What do you mean you want only ONE BED?

Staying Gay: Top Gay-friendly Hotel Companies

Avoid awkward questions at check in (you two gentlemen want one bed?). Discover the best gay-friendly hotel companies around.

By Aefa Mulholland  for OutTraveler.com


Exclusive Staying Gay: Top Gay-friendly Hotel Companies Top 5 Lists OutTraveler.com

Time for Peace - Amen!

Love & Pride is one of our blog sponsors and I totally love their new Time for Peace watch series.

Priced from $125 to $295, the watches come in several styles and a variety of colors. Peace signs are featured on the face, the case and, on some styles, on the band.

Check them out. Just click the Love and Pride link on the right.

Family is the New Black

Pride Families & Skreened bring you this brand new design. There is, of course, a version for dads as well.

Buying shirts from Skreend gives you to opportunity to select a design and place it on any number of shirt options. Skreend offers organic options from American Apparel and Alternative Apparel.

The message is clear - Family is the New Black!!!

Our First Gaycation with Baby

A review of Lake Arrowhead Resort Spa in Northern California. The author lives in LA with her partner and their 2 year old son.

"Only 90 miles from our home in Los Angeles, we figured the car ride would be manageable if we scheduled it around naptime, so we headed out after breakfast. Stephen snoozed soundly, waking just in time to be wowed by the view of giant pines along the gently winding roads leading up the mountain. We rolled down the windows to breathe in the fresh mile-high air. A great beginning."

Sounds wonderful to me! - Our First Gaycation with Baby Exclusives OutTraveler.com

Your Photo Where?

I'm a total freak when it comes to photographing and videotaping my child. Aren't we all? I've created photo books, put her face on mugs, uploaded her clips to a YouTube channel, even created a line of kids t-shirt designs in her honor.

Well, now I have a new obsession - Shortomatic. In a few simple steps you can design your own boardshorts complete with family photos, unique graphics or anything else that your imagination can produce. Wow, I thought, my daughter's photo on a swimsuit? What could be better than that? (I told you that I'm a bit of a freak).

So I uploaded an action photo of my daughter bouncing inside a Moon Walk. It was one of those photos where everything was just right - the colors were rich and vibrant and the blurred action of kids bouncing was really cool. It took only minutes to design the shorts and the wizard steps you thru the process.

At a cost of $99 per pair these shorts certainly aren't cheap but they are worth every penny. They are quite a conversation starter once people realize that I have a photo of my daughter on my swimsuit. Go to the Shortomatic website and check them out for yourself. They took about 1 month from order to delivery and I'm working on another pair right now.

Your Next Hotel Room???

Luxury suites be darned! This could be your next hotel room. The Daily Icon brings us the latest in "capsule hotels".

The 9 Hours is the brand new capsule hotel unveiled by Tokyo-based Cubic Corp. Designed in a collaboration with designer Fumie Shibata of Design Studio S, it looks nothing like its predecessors and represents a revolution in the capsule concept.

I have had the opportunity to stay in some amazing hotels in Athens, Vienna, New York & Paris (frequent flyer miles can get you some good perks), but this room looks a little too much like a pizza oven or an MRI chamber. I'd give it a try but I'm not sure how I would feel in the morning.

Ever stayed in a capsule hotel? I'd love to here about your experience. Leave a comment below.

Someday I'm gonna open a B&B!

If you are anything like me you dream of one day owning your very own gay (or gay-friendly) B&B. How many friends of yours have traveled to some serene setting and come home claiming that they were going to become B&B owners? Did any of them follow through?

Well, if B&B ownership is in your future, head on over to the Purple Roofs web site to check out the inns for sale. The one that is pictured here is in Ogunquit, Maine and is on the market for $799,000.

Purple Roofs is a good source for finding Gay & Lesbian Bed & Breakfasts, Inns, Guesthouses, Hotels, Travel Agents, & Tour Operators in the USA and around the world. And SURPRISE - they have a Facebook page.

Cleo's "Carol Burnett Theme" Hits 1245 Views!

After our daughter was born we started a YouTube channel so that we could share video clips with friends and family. It never really dawned on me that millions of viewers could potentially see our little girl sing & dance. Well, one of our clips has reached 1245 views and the number is growing every day. While this isn't a large number in YouTube terms, it sure seems like a lot to us.

I grew up with the Carol Burnett show and when my daughter was born I began singing the theme song to her every night at bedtime. I altered the words slightly and made up a second verse, but I loved the way she drifted off each night to the words, "I'm so glad we had this time together". One night we were sitting in our kitchen having dinner when all of a sudden she broke into song and even though I hadn't actually taught her the words, she knew them all. I grabbed my Flip and captured the moment for posterity.

Our little girl is about to turn 5 - it's hard to believe that time has passed so quickly. But I am truly glad that we've had this time together. We've had a lot of laughs and sung a lot of songs.

Jason & deMarco launch S.A.F.E

Two of my favorite singers are also two amazing men with big hearts. Jason & deMarco have launched a non-profit in Houston, Texas called S.A.F.E. From their website:

"S.A.F.E. is dedicated to creating a 'Safe, Affirming, Family Environment" for throwaway youth, young adults and Seniors, particularly those GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning)."

"Throwaway youth" is a term that brings me to tears. The idea that a parent could simply throw their LGBT child out the door is unimaginable to me. And it is why I believe in S.A.F.E. with all my heart.

Please visit the web link above and join in the discussion. If you are able to donate to the cause you will find instructions on the home page. S.A.F.E. has set a goal to lease a house in the Montrose area of Houston by 2011. They have a major donor that has pledged to match all donations until December 31st, 2010.

Through their music, Jason and diMarco spread the message of love and acceptance for all. Through their non-profit they are putting action to that message. Please visit their web site and join in the fight to protect our LGBT youth for they are our future.

Shopping with Equality in Mind

Click Here to download "Buying For Equality 2010". HRC's guide to companies, products and services that support LGBT quality.

Or visit the website to learn more about Buying For Equality. There is even an iPhone/iTouch app.

Download and print the guide and keep it in the glove compartment of your car. It makes a handy reference when you are out shopping.

PRIDE - Wells Fargo Style

As I search the web for blogworthy items I run across a lot of recurring advertisers. Now, just because these companies are reaching out their hands for the valuable Gay Dollar doesn't necessarily mean that their corporate policies are gay positive or gay inclusive. I am willing to give my hard earned money to companies that not only advertise toward me and my family but who also back up their advertising with real positive action toward the LGBT community.

Wells Fargo seems to be one of those companies that puts their advertising money where their mouths are. From the Wells Fargo LGBT statement page of the web site:

Wells Fargo fosters a culture in which all people and their individual differences are not only accepted, but celebrated! We are committed to hiring and retaining diverse team members and have a plan for increasing diversity in all levels of management.

•Perfect 100% on Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index ( 2004-2010)

•Since 1998, all benefits extended to spouses of team members have been extended to the domestic partners of team members

•The terms "sexual orientation" and "gender identity" are included in Wells Fargo's non-discrimination policy

•Wells Fargo sponsors LGBT team member networks throughout the nation– a forum for LGBT team members and allies to connect with each other, the company and the community.

•"#2 of the Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees" DiversityInc (2009)
 
Good going Wells Fargo. Thanks for your support.

Hotel Abbey Puerto Vallarta

ABBEY HOTEL Vallarta in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico is a 'Straight Friendly' hotel, specializing in gay vacations.

With 43 rooms and 12 Suites, it is the largest gay hotel in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Have you visited this slice of paradise? Please post a comment and let us know about your stay.

Two Dads Bringing Home Babies - 4/4

The final installment of TLC's episode of Bringing Home Baby featuring the daddies of twins. Scroll back thru the blog for the other 3 parts. It is adorable!!!

Two Dads Bringing Home Baby - 3/4

Time for the 3rd installment of the TLC episode of Bringing Home Baby. Make your way down my blog postings for parts 1 and 2.

Moms Rock Shirt from Skreened.com

Moms and Dads rejoice! Even if your little ones think that you are totally lame, put this shirt on them and you instantly ROCK!

Pride Families and Skreened.com bring you 'My Moms Rock' and 'My Dads Rock' shirts.

Is it child abuse to force our kids to say that we're cool? I think not!!! :-)

All Aboard the Choo Choo Train!

When was the last time you traveled by train? Well partner, that's too long.

I just read a blog posting over at Joe.My.God. that Amtrak is launching a $250k ad campaign to attract LGBT passengers. When I did a web search for 'Amtrak, LGBT' I found several Casting Call postings looking for people that would like to be part of the campaign. How cool is that?

Some of my earliest memories are of my mother taking me and my sisters from OKC to DFW via Amtrak. That was back in the 70's and I remember what a thrill it was to travel by train. I haven't been on Amtrak in many years though and I'm not sure about the current conditions. If you have any feedback, please post a comment and let us know about your experience.

Also, if you have a moment, please go to the Amtrak Media Contact page and send them a quick "Thank You". Summer is here. Time to hit the tracks!!!

Two Dads Bringing Home Babies - 2/4

Part 2 of the TLC show "Bringing Home Baby" featuring two men whose journey through surrogacy resulted in the birth of their twin daughters.

Let's Talk Business

The G Quotient: Why Gay Executives are Excelling as Leaders... And What Every Manager Needs to Know

According to Snyder, whose book compiles the results of a five-year research project covering over 2,000 organizations and 3,500 professionals, openly gay male managers and executives offer a specific and effective model of leadership that he calls the G quotient, which accounts for a 25 to 30 percent higher level of job satisfaction and workplace morale among employees of gay managers.

Snyder believes the gay experience teaches these managers to "place a greater emphasis on the individual value of their employees," and identifies seven qualities that gay executives bring to the workplace: inclusion, creativity, adaptability, connectivity, communication, intuition and collaboration.

Very Berry Pizza - uh, YUM!

Maybe it's just because it's 3:30pm and I'm hungry, but, Holy Cow, doesn't this look good?!?!?!?

We love to include our daughter in the preparation of meals. She's getting to the point where she can really offer a lot of help. She snaps the ends off of green beans, she breaks asparagus at the correct point and she can even set the table.

Even though she isn't allowed near the grill, DUH, she could certainly spread on the ricotta and toss on the berries. This looks like a weekend project in the making. Check out the recipe - HERE.

Love Makes a Family

In the tradition of the popular bestseller "Sisters" comes a striking, large-format photography book which profiles lesbian mothers and their families--a book that definitely proves that "love makes a family" (Dr. Susan Love). 85 photos.

Amazon Review:

In the foreword to Women in Love, new mother Linda Villarosa describes "the proverbial moment of truth," when, leaving home one day with her baby in the stroller, an older woman smiled and said, "Don't you live three doors up? You live with the woman who wears the earring in her nose." How easy it would have been to nod and walk on, letting the neighbors think that her lover and coparent, Vickie, was just a roommate. But that would have been "to deny the reality of our family ... erase all the nights Vickie has shaken off sleep to bring me the baby to nurse, blunt the tears of joy she shed in the delivery room." Eventually Villarosa brought herself to say, "The woman with the nose ring is our baby's other mother," and her neighbor replied simply, "Oh, you're lesbians, isn't that nice." This is one of the many happy endings in this book, a celebration of lesbian families. Brief profiles accompany photographs of quietly heroic women and their strong, accepting children. In an earlier form, the project was rejected by Mothering Magazine as lacking "angst and drama," but in a world of intolerance, small pockets of happiness deserve to be brought to light. --Regina Marler

Daddy Knows Best

More and more gay men are having children, and a new study shows that they are very good at 'mothering'.

More here.

Every Family Matters - from Skreend

Pride Families and Skreend bring you the Every Family Matters shirt. Pride season brings with it a lot of apparel with rainbows and in-your-face political statements. Some of our families aren't comfortable wearing these designs year 'round. But this design is different.

The EFM design resembles a standard gym shirt or an Abercrombie tee - but with a twist. The message, while subtle, packs a powerful punch - Every Family Matters.

Skreend allows you to pick a design and put it on over a dozen shirts including American Apparel, American Apparel Organics & Anvil Sustainable tees.

Two Dads Bringing Home Babies - 1 of 4

This YouTube clip is from a TLC show called "Bringing Home Baby". The episode has been split into 4 clips and the show focuses on two daddies that work with a surrogate to have twin daughters. The show aired in 2006 but is still inspirational today. Clip 1 for now. Stay tuned for more.

HRC Baby Overalls

There is nothing cuter than babies in overalls. Okay, maybe there is something cuter but you have to admit that they are pretty darn cute.

HRC brings us this 100% cotton denim overall that will let you baby show her/his Family Pride. Whether your plans include an equality rally or a visit to the zoo, these overalls will keep your baby feeling comfy and looking cute. They're washed for added softness and have an antique silver t-bar hook and contrast red stitching for a vintage look. Equality logo is screened for baby's comfort. Snaps along the inseam simplify diaper changes. Available in sizes 3-6M, 6-12M, 12-18M, and 18-24M.

HRC Store Support Equal Rights Baby Overall

Lesbian Wedding Cake Topper? SRSLY?

I'm just not sure how I feel about this one. Now I realize that most brides on wedding cake toppers are totally over-glamorized but, matching Levi's and t-shirts, really?

I am a complete advocate for expressing yourself in the way that you see yourself, so the casual outfits aren't even the worst part of this for me. I'm a little creeped out by the way the artist has left these characters faceless, and even worse than faceless, the faces look mushy and melted.

I'm sure that the company that sells this little "Wedding Collectible" has every good intention - at least they are including the LGBT community in their product line, but what will we see next - two grooms in buttless chaps? Stereotype much???

Gay Lesbian Wedding Cake Topper - Wedding Collectibles

A Barbie Glove & a Goal

Her dentist told her that it was time to stop sucking her thumb. We knew the time was coming but we hadn't done any research into methods of breaking the habit. When you Google "stop thumb sucking" you come back with thousands of online discussions of the Pro’s and Con’s of self-soothing. You also find a wide range of products from nasty tasting gel that you paint on your child's thumbnails to these awful looking medieval torture devices that are placed over the kid's thumbs and strapped to his/her wrist. Neither of these methods sounded right for us.

For us, breaking the thumb sucking habit took on the form of a simple Barbie glove, a progress chart, clearly defined milestones & rewards (that SHE selected), and a ton of stickers. Our daughter saw Toy Story 3 and decided that she wanted Barbie & Ken dolls. That expressed desire gave birth to The Plan. If she could go 5 days without sucking her thumb she would get Barbie & Ken. She set the number of days. After Day 8 we would add the Barbie Dream House. At 15 days we branched out into the Tinkerbell fairies. And the BIG goal - 20 days - brought her 6 Disney princesses.

I took her to Target to buy the supplies for her Barbie & Ken Goal chart - foam core, markers & stickers. While we were there, we detoured by the Barbie aisle to take a quick look at the prizes that were in store for her when she reached her milestones. "Can we buy them today", she asked. GOOD TRY! But no, we only looked at the prizes and stoked the desire.

So here we are 20 days later. Breaking the habit actually took about 5 or 6 days. But she continued to wear the glove at night as she passed 5 nights, 8 night, 15 nights and her ultimate goal of 20 nights. There were really 3 keys to her success:

1.) She set the milestones (with our guidance, of course) and identified the rewards.

2.) We made it okay to fail and start again. On day 3 she asked if she could suck her thumb "just a little bit". I told her that it was perfectly okay to suck her thumb, but that we would have to start over at Day 1. She decided to continue with the glove.

3.) Family and friends embraced the glove, encouraged her along the way, and celebrated her success at each milestone.

It’s hard to say goodbye to the “little girl” elements that were so a part of our daughter. But to watch her become the type of person who sets a goal, achieves a goal & celebrates her victory – was priceless!

'The Kids Are All Right' Trailer

Opening today in limited release. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore in The Kids Are Alright. Nic and Jules had the perfect family, until they met the man who made it all possible. Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life.

The trailer looks good. If you are in a city where the movie is playing, please let us know what you think.

It All Started with Tango

Exactly 5 years ago our friend Gretchen gave us a copy of And Tango Makes Three. She hoped that it would give us hope that our little "Tango" would be born one day. Little did she know that we were about to announce that a birthmother had selected us to raise her little Tango.

Here we are, FIVE YEARS LATER, and it feels like a dream. Maybe more of a whirlwind actually. What a journey we've been on together. What a marvelous, sometimes painful, sometimes frustrating, journey.

If you haven't read Tango you simply must. The book is required reading for every Roy & Silo out there dreaming of one day having their own little Tango.

Daily Moment of Cute

"Buy one pair and get the second free. Both pair made in less than one-hour. Eyeglass prescription required to receive offer." I don't know what any of this means. But it's simply FORCING me to believe it!

Love for All

I'm not exactly sure how this ad ties in to designer underwear, but I'd be willing to buy a few new boxer briefs to show my support for this amazingly touching ad. Love For All - ain't it the truth?!

Get Your P-Town On!

Family Week in Provincetown is just around the corner. Hundreds of LGBT families will descend on the tiny little Hamlet for a week of fun and frolic. Activities include games, concerts, crafts and a family parade.

I went to P-town for the first time this past May. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. And I have to tell you - I'm Hooked! I expected a much larger, more congested, more erratic place along the lines of Santa Monica or Venice, CA. What I found was a quiet, charming, friendly place with amazing food, quaint shops, TONS of art galleries & a live and let live attitude.

We can't make Family Week this year :-( but it is most defintely on our list for 2011. Hop on over to the Family Equality Council website for full details.

p.s. If you make it this year, please stop by All American Boy clothing store and say a quick hello to Tim (the store owner). Tell him that Steven sent you!

Aunties Need Love Too!

This is all kinds of cute! Parents aren't the only ones that love our little gayby boys and girls. Our aunts and uncles play an important role in our families. Now, they can show their love with apparel & gifts from Cafe Press.

From bibs & onesies to mugs and mousepads. Aunts & uncles get the respect that they deserve.

Aunt Bib - CafePress

Camp It Up!

I just came across what looks like a wonderful Summer Camp for kids from LGBT families. Located in Quincy, CA (North of Sacramento), the camp offers a multitude of programs for adults, children & teens. Check out their programs and camp schedule on their website.

Ever been to this camp? Please share your experiences with us.

Derrick Martin Speaks at the GLAAD Media Awards

Pride. Love. Family. That is what we are all about. We have overcome great odds to be the people that we were meant to be. Now, as we begin to raise families together, we can stand together and say, "My family, our families, Every Family Matters!

Gaybies in the News!

It's nice to know that our families are welcome in various houses of worship. My family is interfaith. What about yours? Is your congregation welcoming? Or do you tolerate those yearly sermons with hints of hatred?

This news article will give you hope.

CBST’s ‘Gay-by Boom’

This ain't your grandma's cruise!

Have you ever been on an R Family cruise? From August 14 thru 21, 2010 you can join 100's of LGBT families and friends aboard the Norwegian EPIC as they cruise from Miami to St. Maarten, St. Thomas & Nassau.

R Family has also announced their 2011 schedule. Check it out on their website and let me know if you decide to go. I wanna hear all about your trip.

Every Family Matters Shirts from Zazzle.com

Every Family Matters shirts from Zazzle.com

From the Pride Families Store on Zazzle comes the Every Family Matters design. A positive message that is subtle yet powerful at the same time. Put this design on everthing from an infant one-piece to an adult t-shirt to any number of gift items.

Welcome to the Pride Families Blog

I've been tempted to do this for quite sometime now. Entering the blogosphere represents a huge commitment to me. A commitment of time, energy & focus as well as a commitment to my blog readers to be interesting, relevant & current.

I am not starting an LGBT political or religious blog. There are enough of those already and, may I add, there are some fantastic blogs that I read every day (i.e. Joe My God, Towleroad, et al). No, my goal with this blog is to introduce the LGBT parenting community (and those who know and love us) to products and service that we need in our every day lives. From apparel and gifts to travel and leisure, I will be scouring the web for LGBT owned, LGBT operated, LGBT-friendly & LGBT family friendly resources for our community.

Join me on this journey. Send me your suggestions and feedback. Hang on, let's have some fun!