Gay tourism is becoming fiercely competitive in the hospitality industry due to the amount of money gay travelers spend, but also because of their loyalty and reputation as trend-setters

Oxford, United Kingdom, October 29, 2007-- Elsevier Limited, with the support of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC), is proud to announce a first-of-its-kind book in tourism marketing called, Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing, written by Philadelphia native Jeff Guaracino. Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing offers marketing professionals the benefit of knowledge gained over decades by the many leaders in gay and lesbian tourism marketing. The book will be released in November 2007.

Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing is a 176-page "how to" manual for those who want access to the best practices in gay and lesbian marketing. Marketers of destinations, hotels, airlines, cruise lines, tour operators and related companies will learn how to design a successful tourism marketing program, to identify and apply the latest research on gay and lesbian tourism; build stakeholder support; create strategies to win conventions and meetings, and establish a viable and profitable reputation among gay and lesbian travelers. The book is divided into three categories: best practices in tourism marketing; case studies; and interviews with the experts who are pioneers in gay travel.

To order Gay and Lesbian Tourism: The Essential Guide for Marketing, visit books.elsevier.com/hospitality.

American's New Television Ad Campaign Serves Up Humor

American Airlines first TV spots to air on the nation's LGBT network, LOGO, will include two witty commercials as part of our popular "We Know Why You Fly" campaign. Both spots also urge viewers to visit the welcome page for American Airlines' LGBT website, a href="http://www.aa.com/rainbow">www.aa.com/rainbow. The spots will be shown in rotation for the next 13 weeks, beginning Monday, October 22.

According to LOGO, American Airlines is the first airline to advertise nationally on the network. "We're thrilled that American Airlines is reaching out to Logo's television audience in a connective and humorous way," said Lisa Sherman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Logo. "American Airlines has an extraordinary relationship with the LGBT traveler and this partnership with Logo is yet another demonstration of their commitment to this community."

"Answering Machine" is a spot about an anxious business flyer. A man on a day trip calls home to check on "Susie" leaving messages for her on his answering machine. We see an empty house with toys on the floor, and little do we know they are dog toys! The American Airlines gate agent asks, "She's not on the couch again?" And surprise, we discover that Susie is his loveable dog.

"Right Person" is a spot about a senior executive planning an important business trip to Tokyo. But whom will she take with her? For some reason, she seems to choose the least likely person: a young free spirited guy who wears headphones at his desk and sings at the office. We follow them to Tokyo and reveal our singing guy at a Karaoke bar in Tokyo, bonding with his Japanese colleagues on stage. His boss and the senior Japanese executive enjoy the moment – knowing she picked the absolutely "right person" for the job.

For a sneak glimpse at both spots, please contact Tim Kincaid at tim.kincaid@aa.com or by calling 817-967-9652 or Bob Witeck at bwiteck@witeckcombs.com or by calling 202-887-0500 ext. 19.

News coverage, movies, and TV shows in recent years have brought increased visibility and awareness of transgendered individuals. But how do transgendered people deal with their situation? How does it feel to be this way? And what does it mean? With their ambitious debut album, Transposition, Chameleon Red presents a rock opera thatexplores these questions from a transgendered perspective.



Transposition tells the story of Jack, a young man from a small town who finds himself at odds with his family and society simply for being himself. He has powerful urges to dress as a woman, something he regards as a curse. And he dreams of becoming a famous rock star. Honest, engaging, sometimes heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting, the three-act opera follows Jack's spiritual, musical, and gender transitions with tuneful, energetic songs and memorable lyrics. Standout songs include the arena rocker "Stand Up", the smooth soul-funky "What's This Music For?", and the folky, sitar-tinged "She's Changing".

Chameleon Red's sound is rooted in a vintage rock style, with forays into country, folk, soul, and metal, reflecting the eclectic tastes of these seasoned musicians. The band is centered in the mountains of northeastern Tennessee, and is made up of longtime musical friends and collaborators who got together specifically to record Transposition.

More information on Chameleon Red and Transposition can be found on the band‚s website at www.chameleonred.com

Okay Girls -- Do you have trouble finding fabulous shoes in your size? Our featured advertiser MichaelSalem.com can help you!

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Celebrate Independence, Celebrate your Freedom and Celebrate your right to wear a Hot Corset!

The $99.00 Drag Makeover is a funny 24 page comic book for crossdressers, trannys & drag queens alike. And Like Girltalk Online Magazine, it is available in an PDF downloadable format for only $5 bucks!!

Created by cartoonist cartoonist Steve Lafler (who has never been seen in the same room as super shopper Fiona Mallratte!), it is a half fiction, half auto-bio comic about getting out the door all dolled up for less than a hundred bucks.

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ANTI-GAY ORGANIZATIONS FAIL TO PERSUADE CONGRESS WITH MISINFORMATION AND LIES


Casper, WY - The Matthew Shepard Foundation applauds today’s passage of inclusive hate crimes legislation by a vote of 237 to 180 in the United States House of Representatives.

This inclusive hate crimes legislation titled the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007 (LLEHCPA) and renamed the Matthew Shepard Act in the United States Senate is an appropriate and measured response to the unrelenting and under-addressed problem of hates crimes against individuals based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability.

“Although this is the first major step to passing inclusive hate crimes legislation, we have a long way to go to ensure this legislation becomes law. I am personally grateful to the United States House for recognizing the grave reality of hate crimes in America,” said Judy Shepard, Executive Director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Over the last few weeks, this bill has been threatened by misinformation and lies spread by anti-gay organizations trying to block the passage of the bill.

“I am encouraged that the House was able to overcome the lies and misinformation being spread by anti-gay organizations trying to derail this bill. As the parent of a young man killed simply for being gay, I refuse to be silent and let this bill be misconstrued by these organizations,” continues Judy Shepard.

Current federal hate crimes law permits the federal prosecution of a hate crime only if the hate crime was motivated by bias based on race, color, religion, or national origin and the assailant intends to prevent the victim from exercising a "federally protected right" such as the right to vote or attend school. If this legislation is passed by the Senate and signed by the president, the law would be expanded to protect the GLBT community as well as remove the restrictions on what type of acts can be considered applicable under hate crime law.

Hate crime legislation was first enacted in 1968 when our country saw acts of violent hate focused at the African-American community. When Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered in 1998, the current hate crime legislation did not apply to the crime. Without the federal resources needed, finding justice for this horrific act not only cost the small town of Laramie, Wyoming more than $150,000 but also forced the local law enforcement to furlough off five of its force.

####

The Matthew Shepard Foundation was founded by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year-old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998. Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion & Acceptance” through its varied education, outreach and advocacy programs. For more information, please visit www.MatthewShepard.org

"Going on a Manhunt" is a three part series (so far) that talks about the trials and tribulations of finding a mate in the cross dressing community. We find this commentary full of truth -- how do you feel about this subject? GIRLTALK Online wants to hear what you have to say. Please feel free to post your comments for consideration to be published here. Here is an excerpt from her first article:

"Going on a Manhunt"
by Alice Novic, M.D.

Today I'd like to talk about men, or at least the men that we t-ladies come across. And like my famous two types of trans ladies, there tends to be two types of gentlemen we might attract: trans admirers and straight men. But first, let me explain why this subject has become so near and dear to me. As many of you know, I'm a happily married bisexual crossdresser, who for the last seven years has enjoyed the blessing of an open relationship and a steady man on the side. Well, all good things come to an end, and alas my steamy affair with Frank seems . . . frankly to have run out of steam, leaving me reluctantly out on my lonesome gazing afresh at the world of men. At the same time, the Lodge, L.A.'s best t-club shut its doors last September with no heir apparent, scattering tranny and chaser alike to the wind.

Click here to read more!!!

To learn more about Alice than you’d ever dare to ask, please buy her smart, sexy memoir, Alice in Genderland: A Crossdresser Comes of Age