USA

States in USA

Name: Vereinigte Staaten · Etats-Unis · Estados Unidos · Stati Uniti
Location: North America
Initials: USA
International country code: 1 (omit 1 from area code)
International access code: 011
Language: English, (Spanish)
Area: 9,809,155 km² / 3,615,102 sq mi.
Currency: 1 US Dollar (US$) = 100 Cents
Population: 308,000,000
Capital: Washington D.C.
Religions: 26% Catholic, 16% Baptists, 6% Methodists
Climate: Most of the country east of the Rockies is hot and humid during summer, especially the south. The deserts between the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada are very hot and dry during the summer, especially in the southwest. California's southern coast is comfortable year-round.
Important gay cities: Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Key West, Los Angeles, New York City, New Orleans, Palm Springs, Provincetown, San Diego, San Francisco.

Sexual acts between persons of the same sex have been legal nationwide in the USA since 2003. The United States same-sex marriage laws are governed by the fifty U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Consequently, recognition of same-sex marriages differs from state to state. The five U.S. states where same-sex marriages are recognized include: Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and District of Columbia. The current situation in California is complicated. Please refer to the following website for actual information: www.ncsl.org Things are slowly changing in the United States: The Obama administration removed the entry restrictions to the USA based on HIV status. The removal of HIV-related travel restrictions in the US overturns a policy that had been in place since 1987. President Obama has furthermore championed a reform of the healthcare system - a truly gigantic task which, owing to the massive opposition of the Tea Party, a by now politically influential group within the Republican Party, only took the political hurdles in a highly diluted form. In December 2011, a historic vote in the senate abolished the "Don't ask, don't tell" doctrine originally introduced by Bill Clinton, enabling gays and lesbians to serve their country openly, as Obama emphasized. Attention: In many states in the USA it is necessary to show ID when entering a club or bar, even if everyone can see you are over 18 /21 years of age. This is a non-discriminatory policy as everyone is asked to show ID. If you have no ID card take your passport with you. A driver's licence is often not accepted. In our events calendar at the back of this guide you will find an extensive list of the Pride Events for the entire North American gay scene. From the 12th January, 2009 new entry rules for USA tourists apply. A visa for the entry in the USA must be applied for before the flight via Internet - and no longer during the flight on board. This form must be completed at the latest 72 hours before the flight. The ESTA form (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) is available online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov