Once Upon a Time in Curacao...

Story and photos by Dennis Hensley

Greeting from Curacao and "Get Wet Weekend," 
a series of gay-themed get-togethers on this charming, island which,
along with Puerto Rico, is one of the most
gay-friendly spots in the Caribbean. My trip got off to a less than
friendly start, though, when I discovered in my in-flight magazine that
someone had defaced a photo of gay congressmen Barney Frank with the
words, "Fagat. He loves mens ass." Someone was smart enough to know who
Barney Frank is but not smart enough to know how to spell the F-word.
Odd.

Once I touched down in Curacao, things
turned around completely. My hotel, the beachside, Euro-chic Avila,
is fit for a queen, literally, as it's usually where Queen Beatrix of
the Netherlands stays when she drops in. My first night here, I dined
with my group of fellow writers here at the hotel on a local dish
called Keshi Yena, which is baked cheese
stuffed with everything from chicken to prunes to mushrooms. Delish.

Over dinner, we learned from our guide, Andre, that Curacao is, like my
home state of California, currently embroiled in a marriage equality
controversy. Same-sex marriage is now legal in The Netherlands but
Curacao has yet to get on board and acknowledge these unions as legal
marriages. It's become a bit of a political football here, I gather,
but the local gays are confident that gay unions will eventually get
their due.

Thursday morning, I took in a walking tour of island's charming main
city, Willemstad. Local legend has it
that the reason the buildings are so colorful is that years ago, the
then-governor announced that the all-white white buildings were giving
him a headache and demanded buildings be painted in brighter, bolder
colors. The fact that he was also an investor in the local paint store
was just a happy accident. Whatever the reason, the result is treat for
the eyes, like stepping into a fairy tale.

Speaking of fairy tales
we've got some gay parties coming up as Get Wet
Weekend continues...

Story and photos by Dennis Hensley

Greeting from Curacao and "Get Wet Weekend," 
a series of gay-themed get-togethers on this charming, island which,
along with Puerto Rico, is one of the most
gay-friendly spots in the Caribbean. My trip got off to a less than
friendly start, though, when I discovered in my in-flight magazine that
someone had defaced a photo of gay congressmen Barney Frank with the
words, "Fagat. He loves mens ass." Someone was smart enough to know who
Barney Frank is but not smart enough to know how to spell the F-word.
Odd.

Once I touched down in Curacao, things
turned around completely. My hotel, the beachside, Euro-chic Avila,
is fit for a queen, literally, as it's usually where Queen Beatrix of
the Netherlands stays when she drops in. My first night here, I dined
with my group of fellow writers here at the hotel on a local dish
called Keshi Yena, which is baked cheese
stuffed with everything from chicken to prunes to mushrooms. Delish.

Over dinner, we learned from our guide, Andre, that Curacao is, like my
home state of California, currently embroiled in a marriage equality
controversy. Same-sex marriage is now legal in The Netherlands but
Curacao has yet to get on board and acknowledge these unions as legal
marriages. It's become a bit of a political football here, I gather,
but the local gays are confident that gay unions will eventually get
their due.

Thursday morning, I took in a walking tour of island's charming main
city, Willemstad. Local legend has it
that the reason the buildings are so colorful is that years ago, the
then-governor announced that the all-white white buildings were giving
him a headache and demanded buildings be painted in brighter, bolder
colors. The fact that he was also an investor in the local paint store
was just a happy accident. Whatever the reason, the result is treat for
the eyes, like stepping into a fairy tale.

Speaking of fairy tales
we've got some gay parties coming up as Get Wet
Weekend continues...