Gay travel seems like a shorthand for LGBTQ+ travel. And some creators use it that way. But there’s an important difference. To start understanding gay travel vs queer travel, let’s look at who gay travel is created by and who it’s created for––as well as who gets left out of the conversation when gay is used as shorthand for LGBT.
While nine states passed laws banning trans youth from participating in team sports this year, adult sports are doubling down on LGBTQI inclusion. To date, there are over 200 road races – including some of the most competitive marathons – that allow nonbinary runners. Read on for a list of US and international marathons that accept nonbinary runners to add to your LGBTQ travel plans, plus some context. on why inclusion of nonbinary athletes is so important.
We’re turning the spotlight on the growing number of queer bike clubs that are working to make cycling more welcoming and inclusive for queer, non-binary, and femme-identified riders!
The new wave of bike clubs celebrate diversity and cultivate supportive environments tailored to the needs of queer, trans, non-binary and femme cyclists.
And they are grounded in a supportive and inclusive, all levels welcome framework.
Group rides are frequently no drop–– going at the pace of the slowest rider, with no pressure to speed up. And many offer gear lending libraries and skills workshops to build comfort and confidence among newer riders.
Ever since my first backpacking trip in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, I’ve loved hiking. But as a queer person, I haven’t always feel comfortable to be my full self on the trail. Aside from one unpleasant incident in Shenandoah National Park, other hikers haven’t said or done anything to make me feel like…
Camping skills are survival skills. While I understood this intellectually, I didn’t know it until Winter Storm Landon hit the Hudson Valley and knocked out my power for 40 hours.
Our camping equipment and skills helped us make the best of a difficult, potentially dangerous situation. So I got to wondering about the gender gap in outdoor recreation, and how it impacts our comfort and safety when weather emergencies happen.
While the wider queer community is important, BIPOC people sometimes need their own spaces within the rainbow community. The 7 outdoor groups profiled in this post – like Queer Crush, Wild Diversity and DiversifyOutdoors – are doing amazing work in connecting queer people of color to one another and to nature.
Click through to the full post for three reasons why this work is so valuable and 7 incredible groups to check out.
Are you looking for travel companies that run trips exclusively for gay and lesbian travelers?
While there are tour groups like Olivia that cater exclusively to lesbian travelers, mainstream brands are increasingly offering LGBTQ-only trips. From a tour of major US Pride festivals to inclusive Europe, see how tour companies are meeting the needs of queer travelers with itineraries built around destinations with thriving LGBTQ communities.
Anti-trans and anti-queer legislation is on the rise across the country, and it’s leading some queer families to leave homes they love. LGBTQIA folks want to be themselves in the world, and they need to know how much of themselves they can be when they travel. These new laws make LGBTQ+ safety an everyday issue by criminalizing our existences and stripping away choices we make to be ourselves.
The travel industry does LGBTQ travelers a disservice by focusing exclusively on safety when they market to us.By sharing data and anecdotes about our experiences, we can help the travel and hospitality industries do a better job of meeting us where we are instead of force-feeding us the same standard lines about safety.