You may have heard the good news that Guam is the latest territory to allow same-sex marriage. What you may not have heard is that almost nobody knows what Guam is, where Guam is, or how Guam is part of the USA and not be a state. So this time around, it’s time for some introductions.
Tropical and topical, Guam is part of Oceania, the same group of Pacific islands that includes Fiji and Tahiti, but is closer to China than it is to the American mainland or even Hawaii. To boot, Guam is so far west it is actually “east” by being just behind the International Dateline. The native Chamorros were first to arrive, followed by the Spanish, who then gave up the island to the Yankees after the Spanish-American War in 1898. Since then, the tropical island has been a U.S Territory, which is sort-of-but-not-really like a protectorate. Guam is under the umbrella of US protection, uses the dollar, and Guamanians have full American citizenship, but the island is not a state and cannot participate in the federal government. Despite the presence of a large US naval base on Guam, leaders in the capital of Hagåtña (“Huh-gatnyuh”) conduct the island’s affairs largely free of Washington. Guamanians can drink at 18, for example.
So that’s the basics. Being so far from the USA, Guam is doing a pretty good job of staying off the mass-travel map. To be sure, this is not a nexus of activity, but more of a true tropical island getaway destination. Guam actually gets more tourists from Japan than America, but unlike the thoroughly “done” Pacific destinations like Oahu or Bora-Bora, intrepid travelers have waiting for them a more authentic island experience than elsewhere.
It also has a surprisingly strong gay nightlife scene, which only proliferated after LGBTQs were allowed to serve openly in the US Armed Forces (remember that naval base?). Most same-sex sex revolves around Tumon Town, a little north of Hagåtña and the center of the tourism biz on Guam. Denial and Euphoria are the clubs to hit, Ypao Beach is the cruising zone, and the Fiesta Resort and Aqua Suites are the gay-friendly hotels. Curiously, I’ve been told by several sources that the island population trends heavily bi.
As for what to do during daylight hours, scuba diving, sea-wreck exploration in azure waters, and tours of coral reefs top the list. Or just sitting back without a care in the world. That alone should bring the masses in.
For more information, go to visitguam.com. Contact Steele Luxury Travel for all of your travel planning needs to Guam and beyond. https://steeletravel.com