Each week a member of our incredible team of Editors shares their top picks from podcasts, to apps, to hotels, to must-buy. This week our Editor-in-Chief shares her picks with the community. Keep checking in every week to discover our team’s favorites.
As Bébé Voyage’s Editor-in-Chief, I need to make sure I keep up-to-date with all the latest news, trends, world issues and so much more. However, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I always pay special attention to anything Queer-related, especially if it has anything to do with travel, culture and inclusion.
So it would come as no surprise that my first few choices for this new editor’s picks series will be along those topics. Don’t worry, there are still plenty of travel-related picks coming your way, just sprinkled with a little rainbow glitter.
Supporting emerging queer voices in music is more vital than ever
Who doesn’t love a good playlist when traveling? Gay Times, one of my favorite magazines, has teamed up with Apple Music to amplify queer voices in the music industry. Music, very much like travel, is a great way to escape the day-to-day and travel into worlds of your own. This playlist will take you places you didn’t know you wanted to go.
“For queer people and the LGBTQ+ community at large, it (music) has offered sanctuary over the decades. Our idols and anthems have created communion amongst us, whether the music has been used as protest, social acceptance, queer visibility or just downright pure entertainment. It has made us feel connected when we have felt alone. Music is part of the fabric of queerness and has been for centuries.” (Gay Times)
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
If you know me, you know I love a good podcast. Especially if the host is one of the most famous Non-Binary hosts you can find, Queer Eye’s very own Jonathan Van Ness. In this weekly podcast, Jonathan Van Ness interviews experts on different topics he is curious about, from LGBTQ+ mental health to gravitational waves, the opioid crisis, and women in the military. The host’s curiosity is infectious and it will have you coming back for more every week. Plus, be prepared for a lot of laughter.
The Most Important Resources For LGBTQ+ Travelers
Of all the travel magazines out there, Afar is probably one of my favorites, mostly because they have a section solely dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community packed with amazing content.
This article is a great tool for LGBTQ+ travelers as it’s full of information, links, and resources to help you plan your next trip. Best of all, it is written by Meredit Heil, a wonderful queer travel writer: “As a queer travel writer, I’m constantly thinking about LGBTQ culture and tourism on an international scope. I’ve learned that whether it’s tracking down the best gay bars in Berlin or making sure it’s safe to hold hands while walking the streets of an unfamiliar city, the LGBTQ community’s travel planning needs aren’t always met by picking up a one-size-fits-all guidebook. “
Know Before You Go, Tips For Transgender and Non-Binary Travelers
Another wonderful article from Afar, this time specially dedicated to the Transgender and Non-Binary communities. Although navigating airports has become second nature for many people, things are not always as easy if you are Transgender or Non-Binary. This article is a great guide on how to navigate an airport, from gender markers on travel documents to getting through security scans and pat-downs.
“To offset the anxieties that come with navigating the airport as a Transgender or Non-Binary person, it can be helpful to know what to expect before traveling in order to prepare your documents and review your answers to security questions. These tips will give you the information you need to make smart decisions and figure out what works for you while preparing for air travel.”
The last of my editor picks is a great one for the current pandemic times. Masks have become a must-have commodity, so why not buy one and know that some of the money you pay will go towards a good cause? The Gay Pride Shop (mostly famous for its glitters and jewels) offers a great variety of masks and donates 15% of all profits to three amazing charities:
- The Albert Kennedy Trust – supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people who are homeless, living in a hostile environment, or in a housing crisis.
- The George House Trust – providing HIV support and advice services.
- Mermaids – supporting gender variant and Transgender children (young people up to 20-years-old) and their families.
“Around the time of London Pride 2018, the owners noticed that many of the smaller glitter websites were offering Gay Pride-themed glitters and jewels, cashing in on the pink pound, but giving nothing back. At the same time, many high street retailers were also looking to cash in with rainbow-themed goods, for that 1 week. While it’s amazing that so many companies are visibly gay friendly, wouldn’t it be great if they actually gave back to the LGBTQ+ community and showed their support for the other 51 weeks of the year!”
Did you enjoy this week’s editor picks? Check back weekly to see many more great books, podcasts, and music in this series! In the meantime, you may also enjoy these articles from Bébé Voyage!
https://www.bebevoyage.com//editors-picks-bebe-voyage-social-justice-and-sustainability-editor-elizabeth-doerr-shares-what-shes-reading-listening-to-and-watching/
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