Everyone deserves a love story, but let’s face it: dating within the LGBTQ community isn’t cakewalk. This is especially true for those just coming to terms with their sexuality and are unsure where to start. There are a few options to kick off the quest for love, from LGBTQ-friendly bars to online forums and dating apps. Still, the experience can be quite nerve-wracking without some kind of guide. In the spirit of Pride Month this June, here are five practical tips from people’s experiences to help kindle the chance for romance:






 
Know Your Comfort Level

The LGBTQ community is vast with many levels of coming out. Simple gestures such as holding hands or hugging in public may already be an issue for some, while others may avoid dating in certain places for fear of being seen by family or friends. If you are similarly on the shy side, you may feel more comfortable dating someone equally reserved. It’s understandable that courage can take time, and there’s no shame coming out step by step.



Consider Safe Spaces

The typical coffee shop or restaurant isn’t bad for a meet-up, but if you want a sure-fire, LGBTQ-friendly place in Metro Manila, here’s a few you can consider. Fred’s Revolucion is one among other establishments in Cubao Expo, Quezon City, that signed up for the Safe Space Campaign in 2013 to show commitment in the fight against homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. Another is Uno Morato, a cultural hub, coffee shop, and bar along Maginhawa Street, Quezon City, where LGBTQ dates would not feel out of place. In Poblacion, Makati, Commune offers great Philippine coffee and conversation for any and all visitors. There’s plenty more places like these where you and your date can feel more secure opening up, so be sure to look up LGBTQ-friendly spaces online when planning a casual meet-up.



Build Rapport

Chances are your date is just as anxious, more so if you two are newly out and new to the dating scene. In that case, it’s ok to tell your date that you’re nervous to help lighten the mood. Break the ice further by asking basic questions about work, school, hobbies, or future plans, and don’t be afraid to talk about yourself. Being too cautious would only make you look boring, disinterested, or untrustworthy. Should you talk about politics and religion? Some advise against it, but if you’re serious about finding a long-term partner, you would want to know whether your values and principles match. Just keep an open mind and stay cool even if the other one takes a stance opposite yours. Do watch out about getting too personal once the ball starts rolling, like suddenly talking about bedroom fantasies or exes if there are any. You want your date to feel safe, not pressured, objectified, or plainly creeped out.


 
Set Realistic Expectations

It’s not wrong to have standards when dating, but remember that no one is perfect. Don’t let a stringent checklist or ideal preference stop you from enjoying the company of new people. It’s also important not to be too self-conscious, so be yourself and laugh a little. Who knows, your date might just find you attractive and you click from the get go. There are a few red flags, of course, like if your date is rude to the wait staff or has terrible hygiene. Otherwise, be confident and have fun.



Drop a Message

Even if a first date isn’t successful, it’s polite to say something after. Most people today, including members of the LGBTQ community, resort to ghosting—suddenly disappearing from contact without explanation—hoping to get their message across, but imagine being in that other person’s shoes. Rejection is tough, and it gets tougher if you don’t know why. Always follow the golden rule. Send the other person a message saying thanks for hanging out with you, and that you think you don’t match or didn’t feel a romantic connection. On the other hand, if you liked your date, be sure to say that you enjoyed the evening and are interested in seeing him or her again. Don’t sound too pushy, though. Your date is also evaluating you, so give the other person a chance to accept or deny the offer of a second meeting.

LGBTQ dating in the real world isn’t something openly televised or given exposure on media. Fortunately, some shows like First Dates feature everyday people, men and women across the rainbow spectrum, going on blind dates—real-life scenarios perfect for a few lessons on dating. Want more tips on how to go about dating in the LGBTQ world? See how aspiring couples take a shot at love on First Dates, Tuesdays at 8:50PM, first and exclusive on Blue Ant Entertainment.

Blue Ant Entertainment is available on SKYcable channels 53 (SD) and 196 (HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channels 37 (SD) and 313 (HD).
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More than the power and prestige that monarchs hold, it’s the artifacts and buildings signifying sovereignty that capture people’s imaginations. From the Forbidden City in Beijing to the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London, these regal legacies embody the pomp and splendor of royalty commoners can only dream of.

We commoners may never get the chance to own these regal vestments and mansions. But with good enough savings, we can at least treat ourselves to a luxury vacation for a glimpse of these once-exclusive royal attractions. Thinking of spending a little to see some of history's most renowned symbols of royalty? Here are a few ideas that will take you beyond the usual experience of crowns and castles.

Symbols of Japan’s Chrysanthemum Throne



Just a few kilometers from Tokyo Station in Japan, the Imperial Palace offers scenic views in the East Garden where the public can stroll around arboreal spaces surrounded by deep moats and towering stone walls. Guided tours are restricted outside the buildings. Fortunately, the inner precincts open during two occasions: the customary New Year’s greeting every January 2 and the Emperor’s birthday.

As for Japan’s Imperial Regalia, the Three Sacred Treasures are distributed in three holy shrines dedicated to the Shinto Goddess Amaterasu: the jewel Yasakani no Magatama housed in the Imperial Palace; the mirror Yata no Kagami kept in the Grand Shrine of Ise, Mie Prefecture; and the sword Kusanagi no Tsurugi located in Atsuta Shrine at Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. These relics are not on public display, but tourists can still visit the Museum of the Imperial Collections in the East Garden to see the imperial household treasures including paintings, pottery, sculptures, and calligraphy.

Seat of Thailand’s Royal House


In the heart of Bangkok, Thailand, the Grand Palace boasts impressive architecture with several gilded pagodas and intricate embellishments on pavilions, temples, and royal halls. Proper clothing such as long pants and sleeves is a must to gain entry as part of a dress code; otherwise, a booth at the entrance can provide clothes for a small deposit fee.

The Thai royal regalia consist of several items used for the coronation rites. These include the Royal Nine-Tiered Umbrella, the Great Crown of Victory, the Sword of Victory, the Royal Staff, the Royal Slippers, the Royal Fan and Flywhisk, the four Royal Utensils, and the eight Weapons of Sovereignty. All these together with other national treasures are on display in the Pavilion of Regalia, Royal Decorations and Coins at the Grand Palace.

Remains of the Holy Roman Empire

 
Dominating the Nuremburg skyline in Bavaria, Germany, is Kaiserburg Castle, home to the German kings of the Holy Roman Empire for about 500 years.  Notable attractions include the Romanesque double chapel featuring a Gothic crucifix by Northern Renaissance German sculptor, Veit Stross. Others are the Imperial Apartments containing antique furniture, tapestries, and artwork, as well as the Imperial Castle Museum featuring an array of armaments.

The Imperial Regalia, however, is housed in Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria. On display include the stone-studded Imperial Crown, the Imperial Scepter, the Imperial Orb, the Imperial Sword, and the Holy Lance said to have pierced the side of Jesus during his crucifixion. These, among a host of regalia and reliquaries on exhibit, are only part of a large secular collection from across Europe.


Pride of Scotland

 
 Tourists at the United Kingdom often think of the Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London’s 140 royal ceremonial objects including the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s Orb, and the Sovereign’s Scepter when planning a royal sightseeing. For a different monarchical experience, Scotland is a must-visit.


Standing on an outcrop of volcanic rock, Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle has seen plenty of palace intrigues, imprisonments, and even murders throughout the stronghold’s centuries-old history. Some of the places to explore include the twelfth-century St. Margaret’s Chapel, the massive Mons Meg cannon, and the Stone of Destiny used for the coronation of Scottish monarchs and, later on, the monarchs of unified Great Britain.

The Scottish Crown Jewels once worn by Mary Queen of Scots are on display in the Crown Room of Edinburgh Castle together with the Stone of Destiny. Known as the Honours of Scotland, these royal articles include the Crown first donned by James V, the Scepter gifted to James IV by Pope Alexander VI, and the Sword of State also given to James IV by Pope Julius II.



As the oldest set of crown jewels in the British Isles, the Honours played many roles from crowing ancient Scottish kings and queens to representing the Monarch at the Scottish Parliament in modern times. Curious about the history of the Scottish regalia and its first possessors? Follow the exploits of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots, in Reign, every Tuesday at 9:45PM on Blue Ant Entertainment.

Blue Ant Entertainment is available on SKYcable channels 53 (SD) and 196 (HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channels 37 (SD) and 313 (HD).
For more updates, follow Blue Ant Entertainment at www.facebook.com/BlueAntEntertainment/, @BlueAntEnt on Twitter, and @BlueAntEntertainment on Instagram.