www.damron.com
In 1964, a businessman published a book of all the gay bars he knew from his constant travels across the United States. This book could fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Despite its petite size, this book was an impressive accomplishment. Each and every one of the listings he had visited himself. Every last copy of the book he sold himself. The name of this pioneering businessman: Bob Damron.
Today, the Damron Men's Travel Guide (aka Damron Address Book) remains a bestseller. And it remains the model for the countless gay travel guides that have followed.
The Damron Company itself has been through a lot of changes since 1964. The company has grown quite a bit, and since the early '90s has been headed up by President and Editor-in-Chief, Gina Gatta. We publish four regular titles: the annual Men's Travel Guide and Women's Traveler, in addition to the sesquiannual Damron City Guide and Damron Accommodations. We also pioneered a city series with the publication of Damron Amsterdam in 1998.
It has been a struggle at times to maintain our position as "the first name in gay travel" over the past decade. Many straight-run competitors realized the value of the gay dollar and began courting gay consumers ferociously in the late '90s. Fortunately, the Damron name has remained a friendly face among a sea of newcomers. We've worked hard to keep up with the changing times, the Damron website and online searchable database are very popular. Our editors are constantly researching and adding new info for more destinations around the globe, and we are always redefining—and re-designing—ourselves to let the world know that Damron is still here, still queer, and still the experts!
