The Logo network’s website, TripOutGayTravel.com, part of the MTV network, elected Rio de Janeiro as the Best Global Destination City for gay travelers this week, beating Buenos Aires, Barcelona, London, Montreal, and Sydney. The election took place at the International LGBT Tourism Conference in Boston.
The announcement comes on the heels of Rio’s Olympic selection win, as well as being named the “Happiest City in the World” by Forbes. It will also play host to several games during the 2014 World Cup to be held in Brazil.
Eduardo Paes, the mayor of Rio, was delighted by the news. “It recognizes the hospitality of our people, who make everyone feel at home. I’m proud and pleased to be the mayor of such a welcoming city that respects and values differences.”
The announcement also came right after Rio’s annual gay pride parade, held on Sunday in Copacabana.
Comments:
Fab S.:
Instead of pandering to gays, how about cleaning up the favelas which makes Rio the international murder capital of the world? I’d like to go to both the World Cup and the Olympics with my family but am scared.
Please read: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/10/05/091005fa_fact_anderson
Michael:
Forget what the last guy said, because as lady gaga once said when she was asked about how she feels about being loved by the gays, she said “Well if the gays don’t love you, you’re probably not really all that cool” And I agree. Although crime is a factor (which they mentioned) I think it’s great that they chose Brazil and it really says something about Rio, they could have chose anyplace but they chose Rio.
Fab S.:
Yes Michael, we should all be taking advice from Lady Gaga before her 15 minutes of fame are up.
Brasil is in a very promising position and has the chance to at last, be in the driver’s seat. For too long Brasil has concerned itself with ONLY good times and the dreaded “jeitinho”.
Let’s start working and even worrying a bit about safety, infrastructure, the economy, public health and the global image.
A lot of things are being aligned beautifully for Brasil to come forward as a giant. Being distracted by stuff like “Best Gay Global Destination” is just that, a distraction.
Michael:
I don’t think its a distraction if anything it shines more light on the problem. But for the most part I agree with you, good luck to them working on that issue.
Gary:
Wait a minute, Fab. “pandering” and “distraction”? Your posts are not about Rio, crime, or tourism and love of Brasil. They show you are uncomfortable with gay people.
A million people came out for the Gay Parade in Rio. What were they scared of?