This Just Out: Red Hot Chilli Pepper Edition

Washington, DC - The National Center for Transgender Equality announced this week that it had updated its website to make it a more comprehensive resource. Included in the update: travel information on everything from the latest policies at the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) to trans rights for acquiring a passport. Also, they have launched an ID Documents Center, a one-of-a-kind interactive resource to aid in making name and gender changes to every kind of state and federal I.D. including licenses and passports. Go to transequality.org.

Niagara Falls, Canada - Two Marriott hotels in an iconic honeymoon destination - the Marriott Fallsview Niagara Falls Hotel and Spa and the Marriott Gateway on the Falls- announced this month that they are now members of Travel Gay Canada - a national gay and lesbian tourism association that works to provide LGBT travelers with products and services that meet their needs - essentially coming out publicly to welcome travelers of all genders, races and sexualities.

Despite its well-publicized 2012 reinstatement of failed Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney (who was a vocal opponent to many LGBT causes during his campaign), Marriott has long been gay-friendly in terms of its policies and activism. In fact, J.W. “Bill” Marriott Jr., head of the company and a devout Mormon, chose to stand down during the church’s campaign against gay marriage in California and even went so far as to reiterate the company’s commitment to gay rights. Seems the honeymoon is still on.

São Paolo, Brazil - 269 Chille Pepper Single Hotel and Sauna, a combination bathhouse and lodge and São Paolo hotspot, has announced it will officially open a second location in Belo Horizonte in August. The new Belo Horizon, which had a preview opening during the recent Carnivale, will feature 80 single cabins, a red twin cabin, the Red Room, a number of suites, a sauna, steam room, heated pool and mini-cinema.

The original Sao Paolo location, featured in Louis Vuitton’s 2014 city guides, offers five suites, 124 single rooms as well as 369 lockers for local visitors as well as showers, Jacuzzis, winter and summer pools, steam room, dry sauna, the “Love Corner” lounge and something called the “Surprise Surprise” space.

Key West, FL - Anyone planning a trip to Key West at the end of March can watch the Miss Gay Southernmost USofA and Miss Gay Southernmost USofA Classic competitions. Events are to begin Friday, March 27, with a meet-and-greet party and sunset sail on Key West's Fury Catamaran. Fans will be able to meet the contestants, judges plus the reigning Miss Gay USofA, Jenna Skyy, and Miss Gay USofA Classic Chevelle Brooks. Doors open at 6 p.m. Saturday for the pageant's preshow red carpet and cocktail party at the Key West Marriott Beachside Hotel, 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd.  Tickets and information available at missgaysouthernmost.com.