Intro

Buenos Aires, a city culturally cosmopolitan, has become in recent years one of the world’s largest gay tourist destinations along with Miami and Río de Janeiro. The “gay-friendly” image of the city was bolstered in part with the passage of the Civil Union Law in 2002.

Buenos Aires has adopted the concept of “heterofriendly”, which speaks to a common ground, an understanding between gays and heterosexuals, a more integrated experience; Buenos Aires is an open city, without “gay ghettos”. Gay tourists from all around the world flock to Buenos Aires. The majority of the visitors are men.




Buenos Aires Gay Tango

The Marshall. Gay dancehall.
(A discussion moderated by Roxana Gargano and Mariana Docampo)

2003 marked the opening of The Marshall, the first gay tango dancehall in Buenos Aires. The clientele is heterogeneous; the classes are about 80% homosexual, the dances, 60%. Not the least if its attraction lies in its relaxed and informal atmosphere. The dance hall was named in honor of the Argentine actress, Nini Marshall (1903-1996), a symbol among local gays.
Here, the traditional dance roles of “man” and “woman” have been modified to embrace the concept of “leader” and “follower”. In the classes you will be both “the guide” and “the guided”.

The Marshall is also progressive for its form of music; it was one of the first to introduce electronic tango and contemporary groups. It is currently organizing an international queer tango festival, scheduled for November 2007, which will include tango instruction, dances and discussion groups (tango and gender among the topics).
The Marshall is located at 444 Maipú.





Interview with Carlos Meliá

Is Buenos Aires a tolerant city?
Yes, absolutely. Buenos Aires has adopted the new concept, “heterofriendly”. That’s to say that there are no “gay ghettos”, only a “mixed atmosphere”. The city’s an important player among the new gay destinations. Buenos Aires has been even more tolerant since passing the Law of Civil Union (See related information) five years ago that resulted in more social visibility for gays and has focused important media attention on Argentina. It has given impetus to tolerance and has served to promote tourism.

Is the city prepared for “gay tourism”?
According to a poll in Planet Out, Buenos Aires is the world’s #1 most desired tourist destination among gays of the world. The problem is that the city still doesn’t have a sufficient “gay” infrastructure: bars and discos of international quality. And the local consumption falls short of international standards. The gay world is 100% image, marketing and sensibility. The city is selected for its cultural pulse, for its gay nightlife, for its flair and lifestyle.

What can a gay tourist expect and receive in Buenos Aires?
Gays come without expectations but receive treasures. What’s more, they feel more comfortable here than in Rio de Janeiro. They find a city with art, culture, architecture and friendly, open people.
There isn’t much gay tourism information about Buenos Aires, but word gets around and more and more events are presented, like The Gay Soccer World Cup in the middle of September and The Gay Cruise in February.

How does the definition of “heterofriendly” differ from “gay culture”?
“Gay culture” connotes a ghetto of isolation, a thing of the past. We prefer the culture “heterofriendly”, which is to live in a “hetero” world from a gay point of view and sensibility, to approach the gay world with quality, attention and service. We have to change the ghetto concept so we can live freely in all parts the city. San Telmo may become a gay ghetto and this is a step backward. The heterofriendly culture is based on tolerance, the absence of discrimination and the intermingling of lifestyles.

What does Buenos Aires offer to gays?
By day, it offers the city itself with all its possibilities. With respect to nightlife, the action exists Wednesday through Sunday in bars, discos, restaurants and designers hotels. The construction of the hotel chain, Axel, represents an important tendency in the heterofriendly culture of Buenos Aires.
It must be emphasized that Buenos Aires’ gay market is 80% male. Women travel less frequently. They prefer adventure or family tourism and spend less.
What’s more, the usual gay travel options are limited. Heterofriendly culture seeks to provide a more integrated experience.