One of the goals I set for myself when writing this book was to reach out to folks from backgrounds outside of my own (I’m a straight cis white male). Since travel is often about broadening your horizons and inspiring others, I thought it would be helpful to conduct a series of interviews with people of color (POC) and folks in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. Through their words I would like to help alleviate some of the fears people from these backgrounds face and encourage them to join the traveler culture. Whether you identify as POC/LGBT or not, I think it’s important to learn what we can from these unique perspectives.

Andy is a 26 year old Mexican from the Chicago area that identifies as homosexual with a non-binary gender.

Cornelius Vango is a Caucasian 28 year old polyamorus pansexual that identifies as non-binary/gender-fluid and hails from the mid west.

Matt is 30 years old, Caucasian and identifies as a homosexual male.

Benji is a 25 year old Caucasian that identifies as queer/bisexual with a male gender identity and lives in Australia.

A person that chose to remain Anonymous(1) is just over 30 years old, Caucasian and Bisexual. In terms of gender, they identify as a Male to Female Transsexual.

A. Iwasa is a 36 mixed-asian heterosexual male.

Another person that chose to remain Anonymous(2) is a 44 year old heterosexual male of mixed Native American descent.

Malcolm Anderson, aka Magpie is a 26 year old African American that identifies as female.


When did you first start traveling?

Cornelius: I started out couch-surfing around 2006-ish, van-dwelling in 2007... traveled locally, bumming around Minnesota for awhile before going full nomad in 2011.

Andy: I first started traveling in 2010.

Matt: Ever since I was a kid I would kinda wander or roam to places I wanted to see. Maybe it was running through the woods, or riding my little BMX bike, or paddling on a little boat, but I was always a little adventurer. I'd explore my hometown and anywhere my parents took me. As I grew up, schooling was the only thing that was really preventative to further exploration. When I was 23 and finished university, I started doing a lot more cross country type travel.

Benji: I first started traveling on my own accord in 2006, these were primarily trips to my hometown Sydney (I moved to Brisbane in 2004) to catch up with friends. My first major overseas travel was to Thailand in 2009.

Anonymous(1): Almost two years ago (2015).

A. Iwasa: Just before I turned 20, which happened on my first Road trip by myself.

Anonymous(2): I’ve been traveling off and on, mostly off all of my adult life however I would take seasonals with housing.  I’ve been hardcore traveling, if you want to define it as that (tent, car, hammock sleeping) since Jan 2016.

Magpie: I started traveling at the age of 19.


What modes of travel have you participated in?

Cornelius: Mostly due to my below knee amputation, I've traveled mainly by van. I now have a bus that I adore, but I also hitch-hike and walk from place to place and ride public transportation.

Andy: I have hitchhiked, greyhound, train hopped, rubber tramped, and attempted bike touring.

Matt: Walking, biking, hitchhiking, train hopping, van life…

Benji: Modes of transport have been driving, flying, trains (passenger trains, not freight - it's near impossible to ride freight trains out here), buses, ride sharing.

Anonymous(1): Rubber tramping in a simple cargo trailer setup is my main lifestyle. I've also hitchhiked.

A. Iwasa: Most ways considered conventional in some way in the US; bus, passenger train, plane, car pooling.  But I've also hitchhiked a fair amount, ridden some freight and have walked pretty far while stranded at various points.

Anonymous(2): Rubber tramping, hiking, and I’ve hitched a few times. The second two methods were when the truck was broken down which happens way more than I would like.

Magpie: Hitch hiking, boat, air plane, train. City, hippie greyhound bus.


What is your favorite mode of travel?

Cornelius: Currently, my school bus. I haven't sailed yet, but I know once I do, I'll be hooked. I also do enjoy a good walk.

Andy: My favorite method of getting around is rubber tramping.

Matt: I like them all pretty equally, but its kinda apples and oranges. That's like asking a parent to pick their favorite kid.

Benji: Definitely couch surfing or car camping.

Anonymous(1): So far rubber tramping, but maybe one of these days I'll try a boat ride or a train hop.

A. Iwasa: Hitchhiking.

Anonymous(2): Rubber Tramping.

Magpie: Hitchhiking.


What do you like most about your favorite mode of travel?

Cornelius: My bus is large, but not a full-length so it handles amazingly well. I can haul things, the interior is very minimalist so it is versatile and can be arranged to suit any mission. I liked my van a lot too because it was stealthy to live in and handled well-enough to get it down some crazy back-roads to do some serious wilderness boondocking.

Andy: Rubber tramping allows me a level of privacy and security I couldn't get by just living out of a pack.

Matt: Walking is great because you can always do it. I love it because if you're in decent shape you can just go, and its free. Bikes are awesome because in towns/cities you can make some serious distance and everything feels accessible. Hitchhiking is fun if you like meeting random crazy people. Train hopping has got that risk-it-all vibe powered by those big dangerous trains so if you like adrenaline and breaking the law and cat-and-mouse games you can’t beat it. Van life makes you feel like you have a material home to come home to each night and that can be very comfy.

Benji: With couch surfing, getting to meet all kinds of people and see all kinds of lifestyles. I love car camping for the freedom and convenience. I found different risks with both modes, and have had some negative experiences, however I've found with a bit of common sense and research the issues are minimal.

Anonymous(1): I have a lot of privacy when boondocking--the large amount of public land allows me to disappear whenever I want to and go all over the place. The number of parking lots give me the ability to stay in just about any city at least overnight. Plus, I have the ability to give other travelers a ride.

A. Iwasa: The people I meet.

Anonymous(2): The freedom to go anywhere you want whenever you choose, as long as you have the funds to get there.  I’ve seen things since beginning the life that I know I never would have at home.

Magpie: I love sleeping under the stars. Then waking up to the birds and sun rise, then having the freedom to go anywhere in the country. Also, I like meeting people, going on side adventures, and experiencing different perspectives and personalities.


Do you prefer to travel alone or with friends? [Why do you like it that way?]

Cornelius: I like being with friends for the most part, but sometimes I like to be alone in the wilderness.

Andy: I prefer to travel on my own at this point.

Matt: Like making music, you can do it by yourself, but it’s so much more amazing with friends.

Benji: Alone. More freedom, less drama.

Anonymous(1): I prefer to be with someone.

A. Iwasa: I prefer to Travel with the right people.  I'd rather be alone than with the wrong folks.

Anonymous(2): I prefer to travel alone.  My greatest disappointments in life are when I’ve relied on people.  Sometimes it was all their fault, sometimes it was all my fault – most times we share the blame.  That’s the good and bad thing about blame though, no matter whose fault it is the end result is the same.

Magpie: Traveling with other people can be helpful but it can also hold you back. I've learned tricks of the trade quicker than if I had traveled alone the whole time. There’s a strong  traveler fellowship that can be  hard to find in some of these house dweller’s communities. On the other hand, traveling alone is very peaceful and often turns out to be a good time for self reflection. A lot of times its easier to hitch a ride, get a place to stay, and to move at your own pace. The balance of both are equally important.


Have you had any major difficulties traveling as a member of the POC or LGBT community? If so, can you tell us about a personal experience you've had?

Cornelius: I was drugged and raped in Billings, Montana. I came to and pulled out my switchblade and chased the guy off. I've had people get pretty upset about how confusing I am to them, some get aggressive.

Andy: While not having any difficulties pertaining to my race, I have fair skinned privilege, I have had only a handful of encounters that could be considered difficult. In South Carolina I had a man attempt to assault me on the street for being flamboyant. Also in SC I had an older man enter my tent and he began to touch me in my sleep. In Ocala, Florida back in 2013 I had a similar experience where a man at the rainbow gathering tried to forcibly have sex with me while I was intoxicated. All three instances I was able to protect myself by being either quick, clever, or, as a last resort, violent.

Matt: No major difficulties because I'm gay. Nope.

Benji: I've had a couple of horrible things happen when couch surfing overseas for the first time. I was a member of a few LGBT travel forums and thought I'd found a safe place to crash, but I was wrong. For legal and, honestly, psychological reasons I don't want to go into things too deeply - but someone who I had built a rapport with and thought was safe turned out to be a very unhinged drug addict. One thing lead to another and he started demanding sex; I politely declined his advances and he became enraged. He pulled a knife on me and tried to rape me, but I managed to disarm him and defend myself. There was a similar incident about a year later where I was drugged and assaulted by someone I mistakenly trusted.

Anonymous(1): People cannot usually tell I am trans for sure without being pretty slick or asking. This helps a lot. I've had people threaten some pretty interesting things, but generally I'm ok.

A. Iwasa: Honestly, when someone or people are giving me a lot of grief On The Road, I'm almost never entirely sure if it's because I'm Brown or crustie.  I've been picked up by a few ex-Earth First!ers, and none of my white Traveler Friends have, but in fact they have been picked up by any number of racists, which I haven't, so I assume a lot of racists pass me up which is fine!

Anonymous(2): I’m going to combine the next two questions and try to be brief. I could write a book the size of War and Peace about the negative experiences that I’ve had bc of skin color when traveling and housed up. The most common are just from average every day white people with their smart comments and dirty looks. There’s always a chance that the looks could be because of being a traveler when I’m in my truck. I say that because the truck is loaded down with all the gear I have in this world and the roof rack is full so in some ways I guess I fit a stereotype. There’s next to zero chance that the looks are because they think I’m a traveler when I’m away from the car because I take great pains and go through more than a little expense to look like I’m part of the everyday day population of the town I’m in. I’m not being elitist about that in any way, or I’m not trying to, I’ve just realized, especially since traveling, that I have enough going against me that I don’t need any extra scrutiny. I have this unique skin tone that seems to let white people see whatever race they want in me. I’ve been thought Middle Eastern, Hispanic, and mostly Native American. It’s worse in the fall and early winter because I typically work outside all summer and my tan just never stops getting darker through the year. Then, if I happen to be dating a light skinned Caucasian woman, well, that’s pure Hell when going out in public. I honestly believe that many of the people who drop their little comments, turn their noses up, otherwise do all that they can to show their disapproval would be fine with me and not knowing what race I am, if I wasn’t sleeping with one of their “own”. I’ve been walking down sidewalks, hand in hand with the woman I was dating at the time and had people throw beer bottles at us and yell “you dirty spic”. That’s not all they’ve yelled or commented toward me whether I was with someone or not. I’ve been called much, MUCH worse. So that’s just racist people without any power, it bothers me but they aren’t in any position to really hurt me unless they get really violent and I’ve found that most people lack the courage of their convictions. They’re more than happy to shoot a dirty look or mutter a few barely audible insults, then strut around like they’ve done the work of God or something. It’s the cops, and I include land management agency law enforcement officers in this category, that are the worst.

Magpie: This was before Barrack Obama was elected president. I was working on his campaign in Fort Collins Colorado. I would go door to door speaking with people about his campaign and handing out flyers. As it started getting dark I noticed that people started giving me strange looks, but I payed this no mind. Then this vehicle was following me. After four blocks of this harassment, I go to the car to ask why there follow me just to have the people roll the window up in my face. About twenty minutes later, the police come with guns in my face saying, "Drop whatever is in your hands and don't come any closer". They take and put me in handcuffs and set me down on the sidewalk. At this time it starts snowing so I ask to use there phone to call my boss to tell her what's happening. They reply quickly, "After where done here.”  The cops go through all my pockets, and my book bag that had my paperwork and an unopened bottle of wine. They ask me questions like "What are you doing on this side of town?” “Where were you going next?” “How would you boss feel about the wine in your bag?" When there was only two cops then came two more asking the same questions but this time they became aggressive saying "We're just gonna take you to jail.” While the whole time I’m very calmly reminding them I'm doing my job. After a hour and a half they leave me in the snow without letting me call my boss.


What about minor difficulties? The little annoyances you face on a daily basis?

Cornelius: Mostly, I just get verbal abuse, invalidation of my gender and sexual identity, gawkers and creepers. I've had people take pictures of me without my permission, people saying lewd things based on their assumptions about my sexuality, stalkers, and people trying to "help" me to figure myself out when I didn't ask. When I tried to explain to one guy about how I don't identify solely as a female, he told me "I disagree" and then tried to hit on me to clear up my confusion. Gross.

Andy: As far as minor difficulties go one of the biggest annoyances is the passive homophobia that is encountered in the traveling community. I recognize that this form of treatment is not necessarily malicious, however it can become taxing on one’s patience when you have to constantly be everyone's ambassador to LGBT culture. The most recurring annoyance is having to put up with the constant use of the word ‘faggot’ as well as having to explain to a majority of the men I meet that just because someone is homosexual it does not mean they are instantly attracted to every member of the same sex.

Another constant annoyance is when men who aren't as comfortable with sexuality, (i.e. closest cases), get drunk and begin to try and coerce me into sex. This tends to happen on a less frequent basis since I started traveling in my van, which is due in large part to being able to separate myself from people at the end of the night and not deal with these individuals.

Matt: Only the sense of isolation you get from not being around other gay men. I don't know many gay men who travel the way I do. Being surrounded by straight people all the time can make you feel real lonely. Straight people are so serious.

Also I like guys who are bigger than me, so it is a little dangerous going home with men I don't know but want to get to know. I never had a bad experience, but its always in the back of my mind that I could be physically overpowered if something got weird.

Benji: Minor difficulties are generally the same as faced in everyday society - casual homophobia, ostracizing and discrimination. This is more apparent in hostels than anywhere else and is something I've faced in Australia, USA, UK, the Netherlands and South Africa... everywhere I've stayed in dorm hostels. There is such a ‘fuckboi’ culture in these places - if you're not a straight guy looking to get laid you're already out of place. I've even had people (in 10+ bed dorms) complain that they're in a room with a ‘faggot’ after seeing me holding hands with another guy.

Anonymous(1): I've had a lot of facial electrolysis, but I still need to shave once in a while to keep from growing too many small hairs. If I am in a crowded parking lot, I will worry about being seen doing things like that and whatnot. I also really hate that I cannot strip off my pants to take a swim. Even friends will treat me differently if they know or confirm that I am trans. I hate that, so I just act more shy than I am.

A. Iwasa: The only place I've ever been totally refused service was a gas station at the 5 and route 66 junction in Ashland, OR.  Again, I'm not sure if old dude was thinking I should kick rocks because I'm Brown or crustie, or what really.  Things like that happen all the time, and frankly it's part of why I'm still a crustie at 36, it's part of my shell.

Magpie: Being a person of color I've learned lessons from a early age preparing me for adult hood. My mother would teach me to have respect for my elders and say yes ma'am and sir. Also if I played outside with friends, she tell me not to go any further than her voice could reach me and to be inside before the street lights turn on. As a teenager older white women would hold there pocket book and there purses closer while I passed them in the street in fear of being robbed. If I liked a girl and felt a connection I would ask them on a date. More then once in my life I've been rejected because the color of my skin. Then while hitchhiking I've had average conversations with white men just for them to say, “You’re not bad for a black guy,” then share with me their negative opinions of the Black Lives Matter movement. I have people yelling nigger at me while they drive my. Then I've had people act surprised once I tell them I was born in Kansas and not Jamaica or Africa. Even after a night of passionate love making, women often have to tell how I'm the very first black man they’ve had sex with.


Can you tell us about a positive experience you've had while traveling that was due to your skin color or LGBT status?

Cornelius: I've learned a lot about myself and who I am because of the brave queers I've met on the road. It was because of a few of cross-dressing men that I got back in touch with my feminine side while still being comfortable with my masculinity (I hadn't worn women's clothing in years before that).

Andy: As for positive experiences, I have had many. When you are an LGBT person there are just as many people out there trying to help you as there are hurt you. There are a large amount of youth drop-ins that are design specifically for LGBT youth that provide all sorts of services. In Charleston, South Carolina a group known as Safe Space helped me out a lot when I first got on to the road. There is a certain level of camaraderie when you meet other queer individuals on the road and people will lend a hand if you ask.

Matt: So many good experiences. I really don't like gay men being cast as victims or portrayed as people who face all sorts of adversity or difficulties because they're gay. Thats not true! I've met many many wonderful gay men, mostly who weren’t travelers but lived in cities in towns I passed through. So many champions and good times. More than a handful turned into lovers. I got to see a lot of places more easily because gay men are so into bonding with each other so quickly.

Benji: Meeting up with a mate in Los Angeles the first time I traveled to America, it was my second day over there and he took me to a queer/feminist punk mini-festival near Inglewood... I'd never experienced such a welcoming, friendly and non-judgmental group of people. I had a similar experience in San Francisco a couple of years later with both the punk and kink scenes up in northern California.

Anonymous(1): Since I am in a long term relationship with a woman, I have a positive experience due to being bi nearly every day! On the other hand, being pre-operative and a transwoman means I can still pee standing up when I'm in a private enough place. I avoid it, but sometimes that's a whole lot faster!

A. Iwasa: Well, a lady who picked me up once told me point blank she liked brown guys with long wavy black hair, and we made out. Otherwise, like I mentioned before, I think a lot of racists probably pass me up which is a default blessing. They never seem to hesitate from picking up my white friends who endlessly complain about them!

Magpie: It's not all bad. When I'm hitchhiking I'll get rides from other people of color and it all comes as a breath of fresh air. Instantly we connect just speak about our experiences and vent about our hardships. This becomes a very healing experience that helps bring about an understanding of ourselves and the country we live in. I'll meet people — white men and women — that feel more comfortable with people of color and are shining positive love to the youth everyday creating an awareness that works towards making a strong community. I know there’s a good chance of this happening, and I never forget the stories of my elders; tales of the days when black men and white women were getting hung for their love. But these days, many children of color form mixed families, so things are changing and it's beautiful!


Do you have any advice for someone preparing to travel for the first time as a POC or part of the LGBT community? This can be anything from gear to self defense or anything else related to getting ready for travel.

Cornelius: Travel with mace on you, and keep a scary weapon on hand at all times. If I hadn't had my switchblade in Billings, things would have been more difficult. If you're not comfortable in a situation, don't hesitate to just leave. It may be your last chance to protect yourself.

Andy: My advice to LGBT members who are thinking of traveling for the first time is to be brave. We live in a society where we are constantly being bombarded by people who will question our very right to exist. There is a very real fear for our safety when we head out on our own but as long as you keep your wits about you you will be just fine. Always be who you are but also don't feel bad if you have to tone yourself down, so to speak, while encountering strangers on the road. Feel out each situation individually and always remember that your sexuality and gender identity is nobody’s business but your own.

Matt: I think if you're part of the LGBT community you are probably hyper aware of the discrimination and risks you face. I would say try to loosen up and don't let it define you. Sure you could be LGBT, but there's a big world out there to explore so don't let straight people have all the fun. Paint the town rainbows if you want, but don't be a knucklehead and be respectful.

Benji: Do your research! Seriously, the internet is such an incredible resource. It's helped me out and saved me so many times. Whether it's places (cities, squats, roads, bars) to avoid, just to find places to sleep for free or ways to save money.

If you're car camping check out local council regulations, a lot of places over here won't let you sleep in your car on public streets and can fine you AU$500+.

Some dating apps give you warnings about local laws/customs when it comes to homosexuality, I had a missed connecting flight and was stuck in Nairobi, Kenya for the better part of a day - I checked my phone and got a notification from Scruff advising homosexuality isn't legal and I could face prison time if caught with another guy.

Common sense is your best asset. Try and have a little bit of cash stashed for an emergency, and be careful who you trust.

Anonymous(1): I own a gun. I recommend any other trans person out there do the same if they can afford to buy one, get licensed to carry it concealed and learn to use it. This can restrict your travel opportunities, so one has to weight the pros and cons, but I feel better knowing I have it. Also, it’s easy for transwomen in particular to feel a little too bulletproof compared to cis women. My advice to other transwomen is to remember that you are more of a target than before, and you don't want to learn that the hard way. Staying smart and being careful to avoid dangerous situations is important. You have to be somewhat bold to travel in an unconventional way at all, but you need to find balance as any kind of woman.

A. Iwasa: Go with your instincts 100% of the time, and if you can, start small like Cleveland to Chicago with a friend to get a sense of what you need to have with you, and general support network, etc.

Anonymous(2): This is something that people already know but as a POC you can’t get away with the things that normal travelers can get away with.  As an example, I’m writing this from 5 miles off a main paved road in a desert.  I could have camped right by the main road and saved the gas but the truck would be exposed so I had to four wheel back into a canyon where the truck can’t be seen because I don’t want the hassle.  I’m not hiding from anyone because I’ve done something wrong, I’m hiding so that the truck can’t be seen and identified as my house due to all the stuff on the roof rack.  I’m hiding so that I don’t get a knock on the window at ten at night.  I’m hiding so that I don’t have to explain to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs), as they drag my life out of my truck and throw it onto cow shit in the middle of the desert, that I don’t have papers, even though I was born in this country.

Magpie: I can leave you with some good hubs to meet other traveler and some important words… just remember it's about the journey, not the destination. New Orleans, Louisiana, San Francisco, California, Portland, Oregon, and Kansas City, Missouri are all good places.


For those already on the road, do you have any suggestions for destinations or events that are relevant to POC or the LGBT community? (for example, Idapalooza could be a good event to attend if seeking other radical gender-queer folk).

Cornelius: I haven't been to too many LGBT oriented parties and festivals, but I always loved going to Twin Cities Pride Festival in Minnesota. Tons of free shit, and good times. It made a huge impact on me when I was first figuring myself out.

Andy: As far as I have experienced homo/trans-phobia can happen anywhere, however the west coast is definitely more open to seeing different kinds of people.

Matt: I always just go to the gayest places I can find anywhere I go. This could be a library or a museum, or a gay bar, or a gay or gay friendly resort. It could be a rest area bathroom. I don't like big scenes of any type so I can’t speak to festivals and scenes. But yeah those are the easy ones because they're heavily advertised, where you know, that rest area in West Texas isn't.

A. Iwasa: I used to protest hop a lot in 2001/'02. I still travel sometimes for convergences like about two months spent on Standing Rock last year was one of the most important things I've ever done.  I just keep my eyes and ears open. The Earth First! News Wire is a good place to read calls for supports to travel. Otherwise, anything that sounds worthwhile to a person they should consider traveling for if they can. Visit a Collective! Apply for a residency or whatever your thing is. If it isn't where you are and you can't start it, why not hit the road?!

Magpie: I can leave you with some good hubs to meet other traveler and some important words… just remember it's about the journey, not the destination. New Orleans, Louisiana, San Francisco, California, Portland, Oregon, and Kansas City, Missouri are all good places.


Are there places in the USA (or the world) POC or members of the LGBT should be especially cautious around?

Cornelius: Small towns and anywhere that is predominantly Christian can be pretty scary when you're visibly queer. Even in states that are generally cool.

Andy: The South, in my opinion, should be generally avoided. That being said there are still cities that are more LGBT friendly such as New Orleans or Key West (I have heard, I avoid Florida like the plague) that can be exciting to visit.

Matt: Of course, there are haters everywhere. But I lived in NYC a couple years back when Mark Carson got shot in the head and killed, like two blocks from stonewall, for being gay. You should assess the amount or level of hating and use your best judgment as to whats going on around you.

Benji: I've felt very uneasy in a few places and would recommend being vary cautious if you're traveling through them:

Many parts of Queensland, Australia (pretty well anywhere away from Brisbane City, the Gold Coast or the Sunshine Coast). I reside in Brisbane, about 16km north of the city, and even there I've dealt with homophobic violence - like most places, the inner city is generally more tolerant. There are good and bad areas.

Everywhere I went in Mississippi and in rural Tennessee.

Byron Bay, NSW, Australia. Byron has a reputation of being fairly tolerant but gentrification has brought in an influx of rich yuppies who go against the towns culture, there are also a few older locals who are stuck in their bigoted head spaces. A few mates are I narrowly avoided a brawl on the beach after someone took issue with a anti-homophobia patch on my vest.

Johannesburg, South Africa.

Numerous parts of England...this was surprising, I'm not sure if I just overheard too many of the wrong people or wandered around the wrong areas.

Kenya.

Anonymous(1): I can only speak to what I know. I'd say that transwomen should be especially careful around guys who might find them attractive and have been drinking when they don't have a friend around. A lot of guys have a very unfortunate reaction to discovering they were turned on by a transwoman, and this is worse when they are drunk.

A. Iwasa: Everywhere, to a certain degree. I feel like you never know. For instance, I love Chicago, and spent a good amount of time there as an adult from about 2002-'10. I never had a run in with the '77s, but they've beat down plenty of crusties and what not for no good reason, one of them even got away with murdering a street artist. You just never know, again, I think people just need to keep their eyes and ears open, and follow their instincts.

Magpie: Places I'd avoid: Gallup, New Mexico, Amarillo, Texas, Colby, Kansas, Salt Lake City, Utah, Arizona, The Grand Canyon, Orange County, California, Spokane, Washington.


Are there any safety concerns you think minority groups should be especially aware of when traveling? [might combine this with above question]

Cornelius: Always be aware of straight white males in large groups in places where their privilege prevails. Mob mentality can be very dangerous for the traveling queer or person of color.

A. Iwasa: You're especially vulnerable while traveling, so I think it's all the normal concerns but times ten. The flip of that I think is when you're with good people you can see the most amazing things, really the best in people and of the world in general.


Do you have advice for POC or LGBT folk that is related to a specific form of travel? For example, this could be tips specific to hitchhiking, bike touring, sailing, etc.

Cornelius: Don't tell strangers too much personal information, like where you are heading, where you're camping/parking, whether you're alone. Pay attention to your discomfort and intuition, it can save your life. If somebody is scoping you out, move to another location if you can. Don't get into a car with somebody that creeps you out, and always make sure you have an exit strategy and a way to make it seem like somebody is waiting on you, even if you have a phone with no service that you can pretend to be talking on, or of course, a working phone that you can message somebody with, telling them your current location and intended destination.

Anonymous(1): Rubber tramping is especially nice because you can more easily hide things you need to hide (especially if you are trans). Also, get a mail forwarder and set up your meds with a mail-order pharmacy if you can! This will make being trans on the road a hell of a lot easier. A mail forwarder can send your meds to you via general delivery to whatever post office you are near. It'll cost, but if you can manage it, it's worth it to have that option.

A. Iwasa: Not really, be careful but go for it if you feel like it's the right thing to do!  Again, it's all the same pros and cons of life, just enhanced.

Magpie: Keep water with you at all times if you spend time hitching in the heat please don't make the mistake of forgetting this! Since temperatures get very low in certain areas, pack a good sleeping bag and maybe even some light weight winter gear. Another reason to travel in a group is because travelers come up missing; sexual assault and harassment may be more common than we know. There safety in numbers!


Is there anything you'd like to share with potential future travelers? Current travelers? To the world in general?

Cornelius: Don't let the cruelties and hardships of the world scare you from living your life and doing what you want to. You may have a physical handicap like me, or worse, you may be a target minority but that doesn't mean that you can't get out there and be free. In some cases, you may have to plan ahead for your safety and physical needs. There might not be a tutorial on how to do what you want to do, but that's the real adventure! Blaze your trail, and do the impossible.

Andy: Never be afraid to be yourself. You may think that you have to jump back into the closet for your own safety but that shouldn't be the case. Courage is a huge part of traveling the way we do and if you have the courage to be true to yourself than you already have what it takes to make it out on the road.

Matt: Stop looking at your phones so much! Gays and probably a lot of the LGBTQA spectrum are like disappearing into the cloud. Remember gay physical places and people need your attention, especially now more than ever. Life is becoming too virtual, but people and places are the antidote to that virtual isolation. As Edna St. Vincent Millay said, "Yet many a man is making friends with death, even as I speak, for lack of love alone." Go out and love some people and places and never forget them! Also, good luck when you fall in love and you're traveling. Seriously I wish you the best. So many loves out on the road I'll never forget. Be open to it.

Benji: Respect others, respect the land and love your world. See as much of the planet as you can and don't let how other's view you influence your life. We're not here for too long - live the life you want.

Anonymous(1): You'll mess things up. That's okay. It's the only way you will figure out your own journey. Just say as safe as you can while still enjoying the ride, find good people to help you and help them back. It'll be awesome.

A. Iwasa: It's not for everyone. I don't think people should travel hard just for kicks. Similarly though, I feel like it's worth the sacrifices and risks, and why the hell should only the rich get to travel, or poor people have to join the military or whatever to see the world?!

Magpie: Stay clean and keep clean clothes! Your chances of getting a ride can be slim if your driver can smell you from a distance. To make money learn an instrument or do some arts and crafts. To save money ask passers bye and restaurants for there leftovers.


So there you have it. I honestly hope these words from fellow travelers will give you the inspiration you need to get on the road no matter what your background may be. There’s all kinds of unexpected rewards waiting for you if you just have the courage to step through the door. Join us even just for a little while, and I promise you won’t regret it!