Happy Pride Y’all!

This month has reaffirmed my commitment to the LGBTQIAA+ community. While it’s been a hard few months for me personally and for my family. It’s been hard to move my business forward. I’m still moving forward though because what is making this moment so hard is also making my work meaningful. One of the things our community does well is building our own spaces and I get to be a part of that.

Before I start, there are valid critiques to the extent our community has accomplished inclusivity. There is plenty to learn from being excluded and also being exclusive. At the same time, there’s a lot to look back on and be proud of. I’m hoping I can walk the line keeping both in mind.

Being excluded meant we had to think about and choose our family, friends, and traditions. Members of our community built safe spaces and even communities, often in places deemed undesirable. There is a history of transformation as today many of the gayborhoods are the most exciting and valuable locals in their cities. Today, if LGBTQ where its own country it would be the fourth largest economy in the world. We are here. We did that.

Real quick though, I’d be remise to only include one side of our history. Historically, we’ve been excluded and also excluded our own. We still divide ourselves at intersections of body type, race, gender, ability, class, and in so many other ways. While we’ve made progress, there’s still more to be made. Acknowledging both successes and failures will help us repeat the successes of the past without repeating the same mistakes.

Looking back on my own experience, I feel like I took for granted the LGBTQ spaces I’ve visited. As the places in the world grew more welcoming, more inclusive, and safer; the neighborhoods, bars, and businesses I visited began to fit in more and more to their surroundings. I loved being myself while navigating more of the world. I felt ok holding hands in more public places anytime, not just during Pride. I could wear a rainbow most places I visited without being scared. Gay-friendly hotels, tours, and options popped up in many places, not just the gayborhood.

I feel like that is changing for the worse. I find myself going more and more to the gayborhoods. Even in our own spaces I’m feeling more and more influence from those opposed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. It’s wild to write that people are opposed to such basic kindness, but it’s where I feel we’re at currently.

This sounds bleak, and to be candid it has depressed me for a while now, but our community has been here before. My hope is that we band together again to keep our spaces safe and make them even more inclusive. I remember the value of being in a welcoming, inclusive, gay space in a way I haven’t for years. I remember Prides before corporate sponsors. I remember coming together with our community and how meaningful it can be. So, when another large corporation drops their commitment to us, or more of our rights become a debate turn towards our community.

I’ll be waiting here for you. Building a travel agency right now could not come at a worse time and also it couldn’t be a better time. While this is leisure it’s also so meaningful. I’m so happy to celebrate you. I’m happy to connect you with other people and places that will do the same. In the midst of everything that’s happening, finding your place is invaluable. I’m glad you’re here and I can’t wait to start planning where you’re going.