It’s Time For The Snowbirds To Fly South

For many northern people it is time to take a vacation to a warmer climate. My parents were snowbird they want to Florida in January through March and now my brother and sister-in-law are going south for a part of the winter, and at times I wish that I went south for the winter. But being the “T” in LGBT we have to pay more attention to our destination.

Advice for Gay and Transgender Travelers
New York Time
By Shivani Vora
January 27, 2017

If you’re lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, traveling has the potential to be a challenge, said David Rubin, the chief executive of the California travel company DavidTravel. He said L.G.B.T. travelers “may have to contend with discrimination or inadvertent uncomfortable situations when there’re on the road.”

Here, Mr. Rubin shares his advice on planning a seamless and satisfying getaway for those who might face some of those challenges.

PICK THE RIGHT DESTINATION Some cities are especially welcoming to L.G.B.T. travelers, whether your budget is lavish or shoestring, Mr. Rubin said. “These cities have long histories of diversity, acceptance and creativity,” he said, plus a strong a night life scene. They include New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Montreal, Barcelona, Berlin and Amsterdam. Conversely, travelers should be mindful about public displays of affection when traveling in destinations where their communities aren’t generally well accepted, including Brunei, Ethiopia, Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Somehow I don’t think any LGBT people would go to places Brunei, Ethiopia, Iran and Saudi Arabia because we like to keep our head attached to our neck.

The other tips are,

BOOK WITH INTERNATIONAL HOTEL BRANDS

Even then I would have to think twice about the hotel. Would places like Sandals Resorts be open to a LGBT couple? How about a trans couple?

CONSIDER A GROUP TRIP OR A CRUISE

But even then it is iffy for trans people. There was a “LGBT” cruise and the cruise line issued a statement,

Carnival attracts a number of families with children and for this reason; we strive to present a family friendly atmosphere. It is important to us that all guests are comfortable with every aspect of the cruise. Although we realize this group consists solely of adults, we nonetheless expect all guests to recognize that minors are onboard and, refrain from engaging in inappropriate conduct in public areas.

    Arrangements have been made for drag performances in the main theater featuring stars from LOGO TV. These functions will be private and only the performers are permitted to dress in drag while in the theater. Guests are not allowed to dress in drag for the performances or in public areas at any time during the cruise.

Now tell me what would the cruise line do if a trans person showed up for a cruise?

Their last tip was,

USE A TRAVEL AGENT

I would have to question if LGBT travel agents are trans friendly. Do they even consider trans clients or are they really for lesbians and gays only? There are some trans travel agents out there but you will have to look for them.

Then you have…

Fort Lauderdale Welcomes 2017 With Ads Featuring Transgender Models LGBT visitors bring $1.5 billion to city's economy
Ad Week
By Jane L. Levere
December 30, 2016

Fort Lauderdale tourism—which has been courting lesbian and gay visitors for decades—on New Year's Eve will roll out a new campaign that could be a first in the travel category, with transgender models starring in mainstream media ads.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau advertising campaign, created by Fort Lauderdale-based Starmark International, is kicking off with two new videos on twin billboards at 1515 Broadway and on a bowtie billboard at 1500 Broadway, both in New York's Times Square.

The first video will start running Saturday morning, Dec. 31, and will feature two men, a woman and a transgender model wearing New Year's Eve headgear, drinking flutes of champagne as they sail the Atlantic off Fort Lauderdale Beach. The ad's transgender star is Isabella Santiago, a Venezuelan model who was Miss World Transgender in 2014. The copy says "Hello, sunny" and "Hello, 2017," as well as "Greater Fort Lauderdale."

On Jan. 2, the video will change to depict the same four people now simply sailing, with copy saying, "Hello, winter blues."

You know there is a big difference between having a beautiful Trans model and the average trans person. And how will the Florida “Religious Freedom” bill affect travel in Florida? Or for that matter how will travel be affected by other states that pass laws legalizing discrimination.

Even in “Gay Mecca” towns like Provincetown and Ogunquit  trans people can have problems. I had problems in both towns. In Provincetown MA a while back when I was up there with a group of friends we were not waited on, after sitting at a table for twenty minutes and not getting waited on we got the message and left, and we even had the town’s first selectman in our party (and he was pissed!).  In Ogunquit ME the bouncer at the door didn’t want to let us in she said it was a lesbian danceandwhen we were finally let in after refusing to leave the bouncer said not to use the dance floor. When we sat down on the patio all the women around the other tables got up and moved away. It was until the lesbians we were with came in and sat down at our table that the other women started filling up the tables around us.

So moral to the story is, if you are trans you are going to find it a lot harder to find a welcoming space.