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Hot Five: Auckland, New Zealand | Exclusives | OutTraveler.com

Hot Five: Auckland, New Zealand | Exclusives | OutTraveler.com



En route to interview the organizers of Gay Ski Week NZ in Queenstown, OutTraveler's Dennis Hensley spent three action-packed days in the City of Sails, Auckland, New Zealand. Here, in his own words, are his top recommendations.

1. MOLLIES

This 5-star luxury B & B overlooking the Harbor Bridge is the most fabulous place I've ever stayed. The owners, Frances Wilson and Stephen Fitzgerald, have poured lots of TLC into every detail, creating a sumptuous, homey atmosphere that reflects their passions for antiques, opera and contemporary design. There was a baby grand piano in my room. Seriously. You know, in case Josh Groban happened to stop by. There was also a romantic fireplace that roared to life with just the flip of a light switch, again in case Josh Groban happened to stop by.

Though I was tempted to never leave Mollies, a short stroll took me to the eclectic shopping district of Ponsonby Road, where I dined at the Spanish-influenced Rocco, indulged in a raspberry bar at the Earlybird Bakery and Cafe, and had the tastiest chai latte of my life at Dorothy's Sister, a cozy neighborhood hangout that's as old-school camp-tastic as its name would lead you to believe.

2. POTIKI ADVENTURES

My second day, I headed to the funky shopping area of Kingsland with Melissa Crockett, one of two lesbian owners of Potiki Adventures, a company that specializes in contemporary Maori culture tours. After turning me onto mincemeat pies at The Fridge, Melissa led me next door to Native Agent where we perused their wide array of handmade, Maori-inspired crafts and clothing. My favorite item was a kiwi bird-shaped wall hanging made from an old record album, specifically the Village People's "Macho Man." Gay enough for you yet? I thought so.

Then it was off to One Tree Hill, a gorgeous, grassy hillside park with a breathtaking 360-degree view of the entire area and a rich and complicated history as a much-prized Maori battleground. We ended our day with a drive through the rain forest to Piha Beach near where director Jane Campion shot her film The Piano. After snapping the requisite Facebook photos, Melissa and I savored the rich colors of the sunset reflecting on the black sand beach. It's an image I won't soon forget.

3. SAIL NZ

My interactive sailing adventure with SailNZ aboard an America's Cup yacht from 1995 started out as a mellow, fun-in-the-sun type proposition. But then the weather started getting rough and our tiny ship was tossed. For a few minutes there, it was like being in The Perfect Storm except George Clooney wasn't there to tell you everything was going to be okay. At times during the downpour, it felt like our vessel was almost perpendicular to the sea but my shipmates and I kept our cool and prevailed, grinding and steering our asses off, then we sailed back to the downtown Auckland pier under a big hot sun and a welcoming gay rainbow.

4. K'ROAD THE GAY ROAD

With assured guidance by my local gay liaison, Nate, I embarked on a big gay club crawl down Karangahape Road or K' Road, is it's more commonly known. We started out with the friendly neighborhood pub Naval and Family then dashed across the street to the bustling, high-energy Family Auckland's preeminent gay dance club.

My favorite stop though was Caluzzi Bar and Cabaret where sassy drag divas serve dinner, clear plates and then put on a hell of a show. The kicker: at least once in each number, the performer or performers leave through the front door and continue to lip-sync for their lives through the front windows from the sidewalk outside, like their in a drag queen aquarium. This leads to some hilarious cameos from unwitting passersby who hadn't planned on appearing in a drag show that night. Sometimes, if the music moves them, a diva will venture beyond the sidewalk right out into street. It's traffic stopping fun…in more ways than one.

5. SKYJUMPING FROM SKYTOWER

Seeing Zachary Quinto on Letterman made me jump off a building. I'll explain: When the Heroes actor was on Late Night to promote his role in the new Star Trek film, Quinto boasted to Dave that he just did the Skyjump, a controlled bunjy-style jump from the SkyTower in Auckland. I figured if Spock can do it, I can do it.

So after getting outfitted in a nifty blue and yellow jumpsuit, I was taken by elevator up to the platform where I enjoyed the amazing view of the city as well as some classic rock songs as I waited for my turn. I was hoping to hear "Freefalling" or "Eye of the Tiger" but I got "Breakdown," which doesn't exactly make one feel invincible. What really unnerved me though was the sound of the cable uncoiling as the jumpers before me took their leap. It's loud and metallic and it gets faster and faster as the person descends. It's the sound of a death splatter, frankly, but I blocked it out and got harnessed up by a guy with a hot accent named Andy.

"Are you nervous?" he asked me.

"Yes," I replied, "but I decided I'm going to stay in the moment and trust the experts."

"Too bad I don't know where they are," he said.

And then I jumped off the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere (630 feet). And I did it with as much grace as I could muster. If I was going to plummet to my death, then I was going to tap into my dance background and do it with good form.

Once I was actually falling, I went from feeling terrified to exhilarated in about a split second. In fact, I got so into my arched-back superhero fantasy that I didn't get my feet under me in time and I sort of botched my landing. The East German judge was particularly harsh but I didn't care. I was having too much fun. I giggled through my landing and for a few minutes or so after. In fact, I'm still giggling.

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Top 5 Surprisingly Gay Small Towns

Brought to you by Out Traveler

If you're up for downsizing when it comes to planning your next vacation destination, consider these diminutive gems. Keep clicking to find who’s number 1!

5. PORTLAND, MAINE

Home to one of the biggest per capita LGBT populations on the east coast and now host of the entirely enticing Frostbite ME weekend (early March, dates TBA), a LGBT winter celebration with an alluring array of homo hijinks, activities, and events that launched in 2008, Portland is Maine's captivating largest city (population 65,000). Portland has a venerable gay bar, Blackstones, and Styxx Video Club (3 Spring Street), where the dance floor and pool tables are popular with women on Thursdays and Saturdays. For more information on the city's gay goings on, contact Visit Portland.



4. EUREKA SPRINGS, ARKANSA

A pint-sized piece of perfection, Arkansas' Eureka Springs (population 2,350) is a charming tiny town with Victorian architecture, twisting streets, and easy going, laissez fair attitude that has lured a diverse community. "Diversity Weekends" run four times a year and gay-owned businesses, including bars, hotels, and guesthouses have proliferated in the town. Check in to gay-owned, fabulously kitschy Tradewinds Motel or lesbian-owned Pond Mountain Lodge and Resort to stay gay. The resort spa town nestled in the Ozarks has gained quite a reputation over the years and answers to nicknames such as "Haven for the State's eccentrics," "The place where the misfits fit," "The hole in the Bible Belt where the buckle goes through," and "America's largest open-air asylum."



3. ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN

An upbeat college town, the home of Edmund White's alma mater, the University of Michigan, is a haven of tolerance, just 35 miles west of Detroit (population 115,000). Women drink, play pool, and have dinner at the miniscule, two-level, lesbian-adored Aut Bar. Thrilling restaurants abound and once you're ready to up the ante, head to gay-friendly club Necto. Ann Arbor is also home to a slew of LGBT groups, from Ann Arbor Queer Aquatics to the Lesbian Moms Network.



2. ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Set in the midst of the Blue Ridge Mountains and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Asheville (population 73,000) is home to an excellent choice of gay and lesbian-owned inns and guesthouses, such as gay-owned 1899 Whitegate Inn and Cottage. For more choices, contact Explore Asheville. There's also a smorgasbord of thrilling, locally owned restaurants, gay bar Smokey Tavern (18 Broadway Street), hot LGBT dance spot Club Hairspray, lesbian-owned bookstore Malaprops, and a constellation of galleries.



1. BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

This accepting, forward-thinking, progressive college town (population 70,000) is home to Indiana University and the famed Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction (itself home to one of the world's largest porn collections). Filled with hip cafés and funky stores, Bloomington markets its many merits to lesbian and gay travelers. For more information on Bloomington, visit www.visitgaybloomington.com.



More information @ http://www.outtraveler.com

N.H. legalizes same-sex marriage

By Valerie Richardson (Contact) | Thursday, June 4, 2009

New Hampshire became the sixth state to recognize same-sex marriage Wednesday after the state legislature agreed to include changes protecting religious institutions from being forced to marry gay couples.

Gov. John Lynch, a Democrat, signed the bill just hours after the state House voted 198-176 and the Senate voted 14-10 to legalize gay marriage.

"Today, we are standing up for the liberties of same-sex couples by making clear that they will receive the same rights, responsibilities and respect under New Hampshire law," Mr. Lynch said.

Mr. Lynch, who has stated he believes personally that marriage should be between a man and a woman, had said that he would veto the bill unless protections for religious groups were added.

New Hampshire joined Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and Maine in legalizing same-sex marriage, and is the fourth to do so this year. The Vermont and Maine legislatures approved bills recognizing same-sex marriage earlier this year, while the Iowa Supreme Court ruled in March that not performing such unions is unconstitutional.

The only surprise surrounding the New Hampshire action was its timing.

Both state houses approved a same-sex marriage bill earlier this year, but the governor sent it back in May, asking the legislature to include language making it clear that religious organizations and their employees have the right to refuse to participate in same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Lawmakers expected the governor's amendment to sail through the legislature easily, and thus were stunned when the House rejected it in a May 20 vote by a margin of 188-186.

New Hampshire political analyst Dean Spiliotes chalked up the vote to a large number of absences the legislature meets year-round and pays only a pittance, thus many lawmakers miss votes due to their jobs and to qualms over the speed at which the bill was moving.

Legislative leaders met Friday in conference committee to tweak the governor's language. Meanwhile, Democrats rallied support for the bill while stressing the importance of high attendance.

"What played out last week is that they decided to do a do-over," Mr. Spiliotes said. "There was no huge sea-change; they just needed to get their ducks in a row."

Gay-rights advocates hailed the New Hampshire action as another important step in securing equal rights for same-sex couples.

"I think that ever since the legislature began grappling with this issue earlier this year, we've been hopeful that they would move past civil unions and go for the real thing," said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry.

Kevin Smith, executive director of Cornerstone Policy Research Action in Manchester, N.H., which opposes gay marriage, said the governor and some legislators would likely pay a political price for the move in the 2010 election.

"The governor said as recently as April that marriage is reserved for a man and a woman," Mr. Smith said. "This is a stark departure from everything he's said in the past. I wouldn't call it squishy I'd call it completely misleading the voters."

He said conservatives would attempt to repeal the same-sex marriage law, while acknowledging that it wouldn't be easy. Even getting a referendum onto the ballot requires a two-thirds vote in both the Democrat-controlled House and Senate.

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Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC

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