PinkChoice is very excited to announce that Bohemian Paradise located in Granada, Nicaragua has been added to our listings!If you have stayed at Bohemian Paradise recently post a review about your experience.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Bohemian Paradise in Granada, Nicaragua
PinkChoice is very excited to announce that Bohemian Paradise located in Granada, Nicaragua has been added to our listings!If you have stayed at Bohemian Paradise recently post a review about your experience.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
PINK CHOICE SAYS SHAME ON SNOOPING DOWN UNDER?
PINK CHOICE was very disturbed to read that under policy options being considered by the Australian government, visitors with HIV could have their movements monitored or be prevented from entering Australia altogether.
Late last week it was revealed that Prime Minister John Howard has sought his immigration and health ministers' advice concerning the public health risk posed by HIV/AIDS, as well as querying the public health implications of letting HIV-positive people into the country.
The move follows comments Howard made during a radio interview last month, where the prime minister said he would consider stopping HIV-positive people from coming to the country unless there were humanitarian reasons to let them.
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews confirmed the Department of Immigration and Citizenship was preparing advice for the prime minister.
"The department is looking at what requirements we have under different visa classes (for HIV testing) and whether these need to be expanded," the spokesperson said.
Currently, people wanting to become permanent residents of Australia are tested for HIV, with some foreigners entering Australia on student or business visas exempt from testing.
If an individual hoping to enter Australia tests positive for HIV, his immigration application is automatically reviewed by health authorities to assess whether he represents a significant cost to the health system and whether he is financially able to support himself in Australia.
The final decision is made at the discretion of the Immigration Minister.
Howard has also asked authorities investigating HIV policy whether different government agencies should be notified of the movements of HIV-positive immigrants, according to a report in Melbourne's Age newspaper.
According to the paper, a source said the review was not considering a broad ban of all HIV-positive people, but better screening and monitoring and ways of monitoring or blocking those that set off "warning bells."
A spokesperson for the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, Don Baxter, told the Age that infections arising from short-term visa holders have had "minuscule impact" and a HIV screening policy would adversely affect the tourist industry.
Baxter also raised concerns that compulsory screening would result in people having a false sense of security, conveying that "people with HIV will be kept out, therefore it's OK to have unsafe sex with people from other countries." (Cath Pope, Gay.com Australia)
Late last week it was revealed that Prime Minister John Howard has sought his immigration and health ministers' advice concerning the public health risk posed by HIV/AIDS, as well as querying the public health implications of letting HIV-positive people into the country.
The move follows comments Howard made during a radio interview last month, where the prime minister said he would consider stopping HIV-positive people from coming to the country unless there were humanitarian reasons to let them.
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews confirmed the Department of Immigration and Citizenship was preparing advice for the prime minister.
"The department is looking at what requirements we have under different visa classes (for HIV testing) and whether these need to be expanded," the spokesperson said.
Currently, people wanting to become permanent residents of Australia are tested for HIV, with some foreigners entering Australia on student or business visas exempt from testing.
If an individual hoping to enter Australia tests positive for HIV, his immigration application is automatically reviewed by health authorities to assess whether he represents a significant cost to the health system and whether he is financially able to support himself in Australia.
The final decision is made at the discretion of the Immigration Minister.
Howard has also asked authorities investigating HIV policy whether different government agencies should be notified of the movements of HIV-positive immigrants, according to a report in Melbourne's Age newspaper.
According to the paper, a source said the review was not considering a broad ban of all HIV-positive people, but better screening and monitoring and ways of monitoring or blocking those that set off "warning bells."
A spokesperson for the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations, Don Baxter, told the Age that infections arising from short-term visa holders have had "minuscule impact" and a HIV screening policy would adversely affect the tourist industry.
Baxter also raised concerns that compulsory screening would result in people having a false sense of security, conveying that "people with HIV will be kept out, therefore it's OK to have unsafe sex with people from other countries." (Cath Pope, Gay.com Australia)
PINK CHOICE AWAITS CONNECTICUT MARRIAGE DECISION
Amy Bourke
Along with other members of the gay and lesbian community, PINK CHOICE eagerly awaits the outcome of the debate over same-sex marriage rights in Connecticut that could soon be decided by the state Supreme Court.
The arguments from both sides were wrapped up in court on May 15, 2007, but the decision will probably be months in coming.
Eight same-sex couples originally filed the lawsuit in August 2004. They believe that when they were denied the ability to marry, their rights to equality were violated.
The couples have been together between 13 and 31 years.
Connecticut was the first state to allow civil unions without court pressure, but same-sex couples cannot marry in the state.
Attorney Bennet Klein told AP: "What is denied to these families is something that goes to the heart of equal protection, which is the right to be part of the fabric of society when they are just the same as other couples and other families."
However, the state is arguing that the civil unions the state offers do provide equality, and that the issue should be left to legislators.
"All of those rights and benefits, at least under state law, have been granted," Assistant Attorney General Jane Rosenberg told AP. "From a legal perspective, there are no rights that have been taken away from that group and, in fact, equal rights have now been given to that group."
If the judges were to find in favour of the gay couples, they could order an overhaul of Connecticut's marriage laws which would have national ramifications.
The only state which currently allows same-sex couples to marry is Massachusetts, while Connecticut, Vermont, California, New Jersey, Maine and Washington have laws allowing either civil unions or domestic partnership.
A civil union law is expected to take effect in New Hampshire in January.
Article written by Amy Bourke
Along with other members of the gay and lesbian community, PINK CHOICE eagerly awaits the outcome of the debate over same-sex marriage rights in Connecticut that could soon be decided by the state Supreme Court.
The arguments from both sides were wrapped up in court on May 15, 2007, but the decision will probably be months in coming.
Eight same-sex couples originally filed the lawsuit in August 2004. They believe that when they were denied the ability to marry, their rights to equality were violated.
The couples have been together between 13 and 31 years.
Connecticut was the first state to allow civil unions without court pressure, but same-sex couples cannot marry in the state.
Attorney Bennet Klein told AP: "What is denied to these families is something that goes to the heart of equal protection, which is the right to be part of the fabric of society when they are just the same as other couples and other families."
However, the state is arguing that the civil unions the state offers do provide equality, and that the issue should be left to legislators.
"All of those rights and benefits, at least under state law, have been granted," Assistant Attorney General Jane Rosenberg told AP. "From a legal perspective, there are no rights that have been taken away from that group and, in fact, equal rights have now been given to that group."
If the judges were to find in favour of the gay couples, they could order an overhaul of Connecticut's marriage laws which would have national ramifications.
The only state which currently allows same-sex couples to marry is Massachusetts, while Connecticut, Vermont, California, New Jersey, Maine and Washington have laws allowing either civil unions or domestic partnership.
A civil union law is expected to take effect in New Hampshire in January.
Article written by Amy Bourke
NEW MAPPING SERVICE FROM YAHOO
Yahoo's online mapping service in the United States will begin giving driving directions in 34 European countries from Wednesday, May 16, 2007 as part of an upgrade aimed at luring traffic away from rivals AOL and Google Inc.
Besides guiding U.S. motorists around Europe for the first time, Yahoo said it also will feature more landmarks and other visual cues to help people find their way around neighborhoods. By relying on new software, Yahoo believes its maps will be more accurate, too.
So, if you need directions to any of the properties in North America and Europe that are listed on Pink Choice, you now have another mapping resource available to you.
Besides guiding U.S. motorists around Europe for the first time, Yahoo said it also will feature more landmarks and other visual cues to help people find their way around neighborhoods. By relying on new software, Yahoo believes its maps will be more accurate, too.
So, if you need directions to any of the properties in North America and Europe that are listed on Pink Choice, you now have another mapping resource available to you.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
OREGON CREATES DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIPS FOR GAY MEN AND LESBIANS.
On Jan 1, 2008, Oregon will join the growing list of states offering same-sex couples some of the benefits of marriage. Gov Ted Kulongonski who strongly backed the new legislation said the new law would “transform our state from one of exclusion to one of complete inclusion”. He also signed a bill that outlaws discrimination based on sexual orientation effective on the same date.
PINK CHOICE applauds Gov Kulongonski and the legislature for overcoming the blocks that have prevented the progress of this legislation from becoming law in recent years. Oregon is the latest state to join Vermont, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Maine and Washington that have laws allowing either civil unions or domestic partnerships. Hawaii recently approved a civil union measure that Gov John Lynch has said he will sign. Massachusetts alone remains the only state that allows same-sex couples to marry.
PINK CHOICE applauds Gov Kulongonski and the legislature for overcoming the blocks that have prevented the progress of this legislation from becoming law in recent years. Oregon is the latest state to join Vermont, Connecticut, California, New Jersey, Maine and Washington that have laws allowing either civil unions or domestic partnerships. Hawaii recently approved a civil union measure that Gov John Lynch has said he will sign. Massachusetts alone remains the only state that allows same-sex couples to marry.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Pink Choice applauds Philadelphia street signs promoting the gay district
In a move to actively market Philadelphia to gay travelers, city leaders have officially delineated Philly’s gay district by installing 36 new street signs featuring a rainbow banner. The city’s official gay neighborhood extends from 11th to Broad St, and from Pine to Locust.
Councilman Frank DiCicco said that he wants the world to know that Philadelphia is very diverse, a message that Pink Choice endorses.
As Philadelphia takes a major step to embrace the GLBT Community, we at Pink Choice ask all our members to provide us with reviews of Philadelphia hotel, inn and guesthouse experiences, so that we too can foster the gay community in a city that is positively welcoming us.
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