This TikTok couple perfectly summed up what it means to travel as queer people

If you’re visiting GayCities, you already know that traveling as a queer person is political.

Between staying abreast of safety concerns, learning about LGBTQ+ history, and finding connections with local queer communities, our sexualities are an integral part of every excursion.

That said, it might be hard for heterosexual travelers to understand — and globe-trotting gay TikTok couple @TravelingBoyfriends are setting the record straight.

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@travelingboyfriends For us queer travelers, our trips are dictated by where we’re ’allowed’ to go and where we’re not. Some of us choose to go anyway, but that doesn’t lessen the realities and risks: For gay travelers, travel has always been inherently political. #gaytravelcouple #gaytiktok #lgbtcouple #traveltheworld ♬ original sound – Traveling Boyfriends

Davey and Omie are a Scottish and Mexican-American couple who share their adventures around the world with 68.7 followers on TikTok and Instagram. Thus far, they’ve traveled to 35 countries together, offering tips about their experiences to help “gay travelers explore the world safely.”

Their content often includes peeks into LGBTQ+ history around the world, as “our community has always existed, even when it was targeted, hunted, pushed underground, and erased from history altogether.”

So, when the two men received a comment that read, “Why do u always make it about being gay? Just travel! Not everything has to be political,” they were well prepared to answer.

In a scenic and powerful response, they explained to the commenter that “around 65 countries still criminalize consensual same-sex relationships, and in several of those countries, the laws are so extreme that they include prison, corporal punishment, or even the death penalty.”

This means that, for no fault besides their sexualities, there are countries they may never get to step foot in.

@travelingboyfriends Where have you felt safest as a queer traveler? As a gay couple, we of course love cities with a good gay neighborhood, but that’s not all that defines safety for us. What really matters is whether we can be fully ourselves without question. No “we’re just friends,” or asking for twin beds just to avoid an awkward moment. It’s about feeling welcomed, not just tolerated (and trust you can feel the difference). Our Top 5: 5. Cape Town, South Africa (we’ll be sharing our itinerary soon, so stay tuned!) 4. Galway, Ireland 3. Chicago, United States 2. Tromsø, Norway (add this place to your list! you will not regret it) 1. Barcelona, Spain Let us know what other places we should add to our list! #gaytravelcouple #boyfriends #traveltheworld ♬ original sound – Traveling Boyfriends

They continued: “Do you know what it feels like to want to see the world, yet have to go back in the closet sometimes simply for our safety? Or what it feels like to have a story ready about how we’re just roommates in case immigration asks how we know each other?”

It’s for these reasons that their content, which has recently included trips to places like Cape Town, Chicago, Galway, and Barcelona, is so important.

“If travel feels apolitical to you, that’s not because it is,” they added. “It’s because you’re privileged enough not to notice, and asking queer travelers to separate travel from politics simply shows how disconnected you are from the reality that so many of us live every single day.”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!

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Check out more of the Traveling Boyfriends’ excursions below.

@travelingboyfriends Ireland wasn’t what we expected in the best way. It’s rare as a gay interracial couple to travel somewhere and just feel relaxed. We really enjoyed west Ireland. Drop a country where you felt safe as a gay traveler! We’re building our list. And if you’re thinking about visiting Ireland and want to know what we did, comment your questions below! We’ll share all the details. #westireland #ireland #gaytravelcouple #lgbtcouple #gaytravelers #traveltheworld #lgbtpride ♬ Celtic Flashy Celtic Music – Masucu

@travelingboyfriends

♬ original sound – Traveling Boyfriends

@travelingboyfriends Sad we didn’t make it to Sitges, but we loved this unexpected day in Barcelona! This was our first time in the city together, and it was so gay. We loved it! It wasn’t the day we planned, but it turned into one of our favorites. All thanks to @Bounce, because dragging our bags around would’ve been a total vibe killer. Comment “Bounce” and we’ll send you the discounted link to the app! ad #barcelona #lgbtcouple #spaintravel #loveislove ♬ original sound – Traveling Boyfriends

@travelingboyfriends You hear about the yachts, the celebrities, and the exclusivity, but you don’t need any of that to have the most romantic time. Even though it rained like 80% of the time we were there, it really is a gorgeous place. The towns are beautiful, the ferry rides make it so easy to explore (though we do have tips bc they get busy!) and the people are so kind. It’s everything you picture when you think of Italy. And for our LGBTQ+ friends wondering, yes, Lake Como felt completely safe and welcoming! We held hands, kissed, and just got to be ourselves. And not one person looked our way. We will say, summer is crazy. On the first day we got there, we waited a long time for the ferry. It can be annoying, but it is what it is. We have some tips + recs we’ll share in the coming days, so stay tuned. Also, it’s pricey but not as pricey as you’d imagine (we felt NYC or London were most expensive). We’ll talk about that, too. But Lake Como really is that girl. You gotta come here and just fall into la dolce vita. #gaytravelcouple #gaytravelers #lgbtcouple #lakecomo #traveltheworld ♬ original sound – Traveling Boyfriends

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