Embracing Intersectionality in Group Travel
When exploring Black heritage travel, it’s important to acknowledge and honor the intersectionality of identities—especially the ways the Black and LGBTQ communities have historically intersected and how they continue to shape culture and activism. The overlap of these two communities has been vital in both the fight for civil rights and the celebration of identity. “It’s a reality that the gay community encompasses all ethnic groups,” says Elliott L. Ferguson II, president and CEO of Destination DC.
From the WorldPride Parade to murals like the iconic “Love” mural, Washinton, D.C. celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.
Groups can view LGBTQ+ objects and collections at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., that tell the familiar, untold, and unknown stories that have shaped the nation’s past.
Birmingham’s LGBTQ rights initiatives and Detroit’s vibrant LGBTQ scene showcase how these communities are intertwined—whether through the legacy of Black and queer activists or the contemporary spaces where both groups gather in solidarity. For example, Parker’s Alley in Detroit serves as a space for minority-owned businesses—many of which are LGBTQ-inclusive.
In Washington, D.C., the National Museum of African American History and Culture delves into the experiences of the Black LGBTQ community. The city will also host WorldPride in 2025. “Celebrations like WorldPride are not just for the gay community, but for all communities to come together to recognize the importance of celebrating the gay community,” Ferguson says.
When tour operators help travelers explore both aspects of identity, they can gain a more nuanced and enriching understanding of American history.
Linda Formichelli has been a freelance writer since 1997. She lives in Raleigh, N.C.
Photo credit: Courtesy of washington.org.
American Bus Association members across the country offer groups a variety of ways to understand and appreciate America’s Black history. In our “Black Heritage Tourism” cover story, you’ll discover how the Alabama Tourism Department, Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, Visit Detroit, Destination DC, and New York State’s Division of Tourism/I LOVE NY are shaping cultural change through immersive tours and experiences.
