Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
with children. For many gay and lesbian persons, travel is an opportunity to
escape the constraints of heteronormative society and to be oneself; it gives
the opportunity to meet other gay and lesbian persons and validate identity
(Hughes, 2006). The single person may also be seeking new relationships
(including sexual). Sexual contact may remain a factor even for partners.
The sexual dimension is usually regarded as less important for women,
though establishing relationships may still be significant.
Particular issues may be common, however, to all gay and lesbian tourists.
Gay-friendliness has been widely identified as a key element in destination
and supplier choice, as it means that the risks of 'discomfort, discrimination
and physical attack' are minimised (Hughes, 2002: 303). These issues are
likely to be applicable to all forms of gay and lesbian family, especially given
the considerable resistance to and disapproval of gay or lesbian persons
having child-rearing roles. Understanding and acceptance of (if not empathy
with) gay or lesbian parenthood will be key in choices.
For children who are comfortable with their home situation and who
live in an accepting local community it would be important to avoid holiday
experiences that conflict with these. A child experiencing harassment and
stress from society labelling such families as unnatural would be anxious to
escape from these and to avoid further disapproval on holiday. On holiday,
the nature of the family is exposed to a new audience and is exposed more
openly than in many 'at home' situations. Even where a gay-friendly place
and hotel are chosen, there is always the possibility of problems arising
from fellow holidaymakers. Desired destinations and suppliers would need
to be both child-friendly and gay-friendly. Such characteristics may not be
evident even in destinations or accommodation that are popular with gay
and lesbian tourists. There may be a tension between the requirements of
gay and lesbian tourists without children and those with - many gay men
and, to a lesser extent, lesbian women may not wish to be in a family en-
vironment when on holiday, and vice versa. The outcome may be a desire,
of families with children, for holidays in less popular places, where a degree
of privacy may reduce the likelihood of overt disapproval or, at least, of dis-
comfort. There may be a preference for holidays that are more small-scale,
patronised by holidaymakers who are more likely to be accepting of gay
and lesbian families. This could include adventure or educational holidays,
cultural trips and alternative tourism.
Families will seek an environment that is 'strengthening' and supportive
and which raises self-esteem. Meeting similar families on holiday may be a
means of reassuring children of the 'normality' of their situation. An online
survey of gay/lesbian parents undertaken by Rainbow Family Holidays, a
small-scale UK specialist holiday organiser, showed that the overwhelming
majority wished to holiday with other gay or lesbian families (Businesswire,
2009). It may even be a case of seeking some form of 'private' holiday that
is confined to gay or lesbian parents and children. This can be achieved,
