Yes, I’m a week and a day fashionably late for this month’s Pride newsletter—because apparently my calendar decided to take a vacation. But guess what? It’s Pride Month, and I’m gay, so “work” suddenly became a vague concept. Between brunches, runway‑worthy pool parties, and endless glitter‑covered selfies, I found myself too busy to type.

This year’s pride was celebrated in Sonoma County, California. This beautiful part of the country has emerged as a premier LGBT travel destination, offering gay tourists an inviting wine country experience just 55 miles from San Francisco. The region was named one of the top 20 tourist destinations for LGBT travelers, and Santa Rosa serves as a perfect romantic weekend break.

Thankfully, the days of squeezing into my tiniest "I'm Proud" tee, flaunting the results of a year-long gym grind, and hoping the crowd will gasp at my abs are long gone. No more frantic selfie marathons trying to outshine the "hottest guy" in the room. This pride celebration, I've swapped my shirt straps for bare-skin confidence.

As a gay man in his 50s desperately holding on to the bod I've worked so hard for, I was reluctant to strip away the safety clothes provide. After about 30 minutes of awkwardly clutching my towel like it was a life preserver, I finally embraced the freedom of my own birthday suit…

R3 Hotel is the gay hotel and pool party destination in Guerneville, CA. After driving an hour from Sonoma through verdant hills of summer folliage, we got out of the car, smoked a fatty and strolled in greeted by a jam packed sunny day of thongs, strong cocktails and bikinis as far as the eye could see. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm no prude and believe true beauty lies in one's personality, not just in the size of their... swim trunks. But hey, I won't complain about appreciating a little eye candy! The men here were all shapes and sizes and full of gay cheer and acceptance.

Ended the week, with the whole group for one final night in San Francisco. Gayly meandering our way around through Deloris Park, hit a couple of bars in the Castro and headed back to Brooklyn the Next morning.

Happy Pride you Queers!

State Proposed anti‑LGBT rights bills*

Alabama | 7
Alaska | 1
Arizona | 5
Arkansas | 6
California | 0
Colorado | 0
Connecticut | 0
Delaware | 0
Florida | 12
Georgia | 4
Idaho | 8
Illinois | 0
Indiana | 3
Iowa | 2
Kansas | 2
Kentucky | 3
Louisiana | 5
Maine | 0
Maryland | 0
Massachusetts | 0
Michigan | 1
Minnesota | 0
Mississippi | 6
Missouri | 4
Montana | 1
Nebraska | 2
Nevada | 0
New Hampshire | 0
New Jersey | 0
New Mexico | 0
New York | 0
North Carolina | 3
North Dakota | 1
Ohio | 4
Oklahoma | 9
Oregon | 0
Pennsylvania | 2
Rhode Island | 0
South Carolina | 2
South Dakota | 1
Tennessee | 9
Texas | 30
Utah | 4
Vermont | 0
Virginia | 1
Washington | 0
West Virginia | 3
Wisconsin | 1
Wyoming | 2

Texas - The 2024 session contains a suite of bills on gender‑affirming care bans, “religious‑exemption” anti‑discrimination carve‑outs, and restrictions on LGBTQ‑focused school curricula.

Florida - Governor‑backed “Parental‑Rights” bills, bans on gender‑affirming care for minors, and a “religious‑exemption” bill targeting LGBTQ employees.

Tennessee - Several bills aimed at limiting gender‑affirming care, restricting public‑school LGBTQ organizations, and permitting discrimination under “religious‑freedom” language.

Oklahoma & Idaho - Both states are pushing multiple bills that would criminalize certain gender‑affirming treatments and allow discrimination in housing and public accommodations.

* Only bills that are currently “proposed” (i.e., introduced in the current legislative session and not yet enacted) and whose primary intent is to restrict LGBTQ rights (e.g., bans on gender‑affirming care, “religious‑exemption” statutes that allow discrimination, bans on same‑sex adoption, restrictions on LGBTQ‑focused education, etc.). Bills that merely mention LGBTQ people in a neutral context are not counted.