Diversity Rules Magazine

3 Diversity Rules Magazine June 2019 Joey Amato is the publisher of Pride Journeys, the premier source for LGBT travel. Joey publishes des na on reviews in addi on to lifestyle content that is both insigh ul and engaging to LGBT readers. Joey has spent the majority of his career dedicated to the LGBT community, having contrib- uted to numerous publica ons around North America. In ad- di on, he owns Agency33 Public Rela ons, a full-service firm spe- cializing in LGBT outreach. In the heart of Pence country lies a gay oasis that needs to be on every- one's list of places to visit. Bloom- ington, Indiana is one of the most welcoming and gay-friendly small ci es I have ever traveled to, par- ally due to Indiana University and the LGBT ini a ves they have imple- mented over the past few decades. This coupled with a bohemian life- style among residents makes it a great des na on to visit for a week- end getaway. One of the coolest a rac ons in the city is the Tibet- an Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center. I would nev- er have known that Bloomington was home to such a rich Tibetan culture but as I would soon discover, the city is extremely diverse in its cultural offerings, especially when it comes to culinary establishments. Downtown is rich in its offering of interna onal res- taurants. From Thai to Indian to Burmese cuisine, there is something for everyone. Upon entering the grounds of the Cultural Center, one is instantly transported to a foreign land. Tibetan Stupas, a Choekor Pagoda and The Kumbum Chamtse Ling Monastery welcome guests as they wander the beau fully manicured property. While there, take the me to meditate and learn about the Buddhist culture. To con nue your tour of Tibet, head to Li le Tibet, a restaurant located on 4th Street in Downtown Bloomington. I rec- ommend trying the Tibetan Cha tea, Mo Mo (pan fried dumplings) and Temo Sha Tsel, s r-fried vegetables in a garlic sauce served with jasmine rice. Tibetan cuisine is slightly reminiscent of Thai cuisine. A er dinner, check in to The Gradu- ate Hotel, a fairly new property located in the heart of the city, easily in walk- ing distance to most places of interest. The college-themed décor of the hotel is a bit different and takes some me to get used to – especially if you graduated from college in the early part of the decade - but the hotel chain is catering towards university stu- dents and their families, so it works for their target audience. That being said, my room was incredible and featured a huge dining room, living area, walk-in shower and a king size bed that I didn't want to move from each morning. The first stop on my trip of LGBT Bloomington was the Rainbow Bakery. Don't expect any fancy la es here. Instead, order a drip coffee and one of their delectable doughnuts. I opted for the maple bacon doughnut and it was as delicious as it sounds. The Bloomington - Con't on page 7 Pride Journeys Bloomington, IN By Joey Amato

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