Vancouver tops for gay tourism - Page 4

freeweed · #61 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 4:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckkelley

Do you and your partner hold hands in public regularly in Calgary?

I see gay couples doing this all the time in Calgary. Contrary to the stereotype, and what our politicians are famous for clamoring about, this is a pretty tolerant city overall.

sync · #62 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 4:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by furbe

in regards to the comment about vancouver's smugness and how the rest of the country hates us, isn't there a certain sense of irony? firstly, isn't alberta supposedly the "can do" province, where the rest of us are second rate slackers? secondly, i've listened to countless canadians ramble on about all the reasons canada is better than the united states, whether they are from vancouver, calgary, toronto or montreal. if vancouverites are all smug, then the same could be said about canadians.

you're not going to hear an incredulous "WHY WOULD YOU LIVE THERE?" too often when you tell people in calgary you live in vancouver.

mainly because it's not polite and frankly arrogant.

i heard this over and over when i lived in vancouver.

Taller Better · #63 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 6:04 PM**

If I had to honestly choose a city in Canada that was tops for gay tourism, it would have to be Montreal. The gay community there learned years ago that you have to invest money to make money, and they advertise heavily in American publications such as The Guide. The gay bars are definitely more reliant on American tourists than other cities, and thus have probably been hit the hardest because of the decrease in tourism from the States. Also if I am frank, one of the biggest draws for gay American male tourists in Montreal are the strip clubs and the widespread escort business, along with the many bars and saunas.
For people here who are not gay, it might be difficult to imagine how important the bars are for gay tourism. Gay bars are, in general, historically more important socially to gay men that for the average straight Joe. Yes, some gay people are going to visit a city and not even bother to check out the gay scene, but the majority of gay men will make a bee-line for the bars to check them out. The article in the Globe stated that the reason Canada became the number one destination over Europe, etc.. was the gay marriage thing. The results of the "poll" found Vancouver the number one destination in the world, Montreal the number two destination in the world, and Toronto the number three destination in the world. Are we seeing a pattern here? Now... is it just me, or is there something weird about these results? Who did they "poll"? If it was not just an online section of their website (totally the most unreliable poll imaginable) and if they actually sent out emails to people, who did they choose to email? What contact lists did they use?
I just find the whole thing fishy and the results to be bizarre. Do these results mean anything to any of you? Do gay people in Vancouver believe that Vancouver is the top draw in the world for gay tourism?

Rusty van Reddick · #64 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 6:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckkelley

furrycanuck I'm curious. The article that started this little pissfest stated that gays can walk down the street in Vancouver holding hands with no anxiety.

Do you and your partner hold hands in public regularly in Calgary?

We've been together 12 years so we're a little past the "holding hands in public" phase, but yeah, we display affection in public all the time here. Not at Stampede, but we cuddled at Folk Fest, always kiss good bye, that sort of thing. Never had a single problem. Never.

Rusty van Reddick · #65 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by furbe

perhaps calgary would have had a better chance in this poll had their elected officials not taken it upon themselves to vehemently oppose gay marriage and reinforce the perception that alberta is not as tolerant or progressive as montreal, vancouver or toronto.

Are you talking about Mayor Bronconnier declaring gay pride MONTH in Calgary? Not all of our elected officials are homophobes.

WHISTLERINMUSKOKA · #66 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 7:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by furrycanuck

I hate to say this, but I don't think people in Vancouver have any idea how much the rest of the country hates you. And it's not because Vancouver's beautiful and is not jealousy. It's because of precisely the smug attitude that you are (I hope) satirizing.

Everybody in Toronto shows nothing but love and respect for Vancouver, why the hell would you hate that town?

WHISTLERINMUSKOKA · #67 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 7:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by furrycanuck

Are you talking about Mayor Bronconnier declaring gay pride MONTH in Calgary? Not all of our elected officials are homophobes.

Hmmmmmmm, a little man named Harper as well.

Rusty van Reddick · #68 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

Everybody in Toronto shows nothing but love and respect for Vancouver, why the hell would you hate that town?

The Toronto consensus, from my experience, is that Vancouver is a beautiful city populated by smug assholes.

Rusty van Reddick · #69 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 8:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

Hmmmmmmm, a little man named Harper as well.

I said not ALL our politicians are homophobes, especially in city council. "Not all" means that some are.

SpongeG · #70 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 8:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taller Better

If I had to honestly choose a city in Canada that was tops for gay tourism, it would have to be Montreal. The gay community there learned years ago that you have to invest money to make money, and they advertise heavily in American publications such as The Guide. The gay bars are definitely more reliant on American tourists than other cities, and thus have probably been hit the hardest because of the decrease in tourism from the States. Also if I am frank, one of the biggest draws for gay American male tourists in Montreal are the strip clubs and the widespread escort business, along with the many bars and saunas.
For people here who are not gay, it might be difficult to imagine how important the bars are for gay tourism. Gay bars are, in general, historically more important socially to gay men that for the average straight Joe. Yes, some gay people are going to visit a city and not even bother to check out the gay scene, but the majority of gay men will make a bee-line for the bars to check them out. The article in the Globe stated that the reason Canada became the number one destination over Europe, etc.. was the gay marriage thing. The results of the "poll" found Vancouver the number one destination in the world, Montreal the number two destination in the world, and Toronto the number three destination in the world. Are we seeing a pattern here? Now... is it just me, or is there something weird about these results? Who did they "poll"? If it was not just an online section of their website (totally the most unreliable poll imaginable) and if they actually sent out emails to people, who did they choose to email? What contact lists did they use?
I just find the whole thing fishy and the results to be bizarre. Do these results mean anything to any of you? Do gay people in Vancouver believe that Vancouver is the top draw in the world for gay tourism?

i am from vancouver and i don't think its that great and neither do my circle of friends - but i think we wouldn't want to be anywhere else
so we put up with lack of bars etc. and expensive price of living

my friend raved about the montreal scene when he was there last year

i don't know if its the zoning laws or what that makes vancouvers gay village so lacklustre - i don't think they can put any clubs along davie street - just smaller lounge type places and they don't scream "gay" the way they do in other places - ie manly posters and such - they usually end up pretty mixed

baggab · #71 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 9:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpongeG

i am from vancouver and i don't think its that great and neither do my circle of friends - but i think we wouldn't want to be anywhere else
so we put up with lack of bars etc. and expensive price of living

my friend raved about the montreal scene when he was there last year

i don't know if its the zoning laws or what that makes vancouvers gay village so lacklustre - i don't think they can put any clubs along davie street - just smaller lounge type places and they don't scream "gay" the way they do in other places - ie manly posters and such - they usually end up pretty mixed

It's most likely a cultural thing. Vancouver is pretty diverse and I know Toronto is even more so, but I think percentage wise it's probably less. Most of my friends from Richmond never leave Richmond (unless it's for school or work). They have everything they want there, Karaoke, late night dining/entertainment for their asian tastes and activities, they're interested in. I'm pretty sure surrey predominantly indo-canadian is probably in the same boat.

There are just too much competition for the entertainment dollar in Vancouver.

LeftCoaster · #72 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 9:13 PM**

I disagree, most people when they go out go downtown, at least of the people I know. Local scenes are pretty hurting in the burbs, and unless you are going to a specifically ethnic venue, there is little reason. All i can think of that is any good outside of downtown/brodway is standard (blowing money at the casino) and apparently roosters, although that is not really my scene. Mirage fell off bigtime.

When you go out in Vancouver it is definetly not only the whities downtown, it is quite diverse.

and Sponge, i dont think it is zoning, becuase celebrities (the biggest gay bar in Vancouver for those non-locals) is on davie, so there must be another reason.

furbe · #73 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 10:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by furrycanuck

The Toronto consensus, from my experience, is that Vancouver is a beautiful city populated by smug assholes.

lol... do you really believe the rest of the country views you any differently?

WHISTLERINMUSKOKA · #74 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 10:47 PM**

Double post.

WHISTLERINMUSKOKA · #75 Posted **Dec 6, 2006, 10:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by furrycanuck

The Toronto consensus, from my experience, is that Vancouver is a beautiful city populated by smug assholes.

LOL, how can you say that? Have you been here an walked around asking people, "So what are your views on Vancouver?". Or maybe you've been calling and polling people.

Really, would love to meet some and I’ve been here for a long time now. In all probability the only stereo type that comes up from time to time is the Tree hugging Hippie one but even that is a rarity. Most here consider Vancouver to be a slighter quieter Toronto with better scenery.

On this board it's pretty apparent which city would win the smug award most of the time. Yes I'm aware Toronto has its fare share of smugness as does Vancouver, Montreal and so on, but they all pale in comparison to the city I'm talking about.

LeftCoaster · #76 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 12:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

On this board it's pretty apparent which city would win the smug award most of the time. Yes I'm aware Toronto has its fare share of smugness as does Vancouver, Montreal and so on, but they all pale in comparison to the city I'm talking about.

haha, cheers to that!

Maybe thats why some people from that city get so upset when others are proud of their city's accomplishments

cardio · #77 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 4:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WHISTLERINMUSKOKA

On this board it's pretty apparent which city would win the smug award most of the time. Yes I'm aware Toronto has its fare share of smugness as does Vancouver, Montreal and so on, but they all pale in comparison to the city I'm talking about.

That's awfully smug of you.

agrant · #78 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 1:57 PM**

I'm thinking there must be some places in the Greater Vancouver area where people have no reason to be smug. I.e., Downtown Eastside, Langley, Surrey...

My feeling is that any smugness comes mostly from the westside, downtown, any nice expensive areas. The people there are thinking they're so damn lucky to be able to afford to live in such a nice place. Am I getting warm? Or is there a special Vancouver genetic makeup?

WHISTLERINMUSKOKA · #79 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 4:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by cardio

That's awfully smug of you.

Yes it is

osirisboy · #80 Posted **Dec 7, 2006, 7:50 PM**

in response to some posts about the lack of gay clubs:

I think gay people (aside from vancouver having a liberal accepting attitude) like to come to vancouver for the same reasons everyone else likes coming to vancouver, because its beutiful. everything from whistler to vancouver island, this region offers a lot of things to do. I dont think how many gay clubs there are or how vibrant davie street is is that important. I and alot of my buddies have visited vancouver (before I moved here) and what kind of gay bars there were here never factored in to us coming here.