Posted: 6/16/2016 | June 16th, 2016
In an effort to expand the site, I’ve been adding much more guest contributors and, today, I’m announcing a LGBT column for the website. In this column, we will hear from voices in the LGBT community about their experiences on the road, safety tips, events, and, overall, guidance for other LGBT travelers get the most out of their time on the road! So, without even more ado, I’d like to introduce everyone to Adam from travelsofadam.com. He’s going to be the lead for this column (though we’ll shortly have writings from other voices in the community too!).
“Gay” travel can be an awkward topic for many, mostly because to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) is really to be a part of an extremely diverse group of people. There are gay families who travel, solo gay travelers (like myself), solo lesbian travelers, ones who travel for festivals or nightlife or honeymoons, those that take cruises or splurge on luxury trips, and ones who rough it camping and backpacking in faraway places.
And just like every other type of traveler, we travel for our own personal reasons. Every aspect of what makes us distinct also contributes to how, where, and why we travel. I travel because I love to travel, and I just happen to be gay.
That’s not to say I don’t also travel gay. in some cases my sexuality also influences the how, why, and where I choose to check out a place. For example, I chose Berlin because I’d heard it was a gay hot spot, and I purposefully timed my trip to check out during the city’s annual gay pride celebrations, the Christopher street Day parade — a time when I knew there’d be plenty of gay parties to attend and men to meet. I was searching for a gay holiday (a gaycation, if you will), and I found it. glitter and all.
But what does LGBT travel really mean?
It’s about safety, it’s about comfort, it’s about politics. but it’s also about welcoming events, friendly accommodation, and having fun with similar travelers.
The issues that LGBT travelers face are different than other travelers. To travel as a solo gay man (hi!) is different than traveling as a lesbian couple or as a transgender person. There are different festivals and events, different meet-ups — and different reasons to worry.
There are still plenty of places around the world where being gay isn’t safe, nor is it comfortable — for locals or for tourists. but that doesn’t imply traveling as an LGBT individual is always dangerous. It’s frequently just a matter of having to know where and when one can disclose one’s sexuality through words or actions, and also the dangers or consequences (if any) for doing so. This is something straight people or opposite-sex couples practically never have to think about.
But in some places I’ve traveled, being gay isn’t even typically considered an option. I’ve had awkward taxi rides in Jordan and Egypt, in Thailand and India: “Where’s your girlfriend? Why don’t you have a girl?”
I might respond with a visible sigh, trying to change the subject, or else a easy “I don’t have a girlfriend” and then avert my eyes and make myself look busy. In Jordan, at a café near Petra, one guy’s question was, “You gay?” short and to the point. I replied with a grin and a “yeah”, and we left it at that, still sharing a bowl of hummus — just a bit quieter now.
Travel safety is different for every individual on every part of the LGBT spectrum. One pal (non-binary, genderfluid, queer identified) described to me an experience on a cruise to the Bahamas, where the ship hosted a “queer hour,” which was, in actuality, mostly heterosexual bachelor and bachelorette parties. and even when this pal tried to be “out” in their expected safe space, they didn’t feel safe.
That’s not to say it’s all awkward, though. There was the time in Cambodia when I followed a group of backpackers from my hostel to what was expected to be a amazing local bar, the Lao-Lao Beer Garden. little did I know it was also a hot spot for some of the gay locals, who after realizing I was gay provided me a number of suggestions for other LGBT things to see in the city.
Traveling somewhere as an LGBT traveler requires you to think about a lot of things:
What’s the LGBT rights situation of the destination?
Should I hide my sexuality? What is the safety situation like for openly LGBT travelers?
What organizations are there for my safety? What is the attitude of the police?
What LGBT resources are there (websites, newspapers, etc.)?
Where is the LGBT scene?
If I’m traveling with a partner, do we need to worry about booking one bed or two, or being much more than pals in public?
The crowd-sourced site Equaldex.com curates LGBT rights and news around the world, and 76crimes.com reports on the 76+ countries where homosexuality is still illegal. even the U.S. state department publishes a helpful page with LGBT travel information.
One of the joys of travel is meeting people and sharing experiences. but for LGBT travelers, it’s not always advisable to out oneself among strangers. Personally, as a gay traveler, I want to know and understand the world I’m in — so I seek out local LGBT organizations, places, events, and meet-ups (Couchsurfing, Meet-Up.com, and local LGBT have good lists of things going on) to learn much more about the situation wherever I am.
There are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people all over the world. So when I feel safe to do so, I’m pleased to talk about my sexuality, about who I am, with both foreigners and other travelers who might not right away know another gay man.
All that said, traveling as an LGBT individual today is much simpler than it used to be. In numerous places around the world, being gay isn’t much of a big deal anymore. and I expect that’s the point about being gay and being a traveler today.
Many gay travelers I’ve spoken to have said the same. We don’t want to be labeled or put in boxes when traveling, and we’re certainly not always stereotypes. but the reality of the world is in some cases it’s just much much more comfortable to travel to places already identified as LGBT friendly, to book with gay-friendly hotels, and to seek out other LGBTs abroad.
Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing my gay travel suggestions and stories here on Nomadic Matt. I’m really thrilled to share my big gay world of travel with you — it’s a subject typically overlooked in the travel world. pick up any guidebook and you’ll be lucky to find much more than one or two gay bars discussed for a single place, when in reality, there are many, numerous much more (often underground, in some cases seedy, and typically a bit hard to track down).
Stay tuned for future messages about how to meet other LGBT travelers on the road (besides the apparent apps) and my suggestions for the best gay travel apps, destinations, festivals, and events. comment below with other topics you’d like to see, or with any questions you might have about traveling as a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person.
Adam Groffman is a former graphic designer who left a publishing job in Boston to travel around the world, before settling in Berlin, Germany. He’s a gay travel expert, writer, and blogger and publishes a series of LGBT-friendly Hipster City Guides from around the world on his gay travel blog, travels of Adam. When he’s not out exploring the coolest bars and clubs, he’s typically enjoying the local arts and culture scene. find much more of his travel suggestions (and embarrassing stories) on Twitter @travelsofadam.
P.S. read about Auston and David, a gay couple traveling around the world, here. like Adam, they offer lots of suggestions for LGBT travelers who want to get out and explore the world safely and happily!
Book Your Trip: Logistical suggestions and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Find a low-cost flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches sites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the most affordable rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t forget travel Insurance
Travel insurance will safeguard you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s extensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it numerous times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
SafetyWing (best for everyone)
Insure My trip (for those over 70)
Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)
Ready to book Your Trip?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
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