Diversity Rules Magazine

December 2018

Diversity Rules Magazine - _lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning_

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3 Diversity Rules Magazine December 2018 Joey Amato is the publisher of Pride Journeys, the premier source for LGBT travel. Joey publishes destination reviews in addition to lifestyle content that is both insightful and engaging to LGBT readers. Joey has spent the major- ity of his career dedicated to the LGBT community, having contrib- uted to numerous publications around North America. In addi- tion, he owns Agency33 Public Rela- tions, a full-service firm specializing in LGBT outreach. Indianapolis has always felt like a sec- ond home to me. I used to publish a gay magazine there called UNITE a few years ago, so I was frequently visiting the city. is time, I wanted to experience things that I may not have had the chance to see on previ- ous visits. One event of major interest was the Lambda Legal Indiana Benefit gala which took place at the Indy Public Library, a stunning building located in the heart of the city. e Indiana Benefit was conceived in 1999 by a group of visionary individuals seeking to advance the civil rights of LGBT people and those living with HIV, in Indiana. at vision and dedication to Lambda Legal's mission and work in Indiana have yielded some of the most important and strate- gic legal victories our community has ex- perienced in the past decade, including the freedom to marry. In 2017, it was an Indiana case that won a federal court victory affirm- ing that workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation violates federal civil rights law. is year, the benefit honored philanthropists Neil Bagadiong and Kevin Warren, the Indy power couple who was instrumental in the Pence Must Go campaign that was enacted during Mike Pence's final term as Governor of the state. ey also host a weekly pool par- ty for the community at their home during the summer. After the benefit, the party continued at Tini on Massachusetts Avenue, a gay-owned martini bar which has become the city's hotspot for the see-and-be-seen gay crowd. Mass Ave., as it is called by the locals, is a vibrant street lined with restaurants, bou- tiques and nightlife establishments catering to both a gay and straight audience. A few blocks away is Forty-Five Degrees, a beautiful gay-owned restaurant and sushi bar, which hosts numerous drag shows and LGBT benefits throughout the year including a fash- ion show leading up to Indianapolis Pride. After a night of partying, I headed back to my hotel, the newly renovated Hyatt Regency. e centerpiece of the property is their open- air atrium but also worth visiting is their swanky rooftop restaurant offer- ing unobstructed views of Indianapolis. e rooms at the Hyatt were spa- cious and comfortable, with some rooms offer- ing separate sleeping and living areas in addition to huge bathrooms. e next morning, I woke up early to head to e Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields for an LGBTQ photography exhi- bition of renowned, American photographer George Indy - Con't on page 7 Pride Journeys Indianapolis By Joey Amato

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