An article in the Sunday Travel section of the Miami Herald highlights Colombia’s burgeoning appeal as a gay holiday destination.
The paper cites the bustling gay-friendly Bogota neighborhood of Chapinero Alto (nicknamed “Chapigay”) and a progressive attitude towards same-sex couples and equal rights that is causing the country to appear on the “South American travel ‘gaydar’.”
The article briefly mentions Colombia’s progressive stance towards gay partnerships, which thanks to a series of decisions by the Constitutional Court over the last three years, gives cohabiting gay couples the same common-law marriage benefits as straight couples, including immigration rights for partners, and the sharing of health and social security benefits.
South America’s first dedicated LGBT center, Colombia Diversa, located in Chapinero, is mentioned as one of many sites in the neighborhood that cater specifically to gay lifestyles. The district’s openly lesbian mayor, Blanca Ines Duran Hernandez, is also name-checked.
Also receiving a shout-out are the neighborhood’s many gay clubs and bars, among them Theatron and Lottus, in addition to Colombia’s first exclusively gay boutique hotel, the Hotel High Park.
The article goes on to say that Cartagena is an up-and-coming gay destination too. Though the gay scene there is much smaller than in Bogota, the city boasts a “gay beach” called Playa Hollywood, that is reputedly “especially gay on Sundays.”
Finally, Medellin and Barranquilla are also said to be gay destinations with great potential.
