For Sheldon Ian DeSouza, chairman of the Black Gay Men’s Network, choosing Punta Cana again, as the destination for the group’s annual retreat, was a no-brainer:

The challenge each year for the Steering Committee is balancing the best resort experience with cost and “gay friendliness” within the environment. The hotel staff at Punta Cana’s Melia Caribe Tropical made everyone comfortable, even with our Black Gay Men’s Network signage throughout.

The Takeaway

• Homosexuality: Illegal
• Gay marriage: Illegal
• Gay Bashing: Contained

The Scene

Connect with locals via Facebook’s Gay Dominican Republic page. It will lead you and approximately 800 fans to www.sdboysclub.com. Brush up on your Spanish first!

Pride

Absolutely not, in the land where the Catholic Church rules and the priests… Well, we’ll let you finish that sentence.

• 2012 Pride of the World: Trinidad
• 2012 Pride of the World: The Dominican Republic
• 2012 Pride of the World: Martinique
• 2012 Pride of the World: Curacao
• 2012 Pride of the World: Aruba

Traveler’s Watch: Lyme Disease