Vacationing in the Caribbean

[Anonymous]

LGBTQIA+ families (meaning, families where the parents, kids, or both identify as LGBTQIA+): do you vacation in the Caribbean? Our family (straight parents, two teenagers, one of whom isn’t straight) has visited (many times) a country in the Caribbean that has a history of being anti-LGBTQIA+, although it has improved in the last 20 years, with increasing legal protections but remaining social bias against LGBTQIA+ people. My research suggests that this is common across most Caribbean countries, with the exception of the ones under French jurisdiction—but even those seem to fall into the “full legal protection but perhaps not social acceptance” category. (See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_Americas" target="_new" rel="nofollow">this page under Caribbean for a round up of legal protections.)

We’re trying to decide whether to visit next year; my non-straight child is the one most excited about the prospect, but we haven’t been in a few years, and they aren’t aware of the country’s position on LGBTQIA+ issues. We would talk with them about it before making any plans (and be guided by their preferences), but before we do, I’d love to hear from other families about how you approach this. Do you completely avoid destinations that are not completely LGBTQIA+ friendly? If not, do you have a threshold for types of legal protections offered? How do you weigh legal protections vs social acceptance?

I understand that to some the answer here will be obvious: if we have to ask these questions, we shouldn’t be going. And that’s my instinct. But I don’t know if it’s that cut-and-dried for everyone and would really value hearing from others.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You’re a tourist (prob white, right)? No one is going to bother you. Quit the drama and virtue signaling.

[Anonymous]

I think it comes down to your preference. Would you want to support a country that doesn't support LGBTQIA+? Do you shop at Hobby Lobby or any other corp. that gives money to anti-gay politicians?

[Anonymous]

My husband and 3 kids usually visit the Caribbean at least once per year. We’ve never had a problem anywhere, including Jamaica and the Bahamas. That said we stay at resorts and so typical tourist activities.

On the flip side we considered buying property in the Caribbean and I would only consider places with pro lgbt laws.