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Yesterday, SWING Pattaya announced a collaboration with the Hard Rock Cafe (Pattaya Beach) that when you order their gay-licious yummy: Beyond The Clouds Rainbow Cheesecake 30% of the price will be donated by the Hard Rock Cafe to SWING Pattaya. Today I had to go into Pattaya City to run some errands, so I had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and after my lunch I ordered the Rainbow Cheesecake. Note that technically this Rainbow Cheesecake is only available in the hotel portion of the complex but the wonderful team in the Hard Rock Cafe managed to bring me one and it was truly delicious - gay-licious. The Rainbow Cheesecake is available through 31 August 2026. I was very happy to support this worthwhile cause, especially since SWING Pattaya has decided to sponsor the Jomtien Complex Pride Night on Saturday July 18, 2026.

When I try to imagine the amount of effort that someone (or a team of someones) had to exert to cover all of these gay economic locations in 15 distinct cities/towns throughout Thailand it is amazing and monumental. This was truly remarkable to have had all of this information consolidated into one single information reference document. And here is the irony, "then internet took over". Has it really? Where on the internet can you find a single consolidated source for gay information throughout Thailand that is catalogued by zone/city/town? Yes, a lot of this information is available here in: gayguides.com, sawatdeenetwork.com, christianpfc.blogspot.com, https://llz.blogspot.com/ and many others, but the amount of effort that is required to extract and locate the gay travel information that you require to plan a trip to some of these far away places (i.e., Phitsanulok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Hat Yai, etc.) requires an enormous amount of effort. Whereas, prior to the "social order campaign" of the early 2000s, much of this information was readily and easily available in these various Thai gay magazines; Thai Puan, TMOT, Mithuna Junior, and Desire Magazine. Perhaps the only "true" remaining centralized and organized information about gay destinations in Thailand is https://www.utopia-asia.com/tipsthai.htm where the gay information is organized by region, city, town/village and the information provided is updated by anyone who may have visited the gay business and can report back if it is still open, is it still good, has it changed, and this information displays the date so that you can know if it is current or dated information. So perhaps, is the substitute/replacement for the gay travel information that was readably available in the former gay magazines?

Wow @daydreamer, this is truly fascinating and amazing - TMOT seems to have been a precious resource - like a gay magazine + yellow pages all in one thick book. 6th Edition published in 1997 I know that I may sound like I am continually "beating a dead horse", but this still begs my earlier question: This 250 page TMOT featured gay resource and listing for 15 Thai cities was instrumental in the success of many gay businesses scattered throughout Thailand. So, if I was a small new gay bar in Phitsanuloke (spelling taken from the above TMOT cover) I could simply pay from a few hundred to a couple thousand Thai baht to place a small ad in this TMOT publication and reach the gay community of the world to give my new business some visibility for future gay tourists/expats to come and visit. My question (again) is what is the equivalent of this in the year 2026? Many of you had already stated that it is X, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, etc. But those are individual marketing initiatives and not a bundled global packaged initiative that TMOT offered. In my opinion, what is missing for Thailand in the year 2026, for a TMOT equivalent - like a Thailand Gay Chamber of Commerce (TGCC) - where all gay businesses could subscribe and advertise in TGCC. Then TGCC would take care of publishing and curating this information on the world stage. Then those small gay businesses out in the 15 hinterland cities and towns in Thailand would have a mechanism to be visible in the larger gay world. Since the death of the print versions of these many gay magazines in the early 2000s we have seen/witnessed the shrinkage and closure of many gay businesses in numerous places in Thailand (Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Phuket, etc.).

Amazingly, I used to see those freebie magazines back in the USA at some gay venues (bars and saunas) and also at friends homes who had traveled to Thailand and had brought them back. They intrigued me many years before I ever set foot in Thailand. My bigger question is - do you think that there is a correlation with the demise of gay businesses in Thailand with the ending of these free magazines and Spartacus - which served as marketing mechanisms to attract the gay tourist from outside of Thailand - so that the gay businesses that advertised in these publications could be discovered - as there were no other ways to get the word out? From Pattaya's point of view, the demise of Sunee Plaza was shortly after the time that these free magazines and Spartacus stopped being popular. What I believe happened was: Free magazines peaked by the early 2000s and then disappeared when Thaksin came into power, Sunee Plaza peaked between 2008 - 2010, Boyztown peaked around year 2015, The Jomtien Complex growth surpassed Sunee/Boyztown after covid, Probably (I don't have any concrete proof) the net number of gay bars in existence in Pattaya was much greater in years 2000 - 2015 than they were after 2015 - especially after covid. My hypothesis is that small gay businesses throughout Thailand had a cheap and easy way to market and reach the external to Thailand gay tourist and after the demise of these free magazines and Spartacus this was no longer possible. Could this explain the decrease in gay businesses in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, and Pattaya in the last decade?

This is still going on in Supertown in Jomtien. Often the targets are the massage shops and when the police/immigration arrive there is a mad run to: get outside of Supertown and run towards the beach, run into any of the abandoned parking garages and hide and wait for the all clear signal, run into the upper floor maze and disappear into the labyrinth of of Supertown, or, give up and allow yourself to be arrested.

@PeterRS, you make a good observation. I took some time today to look at some archives of these free gay Thai magazines and what I saw was what I suspected - they contained advertisements from various gay businesses and venues from all over Thailand; Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Bangkok who used these paper based magazines as a vehicle to advertise their existence on the world stage - as often the recipients of these magazines where to people who could understand English and generally lived outside of Thailand. So, that implies that there was a time in Thailand's gay economic history when they would advertise to the outside world - as evidenced in these Thai gay magazines. I agree with you that these magazines are now dead and hence the reach of Thailand's gay economy is now not (or barely) advertised to the outside non-Thai world. Does this mean that Thailand's gay economy has continued to exist based only on word-of-mouth since the death of these paper based gay magazines? Does it also mean that a Thai gay business now (today) does not have an easy vehicle/mechanism to be advertised on the global gay world stage?

@a-447, Spot on about what you wrote above. But it goes beyond trying to market to China. Firstly, the Pattaya gay business community should join hands and try to market to the world about their existence. From what I see, there is next to none or little international marketing about the 3 gay areas in Pattaya - Sunee Plaza, Boyztown, and Jomtien Complex, aka Supertown. In fact, there is not much cohesion between these 3 entities - as one example is evidenced in the Gay Pride parade - Pattaya does theirs and Jomtien does theirs. As I am fairly new to the scene here - I moved here as a new retiree 4 years prior - would anyone be able to describe what the distribution of patrons was to these 3 distinct areas were during their peak in the years 2000 to 2010?: Sunee Plaza - I saw old maps that showed like 30 bars, hotels, and massage shops existed back in the day, Boyztown area - I believe that the number of bars was fewer than Sunee Plaza had? Jomtien Complex - It now has in excess of 30 bars - but I believe that its footprint on the local gay scene only took off after the decline in Sunee Plaza ? In other words, would it be safe to say that when Sunee Plaza became a ghost town that the patrons just moved over to the Jomtien Complex and the net increase in patrons to Pattaya was zero? I still believe that if Thailand will win the competition with Barcelona to host the World Pride 2030 - then there could still be a unique chance to get the Pattaya gay brand back onto the world stage. The winner will be announced in January 2027. I wrote to the author of the recent Nation Thailand article: https://www.nationthailand.com/the-opinion/commentary/40066684 and he agrees that there could be a unique chance for Thailand to give recognition and economic life to the "outside of Bangkok" gay economic centers in Phuket, Hua Hin, Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya - which have all been shrinking in the last decade. Would you all agree that Thailand has a vested interest to try to save its "outside of Bangkok" gay economic zones?

Breaking News - Pride Night will take place in the Jomtien Complex aka Supertown on Saturday July 18 2026. SWING Pattaya just released the news in conjunction with the Supertown The Palace bar owner.

I found that Starbucks initiative for Gay Pride in Vietnam to be very interesting - as my impression after living in Da Nang for 4.5 months last year was that gay life and gay rights were still somewhat suppressed and stigmatized. So, I had to ask Grok (take its response with a grain of salt) to see if the Vietnamese communist government has shifted towards a more positive attitude towards the acceptance of gay life and gay rights within its borders: =========== Grok response below =============================== No, the Vietnamese government has not undergone a major shift in attitude toward gay pride or LGBTQ+ rights as of mid-2026. While public acceptance has grown and some symbolic or health-related reforms occurred earlier, core legal limitations persist, and there were notable setbacks in 2025. The Starbucks "Shine with Pride" campaign (a June Pride Month promotion with rainbow-themed items and messaging like "Love Wins") reflects commercial and cultural visibility in urban areas rather than a national policy change. tiktok.com Key Legal and Policy Status (as of 2026) Homosexuality has never been criminalized in modern Vietnam. Same-sex activity is legal, and people can serve openly in the military. Same-sex marriage or unions: Still not recognized. A 2015 reform removed penalties for same-sex ceremonies and lifted an explicit ban, allowing symbolic weddings, but couples get no legal protections, inheritance rights, or adoption benefits. A draft bill for broader recognition was delayed/removed from the agenda in 2024–2025. en.wikipedia.org Gender recognition: Transgender people can change legal gender after surgery (per 2015 Civil Code amendments), with some updates to ID processes. A draft Gender Reassignment Law has been under discussion, potentially allowing more rights from 2026 onward, but it remains stalled as of early 2026. en.wikipedia.org Health policy: A significant 2022 Ministry of Health directive declared that being LGBTQ+ "is entirely not an illness," banned conversion therapy, and instructed medical staff to treat people with respect without discrimination. This aligned Vietnam with WHO standards. theguardian.com Public support for same-sex marriage has risen steadily (around 65–67% in recent Pew and PAPI surveys), and urban areas (especially Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) show visible LGBTQ+ scenes, media representation, and events. en.wikipedia.org Recent Developments and Setbacks In late 2025, Ho Chi Minh City canceled its major Pride march and several other LGBTQ+ events, raising concerns about a potential tightening under the Communist Party—possibly tied to leadership changes or broader controls on assemblies and civil society. Hanoi events were scaled back but not fully canceled, suggesting the moves may have been local rather than a uniform national reversal. Activists noted fears of regression, though no sweeping new anti-LGBTQ+ laws emerged. dw.com As of 2026, Pride-related activities continue in some form, and commercial campaigns like Starbucks' are allowed, indicating tolerance for visibility in consumer and cultural spaces. However, the government maintains a cautious, control-oriented approach: it avoids strong endorsement of "Western-style" identity politics while not actively persecuting LGBTQ+ people. Societal stigma, family pressures, and discrimination (especially in rural areas or schools) remain issues. outrightinternational.org In summary: Vietnam is relatively progressive in the region compared to some neighbors (no criminalization, health depathologization, growing public support), but it has not shifted to full embrace of gay pride or rights in 2026. Legal equality (especially marriage) lags, and 2025 event cancellations highlight ongoing limits on organized advocacy. The Starbucks initiative shows commercial openness in cities, not governmental transformation. Progress has been incremental and uneven, with the one-party state prioritizing stability over rapid social change.

This is true - I just wanted to illustrate the tameness of Supertown's pillow action versus what is available over in sin city. wow @macaroni21, that sounds HOT!! You were brave and you did not need any pillows to hide your lust.

When I lived in Rome and on the rare occassion when I was invited into a wealthy home in the Parioli area, sometimes the local Romans would show off artifacts that were "stolen" from the Colosseum by the local Romans, even though it was a crime. They were proud to show off these artifacts, as they believed that it made them feel more Roman. There was no shame. It got so bad that the city had to install metal barricades after the millenial (2000s) to protect what was remaining of the Colosseum from further looting. Another interesting tidbit of gay history was that from the late 1940s through the 1970s, the arches of the Colosseum were a famous gay cruising sex pickup area. Pier Paolo Pasolini documented this specific underground subculture in his poetry, essays, and in his 1955 novel Ragazzi di vita (Boys of Life).

Yes you remember correctly - we refer to them as "pillow" bars. M Bar - more pillows are available for discretion Great Bar (formerly Gus Bar) - less pillows are available so it is more difficult to be discreet. But these 2 Jomtien bars are way less brazen then what is on offer over in Pattaya City at: Boys Nigh Club X-Boys Pattaya where the touching and jerking of cocks is more in your face - especially when at X-Boys Pattaya they place the guy who is being f%£ked on your lap while the top bangs him away. I do miss the famous Sunee Plaza jerk off bar = Good Boys where after 1 hour there your arms were very sore.

Unfortunately no. I was the number 1 candidate on the short list - but due to political reasons, it was awarded to a personal friend of the highest in command at the organization where I worked. That was a very dark period during my long working career with them, as the idea to work in Bangkok was like to have a dream come true.

Hi @jamiebee Welcome back to Thailand. I have an ancient trip report, from 2015, where I documented my trip to Kanchanaburi. Perhaps it might assist you with your planning. I look forward to reading your perception and findings of that area - which I truly enjoyed as we also stayed in those on the river floating resorts - I truly LOVED it.

This year there won't be a Gay Pride Parade in Jomtien or Pride Night in the Jomtien Complex, aka Supertown due to a lack of funding. However, last night, The Venue Cabaret organized a Gay Pride ABBA night and it was very enjoyable and well attended - which I was happy to see, as this low season is quite LOW. This is typically the same weekend (2nd weekend in June) when in the past Jomtien had its own Pride Parade and related festivities. Hopefully, next year in 2027 there will be enough funding to resurrect Jomtien's ability to celebrate its own unique grass roots type of Gay Pride. For me the Pattaya City Gay Pride is nice - but it is too commercial for my tastes, whereas the Jomtien Gay Pride is much less commercial and consequently more enjoyable. Here is a highlights reel from last year's 2025 Gay Pride night in Supertown: Now we look forward to the PATTANA (Central Festival) sponsored Pattaya International Pride Festival and related festivities on Saturday 27 June over in Pattaya City. I believe that the parade will commence around 4:30pm from the Central Marina Outlet Center on 2nd road and then head down to Beach road and terminate at Central Festival - where post parade activities will take place.

Last night I visited the new My Favorite Diner to have dinner during their soft opening. The service was really good as there was an over abundance of exuberant staff. I chose to eat inside in the airconditioned large room. As is typical of diner eateries there are the: traditional booths, 2 person tables in the middle, or, at the counter seating. There is also ample space for eating outside on the terrace with a well stocked bar. I ordered the Wagyu Cowboy burger with fries and a lipton iced tea. It comes with a side of potato salad and coleslaw. The burger also included jalapenos - which I did not add to my burger. I also ordered a side of french fries, which I forgot to take a photo of. The dinner includes a complimentary small soft ice cream desert from the cute ice cream cart that is on the outside patio. If you are walking through the Jomtien Complex, aka Supertown and desire a soft ice cream, they can prepare you a cup of ice cream to enjoy during your journey. I was very satisfied with my meal - especially the coleslaw - as it had a slight spicy tsang to it. Note that the hamburger is served open face on a type of bread that we use to make french toast back home with. Perhaps they don't have hamburger buns? As they are in the soft opening phase the menu is still not published - so I could not include it here - but they told me that it will be published on their Facebook page perhaps next month after they work out the kinks. Currently the operating hours are from 5pm until 12am - closed on Tuesdays. I look forward to when they will open earlier for breakfast - as that is in their plans - as I love diner breakfast food. Here is their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574355724494 Enjoy

Wow fascinating. I see that this psilocybin experiment was done in Brazil. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2026.1813281/full

I walked by it on 2 June and it opening next month might be a bit challenging. I wish Guido a great success 👍🤩

That was the night that I met you and your Filipino BF. 🤩 When the Peter's Bar had its grand opening I was there with my Thai BF and he introduced me to the farang owner. He was nice elderly guy. My understanding is that he is just the money behind the bar and the bar is for his Thai partner to run and operate. As is the case for many of us who retired here - I believe that we are prohibited by the terms of our retirement visas from owning and operating a business here. Having said that, I see many foreigners as investors/owners around the complex, including; former Dorothy's Showbar - now Buenos Mexican. That farang consortia may also be the same group of farang owners of M2M - but I am not sure. The Candy Bar - seems to be operating with farang management, as well as The Venue Hotel and Cabaret bar. So, perhaps theses farangs are not living here on retirement visas and may instead be living here with a type of visa that allows them to own and operate a business, for example the non-immigrant B visa. One such way to be an owner of a bar in Thailand is to utilize the US-Thailand Treaty of Amity:

This came up on my Asean Now feed today - which is now run by The Thaiger. https://aseannow.com/topic/1396562-thailand-ranks-second-in-2026-retirement-abroad-index/ Also the Daily Mail in the UK is reporting this as well at: https://www.dailymail.com/travel/article-15889337/best-countries-retire-abroad.html It says that this survey ranking is new - but when I searched for the source reference - it seems to have been published in February 2026 - before the Strait of Hormuz crisis. So, the situation in the Philippines has degraded somewhat after the President declared a National Energy Emergency. Anyway, it is still an interesting read. Here is the source document from the Expatriate Group https://www.expatriatehealthcare.com/best-countries-to-retire/

This came up on my Asean Now feed today - which is now run by The Thaiger. https://aseannow.com/topic/1396562-thailand-ranks-second-in-2026-retirement-abroad-index/ It says that this survey ranking is new - but when I searched for the source reference - it seems to have been published in February 2026 - before the Strait of Hormuz crisis. So, the situation in the Philippines has degraded somewhat after the President declared a National Energy Emergency. Anyway, it is still an interesting read. Here is the source document from the Expatriate Group https://www.expatriatehealthcare.com/best-countries-to-retire/

And that is the bigger question. Over the years, I have encountered types like this "Fazza" - where they INSIST that you continue communicating with them on other platforms - often with video capture utilized - which can be used against you when they try to scam you or pass on your information to larger scam syndicates who later on may subject you to "pig butchering". Be Safe and Vigilant out there!!

The how to was in the above link that I provided. Below are the screen captures of what I already posted at: Link to how to join anonymous cebu Telegram group Here is the direct link to the Telegram group: https://t.co/mm6PgGHxPI

Thanks for sharing this information with us @Latbear4blk. This is also my fear for our Gayguides.com forum - in that one day it just vanishes for whatever reason. Currently, we are ALL very lucky that we have @TotallyOz who is our current benefactor and keeps Gayguides going. I am truly grateful. Over the years, many forums and websites that I was very fond of have disappeared over the years due to the server that was hosting those sites not being paid for anymore. 90% of the time it was not out of maliciousness - its just that the founders of these said sites just lost interest or passed on in life and there was no well thought out succession plan. Often in this forum, we often discuss regrets about certain bars, saunas, and accommodations that no longer exist - but what would happen if gayguides one day ceased to exist? Who would hear our stories?

I was in the Philippines for 2 months last year. I primarily stayed in Cebu and I also stayed in Boracay. I truly loved Boracay for its natural beauty and beaches - the gay life is limited but you can check out this massage place on Boracay: @papadharz1 <-- This is the Twitter (X) handle to get more information about these massage guys, and tours. Below is my trip report of my 2 month stay in Cebu. And below is a post I made here in our forum about a NEW Telegram group that allows you to hook up with gay guys in the Cebu area. As of today, it has 4,156 members. Good luck and please share your trip report with all of us about your adventures in the Philippines.