Chaz Bono Leads Miami Beach’s Gay Pride Parade
Chaz Bono, who has been a vocal spokesperson on behalf of the LGBT community, served as Miami Beach’s Grand Marshall for the city’s festive and fabulous 4th annual parade that hit the streets of Miami Beach this past weekend.
“The city of Miami Beach has done an amazing job of welcoming me, and thousands of other LGBTQ travelers for the Gay Pride Weekend, and other events all year round. The city has always been inviting, respectful and inclusive as well as a great environment where we can be ourselves. Miami Beach is truly like no other place in the world,” said Chaz Bono, Grand Marshal of the Miami Beach Gay Pride Parade.
[ Also Read: Sydney Mardi Gras Hits the Heights ]The Gay Pride Parade is the showpiece of just one of several popular LGBT events hosted in Miami Beach throughout the year. Historically, Miami Beach has always drawn international LGBT travelers, thanks in part to the city’s efforts to ensure guests are safe, comfortable, and most importantly, entertained.
Meanwhile, The Trevor Project’s new life-saving, life-affirming public service announcement (PSA) featuring Harry Potter film star Daniel Radcliffe premiered on FOX during the network’s hit series “Glee.”
The 30-second spot, which aired at no cost to the organization, empowers young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) to call the Trevor Lifeline if they need support or are considering suicide. The spot also planned to run on Hulu in conjunction with the episode of “Glee.” (Read: Harry Potter Magic for Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals…)
[ Also Read: Gay-Straight Campaign to End Homophobia in Sports ]Now after two decades of openly welcoming the gay community, Miami Beach has gone beyond just being “LGBT friendly” and is taking extra steps to insure that the city is the number one vacation spot of choice for the LGBT community.
LGBT vacationers are welcomed with a LGBT Visitor center, the option to stay at the gay traveler boutique hotel, The Lords. Miami Beach has even initiated The Pink Flamingo Hospitality program — a LGBT focused hospitality training program created specifically for Miami Beach hotels and resorts to train their employees to generously accommodate gay-friendly travelers.
“The goal of this program is to let our gay travelers feel just like any other tourists who stay on the beach,” said Steve Adkins, president, Miami-Dade Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. “We don’t just want them to feel welcome, we want them to feel like they can act the way they do when at home.”
Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival is taking place April 27 to May 6, 2012.
