Spring has sprung (not that you would know it in my neck of the woods), and it is time to start planning vacation.
My partner and I travel each spring and summer. This year we are embarking on a first time ever cross country road trip. We plan to fly to San Francisco and find our way back to the east coast by various methods of transportation and staying in various types of accommodations. The entire trip is about new places and new experiences.
Being middle aged and from a different era, I am still quite hesitant to show my pride colors when traveling. I am leery of crowds, hotels and basically anywhere that being an obvious same sex couple could pose a threat. Sadly, to me, that sometimes feels like everywhere.
In making our plans, I always try to research the areas I will be traveling, including airports, venues etc. I read traveler's reports, Google "LGBT (insert hotel, state, venue)" and see what pops up and ask for suggestions from people within my network and community. I have been accused of being overly cautious, bordering on paranoid perhaps, however our hard earned money, happiness and possibly our lives are at stake each time we venture into uncharted territory. Certainly I will never be able to avoid all the bigots of the world, but I can make choices that will enable me to feel more comfortable and safe.
Our trip this year is comprised of thriteen days visiting places neither of us has ever been, and neither of us have friends or family connections to. However, with a little help from the Internet and Airbnb, I was able to plan our trip starting in San Fransisco renting a room in a beautiful penthouse apartment owned by a lovely middle aged lesbian couple. We do not know them, but look forward to sharing a couple of days in their company. The remainder of the trip has us visiting gay friendly areas and avoiding not so friendly places. Through the help of gay travel sites such as Purple Roofs we have booked gay friendly hotels and camp grounds, as well as bed and breakfasts and entire apartments that are gay owned and operated.
Traveling should be about adventure and making happy memories, not fear and apprehension. A little planning can go a long way in making those memories safe and magical.
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