Summer is a great time for a party, whether you’re planning a backyard barbeque, a pool party or a more formal dinner party. Making sure your party is a success is critical year round, but summer parties bring their own joys and challenges. There are a few critical components to any party. Food, beverages, location, and the guest list can all make or break your summer party. Furthermore, most of us find ourselves entertaining on a budget, and this can add to the challenge. For an overview of summer entertaining tips, see Oprah’s tips .

A casual party can be a great summer choice. Backyard barbeques around the grill are a traditional choice or a pool party if you have one. You might also consider hosting a get together or family reunion at a local lake. You should always keep the temperature in mind, and make certain to provide plenty of cool drinks and shade for an outdoor summer party. A good host will also make certain sunscreen and bug repellent are available. Water safety is an important consideration, especially if children will be attending. Old fashioned summer lawn games can be a fun choice, including options like croquet and badminton. You might consider a sprinkler for the kids for a family friendly event, but do be prepared to have towels and fresh clothes handy for your small guests.

More formal events are common in the summer as well. You may find yourself planning a summer wedding or a baby shower, an afternoon tea or even a formal evening dinner party. Cabanas, gazebos or other shelter, possibly even a large tent for a major occasion, can make the day a lot more pleasant. Formal events in the summer may require extra attention to be certain that your food, centerpieces and decorations can stand up to the heat.

Food is the center of nearly every party. Planning smart summer food for your event or party will help to make sure everyone enjoys themselves. Food should be heat tolerant for outdoor events, seasonal, fresh and plentiful. The summer barbeque is a traditional choice, but cold salads, an array of fresh, light appetizers, or dishes that make the most of fresh, seasonal foods are ideal. For a relaxed casual meal, consider making gourmet burgers or allowing everyone to grill their own shish kabobs. Easy food is often some of the best in the summer. Sales in local stores can allow you to keep your party cost effective, or for a casual family party, consider making it potluck.

Whether you plan a quiet adults only dinner party in the garden or a loud and playful family barbeque, summer entertaining is always fun. Make a pitcher of homemade cherry limeade, iced tea, or margaritas and enjoy spending time with friends and family.

Representations of LGBTQ individuals on television are further and farther between than most of us would like. Not only are there very few gay men, lesbians and other queer individuals on TV, but in many cases when they are represented the representations are not what any of us would prefer. Thankfully, things are improving, and more and more shows are including a more diverse cast.

Often LGBTQ individuals are best represented in reality TV. Networks like Bravo have made shows from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy to Project Runway popular. Recent casts from shows like Top Chef and even CBS’s Survivor have included people who were open about their sexuality. While these shows offered positive representations, others are perhaps slightly more embarrassing, including MTV’s Tila Tequila dating show. LOGO has even recently produced a show featuring Calpurnia Addams, a transwoman looking for love. Programming aimed at the GLBTQ community is offered by the LOGO network and here! TV network. 

Comedies, dramas and other shows, both on air and off, also feature GLBTQ characters. Some of the best are no longer on the air, but included cable shows like Showtime’s Queer as Folk and HBO’s Six Feet Under. Other shows that included great representations of characters and relationships are Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Ellen, and Will and Grace. Showtime’s the L-Word, one of the few shows on TV with a cast of largely lesbian characters is slated for another season. ABC is in the lead as far as characters representing the gay community, especially with shows like Ugly Betty. Ugly Betty features a transgendered female character in a lead role, as well as gay characters in supporting roles.

Documentaries, political commentaries and witty stand up comedy can all be found on LOGO and Bravo, but less commonly on mainstream networks. You will find that more and more networks are making some programming available online, either for free or for a fee with a service like ITunes.

There are some great media resources online if you’d like to keep an eye on possible new happenings in GLBTQ friendly television. Afterellen.com offers a regular look at lesbian and bisexual women’s concerns in mass media, including television and film. After Elton offers a similar perspective with regard to the media and gay and bisexual men. These sites are both entertaining and informative, and may help to turn you on to new queer friendly programming, whether you’re looking for a ridiculous romp in Dante’s Cove or great and serious programming in a drama show.

We had just commented about an article on thebody.com that foreshadowed the rough days ahead for HIV med research.  Today, some sad news comes out that one of the big pharma’s will be pulling out of HIV research.  Roche, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, plans to suspend HIV research “because none of its pending medicines represent significant improvement over existing drugs,” says a company spokesperson.

It is too bad to see one less big pharma involved in saving HIV related deaths.  Let’s hope this brings opportunity to smaller pharma and something positive comes out of this in some way.

The last few years have seen some big name combinations and rollouts of HIV drugs but we are seeing a slowdown in the industry that looks like a well gone dry.  An article written by TheBody.com claims that we are in a big surprise ahead when it comes to any promising drugs in the future.

As for those drugs in human studies, the closest to approval is rilpivarine (TMC-278), an NNRTI for first line treatment being studied against Sustiva. Vicriviroc, Schering’s CCR5 drug, continues to flounder but is still viable. Bevirimat, a maturation inhibitor from Panacos, has been hamstrung by formulation problems. Other drugs we are following are Pharmasset’s racivir, and Avexa’s apricitabine.

The article points to the fact that we need more treatment activists who can work with scientists, companies, and regulators.  This will call more action to more HIV drugs being in the pipeline and hopefully be approved if they are safe.

We need more programs in colleges and more gay community focused on science and getting more involved with the research.  I think alot more can be done to further the HIV research programs and focus on a cure.  As a community effort more money could be given to research and science and/or the treatment activists.  Their could be a crisis ahead if we stop being persistant and pushing for a better treatment or a cure.

If you have not seen the video it is just great.  Cyndi Lauper the person in charge of making this fabulous True Colors tour and leading the cause for gay rights with her speeches and music made an appearance on a CBS Daytime drama.  This is not your ordinary soap opera.  ATWT - As the World Turns has been around for years and barely knew what a gay person was until Luke Snyder showed up on the show (thanks to Lily and Holden Snyder).

I used to watch ATWT with my mother growing up at lunch time every day during school break and really got attached and addicted to some of the characters.  I would have loved to have a Luke on back when I watched the show.  It seemed most gay guys ran off or committed suicide on these shows back then.  Now they are getting more accepted even that pop stars are coming by to help out with their roles.

She sung the new song “into the night” which is  a fun dance song played at many video bars and clubs.  Then she did “true colors” and donated that to Luke and his boyfriend on the show.  It was really touching to see this on daytime tv.

Here is the video from ATWT.  If you have not seen the True colors tour with Cyndi Lauper then you must go see it.  It’s a fairly cheap concert and it supports the HRC and the performers were all spectacular.

The rumors and speclation are both flying all over now that Britney will be filming a video for Madonna’s concert this week.  This is most likely the smaller video clips she does for each short intermission while they are changing the stage around and have the dancers out performing.  A few years ago she did the greatest “shut up” videos to George Bush and to the terrorists leaders and lots of big messages going up on her mega-LCD screens.

This time may be a big diffferent with Britney trying to make a comback her mentor could be lending her a helping hand that really could make her respected again in the music industry.  She could do some opening acts or show up a few shows that are being filmed for HBO or even MTV.  I doubt Britney will be in every show but I bet she could appear in the ones that will be the biggest ones.

You can also expect a big surprise of some sort at this years MTV VMA’s or will Madonna throw anything towards the ratings of the VMA’s since they barely play videos on there anyway.  She will probably save her big concert push for her shows and not deal with the VMA’s but we may find out soon because they air this year on September 7th at 7pm.

The 25th year of the MTV VMA’s will take place at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, CA on movie sets instead of the traditional NYC theatre or the MIAMI AA Center or the Vegas Palms.  You can already start making your predictions now for the the 2008 award show but I am betting on a performance from Madonna, Justin, Britney, and you might even see Michael Jackson come out of hiding for this event!

Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet starts up in Europe in October.

Obviously this depends on where in the world you are and what your budget is but then again you’re only going to be married once, aren’t you? So you may as well make this a trip to remember. We’ve put together some unusual ideas for you to think about.

How about this for a trip to remember: Machu Picchu, Peru. There is more to this wonder of the new world than the Inca settlement in the clouds, though that in itself is a sight to see. In the town of Machu Picchu there is a hotel, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu. Set in the cloud forest this hotel features individual cabins with open fires and a first class service. There are over 1,000 species of orchids in the grounds plus a bear (release to the wild) sanctuary. But the reason I mention this place is because they can also arrange a blessing, at night around a fire, with a local Shaman. You can have your relationship blessed by the mountains, sky and earth, in traditional Inca language and style. To find out more about this trip visit Amro Holidays who specialise in gay and lesbian adventures around the world. amroholidays.com

Perfectgayhoneymoons.co.uk is another good site to search out and browse through if you are looking for ideas; they can arrange civil partnerships as well as honeymoons. Some of their suggestions include: Australia, The Caribbean and places in Europe. Greece is on their list and what could be more romantic than walking on golden sand along the shores of the Aegean where Homer sang and Odysseus sailed. Greek hospitality is known throughout the world and recently the country conducted its first civil partnership, same-sex wedding on the small island of Tilos. Nearby is the island of Symi, neo-classical in design and unspoiled this is one of the most romantic islands in the Aegean. (www.symidream.com/wp)

According to a planetout.com survey, most people they asked said they would like to visit Hawaii after their civil ceremony and wander the beaches, feel the balmy breeze in their hair and take in the beautiful scenery. The Maldives are another out of the way place to be perfectly alone, in your own cabin over the crystal clear water; just you and your partner and the sound of the sea.

Of course, you may wish to tailor your honeymoon to your preferred hobby or lifestyle: Clubbers go to the Canary Islands or Ibiza, Mykonos or London. Those who like to really chill could find hazy happiness in Amsterdam and for those for who trust is more important than monogamy there is Berlin with its late night bars, night-spots and fetish clubs. All of these places have sights to see, history and museums too so you could combine a cultural visit with some romantic dining, maybe on a canal boat in Holland or on the boulevards of Paris.

The world really is your oyster but there are things to consider other than romance. Gay and lesbian couples want to feel safe when they travel and just because your country allows civil partnerships doesn’t mean that you will be welcomed everywhere in the world. Don’t be afraid to check with your Foreign Office as to where is currently safe for same sex couples to be and take sensible precautions when out and about in public, sadly these still include visible signs of affection in many places.

But, at the end of the day, the choice is yours. In a recent poll by a gay holiday company the top destinations were:

Sydney, Australia (Mardi Gras, flights over Sydney harbour, the lonely outback…)
Rio de Janeiro (Carnival, beaches, clubs…)
San Francisco (Gay history, the bridge, the romantic hills…)
Mykonos, Greece (Sun, sea and… Well, I’ll leave the rest up to your imagination.)

I was in a happy surprise today when searching my favorite search engine Google today.  I had noticed that on the word gay and several of the gay terms they are displaying a gay flag on the right side.  Big G is based near San Francisco so it could have to do with them celebrating gay pride but the flag is not coming up when I search for San Fran.  I think this is a historic event for them to help in celebrating gay pride.  It could also be that they are helping us celebrate couples marrying in California.   If there is a company we do not mind there being the leader on search it is a gay friendly one even though they do make some mistakes.

Happy Pride to everyone celebrating this weekend in Oklahoma City and those next weekend in San Francisco and New York City among many others!

Whether or not you live in a state with legal civil unions, marriages or domestic partnership, you may be planning to celebrate your relationship with friends, family, and food for a great day or evening. From the proposal to the honeymoon, there are some great resources to help you plan a wedding, and sources for GLBT friendly wedding and commitment ceremony services. While the legalities can be a frustrating process, planning your ceremony and the reception is great fun, but can also be a lot of work. You need to choose where to have your ceremony, who to invite, plan food, flowers and wardrobe.

You may be pleasantly surprised by how many wedding vendors are happy to work with you and your partner as you plan your special day. You may even want to visit a local wedding fair or exhibition or speak to local wedding planners if you are considering having a larger ceremony and reception. Gayweddings.com is one source for planning information, vendor suggestions and more when you are beginning to plan your commitment ceremony or wedding. A site like this can also help you find wedding cake toppers, invitations and other accoutrements specifically suited to same sex ceremonies.

Keep in mind that your ceremony and reception can be as traditional or not as you prefer. You may want to choose a beautiful outdoor location, a restaurant or hotel, or a church if you participate regularly. Several denominations are typically willing to celebrate same sex unions, including the Unitarian church, United Church of Christ and Episcopalians. If you prefer a church wedding, one of these may be an option. Most secular locations will welcome you, and you will also find that many wedding chapels in liberal areas are happy to celebrate same sex relationships.

You may also be concerned about finding a GLBTQ friendly place to honeymoon with your partner. Gay.com/travel/article.html?sernum=8651 offers some tips on planning your honeymoon, as well as specific suggestions. You will also find that many all inclusive resorts are lesbian and gay friendly, and some, like Beaches even include the ceremony in your honeymoon package if you prefer a private commitment option.

A number of wedding sites aimed at younger, free thinking couples will also welcome same sex couples. Take a look at Offbeatbride.com and indiebride.com for further wedding ideas. You might also want to explore the offerings at etsy.com for invitations, RSVP cards, and even cake toppers and wedding rings. Attire can be a challenge, but consider choosing wedding outfits that suit both of your personalities and mesh well with one another without matching. You may even want to consider a period wedding or one with a theme to share an interest and shared hobby with your guests.

And congrats to California couples that finally get the chance to wed!  I never thought I would see the day I would be putting another category that said ‘wedding’ instead of ‘dating’.  I decided to call it ‘love’ since wedding sounded strange for a category.  Love is the strongest word I can use.

While many of us will hit some of the major summer theatrical releases, like the new Indiana Jones and Iron Man, what’s coming out in terms of gay and lesbian independent films for summer viewing? Unfortunately, while we don’t often acknowledge it, a fair bit of the films out there that would appeal to the GLBTQ community are just not well written, acted or filmed. Fortunately, there are exceptions that are worth your time and money this summer. One big change expected in marketing gay and lesbian films is a move toward simultaneous release on DVD and theaters. For those of us without a gay friendly indie theater nearby, this means the chance to see movies months before we could have otherwise.

Shelter offers a refreshingly well done look at two surfers falling in love. This gay romance is a coming out movie, but without the gay bar drama, HIV scares and other issues that mark many such films. It’s simply a story of first love, acted and written well. The trailer, and more information on Shelter, can be found at http://www.heretv.com/sheltermovie/.

Faith Akin’s The Edge of Heaven is, at its core, an east-meets-west story; however, the couple at the core of it is a lesbian couple. This multi ethnic couple is not central to the story because of their sexuality, but simply their love story and their struggles over borders and politics.

If you enjoy foreign films, the 2008 release of The Bubble may appeal. This is also a love story marked by political divisiveness. In this Hebrew film directed by Eytan Fox, the bubble of life as one of the hip in Tel Aviv bursts when Noa meets the Palestinian Ashraf and they fall in love.

Zero Chou’s Spider Lilies is another viable option for those looking for a DVD to add to their on-line queues this summer. The Taiwanese Spider Lilies is a drama, with a lesbian love story intertwined into slightly surreal cinematography. While its official release was 2006, it played at this year’s London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.

In fact, the London Gay and Lesbian Film Festival can be a good source for movie possibilities. View the list of films shown at http://www.bfi.org.uk/llgff/all_films_showing. While many of these are not new releases, perhaps you’ll see a movie or two that you have previously overlooked and find new favorites. For newer releases, see http://heretv.com/AFilmsPage.php as a possible source of what you might watch on DVD or even in your local indie theater. The LOGO owned afterellen.com and afterelton.com are a consistently good source for information about what’s going on of interest to LGBTQ individuals in the media, including books, television and movies.