(population under 150,000)
the new tourist circuit.
last year buenos aires hosted the first international gay world cup. more than 500 footballers from 28 countries played. the argentine footballers association cooperated openly with the tournament. that openness is helping to make argentina more appealing to gay men.
the first five star gay hotel in latin america opened in buenos aires last year as well. hotel axel "[was] designed to be open and airy."
"the hotel's top floor is a glass-bottomed pool that draws visitors' gazes upward as they enter the breezy lobby."
buenos aires became the first capital in latin america to legalize same-sex civil unions.
"[the city] is fast earning a reputation as a gay-friendly," daniel schweimler, bbc buenos aires writer, said.
which heightens the story of cesar cigliutti and marcelo suntheim. the two gay rights leaders married last monday in madrid in defiance of buenos aires' ban on gay marriage.
"we came to spain because there is a marriage law here that allows the union of homosexuals and in argentina there isn't," cigliutti, president of the Argentine Homosexual Community, told the associated press from madrid. the newlyweds celebrated with friends monday before a honeymoon in egypt."
"similar [civil union] laws are also in place in the patagonian province of rio negro and a small city in the province of cordoba. uruguay is the only country in Latin America that has legalized gay civil unions nationwide," according to B gay News.
"past attempts by homosexuals to marry in argentina have been rejected by the judicial system in this predominantly roman catholic country."
"it's not going to be easy. ... but we're already married, spain recognizes us," said cigliutti. "we want argentina to recognize us as well."
south american gay destinations
the two top destinations in south America for gay travelers are rio de janeiro, brazil, and buenos aires, argentina, but don't limit yourself to those locations. rio's gay area is around ipanema beach. the ipanema plaza hotel is located just a block off the beach and is a great location for a rio adventure. keep in mind that south america is in the southern hemisphere, so summers are the opposite of north american summers. this makes south america an ideal destination for those who want to escape to tropical breezes during the winter here. high season in rio is carnaval (February 2-5 in 2008) and new year's (the fireworks off copacabana beach are spectacular and usually pull 4-5 million spectators).
paraty, brasil
a few hours south of rio is paraty, an increasingly popular destination for gay travelers seeking to avoid the hustle and bustle of the big city.
this quaint fishing village was a major shipping port for gold in the 1700s. today, the real gold can be found in the hearts of its residents and in its picturesque sunsets. the old part of town, with its whitewashed walls, cast iron balconies, and colorful shutters and doors, is a world away from the gray and steel of modern life while still maintaining all of the modern amenities. the area is also blocked to automotive traffic, with all deliveries and pick-ups done by mules and carriages.
buenos aires, argentina
the argentine capital is another destination that is becoming increasingly popular in the community. civil unions have been legal in the buenos aires and rio negro provinces since 2003, and this has created a gay-friendly atmosphere in this unique city.
buenos aires has a distinct european flavor and architecture, and the people are some of the most beautiful in the world. gay pride is celebrated here the first saturday of november and is an ideal time to visit this lively city. the alvear palace or the starwood properties park tower are ideal for some visitors to this vibrant city.
cuzco, peru
famous for both unrivaled natural beauty and fascinating archeological ruins, cuzco lures gay travelers looking for a historical experience. while it lacks a significant gay nightlife scene, this former capital of the Inca empire is a very progressive, fun, and funky city by south american standards, and gay couples are fairly common (at least in touristy places). visitors may be surprised to see the oft-shown rainbow incan flag.
two ever-welcoming establishments, both in the san blas neighborhood, are the witches' garden, owned by three gay men from new york, and the hip cafe macondo. take time to see the religious sacsayhuaman (pronounced "sexy woman") fortress site and the nearby ruins of machu picchu, as well as the luminous waters of lake titicaca farther to the southeast.
