Author: Lauren Mulvey

LGBTQ+ families can dive into summer fun at a number of queer-friendly amusement parks around the world. Here are LGBTQ+ friendly parks that you can visit with friends and family this summer and ensure you’re in a safe space.  Six Flags  With more than 25 locations across New York, New Jersey, California, Texas, Georgia, Montreal, Canada and Mexico, Six Flags is a LGBTQ+ friendly theme park accessible to many queer families living in North America. The park offers thrilling rides and maintains its commitment to “creating an inclusive environment that fully embraces the diversity of [their] team members and guests,…

Activist group Palestine Action has been labeled a terrorist organization by the United Kingdom, and being a member of the group, or showing support for them, is now considered a criminal offense. The group has attempted to protest Israel’s genocidal actions against Palestine by targeting the supply chains of weapon factories throughout the U.K. But now the group has been banned altogether. According to the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, Palestine Action is a national activist network promoting civil disobedience and direct action against companies and institutions colluding with Israel to enforce apartheid, occupation, colonization, and…

Big changes are coming for airline passengers in the European Union, and it’s good news for international travelers. Airlines in the E.U. will no longer be permitted to charge additional fees for hand luggage on flights thanks to a proposal voted on by lawmakers in late June. The new rules allows passengers to bring a small carry-on bag weighing up to 7kg (15.4 pounds) on their flight free of charge…even on budget airlines, according to BBC. The new rule allows for one cabin bag and one personal item stowable under your seat with no additional fee. However, the law still…

If you’re living in the U.S. right now, you might be thinking get me out of here! Traveling the world is an enriching past time, but some of us might think it’s time to pick up our roots and plant them elsewhere. Luckily, travel and relocation experts get it, and they’ve got great advice on how to move to another country. Even before Trump’s second term, Americans were itching to move abroad. A 2024 survey from Monmouth University found that one in three Americans would leave the U.S. if they could.  Cepee Tabiban, founder of She Hit Refresh, spoke to…

For LGBTQ+ travelers, Malta is a place of genuine welcome, vibrant culture, and unshakable pride. Whether you’re dreaming of exploring UNESCO World Heritage cities or soaking up sunsets by the sea, Malta invites you to do it all and be fully yourself while doing it. Small in size but mighty in spirit, Malta has ranked #1 on the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Index for the last ten consecutive years, making it one of the world’s most LGBTQ+ inclusive destinations. This reputation is built on real protections, progressive laws, and a lived sense of community. Malta legalized same-sex marriage in 2017, offers full…

Protestors in Barcelona are pushing back against mass tourism with water pistols and marches through the city’s streets. According to the BBC, at recent protests participants shouted “Go Home!” at tourists filming them. Tourists at cafes and outdoor restaurants were squirted with water pistols, and a luxury clothing store was even covered in stickers, as protestors claimed the tourists inside were unwelcome.  Despite this, tourism is one of the most crucial industries in Spain, with Barcelona one of the top destinations for those visiting the country. The BBC says locals think they’re being “squeezed out of their own cities” as…

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled that the federal government cannot require trans people to undergo medical procedures in order to change their gender markers on identification documents.  Prior to this ruling, transgender people in Brazil were able to change their genders and names on official documents only after receiving mandatory psychiatric evaluations and undergoing surgical procedures, plus, a judicial order from the Public Prosecutor. According to the Human Rights Watch, countries all over the globe have begun changing their policies on legal gender recognition to reflect one’s personal identity without the approval of additional parties like doctors, psychologists, judges, etc.…

At the end of May, the power of the U.S. dollar fell against several currencies over consecutive days, according to Travel and Leisure. The culprit? A number of factors, namely newly imposed tariffs on imports from the Trump Administration. Simultaneously, the Euro and Japanese yen have strengthened, according to Reuters. Recently, the U.S. dollar dropped below the Euro. This means if you’re headed to Europe this summer you will have to pay more for accommodations, food, and transport . Chris Turner, global head of markets at Dutch multinational bank ING told Forbes,  “If you’ve got U.S. tourists looking to book…

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued travel advisories for countries with high exposure risk to Dengue Fever.  According to Travel and Leisure, this means travelers in Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and other warm and humid regions should beware of exposure. The CDC’s official Global dengue travel notice currently includes warnings for countries including: Brazil, Colombia, Comoros, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Sudan and Tonga.  According to the Mayo Clinic, approximately half the world’s population live in climates primed for Dengue transmission. However, not all…

LGBTQ+ friendly Provincetown hosts a variety of exciting summer events each year. Start your summer at Ptown Pride (June 6-8). Parties, a Pride market, tea dances, comedy shows, and poetry readings are just part of the diverse offerings taking place this year At the Provincetown Film Festival (June 11-15) enjoy a great selection of narrative, documentary, animated features, and short films from emerging filmmakers to established veterans. Music lovers can head to the Outer Cape Chamber Music Festival (June 24) where world class musicians will gather for this exciting new summer music series hosted by the Provincetown Art Association and…

It likely won’t surprise many to find that the U.S. has seen a sharp decrease in inbound tourism following the election of Donald Trump. In 2024, the U.S. tourism sector contributed $2.6 trillion to the nation’s economy and generated over $585 billion in tax revenue. What’s more, it supported over 20 million jobs across various sectors, according to Travel and Tour World. Just four months into his second term, Trump has wreaked havoc on the fundamental rights of many Americans, as well as the economy. Trump has also cracked down on immigration leading to deportations of American citizens who have…

China will open the world’s tallest bridge this June. It will rise 2,051 feet above river level, a whopping 947 feet above the current title holder Millau Viaduct in France.  China’s latest engineering feat, the Huajiang Canyon Bridge, is part of a nationwide effort to improve infrastructure.  Across the country, moves are underway to improve infrastructure, particularly in underdeveloped mountain regions like Guizhou in southern China. The new bridge improves travel for residents in the region, reducing the travel time over the Huajiang Grand Canyon from two hours to just two minutes, according to reports from CNN. Construction for the…

In recent years, the Hudson Valley has become a bustling escape hatch for city dwellers and out-of-towners alike, and the area’s cultural offerings have swiftly multiplied to accommodate an influx of visitors. Luckily, this means a great number of LGBTQ owned restaurants, bars, and shops have popped up, pulling in day visitors or those looking to stay a week and bop around upstate, from the Catskills in the west to the Hudson Valley in the east. While many areas have downtowns just off the Metro North rail line, a car is the easiest way to navigate upstate’s cute hamlets and…

There are many factors that make for a great city, including culture and diversity, delectable cuisine, and welcoming people, but perhaps the one element that is most important is a city’s walkability. Experts in happiness around the world have underlined the importance of a city’s accessibility and convenience in getting around. Walking is good for the body and mind, and being able to walk to your favorite morning coffee spot, to work, to dinner and back home is likely one of the most underrated quality of life enhancers. Here are some of the best walkable cities around the world. Florence,…

Join the celebration at Queer Wine Fest featuring 20 LGBTQ+ winemakers and a diverse selection of wines with a devoted community on June 29th in the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Remy Wines will be showcasing its largest array of LGBTQ+ American wineries on June 29th at their fourth annual Queer Wine Fest. The event will bring together 20 LGBTQ+ winemakers, vineyard managers, and owners from Oregon, California, and Washington with a diverse selection of wines to sample and taste. Joining this year’s lineup will be wineries Capo Creek and Torix Noix from California, and Washington’s SuLei Cellars. There will also be…

If you’re planning to visit D.C. for WorldPride Washington DC 2025 (May 17 – June 8) we have discovered some of the best eateries, clubs, museums and activities for Pride attendees this year. Stay at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Washington DC, which is housed inside the former General Post Office, a stunning neo-classical building whose grandeur is reflected in the ornate and enormous hotel rooms with high ceilings and hallways as wide as the Palace of Versailles. Or try Hotel Zena, a 119-room boutique hotel that pays tribute to courageous and pioneering women. The LGBTQ-friendly Zena (parent company Viceroy boasts…

Some of the most popular hubs for LGBTQ+ culture in the USA are usually large cities like New York, Los Angeles, Denver, and Chicago, but smaller cities and towns in America also offer thriving LGBTQ+ scenes, queer-friendly businesses, and progressive thinking. Here are five of the best LGBTQ+ friendly small towns and cities to visit in the USA right now. Eureka Springs, Arkansas  If you want to know what makes Eureka Springs such a unique and exciting place to live and visit, ask a local. The LGBTQ+ population here has grown over the decades, creating a welcoming destination for visitors.…

Travelers to Thailand must now register for a Thailand Digital Arrival Card, or a (TDAC). The new requirement started May 1, 2025, and all non-Thai nationals entering the country by air, land, or sea, must complete the TDAC online prior to arrival. The new digital system intends to speed up the immigration process and eliminate the use of paper forms, while more effectively recording traveler movements in and out of the country. The Immigration Bureau of Thailand advises travelers to register for the card within three days of their arrival. According to TAT News, the arrival card is a part of…

The world’s best airports for 2025 have been ranked by air transport rating organization Skytrax, and for the 13th year, Singapore Changi has won the top spot. Experienced travelers have had their share of delightful and horrifying airport encounters, and though rushing through an airport to make it to your gate isn’t usually a pleasant experience, airports like Changi make it worth arriving a few hours early.  Skytrax has ranked the best airports in the world according to a global survey of customers at 565 airports around the world. According to CNN, Changi is a destination in itself. Here, time…

Early this month, MSC Cruises unveiled the new MSC World America, the largest ship in the company’s history.  MSC World America is a 22-deck cruise ship that will dock regularly at a brand new terminal in PortMiami. After a naming ceremony featuring actress Drew Barrymore, the ship set off for a three-night inaugural trip to Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, the company’s Bahamas-based private island, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The ship will travel along the Eastern or Western Caribbean, taking guests to destinations including the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Honduras, and Ocean Cay. Trips will last one…