In the wake of recently passed anti-gay legislation in Russia, Senior Editor Michelle Baran spoke with John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association, about how the law could affect LGBT travelers heading to Russia -- or not heading there because of the legal risks they potentially face.
Q: What was your reaction when you first heard about the new anti-gay law in Russia?
A: We were shocked. It seems like a step back in time.
Q: Have you been to Russia before?
A: I've been to Moscow. When I went to Moscow, it was 12 years ago, so I think it is probably a very different place than it was back then. Even back then, when I was there, there was definitely a gay scene. There was definitely a lot of clubs and nightclubs. It was new. It's totally different now.
Q: Given the news, how would you advise LGBT travelers heading to Russia?
A: Whether you're gay or straight, you need to be mindful of laws where you're traveling. So, particularly with this situation, for gay travelers they do need to be mindful of these new laws and be careful, because I'm sure those laws are very enforced and strict there.
Q: How do you feel about a boycott of travel to Russia?
A: Being that we're a trade association promoting tourism, we don't condone boycotts. We have members that do business in Russia, and that would certainly hurt them. There's an LGBT community in Russia, and obviously a boycott would hurt them, as well. So, it's not our role [to promote] an all-out boycott. What we would rather do is engage leaders in Russian tourism to reconsider and help push the government to reconsider its decision.
Q: You said you were shocked when you first heard about the law. Are there other travel destinations that have anti-gay laws in place that could be a risk for LGBT travelers?
A: Well, yeah, there are, of course. This one is just so blatantly prejudiced and going back in time. It's created a lot of noise. You don't think of Russia like you would other places like central Africa where it's been going on forever. Russia hasn't really had this type of policy, so it sort of came out of nowhere. Certainly there are other places that are not welcoming to gay travelers: Uganda or Jamaica, even.
Q: How has the LGBT travel landscape changed and evolved over the years?
A: Well, it's definitely grown. And even to places like Russia. There are gay tour groups that go on organized trips to places such as St. Petersburg to look at the history there and the dynasty and the beauty of St. Petersburg.
So there has been in the last decade an increase in travelers amongst our members that are doing business in Russia. Russia and Asia in general have increased over the last decade. With this announcement by their government, that trend could totally reverse if other organizations and companies like IsramWorld start following their lead and canceling [Russia departures].
Q: For travelers looking for an alternative to Russia, what are some of the most gay-friendly destinations out there?
A: There's many, many destinations, whether you're looking at countries like Canada and [the Netherlands] or specific destinations like San Francisco or Rio de Janeiro, all over the globe there are places. Things can happen anywhere. But the safety is there, and being welcoming is there. And things for them to do is there.
Follow Michelle Baran on Twitter @mbtravelweekly.