Gays and lesbians have no plans to scale back when it comes to traveling this year. According to a recent Harris Interactive Study, 62 percent of American LGBT adults will travel the same or more than last year, compared to 36 percent of straight adults. And they will spend almost twice as much – $2,300 versus $1,500.In an effort to capitalize on this fact and garner some of those dollars, Seattle’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau is launching the Washington city’s first-ever LGBT travel guide, according to a story published on seattlepi.com. The story goes on to say that the CVB plans to invest $30,000 in the campaign.Other firsts in the news …Northwest Louisiana’s first Gay and Lesbian Film Festival will take place Sept. 11-13 at the Robinson Film Center in Shreveport. The event was instituted by People Acting for Change and Equality (PACE), northwest Louisiana’s advocacy group for the GLBT community. Confirmed events include Emmy Award-winner Leslie Jordan at the opening reception and a performance by local band The Peekers.TAP: Traverse Arts Project of Philadelphia is hosting the first-ever GLBT Arts Festival at the end of May. According to the Web site, the festival will showcase all types of artwork created or presented by GLBT artists and their gay-friendly allies. The four-day event, which kicks off May 28, will feature music, readings, plays and fine arts.

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