New York (And Neighboring New Jersey) Flies the Rainbow Flag!

The Facade of "The Out"

As a native New Yorker, I'm  mighty proud of my home-state for taking the important human rights stand it did two months ago when it legalized gay marriage.

Apparently, the city's wedding planners are doing a land office business making plans for the nuptials of hundreds of gay men and women in the coming months. As a service to these hardworking folks, and for my gay readers, I wanted to spread the word about a new hotel opening in midtown this fall. Aptly named "The Out" it will be the city's first gay resort, a boutique hotel of 105 rooms with a massive disco/cabaret, a restaurant and a 5000-square-foot gym/spa. Right on 42nd. Street, this new hotel promises to become a go-to place for gay travelers and locals alike. Here's a link to the fledgling resort's website.

And all of those same-sex bachelor and bachelorette partiers? They may want to head to Atlantic City, to Prohibition, the country's first gay bar to open in a major casino (in this case the Resorts Casino Hotel, right on the boardwalk). With a roaring 20's decor, a drag show, and muscled servers in wife beater t-shirts, the bar already is drawing a crowd, despite the fact that it debuted only this summer. The New York Times ran a fascinating piece on the genesis of the bar and the attempt to revitalize what had been a sagging old resort with an appeal to the gay market.

And for any of my gay friends getting married soon: I have two lovely daughters who'd be happy to serve as flower girls. Here's to progress!