisor, and with a variety of new experiences offered in 2014. And you can help make a little news with one of them.
One June 7, The Hotel Galvez & Spa will host a complimentary wedding vow renewal ceremony to honor the most popular month of matrimony (and the hotel’s 103rd anniversary). They’ve done it before, but never with an LGBT couple, though all are welcome. While not legally binding in Texas, it’s a fun way to show your commitment including a small reception hosted by the hotel. And you can stay the night and enjoy special rates on a wedding package (Visit WyndhamHotelGalvez.com and click on “special offers.”)
For new Galveston lodging venues, visit the newly renovated Moody Gardens Hotel, which just completed a massive update of its 428 guest rooms and spa. Or stay at the waterfront Harbor House Hotel & Marina at Pier 21, which unveiled a full renovation in February. For more information, visit Galveston.com.
Galveston’s inland neighbor celebrates Gay Pride Week June 20–29, with a slate of queervents. Pride Houston starts Friday, June 20 with Eden: A Girl Party at Pearl Bar, and keeps up the pace all week, with Pride Unleashed, the Salvation Pool Party, Wonderland Houston and culminating in the Pride Festival and Parade on June 28 and Foam Party on June 29. For more information, visit PrideHouston.org.
New Mexico
Angel Fire Resort, the resort located in the Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico, has launched a new summer Adventure Pass. The pass will give all guests access to the Southwest’s No. 1 bike park, New Mexico’s only zipline tour, full use of the resort’s 18 hole PGA Championship golf course and lodging. For $109/night, guests can spend the nights in our lodge, go ziplining, mountain biking and play a round of golf, as well as access to the country club, tennis club and movies under the stars. The resort’s summer season runs May 16–Oct. 31. Visit AngelFireResort.com for more information.
Arizona
If you don’t mind the heat — and if you’re in Dallas, you must like it some — Scottsdale offers rates as low as 60 percent discounted during the off-peak season (May 21–Sept. 3). Start deciding now whether you’ll perfect your summer glow poolside, explore the Sonoran Desert or visit attractions like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West. Consider the gay-friendly W Hotel, the Phoenician or the JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn & Resort for your accommodations.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition May 9, 2014.