As a travel editor and gay man, I believe visiting LGBTQ-averse countries can be liberating – iNews

There is power in visibility, including visiting places where an understanding of the community still has a long way to go

June 25, 2022 7:00 am(Updated 7:04 am)

It’s coming to the end of another Pride Month during which we have celebrated the LGBTQI+ community’s journey towards greater acceptance and belonging. In the UK, this June has been a special one, as it commemorated five decades since the first Pride protest march in London, propelled by the Stonewall Riots in the US just three years before.

June has now become a time when many brands – from supermarkets to supercars – pledge their support to the community. The travel industry comes out in force, too. Airlines and travel agents change their logos to rainbows on social media; some destinations use this time to showcase their inclusivity.

Yet we must remember Pride is still a protest. It has a message that must not be watered down just because it looks good for a brand. There is power in LGBTQI+ visibility and that includes travelling to countries where understanding of the LGBTQI+ community still has a way to go.

We must not forget that 70 countries still criminalise homosexuality and gender nonconformity. In many, being LGBTQI+ is punishable by corporal punishment and worse, death. And some of these countries spend significant marketing dollars on tourism.

It is easy to call for boycotts. But when the protesters of 1972 took to the streets to demand equal rights, they did so despite the threat of arrest and persecution. They changed the narrative. I believe that unless we step out of our comfort zones when we travel and consider going to destinations where LGBTQI+ rights are not as developed, we are never going to be able to challenge the status quo.

Of course, I don’t advocate travelling to anywhere in which your safety will be compromised. But by rallying with the industry and speaking in one voice, we can make the world a better place.

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As a travel editor, gay man and inclusive tourism advocate, my heart is warmed by the progress we’ve seen. progress. But while companies coming out for Pride Month indicates to the community that there are operators which have their back, we have to be able to discern which are authentic in their advocacy – because rainbow-washing is also a reality, as Pride has become a must-do on the marketing calendar.

When choosing who to holiday with, we need to look deeper into what operators are doing to be allies. Does who you book your holiday with have clear anti-discrimination customer charters or staffing policies? Do they invest in unconscious bias training for employees and diversify their supply chain? Do the destinations you are considering continue the discussion about inclusive travel after June?

Destinations such as Stockholm and Thailand have demonstrated that LGBTQI+ engagement is a year-round two-way street. Accommodation brands such as Hilton, Belmond and Booking.com work hard to ensure they can provide welcoming spaces for all. Operators including Scott Dunn and Celebrity Cruises are striving for diverse representation in their teams and marketing. Organisations such as IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association) have created accreditation programmes to push the (e)ticket.

Uwern Jong is experientialist-in-chief of OutThere (OutThere.travel)