It’s funny. As I think about traveling as a gay man or as part of a gay family, I try to consider what makes our travels gay. Yeah, um, it’s just that we’re gay; nothing else. I was sitting here analyzing our adventures and writing and realized that our journeys aren’t any different than what a straight family does. We camp. We take the kids to Mexico and Disneyland. We take our own child-free trips. Nothing about anything of these things is exceptionally homosexual. Gay family travel is exactly the same as straight family travel right? So what is it that makes our travels gay?
I figured it out. It’s how we feel in the places we go. When we visit cities, we are sure to stroll through the neighborhoods and see the sights/people. We might try to hit the gayborhood too if the city has one. Nothing too gay about this I guess. What makes our travels gay is that as much as we try not to think about it, different areas give a different vibe of acceptance, and hence we feel like a gay family traveling.
Example: when you go to San Francisco, you don’t just go to the Castro. You venture into the Haight and into the Mission. Each place gives you a completely different feel. Each place embraces you differently. The Castro wants to hug you. The Haight is indifferent. The Mission wants to make sure you’re fed, but they don’t want to chat.
Some places you truly feel at home and you get smiles from everyone you pass and other spots make you feel a little less comfortable. With each location, you’re looking through the lens of “are people staring at us because we’re two dads?” or “awwww, people think our family is cute.” Ideally you just get to play tourist or go find a café to chill in, but it can be tough to not feel watched. Unintentionally I’m always catching the random glances and stares. This is just something that I’ve got to get past, but until I do, I’ll still feel like a gay traveler.
Recently we took our kids camping. It was our first camping adventure with all four of us. It went great. Everyone slept well and we had fun.
Here are two different interactions/observations about how people interact with us as a family:
As we were setting up camp though, we were being watched. A couple close by was just staring as we unpacked and shared responsibilities with two kids. It was obvious that we were not the standard family. Were they watching because they were curious if we operated differently and used magical powers or because they were waiting to see what sort of down the gay guys lined their tent with? We were being watched as a gay family, a novelty. Either way, they indiscreetly watched us until they checked out. It was enough that I was distracted and uncomfortable.
Moving on…
During the same trip we encountered a completely different type of traveler. An elderly couple set up camp directly next to us and paid no mind to us dads at all, but focused on the kids and just wanted to talk about kids and travel and food and… Upon us leaving after the weekend, the woman told us that our family was beautiful and she wished she had a dad like either of us. Through all of our interactions with them, we felt just like a standard family, traveling and showing our kids the world. We weren’t gay dads with kids, just a family out camping.
Wherever we go we’ll feel something; we’ll get some vibe from the people. I’d like to think that everywhere will only ever be welcoming or dismiss us as normal, but that may not be the case. In the meantime, I’m personally working on not paying attention to the eyes peering at us, but just on the little people that we’re responsible for. We are making sure the kids see the sights and meet lots of people, and through it, hopefully they’ll not feel like their family is a novelty but that there truly are so many different families out there.
I cannot pretend to stand in your shoes, but I have to say that I feel watched many places I go, too. In Asia, we easily stand out as foreigners. Today when we travel as a family, people just assume that the “kids” are all siblings. That is until our “son” kisses our “daughter.” We’ve heard people gasp! It’s pretty hilarious. When we traveled with teenagers, my one daughter had pink, purple, green, etc. hair. It’s a little more common now, but then, people would rush her, grab her arm and take photo after photo. Again we had to laugh it off. My point is, I’ve definitely felt watched. I think it’s just something you have to get used to, and certainly don’t stop. You are giving your kids an eduction, an experience they will never forget or regret!
We will never stop! We just returned from a trip through the South and are writing an article on the experience. All I can say is, yes, people will always stare, but people are mostly good-willed and curious. 🙂
I saw the title of this post and my first thought was, “Family travel is family travel! Does gay family travel really differ from straight family travel?” You really put it nicely into words that it doesn’t differ, but there is something about how you feel that makes it different. I live in Korea right now, and there is no diversity here, not in how people look or the type of families. A good friend of mine is a single gay man in Korea and while he loves it here, feeling like he fits in has been an issue. Anyway, love this post, you’re kids are adorable!
Cheers,
Katie
Thank you for the thoughtful comment! Yes, to us it’s normal, but some people will add tension to the air, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not. I feel for your friend in Korea. Life is so happy when you’re comfortable in your own skin and environment.
It is a shame that so many people feel the need to judge others. Some people have a very hard time adjusting to things outside their comfort zone. It is awesome that you all are such a great family and for documenting it for others! 🙂
Yes, but I’d like to think that all people have a different learning curve of what the world is like beyond their own home, and getting out there and interacting with them is the only way to change things for the better. 🙂
You both sound like really amazing parents, and probably are. Travel is the best teacher. Your children are fortunate to have parents who are so engaged with the planet, and such adventurous, balanced individuals.
As a parent who traveled far and wide with our children, over the course of their entire childhood, I know the gifts you are giving them are both foundational and formational. Keep up the STELLAR parenting.
Well, living in the Netherlands our children grow up with friends who have two fathers or two mothers. Our daughters best friend (10 years old) has two mothers. To them it is normal. When we were on a family group vacation in Iceland there were in our group two mothers with their daughter. It was completely normal to our children. They have never asked any questions. To them it is normal that you have parents, one or two. Some have two mothers, some have two fathers, some have one mother or only one father, some have a father and a mother and some are very lucky, they have two mothers and two fathers. But I know from the mothers of Noa that there are countries they wouldn’t visit as a gay couple. They don’t feel save there. You both love your children and give them an example that there is more than the typical family. And they will give this to their children.
This is so Challenging time! But, you guys did a great job. I appreciate both of you for this type of traveling. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It’s very inspirational.
Love this post. I would hope that my husband and I would be that older (not elderly) couple who doted on the kids. Keep up the good work!
I cannot pretend to stand in your shoes, but I have to say that I feel watched many places I go, too. In Asia, we easily stand out as foreigners. Today when we travel as a family, people just assume that the “kids” are all siblings. That is until our “son” kisses our “daughter.” We’ve heard people gasp! It’s pretty hilarious. When we traveled with teenagers, my one daughter had pink, purple, green, etc. hair. It’s a little more common now, but then, people would rush her, grab her arm and take photo after photo. Again we had to laugh it off. My point is, I’ve definitely felt watched. I think it’s just something you have to get used to, and certainly don’t stop. You are giving your kids an eduction, an experience they will never forget or regret!
We will never stop! We just returned from a trip through the South and are writing an article on the experience. All I can say is, yes, people will always stare, but people are mostly good-willed and curious. 🙂
I saw the title of this post and my first thought was, “Family travel is family travel! Does gay family travel really differ from straight family travel?” You really put it nicely into words that it doesn’t differ, but there is something about how you feel that makes it different. I live in Korea right now, and there is no diversity here, not in how people look or the type of families. A good friend of mine is a single gay man in Korea and while he loves it here, feeling like he fits in has been an issue. Anyway, love this post, you’re kids are adorable!
Cheers,
Katie
Thank you for the thoughtful comment! Yes, to us it’s normal, but some people will add tension to the air, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not. I feel for your friend in Korea. Life is so happy when you’re comfortable in your own skin and environment.
Thank you for sharing this. Must be challenging traveling with small kids. Happy travels!
It is a shame that so many people feel the need to judge others. Some people have a very hard time adjusting to things outside their comfort zone. It is awesome that you all are such a great family and for documenting it for others! 🙂
Yes, but I’d like to think that all people have a different learning curve of what the world is like beyond their own home, and getting out there and interacting with them is the only way to change things for the better. 🙂
You guys can’t be normal, because you’re extra-ordinary! I welcome you an dyour family to Austin with open hands 😀
Great post guys. I love reading your stories and following your adventures.
You both sound like really amazing parents, and probably are. Travel is the best teacher. Your children are fortunate to have parents who are so engaged with the planet, and such adventurous, balanced individuals.
As a parent who traveled far and wide with our children, over the course of their entire childhood, I know the gifts you are giving them are both foundational and formational. Keep up the STELLAR parenting.
Well, living in the Netherlands our children grow up with friends who have two fathers or two mothers. Our daughters best friend (10 years old) has two mothers. To them it is normal. When we were on a family group vacation in Iceland there were in our group two mothers with their daughter. It was completely normal to our children. They have never asked any questions. To them it is normal that you have parents, one or two. Some have two mothers, some have two fathers, some have one mother or only one father, some have a father and a mother and some are very lucky, they have two mothers and two fathers. But I know from the mothers of Noa that there are countries they wouldn’t visit as a gay couple. They don’t feel save there. You both love your children and give them an example that there is more than the typical family. And they will give this to their children.
This is so Challenging time! But, you guys did a great job. I appreciate both of you for this type of traveling. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. It’s very inspirational.