Gay Days Las Vegas Benefits Local Pride Events

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September 2, 2012

Gay Days Las Vegas Benefits Local Pride Events

Shaun Knittel READ TIME: 10 MIN.

Following the lead set by Gay Days Orlando's 21-year tradition of allowing attendees to party with a purpose, Gay Days Las Vegas kicks off this week, from September 4-10, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit Las Vegas Pride. Organizers say that the response has been overwhelming.

"The city as an overall entity has been so welcoming and that is a big difference from Orlando," GayDays.com Co-owner Chris Manley told EDGE. "Over the years, the [Orlando] government has been more supportive of Gay Days Orlando, but our first year being here [in Vegas], there's more acceptance and it's more welcoming than our 22nd year in Orlando."

Two years ago, while at an event in Las Vegas, Manley said GayDays.com realized "Orlando and Vegas are the top two tourist destinations in the country." He is expecting 40,000 to attend Gay Days Vegas. He said organizers are seeing some duplicate bookings from people who attend Gay Days Orlando as well as a new crowd of people that have never been to the Orlando event.

Manley called it a "night and day difference" and a "nice new change."

"I hope Orlando learns from Vegas on marking to the LGBT community and making them feel welcome," he said. "Vegas blows Orlando out of water on the number of fantastic dining opportunities. Shopping as well; Orlando doesn't come near what Vegas offers."

According to Manley, Las Vegas Pride contacted Gay Days Vegas organizers when they got wind of the new event. The result is a portion of the proceeds will benefit Las Vegas Pride and, for the first time in 11 years, the Pride event (which has taken place in May because of the heat) to align with Gay Days Orlando.

The first-ever Gay Days Las Vegas will debut September 4 to 10, and the host hotel for the weeklong event is the Tropicana Hotel and Casino. Tropicana Las Vegas just finished an $180,000,000 renovation in 2011. There's a two-night minimum at hotel, which costs $270 for both nights and includes pool parties and two nighttime outdoor under-the-stars parties.

According to organizers, the Sin City spinoff of the world famous Gay Days will have its own identity, but diehards of the Orlando party will see some similarities, too.

"Gay Days Las Vegas will include a Travel-Retail Expo, a Taste of Gay Days, QVegas Pride Party, Las Vegas Parade after party at Circus Circus Adventuredome, Dance parties at Share Nightclub, Piranha Nightclub, Bagatella, pool parties and events all around town," said organizers.

One of The Largest Gay & Lesbian Travel, Entertainment & Business Expos, the Gay Days Orlando Expo is the second largest GLBT Expo in the country and had over 19,000 people go through it in June. This first Gay Days Las Vegas Expo will be held at the Tropicana's Convention Center September 6, from 12 to 6 p.m.; September 7 and 8 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and September 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

As always, the Gay Days Expo is free to attend.

The Las Vegas Pride Parade is scheduled for 8 p.m. (again, because of the heat. Temperatures are expected to be 100 degrees) on September 7. This year's Las Vegas Pride Parade Celebrity Grand Marshal is Josh Strickland, reality star and lead male role in "PEEPSHOW" at Planet Hollywood Casino & Resort. Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho and Joan Rivers are the 2012 Honorary Parade Grand Marshals, and will kick off the 2012 Las Vegas Pride Night Parade on the main stage in Downtown Las Vegas.

For more information, visit http://www.gaydays.com/ or www.lasvegaspride.org/

Calendar of Events

September 4

Gay Days Las Vegas Welcome and Information: Pick up your free Welcome Bag and ask questions, noon to 5 p.m., Tropicana Las Vegas Conference Center Lobby.

Gay Days Official Kickoff Party at Macy's in the Fashion Show Mall in the Men's Department. Catch this summer's hottest trends from our top designers, check out live entertainment, enjoy some food and beverages, and show your support for the Gay and Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada, from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information go to www.gaydays.com

Laugh Factory will be hosted by Julie Goldman, featuring the comedy of Pam Matteson and Taylor Negron headlining the show at the Laugh Factory Las Vegas, located on the Mezzanine level of the Paradise Tower in Tropicana Las Vegas at 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.troplv.com

Divas Las Vegas at the Imperial Palace, 10 p.m., starring one of the best female impersonators you'll find anywhere, Frank Marino as Joan Rivers and an all-star cast of female impersonators and hot dancers. The Gay Days Show special is good from Sept. 3 to 10. Divas Las Vegas is dark on Fridays. For more information, visit www.frankmarino.com

September 5

Gay Days Las Vegas Welcome and Information: Pick up your free Welcome Bag and ask questions, noon to 5 p.m., Tropicana Las Vegas Conference Center Lobby.

September 6

Gay Days Las Vegas Welcome and Information: Pick up your free Welcome Bag and ask questions, noon to 5 p.m., Tropicana Las Vegas Conference Center Lobby.

Gay Days Las Vegas Tickets and Merchandise Booth: Pick up pre-orders or purchase all your Gay Days Las Vegas official merchandise and party tickets in one place, at the Tropicana Las Vegas Conference center Lobby from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Gay Days Las Vegas Expo: Open to the public, all ages from noon to 6 p.m. at the Tropicana Las Vegas Cohiba Ballroom

Gay Days Las Vegas 18+ Expo: Open to the public, must be 18+ to enter, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Tropicana Las Vegas Cohiba Ballroom.

Gay Days Las Vegas Pool Party with DJ Grind at Bagatelle Beach from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.gaydays.com

Aspen in Vegas VIP Suite at the Tropicana Hotel: From 3 to 7 p.m., Aspen Gay Ski Week will be hosting a VIP suite, which will be located in the Club Tower just across from the Gay Days Expo, in the Churchill Ballroom. The Aspen VIP Suite will be a "cool" experience with snow, Aspen trees, music, swag, drink sampling and more.

Gay Days Las Vegas Opening Party at Bagatelle Nightclub featuring DJ Escape, 10 p.m. For more information, visit www.gaydays.com

Divas Las Vegas with VIP Meet & Greet at the Imperial Palace, 10 p.m., starring one of the best female impersonators you'll find anywhere, Frank Marino as Joan Rivers and an all-star cast of female impersonators and hot dancers. The Gay Days Show special is good from September 3 to 10. Divas Las Vegas is dark on Fridays. For more information, visit www.frankmarino.com

Aces of Comedy at The Mirage featuring fearless stand-up queen Margaret Cho, 10 p.m., The Mirage. For more information, visit www.reservations.mgmmirage.com

September 7

Gay Days Las Vegas Welcome and Information: Pick up your free Welcome Bag and ask questions, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tropicana Las Vegas Conference Center Lobby.

Gay Days Las Vegas Expo: Open to the public, all ages from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Tropicana Las Vegas Cohiba Ballroom

Gay Days Las Vegas 18+ Expo: Open to the public, must be 18+ to enter, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Tropicana Las Vegas Cohiba Ballroom.

Gay Days Las Vegas Pool Party with DJ Roland Belmares at Bagatelle Beach from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.gaydays.com

Las Vegas Pride Night: 7 p.m. Parade Pre-Show at the Main Stage (Bridger Avenue just to blocks south of the Freemont Street Experience). 8 p.m. Pride Parade begins at West Charleston Blvd. and heads north along 4th Street to Ogden Avenue in Downtown Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.lasvegaspride.org

Girls at Gay Days & BOI4LIFE presents 'MEOW': Romi Klinger, Rose Garcia and Dru Marie (with her sexy dancers) from Season 3 "The Real L Word," host a Night of Lesbian Erotica at Gypsy Nightclub from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. with DJ Von Kiss.

September 8

Gay Days Las Vegas Welcome and Information: Pick up your free Welcome Bag and ask questions, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tropicana Las Vegas Conference Center Lobby.

Gay Days Las Vegas Pool Party with DJ Wayne G at Bagatelle Beach from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.gaydays.com

A Taste of Gay Days: An evening celebrating the flavors of Las Vegas from 6 to 10 p.m. at Tropicana Las Vegas spin your way through fine wines, beers, and spirits and nibble on hors d'ouerves, while enjoying music and a dance floor. For more information, visit www.gaydays.com

Divas Las Vegas with VIP Meet & Greet at the Imperial Palace, 10 p.m., starring one of the best female impersonators you'll find anywhere, Frank Marino as Joan Rivers and an all-star cast of female impersonators and hot dancers. The Gay Days Show special is good from Sept. 3 to 10. Divas Las Vegas is dark on Fridays. For more information, visit www.frankmarino.com

Aces of Comedy at The Mirage featuring the multi-faceted performer with rapid wit Kathy Griffin, 10 p.m., at The Mirage. For more information, visit www.reservations.mgmmirage.com

September 9

Gay Days Las Vegas Welcome and Information: Pick up your free Welcome Bag and ask questions, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tropicana Las Vegas Conference Center Lobby.

Gay Days Las Vegas Expo: Open to the public, all ages from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tropicana Las Vegas Cohiba Ballroom

Gay Days Las Vegas 18+ Expo: Open to the public, must be 18+ to enter, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tropicana Las Vegas Cohiba Ballroom.

Gay Days Las Vegas Pool Party featuring DJ David Knapp at Bagatelle Beach from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.gaydays.com

Gay Days Las Vegas Closing Party featuring DJ Pablo Caballos, 10 p.m., at Bagatelle Nightclub. For more information, visit www.gaydays.com

Gay Days OFFICIAL Divas Show at the Imperial Palace, 10 p.m., starring one of the best female impersonators you'll find anywhere, Frank Marino as Joan Rivers, and an all-star cast of female impersonators and hot dancers. For more information, visit www.frankmarino.com

by Shaun Knittel

Shaun Knittel is an openly gay journalist and public affairs specialist living in Seattle. His work as a photographer, columnist, and reporter has appeared in newspapers and magazines throughout the Pacific Northwest. In addition to writing for EDGE, Knittel is the current Associate Editor for Seattle Gay News.