Gay Pals in Europa
 

Last night, over a few martinis, I had a tete-a-tete with my gay gal pals, Mark and Devin. They would like to take a whirlwind tour through Europa this May. Being gay, they are very concerned about homophobia and countries where "homosexual acts" are illegal. They certainly don’t want to be arrested and thrown into some horrid prison.

A problem may stem from the fact that Devin is EXTREMELY flamboyant. He tends to wear big brooches or his grandmother’s old cameos on the lapel or his jackets and coats. He also likes brightly coloured shoes—pink, red, mint-green. Mark and Devin like to hold hands in public.

I know that "homosexual acts" aren’t illegal in the countries that belong to the European Union. But, what about the "Baltic" countries and places like Turkey? Could they have a potential problem there?

I would like to hear comments/suggestions from other gays who have travelled to these countries. Also, where can I get information on GAY travel to these countries?

Thank you from your old friend, John G.

Estonia and Latvia are in the EU.

Having traveled in Turkey, I was surprised at how often we saw men together, even arms around each other shoulders. We entered a restaurant in Konya and thought it must be a gay restaurant as there were NO women in sight -- period. But it seems that women are merely second class citizens in Turkey, and men (straight ones) socialize together. Those men walking down the street with an arm around the shoulder were probably not gay -- if they were I doubt they'd do that. I have fears for your friend skipping along in his lime green pumps wearing his grammy's brooches and holding hands with his partner -- really.
I'm not usually one to get involved in the "don't wear tennis shoes in Paris" type threads, but this is one of those questions where I think it's worth thinking about if you can't blend in, you might not want to go.

Now Berlin on the other hand, they can skip and prance and even kiss on the street and no one will bat a false eyelash!

Now, Patrick, Devin does NOT wear pumps. He also does not prance, nor skip. His outfits are very Molly Ringwald circa 1987. (He just LOVES Duran Duran.)

I am more worried about "the law" than I am about stares on the street. I think Devin is used to that--and I think he actually likes it.

Unless they become overwhelmed and start to have sex on the street or in the middle of a pulbic park, I strongly feel they will be fine. To my knowledge there are no "laws" forbidding dressing like you describe or even laws against two men holding hands. I would not expect the gestapo to come beating on their hotel room and night to see if they are breaking any laws. Stares and even verbal taunts may be forthcoming, but if that is welcomed, then no problem.

I can't offer any specific advice on where to find "gay travel" sites but there are plenty of them easily found by googling or picking up any gay guide. I've never understood the necessity of specific gay travel advice unless someone is more concerned about "being gay" than they are about "traveling as any other human being".

By the way, didn't we go through a very similar discussion about another friend recently? Is there anything particularly different about this situation than that one?

Patrick, that other post was about Corrine, my ex-hairstylist and a pre-op trannie. My concern in that post was that Corrine would be stopped when entering Germany because she would be dressed as a woman, when she was really a man.

By the way, Corrine had a very nice time in Munich, and had no problems and found out that there are other pre-op trannies in the Munich area.

I was concerned about Mark and Devin because there was a HUGE article in the NYTIMES Sunday Magazine about the prosecution of homosexuals in Egypt after these men were arrested at a gay nightclub.

From experience I can tell you parts of Europe are NOT anything like Egypt when it comes to gay activity. And I wouldn't encorage them to unnecessaily draw attention to themselves in Berlin, either unless it is one of the more gay-heavy districts such as around the Nollendorf Platz.

I can understand the question about gay travel sites and I agree that Google is a good start and one can simply input the word "gay" followed by the name of the location for information about gay-friendly venues, watering holes, Pride festivals, etc.

If one knows something about conservative or Islamic countries, one should hardly be surprised to find restaurants, cafes, etc, with only men in them. It should also not be a surprised that men may touch each other in ways different than in the US (eg, witness Bush holding hands with some Saudi to make him feel at home).

Mark, Devin and Corrie are likely to get more relevant information on gay-specific websites. Some posters here can cite specific cities (maybe even countries), but for planning a whirlwind tour they would probably do better seeking out others who've done the same trip. If you Google "gay travel europe", a lot of links come up.

>>Bush holding hands with some Saudi to make him feel at home<<

Are you sure it wasn't the other way around? Or to make sure he didn't get away?

Yes, Jeanne..there are some of us here who have done the same trip but I think your advice is overall good.

There was a problem in September on Hvasr island in Croatia. I would definitely be very careful in eastern Europe.... especiall non eeu members

Tell your friends to come to Spain. They even could get married here :).

Marginal_Margiela,

I can't speak about all of Europe, and I've never been to Turkey, but I am somewhat familiar with London ane very familiar with Paris.

One of the nice things about Paris is that there is a sort of live-and-let-live mentality. Someone once said to me that the nice thing was to walk down the street without being judged -- unlike, say, in Washhington, DC.

Devin is flamboyant? He may get some attention as people wonder who he is, but I don't think he'll get any hostility. Tell him to pile on the bijoux. My neighbor, a successful furniture designer (leaning toward baroque) matches his shoes to his dog's collar.

Tell Mark and Devin that they could have the time of their life in Paris. As long as they don't bother anyone, no one will bother them.

Toupary