I'm a gay travel penner and think these are the 5 safest, most queer-friendly Caribbean travel destinations
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As a white, cisgender lgbtq+ travel writer, the Caribbean is one of my favorite travel destinations.
However, local laws make some islands less friendly to the queer community than others.
The following Caribbean destinations are where I've felt the most welcome as an LGBTQIA+ traveler, plus local tips for each.
I'm a white, cisgender gay tour writer. And while my experience could never mirror that of all lgbtq+ people, I have initiate the Caribbean to be among the safest and friendliest places for LGBTQIA+ travelers.
As travelers become more judicious with their cash and PTO, I regularly find myself assessing how truly queer-friendly and protected a destination is before recommending it to others, or planning a trip myself.
The Caribbean is one region I return again and again. I own visited many of the destinations there on multiple oc
Gay Friendly
"The U.S. Virgin Islands — St. Croix, in particular — has become a mecca for lgbtq+ travelers, many of whom wind up at the welcoming Sand Castle on the Beach Resort in Fredericksted. Homosexual travelers can anticipate a friendly and tolerant attitude throughout the U.S.V.I., and if public displays of affection are not exactly embraced, the reaction is not likely to be more than a second glance." -tripsavvy.com (Gay and Lesbian Friendly Destinations in the Caribbean)
"St. Croix is considered the mecca of gay tourism in USVI where lgbtq+ guesthouses like Sand Castle on the Beach can arrange anything from a gay-friendly dive trip to a affectionate honeymoon or wedding package." -Miami Herald (Caribbean Pride: LGBT-Friendly Island Getaways)
"St. Croix is the least visited of the three major American islands, which is part of its draw. There are few sprawling resorts, meaning most of the accommodations are intimate places where the staff gets to know you by name. It doesn't have rainbow flags on every business, but it does offer a friendly welcome to visitors of all sexual orientations, and is still one of the most gay-friendly places in the Caribbean." -Daily Xt
Most LGBTQ+ travelers would think that most, if not all, the Caribbean islands would be welcoming to our collective because of its proximity to queer-friendly Mexico. However, some islands are not, and some are slowly making gradual policy changes.
High Courts in a few Caribbean islands – St. Kitts and Nevis, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda – own overturned anti-gay sex laws (buggery laws) that once made sexual relations between men a criminal offense and punishable by death.
Even though laws are transforming, the Caribbean region is not as progressive as Mexico and Central American countries, like Costa Rica. Vacationer Magazine urges all Queer travelers to investigate any desired destination to determine if it is genuinely welcoming and a safe place for us to see. With our community’s safety in consciousness, we wanted to compile a brief list of Caribbean islands that you may want to consider when contemplating a warm-weather getaway to this sun-soaked region.
Puerto Rico
It’s been on our list of places to visit, especially with Discovery Puerto’s recent campaign, which includes our Vacationer contributor Barry Hoy and his boyfriend Vacationer cover star boyfr
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No Trouble in Paradise – The Top 6 Same-sex attracted Friendly Caribbean Islands
The Caribbean conjures images in our minds of lackadaisical lying on hammocks between palm trees, cocktail of preference in hand, with but one care in the world: relaxation. The region of the Americas is composed of over 700 islands, each and every one surrounded by pristine waters, flour-white sands, and reefs just teeming with tropical sea life. However, for the LGBTQ+ people, the fantasy is sometimes tainted by the Caribbean's negative reputation for existence gay-unfriendly – with the harsh reality of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and potentially homophobic locals crashing down enjoy a tidal wave upon any paradisical fantasies.
And if you really treasure the region, you might even consider exploring the option of Caribbean CBI (Citizenship by Investment) programs, which provide an opportunity for individuals and Queer families to obtain citizenship in select Caribbean nations, offering not only a chance to bask in the region's natural splendor but also to contribute to fostering a more inclusive and diverse society in these tropical havens. Embrace the prospect of becoming a citizen, not just a visitor, and contri