Washington Gays Do It With An International Flair  By Ed Walsh "I know people whose little black book looks like a passport," gay Washington, D.C. resident Charles Coveleski said. "A friend told me that Ireland and Nicaragua are the only two countries he hasn't slept with." Although most big cities claim to have a diverse gay population, none has anything on "The District," as locals call it. Coveleski once managed the city's well-known Lambda Rising bookstore and noticed that Washington's penchant for diversity was reflected even in the tastes of the gay men who bought pornographic magazines, with publications that specialize in men from other countries or men of color outpacing the sale of Falcon-esque magazines. Coveleski is currently a sales manager at the Radisson Barcelo, a hotel popular with gay tourists because of its location in the heart of the gay Dupont Circle neighborhood (AKA "Bouffant Circle."). Coveleski and the Radisson's Director of Sales and Marketing, Jim Bischoff,

 City. They estimate that about a third of their hotel guests are gay. Washington's gay bars are also known for drawing large numbers of active military members. And despite recent efforts by activists to expose gay legislative aides who work for antigay politicians, the predominate attitude among most Capital gays is to keep politics and play separate. Heightened security measures in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the more recent threat warnings have had little impact in the gay areas of the city. That's in sharp contrast to many government buildings and monuments that have taken on a fortress-like appearance with concrete barriers and armed guards. Diversity and politics aside, Washington is home to a large and growing gay community. Riding that trend, its convention and visitors bureau launched an initiative last year to court the gay market that includes taking full-page ads out in gay publications. Its official Web site, www.Washington.org,

 also openly gay, have noticed first-hand the important financial impact of gay tourism to the Capital City. They estimate that about a third of their hotel guests are gay. Washington's gay bars are also known for drawing large numbers of active military members. And despite recent efforts by activists to expose gay legislative aides who work for antigay politicians, the predominate attitude among most Capital gays is to keep politics and play separate. Heightened security measures in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the more recent threat warnings have had little impact in the gay areas of the city. That's in sharp contrast to many government buildings and monuments that have taken on a fortress-like appearance with concrete barriers and armed guards. Diversity and politics aside, Washington is home to a large and growing gay community. Riding that trend, its convention and visitors bureau launched an initiative last year to court

 prominently features a section for gay visitors. "Washington has taken a very proactive stance to welcome the gay market," affirmed Hector Torres, the openly gay vice president of Capital Hotels, which owns the gay-friendly St. Gregory and Governor's House hotels. Gay visitors have also helped bolster the city's normally slow summer tourist market. "Years ago it was a deserted city after June 15," Torres noted. The historical gay center of Washington is Dupont Circle. In the 60s, it became a popular gathering place for hippies protesting the Vietnam War. The clubs in the Dupont Circle area include the popular Omega (2122 P Street NW), the Apex dance bar (1415 22nd Street NW) and The Fireplace (2161 P Streets NW at 22nd Street). In recent years, an area of 17th Street, between P& U Streets, has overtaken Dupont Circle as the area with the most gay businesses. It's home to Cobalt (1639 R Street NW), JR.'s (1519 17th Street NW), the Levi/leather-themed Green Lantern/Tool Shed

 the gay market that includes taking full-page ads out in gay publications. Its official Web site, www.Washington.org, prominently features a section for gay visitors. "Washington has taken a very proactive stance to welcome the gay market," affirmed Hector Torres, the openly gay vice president of Capital Hotels, which owns the gay-friendly St. Gregory and Governor's House hotels. Gay visitors have also helped bolster the city's normally slow summer tourist market. "Years ago it was a deserted city after June 15," Torres noted. The historical gay center of Washington is Dupont Circle. In the 60s, it became a popular gathering place for hippies protesting the Vietnam War. The clubs in the Dupont Circle area include the popular Omega (2122 P Street NW), the Apex dance bar (1415 22nd Street NW) and The Fireplace (2161 P Streets NW at 22nd Street). In recent years, an area of 17th Street, between P& U Streets, has overtaken Dupont Circle as the area with the most gay businesses. It's home to

 (1335 Green Court NW), and Dik (1637 17th Street NW). The newest gay area is forming nearby on 14th Street, near U Street, anchored by the popular Hamburger Mary's, the Titan bar just upstairs from Mary's, and the Crew Club, a bathhouse. The three aforementioned gay areas are in walking distance of each other and are close to the Dupont Circle Metro station. A small cluster of gay bars including the lesbian club Phase One, AKA "The Phase" (525 8th Street SE) and the popular country and western bar Remington's, (639 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE) can be found in the Southeast neighborhood, near the Capitol building. You'll also find the popular gay-friendly restaurant and bar Mr. Henry's (601 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) and the Banana Cafe and Piano Bar (500 8th Street SE) there. Besides its deserved reputation for diversity, Washington's gay scene is known for another unique feature--completely nude gay strip bars. They are centered south of Capitol Hill, near the Navy Yard Metro Station. The clubs

 include Ziegfeld's/Secrets (1345 Half Street SE), Wet (52 L Street SE) and the Follies (24 O Street SE.) That area, primarily industrial, is also home to the bathhouses Club Washington and the Glorious Health Club (AKA the Glory Holes.) Be warned that it's a dicey neighborhood. A cab is a good way to get there especially late at night. Unlike most of Washington, there's plenty of free parking there if you are in a rental car. Where to Stay There are no exclusively gay hotels in the District but below are a sampling of some gay-friendly ones. Rooms start at about $100, but check the hotels for specials particularly in the summer or when Congress is on vacation. Radisson Barcelo, 2121 P Street NW, a great location in the heart of the gay Dupont Circle area. Short walking distance to a number of gay clubs. Washington Plaza Hotel, 10 Thomas Circle, N.W., is known for its expansive pool, one of the largest in Washington. It has 340 rooms and 370 "pool members," residents who pay a $400 annual fee to use the very gay friendly pool. Day use is $25. The hotel has hosted a number of gay events. In July, it hosted a pool party fund-raiser for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Hotel Helix (1430 Rhode Island Avenue NW). Each room is this boutique hotel, owned by the San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels, is a piece of pop art to itself. It features an "Over the Rainbow" weekend special that it began in June 2004 in honor of the city's pride events. For $329 per night, you'll get massages for two, a bottle of champagne, a copy of the Washington Blade, a GLBT City Guide and a "pot of gold candy as a sweet finale." St. Gregory Hotel on 2033 M Street, NW. Even if you're not staying there, stop in the lobby to take a picture with a life-sized replica of Marilyn Monroe. The statue replicates the famous picture of her getting her skirt blown up. The St. Gregory's sister hotel, the Governor's House, is on 1615 Rhode Island Street NW at 17th Street, close to the 17th Street clubs. It features a weekend summer special of $130 for two nights. Getting Around Washington has a very easy, safe, clean and efficient subway system. Its routes are color coded. Your fare is dependent on how far you go. If you decide to rent a car, beware that parking is very difficult around most of Washington including the gay Dupont Circle and 17th Street areas. The sights Most of Washington's most popular attractions, including the monuments, the Smithsonian, and the Holocaust Museum are free.