Ahead of Pride month, weโre running several stories on the impact of anti-LGBTQ legislation in the US as it affects the gay and lesbian travel beat. In this post, weโre taking a look at the travel brands that boldly stand by the LGBTQ+ community at times when state legislatures want to take our rights away.
The Human Rights Campaign has compiled a list of more than 300 brands that signed a statement in support of LGBTQ rights.
These businesses affirm a commitment to diversity and inclusion. They call out state governments pushing divisive agendas against queer and trans Americans. And they stand by the LGBTQ community and specifically transgender youth, who are targeted in many of these proposed bills.
We’ve taken a look at outdoor brands that support the LGBTQ community all year round. We maintain a list of LGBTQ-owned brands in the travel and outdoor niches.
But as the LGBTQ community knows well, it’s one thing to say you’re an ally and it’s another thing to actually show up for our community.
Let’s take a look at the travel and outdoor brands that demonstrated their allyship by signing onto HRC’s statement.
Travel Brands Protesting The Rise in Anti-Trans Legislation
Here are the travel brands that signed onto the anti-LGBTQ state legislation statement, per HRC:
- American Airlines
- Airbnb
- Airbus Americas
- Hilton
- Hyatt
- IHG Hotels & Resorts
- John Hancock (travel insurance)
- Lyft, Inc.
- Marriott International, Inc.
- Tripadvisor
- Uber
- United Airlines
- The Walt Disney Company which is just trolling DeSantis, let’s be real
Outdoor Brands Protesting The Rise in Anti-LGBTQ Legislation
These outdoor brands signed the statement:
- CONVERSE, Inc.
- Lululemon
- Nike, Inc.
- Patagonia
- REI Co-op
If you’ve read our other posts on businesses that are LGBTQ-friendly, you’ll recognize some of these names!
Why Queer Travelers Should Care
2023 has seem a massive uptick in proposed legislation that aims to dictate what queer people can and cannot do with their bodies. Harmful laws are a gay and lesbian travel issue. We can’t afford to stay silent.
The gay and lesbian travel audience is growing, and travel brands are beginning to realize this. Signing a statement in support of LGBTQ rights is a way for these brands to let queer travelers know that they’re on our side. It’s also a way for businesses to communicate their values to the gay and lesbian travel audience.
While it may seem like a token gesture, when businesses rally behind the LGBTQIA community, states walk back their bullshit politics. It happened in 2017 when North Carolina passed an anti-trans bathroom billโand subsequently walked it right the fuck back.
When we’re making our big gay road trip or LGBTQ family travel plans this summer, we can choose to travel with a business that is clearly on our side. One that has proven their allyship by taking actions like this.
Or we can travel with a business that hasn’t signed onto this list. Like JetBlue, my favorite airline. Seriously, what gives?
Joking aside, it’s exciting to see so many mainstream businesses align themselves with LGBTQIA Americans.
Bad laws are on the rise. That sucks. It’s causing serious mental health consequences for LGBTQ folks of all ages but particularly queer youth. Increasingly, individuals and businesses are voicing their intolerance for these regressive state attempts to erase queer lives because we have the audacity to be ourselves. When we stand together, we can get bullshit laws overturned and secure our rights.
More Pride Month Content
Stay tuned for a roundup of which states have actually passed bad bills, so you can make safe Pride travel plans. Plus a list of small town Pride festivals not to miss and why I’m a fan of small town Pride events (and not just because I live in one)!
