July 8, 2012
Vermont Tourism Welcomes LGBT Travelers
Mark Thompson READ TIME: 2 MIN.
MONTPELIER, Vt. - Known for its warm welcome and LGBT legislative progressiveness, Vermont continues to be an advocate of LGBT culture; sponsoring LGBT events to elevate Vermont as a four-season LGBT travel destination.
Vermont Ski Areas Association (Ski Vermont) and Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing (VDTM) are co-sponsoring Provincetown for Women
On July 20, the leading event, Girl Splash, immerses more than 500 guests in LGBT culture with some of the nation's foremost lesbian writers and influential LGBT couples in attendance. Ski Vermont and VDTM will staff the event and distribute premium Vermont giveaways, like a ski and stay getaway prize package, and 100 VIP gift bags. Last year, more than 15,000 women participated in this Girl Power Productions series of events.
"Across Vermont, citizens and businesses continue to make a concerted effort toward welcoming the LGBT community," Tourism Commissioner Megan Smith said. "Ahead of the curve, our state led the nation in LGBT equality and we take pride in being an open, safe and non-judgmental culture."
Also sponsored by VDTM, the second annual Northern Decadence Food & Travel Expo is September 22 at Battery Park in Burlington, as part of the annual Vermont Pride Festival. The Vermont Gay Tourism Association (VGTA) produces Northern Decadence to promote Vermont to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel market. Northern Decadence celebrates Vermont's diversity, tourism and culinary culture.
The VGTA and VDTM recently promoted Vermont's renowned LGBT-friendly inns, hotels, restaurants and attractions at the Boston Pride Festival on June 9. Several thousand people attended the festivities.
Killington Resort is the official host of the 2013 Winter Pride event produced by Gay Network Alliance of Riders. The three-day festival is set for February 1-3 and is expected to draw visitors from across the country. GNAR's Winter Pride event will feature a lineup of on-snow activities, live entertainment and nightlife parties.
LGBT travelers from around the world visit Vermont annually. Vermont's progress on LGBT equality is historic. Vermont was the first state to legally recognize gay couples when it created civil unions, and was the first state to pass marriage equality through the legislature.
LGBT travel resources link from the home page of VermontVacation.com
A long-term New Yorker and a member of New York Travel Writers Association, Mark Thompson has also lived in San Francisco, Boston, Provincetown, D.C., Miami Beach and the south of France. The author of the novels WOLFCHILD and MY HAWAIIAN PENTHOUSE, he has a PhD in American Studies and is the recipient of fellowships at MacDowell, Yaddo, and Blue Mountain Center. His work has appeared in numerous publications.
