Diversity Rules Magazine

Joey Amato is the founder and publisher of Pride Journeys, an LGBTQ travel website and syndicated col- umn. For more LGBTQ travel ideas, please visit www.pridejourneys. com. Orlando has always been a place close to my heart. Back in 2002, I at- tended graduate school there as well as worked in the music industry for a company that launched the careers of Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, O-Town and other stars. I even man- aged a boy band of my own around that me. Need- less to say, I really enjoyed living in Orlando. It was also the place where I finally admi ed to myself that I was gay, although I didn't officially come out to my family un l a few years later. When I heard U.S. Travel's IPW conven on was going to take place in Orlando this year, I knew I had to go. I stayed at the Hya Re- gency Grand Cypress, which is perfectly situ- ated within minutes of Walt Disney World parks and just a short drive from Universal Studios. The property is massive and contains a separate fitness building, resort- style pool with bar and live music as well as a conven on area. Epcot was always my favorite park to visit as a child, so I was excited to learn that one of the main events for the confer- ence would take place there. We got to experience the park without the crowds, which was quite pleas- ant, especially when it came to the newer rides Frozen Ever A er and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cos- mic Rewind. Seeing the iconic globe lit up at night is as magical now as it was when I was a younger. Ironically, the conference coincided with One Magi- cal Weekend, so I also had the opportunity to visit two LGBTQ par es while there, the first being the annual Red party at House of Blues and the second being OMW's Therapy pool party at Sheraton Lake Buena Vista Resort. People from around the country travel to Orlando for this event, so I ran into many friends during that weekend, some of which I hadn't seen in years. My visit wasn't all fun and games though. I think we all remember where we were when we heard the news of the Pulse massacre back on June 12, 2016. A few years ago, the owner of the club opened an interim memorial with a goal of raising the funds to open a permanent space which would pay homage to the forty-nine beau ful souls lost that day. Located at the site of the original club, the current memorial contains an offering wall where visitors can leave flowers or mementos. There are three viewing areas of the building. Visi- tors will be able to see the waterfall at the entrance of the club, a wall of the building where the forty- nine names are inscribed, as well as the area where people were rescued by from the restrooms by first responders. The memorial also has a Ribbon Wall of Photo- graphs, filled with pictures of the community and the world's response of love and support and ar facts 6 | Diversity Rules Magazine | Sept 2022 Pride Journeys Orlando, FL By Joey Amato

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