This year, the festival once again transforms the historic square into a luminous wonderland.

More than a thousand handcrafted lanterns depict intricate scenes from enchanted forests to the underwater world. The centerpiece, a 200-foot-long (61-meter-long) dragon, has become an iconic symbol of summer in the city.

“It has definitely become a Philly summer tradition. People really have grown to expect it,” said Amy Needle, president and CEO of Historic Philadelphia, the event organizer. “We have people that come back every year. They know that every year the lanterns are all new.”

The festival’s appeal spans generations and cultures, drawing diverse crowds who come to immerse themselves in the breathing-taking displays.

“Tonight, it was a beautiful night. Just seeing the different people out, just different cultures out, whether you’re Asian, Black, white... everybody is here to celebrate,” said Tamea Butler, a visitor from Nashville, Tennessee.

Some attendees, like Philadelphia resident Jamie Lenegan, dress in traditional Chinese attire to fully embrace the event.

“We love to dress up because we want to be immersed in the culture. We want to really embrace the moment and just take it all in,” said Lenegan, who visited the festival for the first time with friends.

For others, the visual splendor is the main draw.

“All the colors and the lights and stuff like that, you can’t get enough of it. It’s just vivid and beautiful,” said James Rohmann, who was making a day trip to the city with his son.

Traditionally, the Lantern Festival marks the end of the Lunar New Year period. However, organizers moved the event to the summer to avoid unpredictable winter weather. The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival runs through Aug. 31.

The debate intensified when Bhim Singh, a Member of Parliament from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India’s Parliament. Singh argued that the code “GAY” offended the social and cultural sensibilities of local residents and travelers, and called for it to be replaced with a more “respectful and culturally appropriate” alternative . He also questioned the government about complaints and suggestions received regarding the code.

Responding to the parliamentary query, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol clarified that the IATA assigns three-letter codes to airports based on international standards, typically using the first three letters of the city’s name. “Once the code is issued, it is not usually changed and any exception to it can only be made if the code offers any threat to air safety,” Mohol stated in a written reply . He also revealed that Air India had previously approached IATA seeking a change, but the request was denied under IATA Resolution 763, which asserts that assigned codes are considered permanent unless there are exceptional circumstances, typically related to aviation safety .

Gaya’s airport code has been in official use since September 2011, coinciding with the start of regular Air India flights between Gaya, Varanasi, and Delhi. The code’s assignment was based on standard IATA procedures and has functioned without issue for over a decade .

While some critics claim the code is embarrassing or offensive, LGBTQ+ rights advocates have pointed out that the discomfort reflects broader issues of homophobia and societal stigma. According to LGBTQ+ activists, efforts to change the code are less about aviation protocol and more about discomfort with the word “gay” itself . As one activist noted, “The call to change the airport code is a symptom of homophobia.”

Globally, other cities have faced similar controversies. For example, Sioux City in the United States attempted to change its “SUX” airport code after politicians expressed embarrassment, though ultimately the code remained. Fukuoka, Japan, also failed in an effort to switch its “FUK” code to “FUN” in 2019 for similar reasons . In each case, the permanence of IATA codes has been upheld, reinforcing the industry’s commitment to neutrality and standardization.

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups view the Indian government’s decision as an important signal. “Keeping the code ‘GAY’ is not only about following international norms, it’s about refusing to erase identities or give in to prejudice,” said an LGBTQ+ activist in India .

For many in the LGBTQ+ community, the controversy surrounding the Gaya airport code highlights ongoing challenges related to visibility and acceptance in India and around the world. The word “gay,” while a neutral descriptor for sexual orientation, still generates discomfort among some segments of society. Advocates argue that efforts to censor or change such terms, even in unrelated contexts like aviation, can perpetuate harmful stigmas.

The city of Gaya, known as a major pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists, holds significant spiritual and cultural importance. The debate over the airport’s code, however, has revealed the tension between tradition and modernity, and between cultural sensitivities and the need for inclusivity.

Despite the discomfort expressed by some residents, there is no evidence that the “GAY” code has caused harm or confusion in commercial airline operations. International aviation authorities emphasize that codes are assigned for practical reasons and are only changed when safety is at risk, not for reasons of social or cultural discomfort .

Founded in the early 1950s, the Ice Palace has provided a safe and affirming space for LGBTQ+ people long before mainstream acceptance. The club’s reputation for openness and exuberance attracted not only local residents but also visitors from New York City and beyond, helping to cement Fire Island’s status as a must-visit LGBTQ+ destination . Its enduring popularity is reflected in its ability to host generations of guests, offering a space where people of all identities and backgrounds can gather without fear of judgment or exclusion.

The Ice Palace is perhaps best known for its vibrant calendar of events, which includes drag shows, dance parties, and themed nights that draw enthusiastic crowds throughout the summer season. The annual July 4th “Invasion of the Pines,” a tradition dating back to 1976, is among the most beloved celebrations on the island. During this event, drag performers and allies board ferries to parade from Cherry Grove to Fire Island Pines, creating a colorful and joyous spectacle that underscores the island’s spirit of solidarity and pride .

Beyond its entertainment offerings, the Ice Palace plays a crucial role in supporting local LGBTQ+ initiatives. The club frequently hosts fundraisers and awareness campaigns addressing issues such as HIV/AIDS, transgender rights, and queer youth support. These events demonstrate a commitment to both celebration and advocacy, making the Ice Palace not only a nightlife hotspot but also a center for activism and community engagement .

What sets the Ice Palace apart is its dedication to inclusivity. The club’s staff and management foster an environment where all guests—regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression—are treated with dignity and respect. This commitment is reflected in the club’s programming, which regularly features performers and DJs from diverse backgrounds and identities. Visitors can expect to encounter drag kings and queens, transgender entertainers, and nonbinary artists sharing the stage, ensuring that representation and visibility remain at the heart of the venue’s mission .

Patrons frequently express appreciation for the Ice Palace’s safe and affirming atmosphere, noting that it is a place where they can fully express themselves without fear. This reputation has made the nightclub a destination not only for LGBTQ+ individuals but also for allies and tourists who wish to experience Fire Island’s legendary hospitality firsthand .

Fire Island’s Ice Palace Nightclub remains a powerful symbol of what inclusive businesses can achieve. As anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and policies resurface in various parts of the world, the existence of safe, affirming spaces where people can gather, celebrate, and organize remains as essential as ever. The Ice Palace’s continued success serves as a reminder that openness, diversity, and visibility are not only good for business but also vital for the health and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community .

As Fire Island continues to welcome new generations of LGBTQ+ travelers, the Ice Palace stands ready to provide joy, community, and a sense of belonging—ensuring its legacy endures for years to come.

Italy has hosted a number of star-studded weddings in the past decade, most recently Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez ’s extravaganza in Venice. Away from the spotlight, tens of thousands of ordinary Americans have set their sights on the country for their special day in recent years.

“Weddings in America can be a little too grand and a little bit too big and it ends up not really being about the couple,” said Fortino, 28, a neonatal nurse from Skaneateles, New York. “We both just really wanted something intimate and meaningful.”

Over 15,000 foreign couples wed in Italy last year, up 64% from 2019, the year before the pandemic, according to market research from the Center of Tourist Studies of Florence. Growth was led by U.S couples, who account for almost one-third of that total.

Italy was the top international destination for American couples after Mexico, according to Maryland-based wedding planning website The Knot.

For many Americans, Italy embodies the simple, beautiful romance of a bygone era. Weather is balmy and its varied landscapes, from the sea to the mountains, stunning. The food is familiar and crowd-pleasing. But perhaps the biggest driver of the recent uptick is ample opportunity for a range of outings, which together with the wedding event are alluring for those on a quest for unique, memorable moments — part of a consumer trend termed “the experience economy.”

“In the United States, everything is just more expensive for one night and we wanted to make an experience, so we did two nights here," said Atkinson, 31, who owns a concrete company. “It just seemed like way more worth it to us to do that and make a trip out of it with our family, our loved ones.”

‘Nobody cancels’

One guest who had never visited Italy was ecstatic about the invite, and took advantage to tack on side trips, first to Venice and then with the wedding crew to Cinque Terre. Another, Gary Prochna, nearly didn’t attend because of work piling up at his paving company. He eventually came around and was floored by the venue — a 15th-century villa with a sweeping view over Florence and its famous Duomo.

“I got married in the United States and our venue was very nice. I thought — until this moment — we had the best wedding,” said Prochna, 68, adding that he now hopes his daughters will get hitched abroad.

More than half of Americans surveyed by Mastercard in January 2024 said they prefer to spend their money on memory-making experiences, and more than a third said they'd plan a whole trip around one particular experience.

Marcy Blum, a prominent luxury event planner based in Manhattan, said almost 90% of the weddings she plans abroad are in Italy.

“The reason Italy is so popular is because that’s where your guests want to go,” she said. "You send an invitation that you’re getting married in Capri or Positano and everybody comes. Everybody. They want to come. Nobody cancels.”

Jack Ezon, CEO of Embark Beyond, a luxury travel and destination event service also based in Manhattan, said 60% of his company’s events were outside the U.S. before the pandemic. Today it’s almost 90%, nearly all split evenly between Italy and France.

The threat of tariffs under President Donald Trump has given destination weddings a boost. Ezon has moved six events from the U.S. to Europe this year, because people were afraid tariffs on alcohol would cause their bar bill to explode.

Cost comparison

The shift to destinations has benefited planners with networks across Italy and local vendors. According to Wedding Italy, the husband-and-wife team who put on the Atkinson wedding, American clients spend three times as much as Italians, due to more elaborate wedding decor and other events in their multiday lineup.

Average spend on hometown weddings in the U.S. was $32,000 last year, according to The Knot. By comparison, foreigners' weddings in Italy cost an average 61,500 euros ($70,600) and typically have dozens fewer guests, the Center of Tourist Studies of Florence's data showed.

In the garden where the Atkinsons held their service, cypress trees swayed in the wind as the bride emerged from the chapel, beaming in her lace mermaid-silhouette gown. She walked down the aisle as speakers played the theme song to Star Wars. It was her sneaky trick to make the groom cry, and it worked like a charm.

Before the exchange of rings, before the lovebirds threw their arms around one another, their officiant said:

“Traditionally I would ask: Is there any reason why this couple shouldn't be married? But for goodness’ sake – we all flew to Italy and can’t get our points back! So instead I’ll ask: Who here approves of this union?”

Cheers all around.

The sign was intended to show the cafe is a safe space for LGBTQ+ people. But it has also become a beacon for hate and homophobic attacks.

Owner Danjel Zarte said there are 45 pending criminal investigations related to the cafe over the past year and a half, ranging from verbal and physical attacks on patrons and workers to windows being broken or covered in feces and Nazi graffiti. One person even stood outside the cafe with a gun.

“An act of terror,” Zarte said. "I sometimes have panic attacks in the morning and am afraid to look at my cell phone because I’m afraid that something has happened again.”

Attacks against LGBTQ+ people and gay-friendly establishments are rising across Germany, including in Berlin, a city that has historically embraced the community, members of which often use the word queer to describe themselves.

Last year saw a 40% increase in violence targeting LGBTQ+ people in 12 of Germany's 16 federal states as compared to 2023, according to the Association of Counseling Centers for Victims of Right-Wing, Racist and Antisemitic Violence.

Activists say those figures only show a fraction of the problem's scope because victims are often afraid to come forward. They partly blame the rise of the far-right across Europe, including in Germany where the Alternative for Germany party made significant gains in the February election.

Hostility toward LGBTQ+ people serves as a “rallying cry” for believers in right-wing extremism, according to Judith Porath, the association's managing director. Experts have seen an increase in demonstrations and violence among neo-Nazis, most of whom are young men.

Bastian Finke, the head of MANEO, an organization tracking anti-gay violence in the capital city, said those who are openly queer on Berlin’s roads “automatically run a very, very high risk simply because of who they are. To be attacked, to be insulted, to be spat on. We have these scenarios every day.”

The fear was palpable at Saturday's Christopher Street Day parade in Berlin. The annual Pride event commemorates the 1969 Stonewall rebellion in New York City, when a spontaneous street uprising was triggered by a police raid on the Stonewall Inn gay bar on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village.

“The mood is actually tense: People are afraid, they are unsettled," Thomas Hoffmann, a member of the event's executive board, said Saturday.

Hundreds of thousands of people showed up for the celebration, dancing to techno beats as they marched to the iconic Brandenburg Gate.

"That is really a powerful, wonderful sign for more equality,” Hoffmann added.

Hoffmann and others have long wanted German lawmakers to amend the constitution to explicitly include the legal protection of LGBTQ+ people from discrimination based on gender identity. But that looks unlikely to become a political priority.

For Zarte, the stress of hate crimes and politics is nonstop, except during the Christopher Street Day parade, which always brings him to tears.

"It is very moving to feel completely accepted once a year," he said.

___

Pietro De Cristofaro in Berlin contributed to this report.

Located in the heart of Palm Springs, Division is a boutique retail store specializing in mid-century modern home goods, gifts, and accessories. The business is proudly gay-owned and operated, a fact embraced by both its clientele and the broader community . Division’s founders opened the store with a mission: to create a welcoming environment for LGBTQ people, their allies, and anyone who values creative self-expression.

The shop’s inventory reflects a curated aesthetic that blends Palm Springs’ signature mid-century style with contemporary queer culture. From art prints by LGBTQ artists to rainbow-themed decor and inclusive greeting cards, Division offers products that celebrate diversity and foster connection.

Beyond retail, Division Palm Springs actively participates in the city’s extensive LGBTQ calendar. The store features in local Pride celebrations, donates a portion of proceeds to LGBTQ charities, and regularly hosts pop-up events spotlighting queer creators and causes . This involvement solidifies Division’s role as more than just a shop—it functions as a gathering spot and cultural hub within the city’s LGBTQ landscape.

Palm Springs is celebrated for its inclusivity, and businesses like Division play a significant part in maintaining that reputation. Their visible support for LGBTQ rights, both in-store and through social media, reinforces the city’s image as a safe space for transgender people, nonbinary individuals, and the wider queer community .

Division Palm Springs’ success mirrors a broader trend of LGBTQ-owned businesses thriving in tourist hotspots. In destinations like Palm Springs, openly queer entrepreneurs contribute to the local economy, enhance cultural offerings, and ensure that visitors feel seen and supported. According to travel guides and LGBTQ tourism experts, such businesses are integral to the fabric of queer-friendly cities, helping to shape inclusive experiences for travelers from around the globe .

Division’s leadership recognizes the power of visibility. Their storefront regularly displays LGBTQ pride flags, and the staff undergoes sensitivity training to ensure all customers are treated with respect regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation .

What distinguishes Division Palm Springs is not just its stylish merchandise, but the sense of affirmation it provides. The business has become a model for queer-owned enterprises in tourist destinations, demonstrating that commercial success and social responsibility can go hand in hand. Visitors consistently report feeling welcomed and valued, noting the staff’s knowledge of LGBTQ resources and events as an added benefit of shopping at Division .

For travelers seeking more than sun and scenery, Division Palm Springs offers a meaningful stop: a place where design, diversity, and community coalesce in the heart of the desert.

When friends and family can't join her, or if she just wants to decompress, Ross will jet-set by herself and have a fabulous time doing it. She says she takes at least one solo trip a year by herself, and if vacationing with others, might stay a little longer to include alone time.

In a new three-part docuseries streaming on Roku Channel, “Solo Traveling with Tracee Ellis Ross,” a camera crew follows the actor on solo trips to Marrakech, Morocco; Cancún, Mexico; and Marbella, Spain.

Ross says her first solo travel experience was in her 20s, and she's learned over the years that even the uncomfortable moments of being by herself have given her coping skills for everyday life.

“What I find is that I gain a muscle strength around being uncomfortable," she told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "It’s like when a baseball player swings with two bats, and then by the time they get to the one bat, it feels lighter. When you get back into your regular day life and uncomfortable things happen, I have muscle memory to know how to walk through this on my own."

Ross shared tips to traveling as a party of one:

Ease into it

“Start by going to dinner by yourself,” Ross says. “And if you feel nervous about doing that, go to dinner by yourself on a Tuesday night at 6 o'clock and work your way up to going to dinner by yourself on a Saturday or Friday night at 8 o'clock.

“Walk up to the host and say, ‘I need a table for one.’ See what it feels like to be in that experience because it will only be that times 10 on vacation.”

She suggests bringing something like a book or an iPad when you're eating alone, and also for when you're spending time in your room.

That way, “if you end up having to stay in your hotel room the whole time and only going to a restaurant in your hotel or somewhere just around the corner, you don’t feel like you have ruined your trip and done something stupid.”

Know why you're taking the trip

Ross says there are different reasons for solo trips and you need to understand what yours is.

“Are you going on a solo trip because you’re single and want to meet other people? Are you going on a solo trip because your life is overwhelmed with your children, your dogs, your cats, your job, your life, your survival, all the things, and you’re going to have a moment to sort of recharge and get away by yourself? Or are you going for an adventure?” she asks.

Once you've decided what kind of experience you're seeking, you can make plans to achieve it realistically and safely.

Safety, safety, safety

No matter how independent you are, certain kinds of travelers are more vulnerable than others, especially if they're by themselves, Ross notes. Take safety seriously when mapping out your itinerary.

"You might not feel vulnerable, but depending on where you're going, it might leave you vulnerable. That's a very specific distinction and something to plan for in order to have a good experience," she says.

“If you are a Black woman, if you are a woman, if you are LGBTQIA, if you are non-binary, if you are differently abled — that might leave you vulnerable in a foreign place. Make sure you do the best diligence you can to make sure you’re going somewhere that can create a sense of safety for you with whatever those vulnerabilities," she says.

Ross prefers to travel to destinations with resorts where she can feel safe on her own. “It allows me to not have to adventure off property,” she said. And she returns to places where she's found comfort “all the time.”

Research many other parts of the trip too

Ross says she's a planner by nature and does a lot of research online. She also asks around for info about best navigating the experience from beginning to end.

She likes to know whether particular airports are busy and what to expect when she gets there. If it's a big airport and there's a lot of walking, she makes sure she has comfortable shoes. She also will pack a personal fan if it's going to be hot.

Knowing what to expect won't just lead to feeling prepared and comfortable in general but feeling prepared and comfortable by yourself.

The 10-episode take on England’s beloved medieval outlaw who, in lore, stole from the rich to give to the poor, comes from Lionsgate Television, and is expected to premiere on MGM+ in the U.S. and parts of Europe later this year.

The Associated Press recently visited the set in Simanovci, the village which is home to a film studio and not far from the capital of Belgrade. Thorough research for the series was visible in the scenography and costumes, taking the cast — and the studio — back in time to the stony interiors of a candlelit castle, complete with stained-glass lancet windows.

The “sweeping, romantic adventure” offers a historically grounded look into how Robin Hood grew up to become an outlaw-turned-hero in the wake of the Norman conquest of England, the producers say.

“We actually show the beginning of Robin Hood,” producer, director and writer Jonathan English, who was a main driving force behind the project, said in an interview. “We start the story with him as a child.”

Self-described as a “huge fan of all things medieval,” English marveled at Robin Hood's persistent global appeal.

“You can stop a pensioner on the streets of Belgrade and he knows who Robin Hood is. You can stop a teenager on the streets of Beijing, and they know who Robin Hood is,” he said.

Asked whether the story is still relevant, following countless cinematic and small-screen adaptations, English insisted that “it is incredibly relevant, probably more today than ... 50 years ago or 100 years ago, even.”

“It’s a story about class and the absolute tyranny of class, people who believe that they can have everything and control everything and can own everything and everybody else could just, you know, get lost,” he said. “There’s always been wealthy people, but now you have uber-rich people. And the divide between the uber-rich and the rest of the world is extraordinary now.”

The show’s plot centers strongly on the romance between Robin and Marian. He is a Saxon forester’s son and Marian is the daughter of a Norman lord but they overcome the divide to jointly fight for freedom and against injustice.

Australian actor Jack Patten plays Robin, joined by Lauren McQueen as Marian. The two appear alongside Sean Bean as the notorious Sheriff of Nottingham, and Connie Nielsen, who plays Eleanor of Aquitaine, the queen of England and wife of Henry II.

Patten admitted he was nervous ahead of his “third gig since getting out of drama school.” His Robin is “any young 24-year-old ... trying to find his place in the world” and who “gets dealt some pretty tricky cards.”

McQueen said Marian's character will be “quite empowering” for young women watching the series.

Filmed in multiple locations in Serbia and with hundreds of staff and crew, the series is “huge” even by Hollywood standards, showrunner and writer John Glenn said. He described the new show as “much more Peaky Blinders in tone” than previous incarnations, referring to the hit U.K. TV series about gangsters in 1920s Birmingham.

Both Glenn and English said they chose Serbia because of high-standard facilities and crews but also because of the natural scenery that could mimic a medieval English landscape.

“It’s hard to find ancient forests now in England,” English said. “There’s not a lot of undeveloped wilderness."

“We realized that it’s not that easy to get married in Poland,” the 30-year-old Kujawińska said as the couple waited for their 10-minute ceremony at the Danish capital's 19th-century City Hall.

“You need a certificate that you are not married,” she said. "We tried to get it from Colombia, but it’s only valid for three months, and it couldn’t get to Poland from Colombia in three months. It was just impossible for us.”

The couple, who live in Krakow, had been engaged for more than three years when Kujawińska heard about Denmark's relatively relaxed marriage laws from a colleague. Working with an online wedding planner, the couple prepared the necessary documents.

“And in four days, we had the decision that the marriage could be done here,” a smiling Kujawińska said.

Copenhagen attracts couples from around the world

Couples who don't live in Denmark, both mixed- and same-sex, are increasingly getting married in the Scandinavian country — prompting some to dub Copenhagen the “Las Vegas of Europe.”

The head of the marriage office at Copenhagen City Hall, Anita Okkels Birk Thomsen, said that about 8,000 wedding ceremonies were performed there last year. Of those, some 5,400 of them were for couples in which neither partner was a Danish resident.

“That’s almost double what we saw five years ago,” she said. “They come from all over the world.”

City wants to ensure room for locals

But the city sees a downside to that: demand for ceremonies at City Hall now far exceeds the number of slots available.

Mia Nyegaard, the Copenhagen official in charge of culture and leisure, said in a statement to The Associated Press that the “significant rise” in the number of foreign couples getting married in the capital “poses challenges for Copenhagen-based couples wishing to get married.”

Local authorities plan to take action. Nyegaard said about 40% of wedding slots available at City Hall will be reserved for Copenhagen residents starting from the end of October. While booking a slot there is the most obvious way to get married in the city, arranging a ceremony with a private registrar is also an option, and that won't be affected.

Copenhagen lawmakers will look after the summer break at what else they can do to relieve overall pressure on wedding capacity in the city.

Liberal laws

Denmark's marriage laws are liberal in several ways. In 1989, the country became the world's first to allow the registration of same-sex civil unions. The legalization of same-sex marriage followed in 2012.

For unions of all kinds, Denmark — unlike many other European countries — doesn't require a birth certificate or proof of single status to obtain a certificate that grants the right to get married in Denmark within four months. Officials might, in cases where divorce papers don't show clearly that a divorce has been finalized, ask for a civil status certificate.

Applications to Denmark's agency of family law cost 2,100 kroner ($326), and couples are issued with a certificate within five working days if they satisfy the requirements.

Non-resident couples can travel to Denmark and get married with just a valid passport and, if required, a tourist visa.

“We get that thing like, ‘Are you sure we do not need a birth certificate?’ And we go, ‘Yes,’” said Rasmus Clarck Sørensen, director of Getting Married in Denmark.

Clarck Sørensen, a Dane, began the wedding planning business with his British wife back in 2014.

“In the last 20, 30 years, people just meet more across borders," he said. “Marriage rules are often made for two people of the same country getting married.”

“They kind of piled on patches onto marriage law, and a lot of people get trapped in those patches,” he added.

His online company’s “Complete Service” package, priced at 875 euros ($1,014), includes help gathering all the necessary documents, processing the certificate application and organizing the date of the ceremony.

The business says it helped over 2,600 couples last year.

Copenhagen, easily Denmark's biggest city with the country's best transport links, is the most popular location and so far appears to be the only one struggling with demand.

Any changes to the city's rules will come too late to bother newlyweds Kujawińska and Valenzuela, who are now busy planning a celebration in Poland with family and friends.

“It means a lot for us because we’ve been waiting a lot for this,” Kujawińska said. “We’re really happy.”