Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Gay & Lesbian Travelers
Colorado is very much a mixed bag for gay and lesbian travelers. In general, cities and college towns have more pro-
gressive attitudes. Denver especially has a thriving gay and lesbian scene.
Some other areas in the state are characterized by conservative attitudes and old-school ideas of machismo. The more
affluent ski areas and artsy communities seem to be less uptight about same-sex relationships, but there's no mistaking
the region for San Francisco.
According to www.epodunk.com , here's how some of Colorado's cities fare on a 'gay index', a comparative score
based on the percentage of same-sex households in a state. A score of 100 is the national norm; the higher the number,
the more gays and lesbians there are.
» Denver 216
» Boulder 138
» Fort Collins 85
» Colorado Springs 78
» Grand Junction 78
Resources
Good national guidebooks include Damron Women's Traveller, Damron Men's Travel Guide and Damron Accommoda-
tions, with listings of gay-owned or gay-friendly accommodations nationwide. All three are published by the Damron
Company (
415-255-0404, 800-462-6654; www.damron.com ) .
Another good resource is the Gay & Lesbian Yellow Pages (
800-697-2812; www.glyp.com ) , with 33 national
and regional directories.
National resources include the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (
202 -393-5177; www.thetaskforce.org ) in
Washington, DC, and the Lambda Legal Defense Fund (
Los Angeles 213-382-7600, New York City
212-809-8585; www.lambdalegal.org ) .
Health
Colorado has an extraordinary range of climates and terrains, from the freezing heights of the Rockies to the searing
midsummer heat of the desert tablelands. Because of the high level of hygiene, infectious diseases will not be a signific-
ant concern for most travelers, who are unlikely to experience anything worse than a little diarrhea, sunburn or a mild
respiratory infection.
Insurance
» The USA offers possibly the finest health care in the world, but it can be prohibitively expensive.
» International travelers should check if their regular policy covers them in the US; if it doesn't, travel insurance is es-
sential.
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