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Well, anything that bring money into our local economy is a good thing.
LEVELAND -- Tourism officials hope to bring gay visitors to the city by designing a travel guide that features gay-owned businesses, along with other attractions.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Cleveland has asked the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center of Greater Cleveland for help with content, design and distribution. The guide should be finished this year.
"When I travel, I want to make sure that where I stay is a gay and lesbian friendly place," said Sue Doerfer, the center's executive director. "I want to make sure I'm not going to be given a hard time."
About 65 cities have made a noticeable effort to attract tourists who are gay, said Ed Salvato, editor of The Out Traveler magazine.
The designers of Cleveland's plan have to work around a 2004 ballot initiative that amended the Ohio Constitution to ban gay marriage.
Visitors bureau spokeswoman Samantha Fryberger said the guide might create controversy, just as some took offense last year when the traditionally Democratic city pursued the Republican National Convention.
"My personal opinion is, we should welcome everyone with open arms," she said.
Chris Long, president of Ohio's Christian Alliance, said the visitors bureau should concentrate more on attracting families.
Salvato said Cleveland tourism officials would have to make sure gay travelers feel safe and comfortable in the city. He suggested a business could have a rainbow flag decal on the door.
"Gay people don't want to be thought of as only a target market, a way to make money," Salvato said. "We want to feel welcome and invited. I think it really has to be sincere."
The visitors bureau could pair attractions such as gay restaurants and nightclubs with the region's arts and culture, ethnic neighborhoods and shopping, said Tamera Brown, vice president of marketing.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.
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 I just don't understand things like this. Why do gay people need a different guide than straight people??
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I have no clue  Whats next a Guide for crackers to white people only places
I AM ALWAYS RIGHT... except when I am wrong.
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#gmstrong #gmlapdance
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I understand what they're doing. They want to make gays/lesbians around the country know that Cleveland is gay-friendly. Lots of municipalities/tourism sectors do that now, all over the continent.
I got an aunt who's a lesbian and she says Pride Days for example attract a lot of dollars into cities where they're held.
![[Linked Image from i28.photobucket.com]](http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c201/shadedog/mcenroe2.jpg) gmstrong -----------------
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I think their point is to show the city is gay "friendly" so people feel safe. That's a load of crap. The city can't control who's friendly and who's not. Gay people can probably figure that out for themselves. 
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Quote:
" Gay people don't want to be thought of as only a target market, a way to make money," Salvato said. "We want to feel welcome and invited. I think it really has to be sincere."
Of course they're a target market.... every large-number group is...
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Yes, I know a lot of cities do it. But, when I travel, I don't look for places that will "like" me more than others. I also don't do "Pride Days" or whatever you call them....I think people should be proud every day. Pride parades and rainbow flags are just stupid things.
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I was wondering that too, but I think it's more for the fact that the majority of Ohioans are anti-gay so this might give gay men/women incentives to come visit here.
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Quote:
I got an aunt who's a lesbian and she says Pride Days for example attract a lot of dollars into cities where they're held.
Most gays avoid those like the plague. 
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...always have been, always will be...
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Quote:
I was wondering that too, but I think it's more for the fact that the majority of Ohioans are anti-gay so this might give gay men/women incentives to come visit here.
Yeah, people feel so comfortable around people who hate them when given financial incentives. LOL.
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Quote:
Quote:
I got an aunt who's a lesbian and she says Pride Days for example attract a lot of dollars into cities where they're held.
Most gays avoid those like the plague.
In that case, there sure are a lot of straight people dressing up as gays and marching down the streets. I don't know, though, I'm not exactly up on the goings-on. IIRC, a Gay Pride weekend/parade in my corner of the world attracts big crowds. *shrug*
BTW, is it OK if I reference dawgmichelle directly today? Could you ask her for me?
Thanks. 
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I'm not saying it's a good idea, but I think thats the reasoning behind it. Cleveland's economy blows right now so they are trying anything to get people to come here.
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Just because there are a lot of them doesn't make it even close to the majority. I've seen big crowds of KKK people marching before, doesn't mean most white people go. Quote:
BTW, is it OK if I reference dawgmichelle directly today? Could you ask her for me?
Thanks.
Still annoying. Maybe you should get over that one, don't ya think?
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Quote:
I was wondering that too, but I think it's more for the fact that the majority of Ohioans are anti-gay so this might give gay men/women incentives to come visit here.
ummmmmmmm:pondering and tapping her front teeth with a fingernail: where are your stats to support that statement?
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and Cleveland could benefit from distancing itself from the rest of Ohio and its backwards thinking.
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Quote:
I just don't understand things like this. Why do gay people need a different guide than straight people??
Just one of many questions that need answered, such as:
Why are we paying for medical care for illegal aliens?
Why do we drive on a parkway and park on a driveway?
 Just kidding on the second one...
#GMSTRONG
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Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
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Why are we paying for medical care for illegal aliens?
Yeah...this one is huge. I don't have health insurance and they are taken better care of in this country than I. 
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It's my opinion that most Ohioans aren't really supportive of gays. I based that on how the gay marriage on the ballot was soundly defeated. All you have to do is ask anyone outside of Lakewood and they will tell you.
Personally I don't care what people do in their lives as long as they are happy.
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Quote:
I was wondering that too, but I think it's more for the fact that the majority of Ohioans are anti-gay so this might give gay men/women incentives to come visit here.
I can't remember if it's 3rd or 4th, but Lakewood OHio is either the 3rd or 4th largest Gay/Lesbian Community (per capita) in the United States.. San Francisco is/was #1 and someplace out on Long Island is #2..
I really don't think that by and large, Ohioians are anti gay/lesbian.. There always will be certain factions that will be homophobic,,,, But it's lessened in recent years.. or so it seems anyway..
But there are areas of the state, usually refered to as the Ohio Bible Belt where your thoughts might be valid,,, haven't seen stats on it however.
#GMSTRONG
“Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.”
Daniel Patrick Moynahan
"Alternative facts hurt us all. Think before you blindly believe."
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:smiles indulgently: so you have no stats...as to the gay marriage issue..I would hesitate to call that an indicator of sentiments concerning acceptance of gays......your opinion is just that...your opinion....let's be clear in how we word things please! 
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 Ok there stat nazi
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I don't get it..........that's just a really dumb idea.
![[Linked Image from pic18.picturetrail.com]](http://pic18.picturetrail.com/VOL905/3216203/6567769/349897772.jpg) "The Browns' defense is kicking mucho dupa."
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: rueful smile: no one ever said our State was the most compassionate or enlightened spot in the midwest..but hey...that's ok too.
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Quote:
as to the gay marriage issue..I would hesitate to call that an indicator of sentiments concerning acceptance of gays......
People that say "we don't think you should have equal rights but we accept you" kill me.
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I'm not always OK with it...but it's where the Browns are.
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Quote:
I just don't understand things like this. Why do gay people need a different guide than straight people??
The only thing that bugs me about this is that the city is putting it together, I presume, at taxpayer expense. If the gay community in Cleveland wanted to put this together and distribute it, then big deal.... but when it becomes public money, that's where it approaches crossing the line. As GM said, the typical rule applies, would they do this for whites? Italians? Women?
But Michelle, like it or not, gays are thought to have more disposable income than the norm... so courting their business is a pretty common occurance...
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But Michelle, like it or not, gays are thought to have more disposable income than the norm... so courting their business is a pretty common occurance...
Yes, I'm aware of that. I've talked to wait staff that loves to get the gay table.  I think it's the same for us as anyone, though...some have more disposable income than others. I think we're just better tippers.
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I've talked to wait staff that loves to get the gay table.
I've waited tables.. this is true...
What you don't want is the table with 3 or 4 straight  women... they'll run your butt off, ask for seperate checks, then each will give you 8%...
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That's because their white,republican husbands are SO TIGHT,they make them account for every DIME! 
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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They must be some of the same ones that come for massages. A $70 service and they tip you $2. If it's that much of an issue, just keep your $2 bucks. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful for any tip, but at that point it's almost like saying you sucked. 
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With that comment I think I will go back to playing my Banjo on the river bank and waiting for outsiders to float by in their canoes.
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That's because their white,republican husbands are SO TIGHT,they make them account for every DIME!
Nope, it has nothing to do with political affiliation... I think it has to do with older women just lacking the social wherewithall to know how to act.
The one restaurant I worked at was near a golf course and nobody wanted to work on Tuesday because it was ladies day and they'd come in after golf... every other day 4 men would come in, they'd drink and eat and run a check of about $70-80.... each guy would throw $25-30 onto the table and they'd leave. Nobody spent the time to figure that one guys steak sandwich was $1 more than another guys grilled chicken or that one guys imported beer was 50 cents more than another guys domestic..... ... tip usually ended up north of 20%.... women would all get seperate checks as if the thought of Martha contributing 20 cents more to cover Mabels extra potato salad was going to bankrupt her..... then they'd get out the dreaded "tip calculator" wheel.... you always knew you were in for a whopper when that happened... 
yebat' Putin
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I waited tables on the week-ends during high school for a while. I know what you mean. I hate to generalize,but more often than not,that was the general rule.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
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Just because there are a lot of them doesn't make it even close to the majority. I've seen big crowds of KKK people marching before, doesn't mean most white people go.
Every group has fanatics or radicals. Unfortunately, that's the segment of the main group that get the publicity.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.
- John Muir
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Ah, but when I go out with my girlfriends, I always make sure that the wait staff is well taken care of, as long as the service was good. My standard is 20%. Exceptional service gets 25%, poor service gets 15% or less (depending on how bad).
DM~You'd always get more than $2 on a $70 massage from me. At least $10 if I was strapped for cash...but probably $15 - $20.
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Quote:
DM~You'd always get more than $2 on a $70 massage from me. At least $10 if I was strapped for cash...but probably $15 - $20.
Generally, tips on a $70 service range from $7 to $20. Most being $10 or $15. The people that tend to tip very little or not at all are those redeeming gift certificats. Maybe they don't know any better or maybe they think it's included. Again, I don't EXPECT any tip at all, but it's nice when people do. Now, in my own business, I fight people wanting to tip....I don't feel right about it.
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