{"id":18820,"date":"2018-05-02T09:00:50","date_gmt":"2018-05-02T13:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=18820"},"modified":"2020-08-30T23:23:33","modified_gmt":"2020-08-31T03:23:33","slug":"top-5-lgbt-travel-destinations-caribbean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/top-5-lgbt-travel-destinations-caribbean\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 LGBT Travel Destinations in the Caribbean"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Caribbean offers so many magnificent places for your dream vacation. Littered with sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, warm weather, and delicious food, who wouldn\u2019t want to escape to a literal paradise? <\/span><\/p>\n Traveling the world can be different for the LGBT community, however. Some local communities are not as welcoming to same-sex couples as others. Imagine arriving to a beautiful island and finding out you and your partner are not welcome. <\/span><\/p>\n For this reason, I\u2019ve done some digging and looked for the best Caribbean destinations for LGBT community members. For each, I\u2019ve uncovered what makes the destination appealing for LGBT travelers and some of the legal protection they may have. <\/span><\/p>\n St. Barts<\/b><\/p>\n The French island of Saint Barthelemy attracts high-end travelers and celebrities from all around the world. They are drawn to its beautiful beaches, great food, entertainment and nightlife, and the duty-free shopping. <\/span><\/p>\n St. Barts is LGBT-friendly by nature, where same-sex couples can be comfortable holding hands while walking along the white, sandy beaches. It is not uncommon for a gay couple to be seen enjoying a romantic dinner or showing affection during their day on the beach. Same-sex marriage is legal on St. Barts and many use the island for their destination wedding. There is also a local gay community that welcomes travelers. <\/span><\/p>\n There is no visible gay scene, but the LGBT locals and visitors partake in the many activities that are offered by the island with no hesitation or holding back. In fact, the island is so gay-friendly, the local community says there is no need for an LGBT scene. <\/span><\/p>\n In terms of legal rights for gay individuals, French laws apply and are practiced on the island. As an LGBT traveler, the law is on your side. People are very open minded. In 1985, the government passed a national law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment and housing. <\/span><\/p>\n St. Maarten<\/b><\/p>\n This Dutch\/French island has a long history of gay acceptance where both straight and same-sex couples coexist together with the same goal – to enjoy the beautiful water, food, and nightlife. There are a variety of LGBT friendly spaces and activities for gay travelers. <\/span><\/p>\n In 2004, there was an incident where a gay couple was assaulted which made many question the gay-friendly reputation of the island. The tourism officials were quick to apologize and remedy the situation, and St. Maarten remains one of the most LGBT-friendly Caribbean hotspots. <\/span><\/p>\n