Hotel in "gay" area for honeymoon? Is that a problem??
Feb 22nd, 2001, 04:14 PM
#61
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Wow! What an exchange. Well, I have been there. I am gay. I had a hard time being able to tell I was in a gay part of the city. I saw only beautiful buildings, nice eating places, and a great spot to base Paris walks. This spot is very close to everything. Hope you have fun. ...and I didn't see any bad behavior, thank God! There are as many different personalities in the gay world as in the straight world, but the straight world has more members so why is the smaller group's misbehavior such a big deal when the larger group's freaks are more in your face? <BR>..there! I got that off my chest! <BR>Have fun where ever you stay, you sound like a nice lady. Congrats on your big event! 
Feb 23rd, 2001, 01:50 AM
#62
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<BR>To answer the question : <BR> <BR>The gay district is only a very limited part of the Marais, between the jewish quarter and Pompidou center (don't know where's your hotel exactly). <BR> <BR> There's a lot of gay bars. If you're attentive, you notice it quite easily from the outside. If you're unattentive you don't notice it. There's some rainbow flags or stickers. There's gays in the streets. Once again you'll probably notice it except if you're listless. Occasionnaly you'll see a couple of them hand in hand, perhaps even kissing. Some shop owners are obviously gays. <BR> <BR> It's an old part of Paris, not a place with neon lights or things like that.There's no prostitution, I never noticed a gay sex theater (I know there's one straight sex theater there, though) nor a sex shop. <BR> <BR> I think that's all I can say... <BR>
Feb 23rd, 2001, 03:15 AM
#63
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Joern <BR> <BR>You can suppose all you like. I have no idea what you mean about the places in Miami - and I'm not exactly champing at the bit to find out either and why should I? I dont criticise people for not knowing the history of my culture. <BR> <BR>Unfortunately the heterosexual male of European stock nowadays is blamed for just about everything. I'm not saying they are blameless however not everything that goes wrong in the lives of blacks, lesbians, gay men, and other minority groupings are the fault of the white hetero male. <BR> <BR>The PC brigade on here are forcing me to be either with gays or against gays and NO INBETWEENS. In that case I'm against for the simple fact that I'm always against anyone that forces me to do something against my will.
Feb 23rd, 2001, 04:44 AM
#64
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"PC" -- political correctness -- has been discussed at length in other threads, but it arose because people finally work up to the fact that it's not a virtue and sometimes downright stupid to make decisions about people on the basis of such things as gender, sexual preference, racial heritage or physical ability. Originally, the idea was that a politician committed political suicide by doing that. <BR> <BR>For a hotel, it might be economically damaging or it might not, but that doesn't alter the fact that a hotel needs to review the issue. <BR> <BR>For Tony Hughes, it's not a matter of political suicide, just social grace; and he's already demonstrated often that the idea of being socially graceful is anathema to him. He's more dedicated to defying anyone's efforts to challenge prejudice than he is to examining his own. Fortunately for him, that trait is not visible to the naked eye. <BR> <BR>For the rest of us, the idea of making decisions based on such things -- instead of whether we like the hotel's accommodations -- is on the face of it too self-limiting for the savvy traveler, not to mention reinforcing of prejudices one already has (whether admitted on not).
Feb 23rd, 2001, 08:33 AM
#66
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Hello Kristin, I posted a message a bit earlier, but I would like to address something to Tony. I was raised amoung the exact same attitudes you seem to be expressing. My father, uncles, and the guys I grew up with on a working cattle ranch seem to share your view, but they don't even discuss the topic. As I said I am gay (just turned 40, so you know my generation.) I love my family and home town friends. I still do all the traditionally MALE things like hunt, fish, ranch, ride, and rope, and I am the same friend to them I have always been - they accept me and know I am gay. We get along as we always did, it made no difference. It just doesn't come up. I don't bring up the topic. I think you are a good guy who just doesn't want to see it or think about it, and you say so. This is America and you have that right, and I for one, support that right. I have seen you get slammed pretty hard on this board. I think that these days it is hard to express an opinion, and I salute you for your back bone. However; I think it must be difficult to operate "within the box" and not experience the freedom of a "to each his own" way of thinking. I anticipate that the last thing you want is some gay guy feeling sorry for you, but I do. It must be a bitch to be bothered by things that repulse you. You see, I can understand this. I am repulsed at the realization that I may be automatically thought of as a cross dressing, sex crazed, on the make, freak and the object of ridicule and open discrimination. That is a bitch. Seems we all have our cross to bear.
Feb 23rd, 2001, 08:47 AM
#67
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Hi John, good to hear from you. <BR> <BR>One thing, this ISN'T America and neither am I there, however I know what you're talking about. To each his own is fine, I've nothing against that. As I have already said, I choose not to be a part of it and, rather than kick up hell about it, I would just not go to where its happening (or more likely to happen). Be happy, be gay, be whatever you want. Doesn't repulse me but I dont want to watch it happening either so I choose not to. Doesnt play on my mind, occupy my thoughts or any of that stuff, I have far better things to worry about than other peoples private lives. The only prejudice I see around here is against me, ring-fencing me into something I'm not a part of or at all interested in. <BR> <BR>John, I wish you all the best.
Feb 23rd, 2001, 09:04 AM
#68
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Tony, <BR>Glad you posted that message. I totaly respect your view. And I appologize for being an ugly American, and assuming that everyone is American...I am much better traveled than to fall into that assumption. The message you just posted was kind and to the point. So nice to see that non confrontational communication brings out how we really feel rather than the emotional type that looks defensive and is not a good portrait of who we are. What a lesson for this board. Peace brother!
Feb 23rd, 2001, 01:59 PM
#71
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On my first trip to Paris we stayed in the Marais. Our hotel was on a tiny street between Temple and Archives. The was a gay bar right next to our hotel - a gay biker bar. There were lots of public displays of affection. I was very uncomfortable every time I walked by, and there was no way to avoid passing it when leaving the hotel. While the Marais has it's own unique charm, I think every dog in Paris goes there to take a dump, and that was a bigger turn off than the gay bikers.
Feb 23rd, 2001, 02:04 PM
#72
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Wow. That was not cool. This area is for a newlywed named Kristin. This is not a venue for an ACT UP demonstration. All Tony said was to each his own, but he prefers a vacation where he is comfortable. Why fault him for that. There was a bit of ugly back and forth, but my communication with this guy was very civil, and I think a bridge was built for both sides of this issue. Why would you want to provoke an issue that has been clarified and made understood not to be hateful. If you are angry there are much more productive ways to channel your energy, and a ton of worthy causes in the gay community than "bashing" this guy.
