Boston, MA - (May 26, 2011) — The Family Equality Council, America's foremost advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) families, today predicted LGBT families will continue to travel in robust numbers during the summer season despite the rising cost of airfare and gas prices as well as current economic conditions. The traditional summer travel season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend.
Brent Wright, Director of Programming for Family Equality Council, said LGBT families see their summer travel experiences as more than just discretionary vacations.
"Our families tell us that they place a high value on the opportunity to take their children to destinations they consider life-affirming and culturally enriching as well as fun," said Wright. "This is the one time of year where some LGBT families feel free to celebrate their diversity and make connections with other parts of their community."
Wright said there are more than 1 million LGBT parents raising 2 million children in the U.S. today. Millions more same-sex couples and individuals without children will choose to travel with parents, grandparents, siblings and extended families.
Aside from theme parks and camp experiences, many LGBT families choose community-oriented vacations with other LGBT parents, children and families.
"After Memorial Day, the first of these types of "gay-cations" are local gay pride events," said Wright. "Cities like Boston and Washington D.C are increasingly planning special activities and programming dedicated to families. That's also beginning to happen in smaller communities as well. What's great about Pride is that it helps children understand at an early age that they are part of a greatly diverse and extended family of folks. Although not all of the events are age-appropriate, we do find that Pride is becoming more and more family-oriented."
Wright says the Family Equality Council will have a presence at the Minneapolis, Boston and Washington D.C Pride events and encourages families to reach out to local organizers in their cities to learn how their families can also participate.
One of the best known family-friendly gay vacations will happen from July 30 — August 6 when families will attend the largest gathering of LGBT families in the country for Family Week 2011. The week-long event, in Provincetown MA, will include programming for children of all ages, from toddlers to teens, community-building workshops, cafés as well as beach parties, family games and a family parade.
"This is one of the events that LGBT families look forward to all year," said Wright. "When they come, their focus is not only on getting away from it all, but also on coming to a place where their families feel welcomed and celebrated."
That same sense of LGBT community connection will be emphasized at R Family Vacation's full-resort charter, from July 9 to July 16, at Club Med Sandpiper Bay in Pt. Saint Lucie, Florida. The trip will include world-class entertainment with Broadway and TV stars, a circus school, R Family Theatre camp as well as tennis, golf and swimming facilities. Parents and kids will enjoy special programming provided by Family Equality Council. In August, R Family is also taking a large LGBT group to Greece.
"Our vacations have an amazing impact on the kids, the parents and the extended family and friends," said R Family Co-founder Gregg Kaminsky "Why compromise your lifestyle when you have the option to travel with your own community to some incredible destinations?"
Kaminsky and Wright both said that there are vacation options for LGBT families who might decide to stay closer to home. They recommend reaching out to other LGBT families as well as local LGBT parenting groups and community centers to create group "gay-cations". R Family will soon offer three weekend getaways to Texas, Philadelphia, and Vegas.
"Sharing a vacation to the beach, campground or local amusement park are great ways for our families to have fun, contain costs and still make those connections for their kids," said Wright.
Kaminsky added, "Our community has always had an inclusive definition of family. So spend the summer with the people you like, love and can laugh with."
