October and November Events

Hot gay events from around the world to spice up your calendar.

This month, 1,900 women scamper on board the inaugural Sweet cruise in New Orleans, incredible costumes are donned in West Hollywood, and there are hoedowns and hog-tying in Hogtown -- Toronto.

Pick of the Month
Sweet
New Orleans; Roatan, Honduras; Belize City, Belize; Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico
November 8-15, 2009
With 1,900 women, port calls in Roatan, Belize, Costa Maya, and Cozumel, and options to add on an impressive pre-cruise voluntourism package, the inaugural, carbon-neutral Sweet Cruise really floats our boat. Those Sweet girls have put an incredible amount of work into making this a cruise with a difference, a heart, and a conscience. Those who opt to hit the Crescent City early can spend three days working with a wetlands restoration project designed to prevent future flooding of this resilient city. It’s not all hard work, though; French Quarter accommodations are luxurious, there’s an LGBT history tour, a party, and a tasty cooking demonstration. There are also voluntourism options in ports along the way (or you can opt for more traditional cruise call options, such as snorkeling, clambering over Mayan ruins, and a bevy of boat parties.) On board, a wonderful wealth of parties, big-name lesbian entertainment, and on-board amenities, from pools to game parlors to bars, await.
[Lesbian]

Start Planning for October
West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnival
Los Angeles
October 31, 2009
Twenty-five years ago, WeHo boys spilled out of bars, blocking Santa Monica Boulevard and stopping traffic in a spontaneous gathering of drag, costumes, and bare bodies (WeHo.org). It's evolved from one gay evening to an event swarming with people who come hundreds of miles from all around Southern California. Creative costumes used to outnumber spectators; now there are more people not in costume. Santa Monica Boulevard closes at 3 p.m. and vendors, radio stations, DJs, performers, and hundreds of thousands of onlookers descend on the heart of West Hollywood. Gay bars are packed; dancing and partying goes on until the early hours. To get the most out of the party, you need to dress up. Walk the boulevard, popping in and out of bars along the way (beware the prohibitive club cover charges). Allow extra time to make your way along the boulevard -- depending how good you look, it can take up to an hour per block, with suburbanites stopping you every five feet for photos.
[LGBT/Straight]

Coming up in November
International Gay Rodeo Association Convention 2009
CCGRA.ca/IGRAConv
Toronto, Canada
November 11-15, 2009
Get roped into lunches, awards ceremonies, and a hot Halloween party, bar crawl, and barn dance alongside luminaries of the gay rodeo world as Hogtown hosts the 25th International Gay Rodeo Association Convention and 2010 Royalty Competition.
[LGBT]