Although homosexuality is officially frowned upon by local laws and by some local religious leaders, an old Fiji custom makes this a relatively friendly destination for gay men with one proviso: Stay away from gay prostitutes.
In the Pacific islands, many families with a shortage of female offspring literally rear young boys as girls, or at least relegate them to female chores around the home and village. Some of them grow up to live a heterosexual existence; others choose a homosexual or bisexual lifestyle and, often appearing publicly in women's attire, actively seek the company of tourists. Some dance the female parts in traditional island night shows. You'll see them throughout Fiji; many hold jobs in hotels and restaurants.
On the other hand, women were not considered equal in this respect in ancient times; thus, "choosing" lesbianism was discouraged.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) (tel. 800/448-8550 or 954/776-2626; fax 954/776-3303; www.iglta.org) is the trade association for the gay and lesbian travel industry, and offers an online directory of gay- and lesbian-friendly travel businesses; go to their website and click on "Members."
Many agencies offer tours and travel itineraries specifically for gay and lesbian travelers. MIM Travel (tel. 877/844-8055; www.gay-travel-by-mim.com) recently had a gay cruise aboard the Tahitian Princess, while Now, Voyager (tel. 800/255-6951; www.nowvoyager.com) had one on the Star Flyer. Also check out Above and Beyond Tours (tel. 800/397-2681; www.abovebeyondtours.com), a gay Australia tour specialist, and Olivia (tel. 800/631-6277; www.olivia.com), offering lesbian cruises and resort vacations.
Gay.com Travel (tel. 800/929-2268 or 415/644-8044; www.gay.com/travel or www.outandabout.com), is an excellent online successor to the popular Out & About print magazine. It provides regularly updated information about gay-owned, gay-oriented, and gay-friendly lodging, dining, sightseeing, nightlife, and shopping establishments in every important destination worldwide. British travelers should click on the "Travel" link at www.uk.gay.com for advice and gay-friendly trip ideas.
The Canadian website GayTraveler (gaytraveler.ca) offers ideas and advice for gay travel all over the world.
The following travel guides are available at many bookstores, or you can order them from any online bookseller: Spartacus International Gay Guide, 35th Edition (Bruno Gmunder Verlag; www.spartacusworld.com/gayguide) and Odysseus: The International Gay Travel Planner, 17th Edition; and the Damron guides (www.damron.com), with separate, annual books for gay men and lesbians.
