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On Saturday, February 28 & Sunday, March 1 the Original LGBT Expo marks the 22nd anniversary of the largest and longest-running LGBT convention in the world, but the first under new event producers Life Out Loud Events. “We’ve been tasked with not only maintaining an already amazing event,” said Jay Handy, Director of Life Out Loud Events, “but also enhancing it and breathing new, younger life into it, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.” And what an amazing experience this will be! For the 5th year in a row Connextions Magazine, The Travel & Lifestyle Magazine for the LGBT Traveler since 2010, will sponsor the LGBT Expo. MVP, Editor of Connextions Magazine says, "This year, just like the LGBT Expo, we are returning with new experiences for our booth." For starters, we will be showcasing our latest issue titled: Love Around the World. On Sunday afternoon (2:30 - 3:15), Connextions Magazine will present a seminar titled: Travel Like an Expert: From Extreme Adventures to Family Getaways. Lastly, we have partnered with several brands, hotels and resorts to giveaway lots of raffle prizes. Here's a list of some of the prizes we will be giving away:
So make sure to visit our Connextions Magazine booth this weekend for a chance to win! The LGBT Expo is from 12 pm - 6 pm on Saturday, February 28 and March 1, convention goers attending the event will be treated to 100,000 square feet and over 300 participating companies and exhibitors, including long-time and first-time sponsors of the event such as Delta Airlines, MetLife, Pella Windows, Uber, Key West, ZIRH, .LGBT and the Village Voice. The show also features over 40 musical and dance acts on the entertainment stage, 10 hours of engaging seminars and a full schedule of screenings and Q&A session in a video lounge. Brand new to this year’s event is a VIP ticket option. VIP ticket holders will receive an LGBT Expo tee shirt, shoulder bag, various free and discount products and services from the events exhibitors and sponsors, as well as free entry into any of the nightly VIP after parties. The Official LGBT Expo After Parties will be taking place all weekend long in the city that never sleeps at hotspots like XL Nightclub and the Phoenix Bar. This year we’re introducing The LGBT Expo Mobile Scavenger Hunt. The hunt, which is 100% free, leads you through the twists and turns of the LGBT Expo exhibit floor to take photos, check in, answer trivia and scan QR codes, all while getting points for each task completed. The highest scorer overall will receive $500 in cold hard cash, while other runners-up will receive free VIP tickets to next year’s event. To participate, download the Scavity app (https://www.scavify.com). When you get to the Javits Center the day of the event, search for the “LGBT Expo” and join the hunt. From there, complete as many tasks as you can to win. The stage will also feature a very special Lifetime Achivement Award presentation to writer Michael Musto presented by Briah, Bruno and Nicole of this season’s “Real World: Skeletons.” To see a full list and schedule of events visit: http://thelgbtexpo.com/schedule. The Engayged Wedding Expo, sponsored by EnGAYgedWeddings, is a melting pot of all the latest and greatest products and services catering to the LGBT wedding industry. From choosing the right person to officiate your nuptials, to the photographer, florist and venue, the LGBT Wedding Expo is your one-stop-shop to help you plan your perfect day. It will also feature a wedding on Saturday. Also returning this year is the Passport Magazine Travel Expo. Browse from dozens of travel vendors showcasing the best products, services, and destinations from around the globe. Participating vendors include: Florida Keys, Visit St. Petersburg, Aeromexico, Cambria Hotel & Suites, St. Pet, I LOVE NY, Mohegan Sun, Puerto Rico Tourism Company, Vermont Gay Tourism and dozens more. Life Out Loud Events is pleased to continue the tradition of giving back to the LGBT Community by donating over $100,000 worth of exhibit space, in the Non-Profit Pavilion and complimentary tickets to various organizations and volunteers. Exhibitors within the pavilion include Cheer New York, Gay Officers Action League, Gay Mens Health Crisis, Independent Adoption Center of NY, MCCNY Charities, Inc., Live Love Dance, New York City Anti-Violence Project, New York City Fire Department, SAGE, Sirens Woman’s Motorcycle Club of New York City, and the Visiting Nurse Service Of New York. Another not for profit, the LGBT Youth Organization, Our Youth, will be hosting the official LGBT Expo after party on Sunday. All of this info, schedules and much more is now available on the Expo’s official website. Tickets are now available for both days of the Original LGBT Expo.
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What do you get when you mashup Comic-Con, BeautyCon and Hello Kitty Con? RuPaul’s DragCon, of course. It’s the first ever convention that celebrates “the art of drag, queer culture and self-expression for all” and will launch May 16-17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. RuPaul’s DragCon will kick off the Gay Pride season with a fierce new twist. DragCon creators expect several thousand attendees to experience a glittering weekend with the largest ever gathering of drag queens and gay icons. The convention will feature over 100 vendors and exhibitors, panel discussions, screenings, autographs, and photo opportunities. Spearheaded by RuPaul and World of Wonder, RuPaul’s DragCon will give a platform for fans – gay and straight - to meet and interact with world famous drag queens and other celebrity guests in a fan friendly environment. DragCon will include a wide range of programming: · “Everything You Wanted to Know about Tucking but Were Afraid to Ask,” · “Lady MacBeth to Lady Gaga: Drag in the Mainstream” · “Drag King Makeovers” · “A Drag Revolution: Stonewall Riots” · “Padding 101: Dude, Where’s My Mattress?” · “Weaves, Waffles, and Wig Water” There will also be Q&A sessions with the queens themselves, as well as fashion, make-up and styling workshops (“She-crets of a Drag Queen”) for men and women. Attendees can expect to shop the floor for shoes, apparel, art and many other fabulous products. “I am thrilled to bring this one-of-a-kind event to Los Angeles,” said RuPaul. “DragCon is not just a showcase for the most talented drag queens in the world. It’s a chance for all lovers of drag culture – young and old, gay and straight - to come together, to inspire each other, and to let their freak flags fly high.” Scheduled to appear are RuPaul, Lady Bunny, Michelle Visage, Big Freedia, Coco Peru, James St. James, Peaches Christ, Chi Chi LaRue, Hot Chocolate, and Courtney Stodden, as well as the crowned queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Bianca del Rio, Jinkx Monsoon, Chad Michaels, Sharon Needles, Raja, Tyra Sanchez, and Bebe Zahara Benet. Plus, more Drag Race royalty including Jujubee, Alyssa Edwards, Latrice Royale, Detox, Willam, Ivy Winters, Katya, Morgan McMichaels, Kandy Ho, Jade Sotomayor, Trinity K. Bonet, Alisa Summers, Victoria "Porkchop" Parker, Darienne Lake, Tatiana, Laganja Estranja, Mariah Balenciaga,Jasmine Masters, Sasha Belle, Shannel, Jiggly Caliente, Yara Sofia, Kelly Mantle, Mystique Summers Madison, Jessica Wild, Mimi Imfurst, Honey Mahogany, Venus D Lite, Stacy Layne Mathews, Tempest Du Jour, Gia Gunn, Joslyn Fox, Mrs. Kasha Davis, Tammie Brown, Jade Jolie, and Ongina. Many more names will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets are currently on sale at www.rupaulsdragcon.com starting at $30. VIP Experience tickets are also on sale. Fans can purchase photos and autographs at the show. For more info follow DragCon @RuPaulsDragCon, or Facebook /RuPaulsDragCon. The new season of RuPaul’s Drag Race premieres Monday, March 2 at 9 PM on Logo TV, and the series currently airs in over 200 countries worldwide. This morning 100 LBGT and straight couples from across the country and around the world said "I DO" in a mass wedding hosted by the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). The city of Fort Lauderdale is consider to be "The Gay Capital of Florida" by Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Travelers. The affair, titled "Love is Love," is the city's way to celebrate the recent overturn of the marriage equality ban in Florida, which became legal on January 6, 2015, despite the opposition from some politicians - in the end LOVE WON!
The many couples who registered to participate in this historic event, included participants from all over the United States: New York, Ohio, New Mexico, Texas, Boston, San Francisco, North Carolina, Illinois, Arizona, Pittsburgh, Georgia, Oklahoma, Indiana, California, Tennessee, Missouri and Florida, as well as couples from other parts of the world, such as South America and Europe, which reflects the universal love and acceptance that the “Love is Love” wedding represents. “The stories of the couples who registered for the wedding celebration touched our hearts and make this event so personal and special,” said Nicki E. Grossman, president and CEO, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Marriage equality is celebration enough. But watching so many couples of all loves walk down the aisle to the beach will be the proverbial icing on the wedding cake.” Former *NSYNC member and newlywed, Lance Bass was the official “Love is Love” ambassador during what was supposed to be a sunrise beach wedding, however, mother nature decided to sprinkle a bit of rain and the festivities had to be moved indoors. The W Fort Lauderdale Hotel hosted the happy couples and since it's Florida, rice throwing was not in the cards, instead beach balls were used to celebrate the happy occasion. The wedding and marriage vow renewal ceremonies were presided over by Reverend Dr. Durrell Watkins, senior minister, of the Sunshine Cathedral. Lance Bass and Michael Turchin, who married on December 20 last year, celebrated the Greater Fort Lauderdale special day with lucky couples representing 18 U.S. states, as well as London, Italy, and South America. Tonight, the couple will relive their own wedding, as Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding special premieres on E! tonight at 8 p.m. ET/PT. This will be the first time that American television will air a wedding between two men. Some of the lucky couples who participated in the Love is Love Wedding include: Second Chance at Love: Canton, OH When Jerry lost his partner, Steve, his world was over. Certainly, he thought, he would never get another chance at love. But it was the moving obituary Jerry wrote for Steve that lead to the greatest love of his life – Jeff. By chance, Jeff had read the obituary and knew he would be with the “survivor” in that story one day. That one day came when Jerry took a chance to respond to a “personal” advertisement from Jeff, and the two met in real life more than 14 years ago. “I will always believe that Steve arranged this because there has never been a more perfect love than Jeff and I,” Jerry said. Snowbirds Flying in From Italy, via Momperone 3, Santa Mana di Galena, ITALY Philip and his partner have been together for 18.5 years, but never married in their current residence in the United Kingdom, and are prohibited from doing so in their home, Italy. After beginning to “winter” in Greater Fort Lauderdale, Philip chose to marry in a destination that “represents and resolves issues we have with not being able to marry in Italy.” Déjà Vu: Fort Lauderdale, FL More than 25 years ago, Stephen Kuttner saw a photo in a magazine of the man he wanted to “have in my life one day.” After an accidental introduction in 2003, Stephen Kuttner met, fell in love with, and proposed to that very same man. Stephen and his husband, Sandy Allen, became domestic partners in Florida in 2009, and later flew to New York to tie the knot in 2011. Decades later, the couple is looking forward to renewing their vows on the same beaches where their paths first crossed so many years ago. All photos courtesy of: Rodrigo Varela/Getty Images for Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau Connextions Magazine is The Travel & Lifestyle Magazine for the LGBT Traveler. We celebrate the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Traveler .Connextions Magazine is the gay travel, lesbian travel, bisexual travel, transgender travel and gay-family travel source.
Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones, the two Key West men, whose lawsuit helped pave the way for same-sex marriage equality in Florida, had their tuxedos fitted Monday afternoon in preparation for their wedding very early Tuesday. The happy couple completed their marriage license application paperwork at Key West's Monroe County Courthouse Friday, and plan to exchange vows just after receiving their license at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday in the Keys' first same-sex wedding. "I'm a big ball of nerves right now -- my stomach is in knots -- but I'm so happy that I finally get to marry him," said Jones as he stood beside Huntsman, as they try on fitted with white shirts, electric blue vests and traditional black bowties and tuxedos. For Jones, the wedding will mean removing a piece of jewelry - a large silver-toned bracelet - which represents, as Jones calls it, a "shackle of inequality," but he will remove it on his wedding day. According to a spokesperson for the county clerk's office in Key West, the office will open at 11:30 p.m. Monday night and prepare to issue up to 100 marriage licenses to same-sex couples. While other weddings may take place in the wee hours Tuesday morning, Huntsman and Jones' ceremony is to be the first in the county and in the Florida Keys. Connextions Magazine congratulates Aaron Huntsmand and William Lee Jones on winning the battle for equality! We also would like to congratulate all of the happy couples who will also now be able to marry in Florida! Thinking of getting married? Would you like to win a wedding and honeymoon package worth over $25,000.00? Are you a same-sex couple, engaged to be married?
If you answered YES to either of the above questions, then keep reading! Our friends at EnGAYgedWeddings.com & The Original LGBT Expo have teamed up to create the wedding of your dreams & of course they have also added the honeymoon package! Enter by February 12, 2015 to Win! Begin your forever after with a wedding ceremony at the LGBT EXPO in exciting New York City! You'll stay at the Intercontinental New York Times Square Hotel inspired by chic Manhattan residence with floor to ceiling windows and stunning views of Times Square and the Hudson River! Enjoy Your Wedding Ceremony at The LGBT EXPO in Manhattan, New York City!
Enjoy Your Romantic Honeymoon at Los Altos de Eros in Tamarindo, Costa Rica! Los Altos de Eros is a 5-Star Costa Rica boutique hotel & spa resting on a 27 acre estate atop a small mountain with stunning views to the Pacific Ocean. Incontestably and universally rated as a "5- Star" Luxury Hotel in Costa Rica. Los Altos de Eros Boutique Hotel & Spa has won more major International awards on TripAdvisor since 2007 than any other hotel in the world! Your Romantic Honeymoon Includes:
How To Enter: The 2015 EnGAYged Wedding EXPO Giveaway is open to all Same-Sex Couples who are engaged to be married and are legal residents of the continental United States and 21 years of age or older at time of entry. Giveaway Entrants will submit a short story and photo(s) that best showcase the couple’s love story and why they feel that they should win the Giveaway. Submit Your Love Story and Couple's photos to Entry@engaygedweddings.com. The following information is required to be submitted in your e-mail:
For complete rules & more information visit: EnGAYgedWeddings.com - DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 12! The largest and longest running LGBT Expo in the world shows off new design, VIP ticketing options, enhanced social network, blog, and much more and of course Connextions Magazine will return for a 5th year in a row! Life Out Loud Events, producers of the Original LGBT Expo, announced the launch of the new interactive website, as well as different ticketing options, such as general admission and VIP admission. The Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City, NY will be transformed on February 28 & March 1, 2015 because the Original LGBT Expo will feature a dramatically enhanced Expo experience. The biggest addition to the Original LGBT Expo 2015 is the all-new VIP Ticket Package. Fans who purchase VIP tickets will receive a custom LGBT Expo bag and T-shirt, plus access to tons of freebies and discounts from exhibitors and sponsors. The ticket also grants exclusive access to the VIP lounge on the show floor and free admission to the LGBT VIP After Party. For more information on the VIP Ticket Package, go to: http://thelgbtexpo.com/vip. All of this info and much more is now available on the newly-launched official website,http://thelgbtexpo.com To purchase tickets, for either General Admission or VIP admission, visithttp://thelgbtexpo.com/tickets. The 22nd Original LGBT Expo takes place February 28 & March 1, 2015 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, 655 W. 34th Street, New York, NY, 10001. According to E! and People, Lance Bass and Michael Turchin have tied the knot!
The setting was the Park Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. The VIP list included *NSYNC members and friends Joey Fatone, Chris Kirkpatrick and JC Chasez. The wedding featured a special performance by friends JC Chasez & Kristin Chenoweth, who sang for the couple's first dance as husbands. E! televised the wedding for a special, Lance Loves Michael: The Lance Bass Wedding, which will air on February 5 at 8:00pm ET, Lance & Michael's wedding will be the first time a wedding between two male celebrities will air on American TV. To read full story visit Eonline. Connextions Magazine is so pleased to be part of the first ever Virtual Reality GLBT Travel Expo! EVENT DATES: NOVEMBER 15 - 16, 2014 EVENT TIMES: B2B: 11 am to 12 noon EST B2C: 12 noon to 5 pm EST WHAT IS IT? The 1st Global Virtual Reality GLBT Travel Expo will connect GLBT travelers to the hospitality Industry worldwide! It also provides a B2B opportunity for travel professionals to reach their counterparts across the world before the expo is open to a community of savvy travelers. Register now and don't miss this exciting event! Make sure to stop by the Connextions booth and say hello! Register and learn more about this event here --> http://www.virtualrealityglbttravelexpo.com/ This year's 2014 GLBT Travel Expo in NYC's Washington Square was yet again, a wonderful networking success! The event was held on April 27, 2014. A quaint atmosphere with just the right amount of gay swag. Next up is the 2014 GLBT Travel Expo in Chicago on May 4th. Sadly, Connextions will not be among the many vendors with great travel options but will be promoting the success of this event just the same! #GLBTTravelExpo @GLBTTravelExpo |
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Connextions Magazine, the award-winning LGBTQ Travel Magazine, is your trusted resource for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer travel destinations, vacation ideas, fun travel videos, LGBTQ travel guides and the latest news relevant to our entire rainbow community. Connextions Magazine focuses on celebrating the LGBTQ Traveler providing information on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer travel, our LGBTQ culture, the diverse style of our rainbow community, adventures, gay romance, tips for Lesbian Moms, Gay Dads, Bisexual, Transgender Parents and families.
Connextions Magazine LLC - PO Box 242, Calverton NY 11933
MISSION: Connextions Magazine is The Travel Magazine for the LGBTQ community. Making connections to travel like a local, whether on a quick weekend getaway or a luxury vacation, Connextions transports our readers through dazzling photography and insightful content about gay travel, dining, queer culture and style to destinations and memorable travel experiences across the globe. We are your Connextions to the world!
Connextions Magazine, the award-winning LGBTQ Travel Magazine, is your trusted resource for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer travel destinations, vacation ideas, fun travel videos, LGBTQ travel guides and the latest news relevant to our entire rainbow community. Connextions Magazine focuses on celebrating the LGBTQ Traveler providing information on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer travel, our LGBTQ culture, the diverse style of our rainbow community, adventures, gay romance, tips for Lesbian Moms, Gay Dads, Bisexual, Transgender Parents and families.
Connextions Magazine LLC - PO Box 242, Calverton NY 11933
MISSION: Connextions Magazine is The Travel Magazine for the LGBTQ community. Making connections to travel like a local, whether on a quick weekend getaway or a luxury vacation, Connextions transports our readers through dazzling photography and insightful content about gay travel, dining, queer culture and style to destinations and memorable travel experiences across the globe. We are your Connextions to the world!
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LIVE | TRAVEL | CONNECT®
Copyright © 2010 - CONNEXTIONS MAGAZINE, LLC - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
LIVE | TRAVEL | CONNECT®