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Queer Eye’s Bobby Berk was recently enjoying a well-deserved vacation with his boyfriend in Bali. But their dream trip was ruined on the last day when news broke that the Indonesian government has begun “investigating” villas in that cater to LGBTQ travelers.
This week, Coconuts Bali reported that authorities have begun tracking at least four popular villas in Bali after learning they market to gay clientele. When Berk got wind of this, he wasn’t pleased.
“Well this is very disappointing to read on my last day visiting,” the interior designer wrote on Twitter. “Won’t be recommending or coming back if this is now how the government here is going to act.”
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Well this is very disappointing to read on my last day visiting. Won’t be recommending or coming back if this is now how the government here is going to act. “Bali villas investigated for 'catering to gays' and 'tainting' island's reputation” #Bali #LGBTQ https://t.co/KnbWdHZr7J
— Bobby (@bobbyberk) January 14, 2020
Coconuts Bali reports that at least one villa, known as the “Angelo Bali Gay Guesthouse,” seems to have shuttered without any explanation.
The villa’s Facebook page, which described it as an “all-male, small and luxurious guesthouse where clothing is optional,” has mysteriously vanished and the business abruptly stopped operating on January 9.
While Bali is a popular destination for LGBTQ travelers, Indonesia is not known as a particularly gay-friendly country. Gay sex is legal in most regions, but same-sex marriage is not, and LGBTQ people have no protections against against discrimination and hate crimes.
Burk and his boyfriend have since moved on to Vietnam, where they seem to be having a good time, though that country, too, is not known for being the most friendly towards LGBTQ people.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7V4dvopd8m/
Related: Indonesian “Sex Party” Raid Sparks Outcry From Human Rights Groups
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Memo to Gays:. There are many countries that welcome Gay dollars and respect and support out rights. How’s about stop going to countries run by hate filled smcubag puddles of puke, and then complain when they prove in abundance what you should have already known???
RIGay
No shit! Do NO ONE do any RESEARCH on these places before going? I would never place myself or my family in unnecessary harms way all for what? No tan line?
No sympathy to them if the shit goes down on them.
innocentgay
RIGay does no one investigate Walmart or Amazon before shopping there? Does no one flip items over to see the country of manufacture before making a purchase? No. People don’t research before they go to places like Bali. They just think, “Bali, that sounds pretty…”
TheMarc
Exactly!!! Spot on!!!
KerryB
Makes me wonder where they plan on vacationing next year. Chechnya maybe?
Mack
We really need to support countries, states, cities and businesses who support us. I won’t even visit my home state of Tennessee because of their laws against the LGBTQ community.
RIGay
I am perfectly happy spending my hard earned and well deserved vacation out in Provincetown or up in Ogunquit. I’d even go as far as Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.
winemaker
bali like indonesia and malaysia and many middle east countries all anti gay muslim SHITHOLES and nothing much more. Really people need to research places they plan to vacation or travel in before spending their hard earned dollars. BTW: I believe that a boycott of all muslim countries, their products and travel are in order. Who needs these no good bastards? Screw these people, when these bastards realize the financial impact, they’ll change their tune.
Den
If you want tropics, old architecture, great cuisine, beaches…try Mexico.
Same sex marriage is legal in the states of Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo and The Federal District. These states also have no current travel warnings and are considered safe by the US State Department.
There are several other states that also have legal protections for LGBT people, but sadly also have drugs, gangs and travel warnings outside of the major cities. Mexicans are really friendly & proud of their culture, and some of the local cuisine is amazing. Oaxaca especially has museums, old colonial architecture going back to the 16th century, pre-columbian ruins amazing food, nearby towns with great indigenous craftspeople, mountains (12,000 ft cloud forest), jungle, deserts, and a few beach towns.
And there’s also Puerto Rico and Hawaii.
Why spend huge amounts of money and over a day in travel to go to places where gay people are not wanted?
Chrisk
Cancun’s pretty amazing too.
frankcar1965
Yea right, Mexico and get killed by the cartels! Really, do you want to go to a country that you have to worry about travel warnings? Stupid but go if you must, but don’t bitch if something happens.
Doug
Cute boyfriend!
GLynn11028
That is not his BOYFRIEND. That is his HUSBAND. We fought for the right to marry we should at least give them the courtesy of acknowledging their true marital status.
iminheatlikeacat
I took a vacation in Russia and I experienced homophobic abuse. I have photos. Write an article about me. I will act like a blindness victim and pretend that I wasn’t aware of the homophobia in the country, I just assumed, after all, that I was rich and foreign and that homophobia didn’t apply to people like me in this country.
boymikefl
Can’t go wrong with Thailand. I love the city Bangkok but, they also have beautiful beaches, ladyboys, Muay Thai boxing (young & so cute) & sweet monks everywhere near the temples. Cheap, cheap, cheap.
Thad
If Asia was a must, why not Taiwan?
Kangol2
Taiwan’s beaches don’t compare to Bali’s.
dustashed
maybe not for me.. but i don’t mind it when other gays visit “not so gay friendly” places
money creates pressure and presence demystifies the unknown. It is much harder to hate a demographic when when you know someone and your livelihood depends on them. Create dependence before pulling the strings
disclosure: I myself would not risk me nor my family; but if others are more adventurous then good for them.
Aires the Ram
@dustashed: No amount of money or financial impact will convince muslims not to cut our heads off or push us off buildings. There’ve been many examples of that blunder by the Western countries courting favor in the Islamic world, the latest being the billions in cash on pallets given to the Iranian regime by the Obama administration. That ain’t working out so hot either, now is it?
Melanesian
Why holiday in a country that discriminates against gays & has terrible human rights records??? Every year the Australian government provides over $300 million to Indonesia in foreign aid whilst the Indonesian military secretly massacres Indigenous West Papuans, then happily poses for photos with the decapitated heads of village leaders. It’s sick that these atrocities continue. Don’t support this country with your hard earnt money & vacation elsewhere. #FreeWestPapua
Aires the Ram
True Melanesian, but also remember, if you’re an Australian, that the $300 mil that your government gives to Indonesia is you and other taxpaying Australians hard earned money, in the form of taxes.