Journey of Pride: 4 Ways LGBTQ Family Travel is Different

Two children playing on a beach

LGBTQ family travel planning is a bit more complicated, thanks to homophobic laws that impact comfort and safety. My experience with LGBTQ family travel comes from trips I’ve planned myself, group tours I’ve taken with my mother, and weekend trips with family. Whether it’s crossing state lines or traveling overseas, I’ve been surprised (in ways good and bad) at the different reception an LGBTQ family gets when checking into a hotel or going on an excursion.

Read on for four ways LGBTQ family travel is different and my best safety tip for LGBTQ families.

1. LGBTQ Friendly holiday destinations aren’t always family-friendly

The best place for an LGBTQ family trip is an LGBTQ friendly holiday destination, right?

That’s where it gets tricky. Many of the most popular LGBT friendly holiday destinations aren’t the most family-friendly.

Classic gay and lesbian vacation spots such as Fire Island and Provincetown are oriented toward adult travel including LGBTQ couples trips. Many hotels, restaurants and bars cater to an adult scene.

Since hotels cater to an adult crowd, there are fewer amenities for families traveling with children.

Guests may be caught off-guard by LGBT families with children in tow when they thought they were getting an LGBT couples vacation at a cute bed and breakfast by the beach.

I’m baffled every time I see families with kids in Ptown, walking from the gallery side of town toward the more queer area of Commercial Street. Every other town on Cape Cod is perfect for family travelโ€ฆdo they have to come to our queer adult playground, too?

View of Provincetown Cape Cod, a popular LGBTQ family travel destination | Journey of Pride: 4 Ways LGBTQ Family Travel is Different

And are queer adults expected to tone down their PDAs and revelry for the comfort of families with children?

This isn’t to say that rainbow families shouldn’t visit LGBT friendly holiday destinations โ€“ just that the topic is more complex than it might seem. If the vacation town has a booming queer scene, then it’s worth considering whether the activities on offer are suitable for the age of the children. One compromise is to stay a couple of towns over from the gay travel hotspot and visit, rather than base your family holiday around the queer scene.

2. LGBTQ Families need inclusive accommodations

A gay hotel is sure to be LGBTQ friendly, right?

Actually, I’ve felt just as unseen and unwelcome at gay hotels as I have at hotels that don’t cater to the LGBTQ community.

When I checked into a gay hotel in Cambodia with my wife, we were asked if we wanted a room with one bed or two. When we asked for a room with one bed, the clerk repeated that he could give us a room with two beds.

LGBTQ people get used to not being seen or having our needs considered.

Consider the high percentage of coworkers who don’t want to hear about family stories or dates when they involve LGBTQ people, but think nothing of dating stories or family drama from cisgender, heterosexual colleagues, just to name one common and grating example.

When LGBTQ travelers feel like they are not seen or are actively disrespected during check-in, the interaction sets a negative tone for the family holiday.

If hotels want to meet the needs of LGBTQ travelers, including families, it starts with proper training at the front desk.

“Simple things like respecting pronouns and recognizing when you are dealing with a queer couple can make all the difference,” GAY TIMES editor Lewis Corner says in Globetrender’s The Future of Queer Travel report.

Filtering hotel reviews by phrases like “LGBTQ” can provide insight into the experiences of other LGBTQ travelers who have stayed at various accommodations. Additionally, reaching out directly to the property and asking about their practices and resources regarding LGBTQ families can help gauge their level of inclusivity.

Two moms relax in a swimming pool at a beach resort | Journey of Pride: 4 Ways LGBTQ Family Travel is Different

Training hotel staff on how to respectfully meet the needs of queer travelers is a first step in making hotels actually inclusive of LGBTQ families. But what about other guests?

LGTBQ families deserve assurances that their children can enjoy hotel amenities without rude questions or stares from other guests. The question becomes, how can accommodations go beyond stock photos of same-sex families or rainbow flags during Pride month to make LGBTQ people feel welcome?

3. Family travel resources don’t recognize LGBTQ Family Travel needs

LGBTQ families have always existed. But as a travel demographic, we are more visible in recent years, thanks to laws and policies that support us.

Our relative ‘newness’ means that many tour operators are travel companies haven’t fully considered what we need, or how an LGBTQ family holiday in Canada is different from any other family holiday in Canada.

As a result, they often take the same 5-day itinerary and slap an LGBTQ label on it, complete with some stock photos of same-sex couples and rainbow flags.

Rainbow flags in the window to suggest Pride | Journey of Pride: 4 Ways LGBTQ Family Travel is Different

As a destination, Canada is safe and supportive for LGBTQ families.

But slapping the label “LGBTQ guide to” on a standard itinerary is not the way to encourage LGBTQ bookings.

LGBTQ families booking group tours should do their own research and understand how the company supports LGBTQ year round, including employee partnerships and training in a destination.

Affiliations and partnerships can help LGBTQ+ families sift through pinkwashing brands to find tour companies that understand LGBTQ needs.

Affiliations to look for include membership in IGLTA, the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, or Travel Unity, a DEI travel nonprofit.

4. LGBTQ Family Travel Requires Understanding Laws and Rights

Safety is a top consideration for LGBTQ travelers. But especially for families.

LGBTQ parents need to consider their children’s safety first and foremost. That means not exposing the children to harm or taking unnecessary risk by traveling to a place where their identities are criminalized. If they do plan a bucket list trip to countries that criminalize homosexuality, they’ll take extra steps to reduce the risk.

This may be one reason why Airbnbs are more popular among LGBTQ travelers than the general population, according to research from Morning Consult Brand Intelligence.

Some LGBTQ families may feel more secure in a vacation rental, where they won’t interact with other guests or staff, than in a hotel.

Travel safety is not guaranteed. Things can go wrong anywhere, for any reason.

But smart travelers learn to anticipate and minimize risks wherever they go.

By traveling with LGBTQ-aware companies, booking inclusive hotels and picking destinations that welcome LGBTQ travelers, LGBTQ families can plan a successful family holiday.


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