Is Buenos Aires a good gay destination?
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I am on my way to BA!
06 May 2008, 02:37 Boi Lover
Replies
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Gay Buenos Aires!
Welcome to gay Buenos Aires Argentina! I am Andrew McCance, I have travelled the world at least three times and I am currently living and working in South America. I am working on a number of web-based travel and tourism projects and it has been my great privilege to spend the last twelve-months in Buenos Aires working on http://www.buenosairesstay.com/bastay/generico.php?carpeta=ing&fuente=gay-buenos-aires.htm.
Gay Buenos Aires has surprised me. I expected a city that after hundreds of years of social, political and economic turmoil that might have seen better days. I thought many of the less appealing European attitudes and laws, which criminalised and discriminated against homosexuals, may have prevailed. I suppose my wild imaginings had created some sort of mental time capsule, mainly because many websites sell you 'old Europe' in South America. When I got to gay Buenos Aires, I was over old Europe (until next time of course).
Apart from the architecture and language, much of the airplay could not be further from the truth - Buenos Aires city is a modern metropolis in need of some tender loving care, but building for the XXI Century; moreover, Argentineans generally have a much more enlightened view of homosexuality and since the mid-part of the XIX century, homosexual acts have been decriminalised giving gays in Buenos Aires a get on with it declaration shouted from the balcony of the wonderfully presidential (?!) Pink house (casa Rosada).
My most pleasant surprise. I find Buenos Aires city the most welcoming gay destination in the world. It does not have the time-old gay infrastructures, ghettos and mass commercialisation of homosexuals as do more established gay capitals such as London or New York. I feel so at home here, in any part of the city, in any restaurant or any bar; being gay in Buenos Aires city does not become all consuming part of your life and being. In Buenos Aires, you are you first, and gay if someone can be bothered to ask. In summary, you will find the city has a metro-sexual nature, no gay ghetto and gay culture, which is not always evident, but extends city life.
This is a gay travel destination for those who want something entirely different. What I hope to do is give you a sense of what makes gay Buenos Aires so different and such an amazing city for inspired gay travel. There is so much general information about Buenos Aires on this website, so I am going to focus solely on creating the ultimate Buenos Gay Aires City Guide with the help of my clients and offer links to other more general reviews written by our overly-gay-friendly team.
In my opinion, it is the portenos (people of Buenos Aires port -pronounced por-ten-yos) that make Buenos Aires a fantastic city for inspired gay travel - I find gay portenos more sophisticated, cultured and friendly than their peers I have met in many other cities throughout the world, and they are so hopelessly romantic. I never spend long in a bar feeling isolated, gay portenos make an effort, they are fun, witty, a touch too serious at times, and love to have a good time or set the world to rights with lively discussion. The alcohol, body and ageist cultures that prevail in other cities is not so evident in Gay Buenos Aires.
I have been told to keep my shallowness and appreciation of gay Argentine boys to a minimum, but I have to say it - there is also the 'wow-factor,' I get married numerous times just toddling off for milk. I also have to add that my ' gaydar ' has failed dismally since I arrived. Not all that is pretty, in touch with their more feminine feelings, gives you the time of day or seems to look at you longingly are gay Argentine boys! So be careful, retune that ' gaydar ' for South America - remember that both men and women tend to kiss each other on one cheek when meeting- that is all men, gay or straight, it confused the hell out of me for a while - so tune into South America and adjust that 'gaydar.'
What you will quickly notice is that gays of Argentina bash Argentina as much as the British whinge about Great Britain. When you talk to gays of Argentina many wish they could leave Argentina. They crave stories from our homes and cannot wait to travel and increase their knowledge of the world. You must understand that this is a country that has suffered significant social, political, and economic crisis and although things are better now than they have been for a very long time, people just seem to wait with certain inevitability for the next crash. This pessimism makes foreign lands a lot greener (we know the truth) to the young gays of Argentina. It can also make you wonderfully attractive.
My experience has taught me to beware those that befriend you quickly and tell you almost by the minute how careful you should to be of their own countrymen. Andrew sets you straight on this website, these people are running businesses within a re-emerging economy, and many feel like they have to profit now to weather the next crash, which history tells them is just around the corner. In 2001 professional classes ate in soup kitchens. If you throw your money around, some will happily take it. You have a responsibility to buy goods and services carefully.
I have never witnessed homophobia and the people I meet from all walks of life seem so disinterested in the ' gay boy label' that your sexuality becomes a non-issue. So much so, I see many a gay boy arrive with all the characteristics of modern gay society- you know, the clean cut XXI century clone, self-conscious, consumed by homosexuality, on their second round of muscle juice and trying too hard- who after a few months in gay Buenos Aires find some individuality. You can really relax in Buenos Aires.
You may have already read the hype claiming 1 million plus gay Argentina visitors each year, you would have seen the tons of sites and articles on the web claiming that Gay Buenos Aires Argentina is now the leading gay travel destination in South America, and so my objective is to pack our of website with your queer views, but straight advice.
I urgently need your emails. Help me make this the best information portal for gay travel to gay Buenos Aires, and gay Argentina by emailing me and telling it like it is - I will publish those reviews, which are balanced and of interest to our readers our gay Buenos Aires pages - [email removed] .
Some quick facts:
•Gay Buenos Aires is the capital city of Argentina
•The people of Argentina are known collectively as Argentinean or Argentine
•The people of Buenos Aires are known as portenos (people of the port)
•The language spoken is Spanish
•Argentina is the second biggest country in South America situated on the south Atlantic coast
•Argentina has a temperate climate,
•The country occupies a total area of 2,780,400 km2/1068,209 sq mi
•The currency is Peso. 1 (ARG$) = 100 Centavos
•The population of Argentina is 37, 500, 000, and over 7 live in the city of Buenos Aires and nearly 14 million in the province.
•The Religion is just over 90% Catholic
•Homosexuality is not a criminal offence
•The constitution bans some forms of anti-gay discrimination
•The age of consent is 16 years
•Same sex civil unions have been legal since 2003
•Please email me your reviews of gay Buenos Aires!raemac@bastay.com 06 May 2008, 02:40 - Report -
Gay Buenos Aires
Great and informative review of BA! You are right on the money Mr. Rae McCance!!
Tan 06 May 2008, 05:56 - Report -
Reply to review
Dear Rae, Im a porteño and Im thankful that you had such a good time in Buenos Aires. Although I am not gay I think you are right about most of what you say about the people from buenos aires in general.
I recomend to all travelers (gay or not) to come to buenos aires we like having visitors from all over the world.
On the most popular places of BA you will always find people who speak english if you need help.
by the way, I think age of consent is 17. Be careful
Felipe 16 May 2008, 10:54 - Report -
You can meet lots of local gays & lesbians online at GayBAIRES.co.cc
this is an english speaking gay and lesbians "dating website". And it's free of course.
Http://gaybaires.co.ccGay Personals Argentina 12 Jul 2009, 02:08 - Report