OC has always looked at Long Beach as it’s adopted sister, so it’s no surprise we are excited about the upcoming Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival & Parade. Founded in 1984, this year marks the event’s 30th anniversary, so the festivities will be big big BIG!
Tickets for the Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride Festival & Parade start at $20 for a one-day pass, and children under 12 who are accompanied by an adult are free.
Check out their website for more info: www.longbeachpride.com
I’m packing up my massage gear and taking it on the road with me for the next 6 days: Palm Springs on Tuesday, April 9th and the Las Vegas through April 16th. I’ll be sure to sniff out anything new and gay while travelling and will post any findings worthy of mention. Be sure to hit me up if you’re going to be in either location while I am there, and take care of OC for me while I’m away!
I have several online buddies who were all around my age when I met them 10 years ago, but when I log on to any social media site today I find they are 10 or more years younger than I am. My friends appear to have found the fountain of youth, and they clearly aren’t sharing it with me.
I don’t understand why men feel the need to lie about their age. Oh, I’ve heard all the arguments; from being discriminated against for being over a certain age threshold (the hard 40) to “most people think I look younger than I actually am” to the over-sung tune about the age stigma perpetuated by the entertainment industry. But aren’t you further perpetuating that stigma but lying about your age?
My take: It’s not masculine to lie about your age, plain and simple. Rather, it is something we expect from our mothers. And even for those guys who look amazing for their age: Wouldn’t you rather people compliment you for your real age? Let’s face it: You may look great for 50, but I doubt you look all that hot for the 40 you’re claiming to be. And when do you inform your would-be hook-up/date/whatever that you lied to them: After the engagement party?
I’ve never felt the need to lie about my age, other than having a fake ID when I was 18. I grew up in the Southern California back when we used baby oil rather than sunblock, so I’m not one of those fortunate guys who look young for their age. I turned 46 last month, but so what? I’ve lived a pretty reckless life and am proud – if not amazed – to have made it this far. Sure, there are guys on here who filter me out due to my age, but I’m happy not to have to deal with such shallow “men.”
What do you think about guys who lie about their age? Is it an excusable white-lie, or a deal-breaker?
I found myself in the middle of a surprisingly heated discussion with some of my friends the other night. We asked each other: “What is the one thing about a person that would absolutely keep you from dating them: What is your Deal-Breaker?
I was surprised no one listed a physical characteristic: Too tall, too out of shape, too young, etc. While we all agreed that extreme drug use would be a deal breaker for us in particular, we found ourselves somewhat offended by what the others listed as their Deal-Breakers. (maybe some of them hit too close to home?)
One friend said she would never date someone who made half or twice as much income, citing the disparity in incomes always creates friction. Another said he would never date someone who wasn’t also a college graduate. One would never date someone who is overly-religious. My deal breaker seemed to piss everyone off, especially as I am animal lover: I don’t want to date anyone with a dog. One, I am allergic to most dogs but more importantly to me, I hate the lack of freedom that comes with dog ownership. It understand not being able to whisk you away for a long weekend in Vegas without a dog sitter, but it goes too far when you tell me you can’t spend the night because you have to go home and feed the pooch. One of my friends said I was being selfish and asked if I would feel the same about a child. “I would never date someone who has to care for a child,” I said carefully. “But if ever forced to choose between a dog and a child, the dog would win out.”
What are your deal breakers? What is unacceptable for you?
The Advocate Magazine recently listed their choice for the top 20 Gay travel destinations for 2013:
#20: Miami
#19: Cape Town
#18: Rome
#17: Mexico City
#16: Berlin
#15: Sao Paulo
#14: Barcelona
#13: Melbourne
#12: Hong Kong
#11: Las Vegas
#10: Los Angeles
#9: Amsterdam
#8: Tokyo
#7: Buenos Aires
#6: Paris
#5: San Francisco
#4: London
#3: Sydney
#2 Rio de Janeiro
#1 New York City
I’d love to hear from you: What is your favorite gay travel destination, and why? How many of these cities have you visited, and do you agree with this list? I’ve only visited 7 of these cities, so I better start scouring the web for travel deals!
Enzo
I’ll be in Palm Springs Friday and Saturday and then in Las Vegas Sunday – Thursday. Gee, I wish there were gay things to do in either of those cities (wink wink)
Keep an eye on OC for me while I’m gone!
Viva Las Vegas
Valentine’s Day is this Thursday, and I keep receiving emails asking about good places to enjoy it. I recommend saving the candy, flowers and that fancy steak dinner for our conventional straight friends and having a gay ol’ time with your loved one (or ones, who’s judging?).
Start with dinner at VLVT Lounge(http://www.velvetoc.com/) and then dancing at OC’s newest Thursday night gay dance club at The Memphis Group’s Detroit Bar (http://www.detroitbar.com/)
Love hard and against the rules!
love against the rules
