PinkApproved Trends

In a recent report created by PinkAproved.com we look at the latest trends for the LGBT market to date, over the coming months we will be launching a range of stats to keep you informed of the very latest trends in destinations and hotels, for now :-

USA
Miami
San Francisco
New York

UK
Manchester
Dublin
Edinburgh

Top destinations

• Ireland 
• United Kingdom 
• Greece 
• United States 
• Switzerland 
• Australia 
• Canada 
• Belgium 
• Netherlands 
• Germany

In our next edition we talk about Canada, watch this space

From

PinkApproved.com

Gino Meriano adds :-

BERLIN — A Berlin court declined to set a precedent by recognizing a gay marriage performed in Canada, ruling Tuesday that the union would only be considered a civil partnership in Germany.

German law defines marriage as exclusively between men and women. It allows civil partnerships between same-sex couples.

Andreas Boettcher, a 37-year-old German event manager, married his Spanish partner, a dancer and choreographer, in Montreal in July 2006. He asked a Berlin administrative court to recognize the relationship as a marriage after local authorities listed him as “single” on his registration card in November, despite his Canadian marriage certificate and a family registry entry from Spain that names him as the husband of his partner.

Boettcher said the couple, who have been together for 17 years, decided to marry in Canada about six months before they took a trip there to participate in a sporting event.

Spain and five other countries in Europe let same-sex couples wed. In the United States, six states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriages.

“The German authorities would have had no problems, had (he) been an Isabel,” said Boettcher, who asked that his husband not be identified.

The German court said a same-sex marriage abroad is to be legally considered a civil partnership in Germany.

Boettcher said he accepted the ruling, although it fell short of his goal.

“I could fight it, but it would take a lot of time and a lot of money,” he said. “At least, I have reached the minimum.”

Germany’s Gay and Lesbian Association sharply criticized authorities forcing Boettcher to take his case to court to get a marriage recognized as a civil union.

Iceland, a socially tolerant island nation of about 320,000 people, became the first country to elect an openly gay head of state in 2009 when Social Democrat Johanna Sigurdardottir became prime minister after being nominated by her party.

“The attitude in Iceland is fairly pragmatic,” said Gunnar Helgi Kristinsson, a political scientist at the University of Iceland. “It (gay marriage) has not been a big issue in national politics — it’s not been controversial.”

The prime minister’s sexual orientation garnered far more interest among foreign media than in Iceland, where the attitude toward homosexuality has grown increasingly relaxed in the past two or three decades, Kristinsson added.

Iceland’s protestant church has yet to decide whether to allow same-sex marriages in church, although the law says “ministers will always be free to perform (gay) marriage ceremonies, but never obliged to.”

The largely protestant countries of northern Europe, including Sweden, Norway and Denmark, have all endorsed some form of civil union between same-sex couples, but the issue creates more controversy in Mediterranean Catholic nations.

In the United States, gay marriage remains a fraught political issue, with laws varying widely from state to state. Vermont was the first state to allow same-sex civil unions in 1999, followed by Massachusetts and Connecticut and others.

Gino Meriano, gay rights campaigner for same sex couples comments “Yet again we see change happen in such a positive way, it is an  exciting time and one that cannot be ignored. Legal rights is being opened up to all and one day we will see the world united in accepting the LGB and T community as equal”.

A couple were turned away from the StoneBridge Manor Hotel for their ceremony and celebrations

Gino Meriano comments “in this modern society it’s time to take action about our legal rights, the longer we wait for Equal Marriage the longer more and more couples will be hurt because of ignorance and deep rooted Homophobia”

This has to stop and we need to stand united and fight for our legal rights

It makes me so sad to hear such news and no one is helping these couples to get what they rightfully and legally should have, Step up and help

Legal rights is the only rights we must fight for, for the protection of our community  

Tell everyone, spread the word and let the venue know “We will not tolerate homophobia”

PinkApproved™ : the story continues

Last time we talked about the growth of our PinkApproved™ program including our journey from the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya in Mexico to the Four Seasons Dublin in Southern Ireland.

It never fails to amaze the team where the journey takes us.

This time we travel back to mainland USA and for something that will embrace you in the warmth of welcome, care of understanding staff and the fun from individuality offered to the LGBT community by Kimpton’s group of hotels.

We are proud to launch the front-runner range of stylish boutique style venues to the PinkApproved family. Working with Kimpton’s knowledgeable team, we have carefully selected their leading hotels that will spearhead their demonstration of their support for our community.

Gino Meriano, founder of PinkApproved comments
“It is outstanding when a great range of hotels understands the meaning of true equality and shares our passion for inclusivity. It is important to note that Kimpton, as a group, see the importance of not simply cashing in on the so-called Pink or Blue Dollar but proving how committed they are to supporting the LGBT community through the PinkApproved endorsement. Add this to them being given 100% for five years on the Human Rights Campaign’s corporate equality index means LGBT individuals, families and groups are sure to experience excellence.”

We’ll be introducing you to the individual features of the hotels, but if your curiosity needs satisfying now you can explore the Kimpton difference on the world’s first dedicated PinkApproved WIKI at http://wiki.pinkapproved.com

Stéphanie Versin, Director Loyalty Marketing comments, “Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is proud to be a partner of PinkApproved. Kimpton has always valued the support of the LGBT community, and we return that support by sponsoring dozens of LGBT organizations every year. Since a big part of PinkApproved is welcoming LGBT groups and meetings, Kimpton would be honored to work with any LGBT organization looking for the perfect partner for their meeting.”

Over the coming weeks we will continue our journey with the Kimpton hotels in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, Miami, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Scottsdale.

ENDS