Articles up to May 19th, 2025
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Freelance Travel Writer
Calum McSwiggan, author of Eat Gay Love, is a man on a mission. He plans to spend 2025 exploring how the LGBT+ community is celebrated everywhere on Earth: 12 months, 7 continents, 20 Prides.
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Metro
2 days ago
- Metro
I had the gayest night of my life at Sao Paulo Pride
I stand atop a parade float, gazing out over the busiest intersection in the city. Below me, a sea of pride flags stretches to the horizon. The thumping pulse of carnival music drives the crowd forward, thousands of rainbow fans clacking in perfect unison. It's without a doubt the largest gathering I've ever witnessed. Best estimates place the annual turnout at anywhere up to five million people in the space of a single day – one of the top three largest annual events in the world. On my mission to visit Pride events all over the world, I thought I was prepared for Sao Paulo's celebrations. The opening party, however, quickly makes me realise that Brazil is on a whole other level. Typically taking place a few days before the parade, the celebrations begin with Micareta, a carnival-style LGBT+ music festival. Huge outdoor stages are rigged with enormous sound systems as thousands of queer people descend upon the party. It doesn't start until midnight and doesn't finish until 8am. There's rainbow streamers and confetti firing in all directions as someone takes my hand and I'm guided forward into the gayest night of my life. What follows is night after night of never-ending celebration. By the time the parade finally arrives on Sunday, the fatigue is fully taking hold. It may just be sleep deprivation, but as I come down from my perch atop the pride float, I join the swelling crowds of the parade and am suddenly hit by an unexpected wave of emotion. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! Calum McSwiggan, author of Eat Gay Love, is a man on a mission. He plans to spend 2025 exploring how the LGBT+ community is celebrated everywhere on Earth: 12 months, 7 continents, 20 Prides. In an exclusive Metro series, Calum will journey from the subzero climes of Antarctica to the jewel-toned streets of Mumbai, telling the story of Pride around the world. Follow his journey on Metro, in print and on our socials to learn how Pride is celebrated around the world. Next up? Ireland and San Francisco. But I also love breaking off into the side streets to catch the quieter moments. I find same-sex couples slow dancing outside a convenience store, families throwing impromptu barbecues in the middle of the street, and groups of friends cheering as they watch the parade from their balconies. The day before the parade I join an LGBT+ 5km run, where thousands of participants wake up at sunrise to seize their morning hit of endorphins. There's also a queer Comic-Con-style event, an LGBT+ fair, and a range of marches and protests ensuring every letter of the community is seen and heard. At Sao Paulo Pride, there's truly something for everyone, and this year's theme celebrates LGBT+ people aged 60 and above. Acknowledging their foundational role in building visibility and rights within the community, it also highlights crucially important issues like social abandonment and queer elders being lost in a world that so often prioritises youth. As part of the festival, the local LGBT+ museum features an exhibition that explores the enormous percentage of older queer people who were lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It spotlights the knowledge, insight and culture that disappeared along with them. More Trending 'A good social life is so important for people my age, and here in Sao Paulo, we have so many places where LGBT+ people aged 60+ can be exactly who we are in a very positive and welcoming environment,' says Clovis Casemiro. The beautiful thing about Sao Paulo Pride is that it's so many things at once. It's celebration and it's protest. It's glitter and it's grit. It's kissing strangers and sending hope to those who aren't yet free to do the same. It's remembering those who came before us and paving the way for those who come next. Getting there LATAM runs daily flights between London Heathrow and São Paulo, with return economy fares starting from £681 per person. Where to stay Novotel Sao Paulo (£) Marriott Executive Apartments (££) Hotel Unique (£££) These hotels all proudly display the Travel Proud badge after completing LGBT+ inclusivity training. What to do beyond Pride Avenida Paulista: This enormous boulevard is the starting point for the pride parade, but it's also closed to traffic every Sunday. Coming alive with roller bladers, dog walkers and street vendors, it's the perfect spot for an afternoon stroll in the sunshine. Museum of Sexual Diversity: With regularly updated exhibits, this LGBT+ museum in the heart of the city explores the intersection of LGBT+ and Brazilian identities. Liberdade: Sao Paulo has the largest population of Japanese people outside of Japan. This fascinating and charming neighbourhood blends these two contrasting cultures beautifully. Where to eat and drink Baixo Gastomonico: For some of the best Brazilian food you'll find in Sao Paulo. Both vegan and LGBT+ friendly. For some of the best Brazilian food you'll find in Sao Paulo. Both vegan and LGBT+ friendly. Make Hommus. Not War: What started as a delivery-only concept during the pandemic evolved into a charming spot that's won awards for being the best Arab restaurant in Brazil. What started as a delivery-only concept during the pandemic evolved into a charming spot that's won awards for being the best Arab restaurant in Brazil. Kakurega Izakaya: The most authentic izakaya I've experienced outside of Japan. The takoyaki transported me straight back to the streets of Osaka. MORE: The UK's best Cotswolds alternatives for last-minute summer staycations MORE: 'Gifted' European city that's 25°C in September with Mediterranean beaches and £85 flights MORE: I followed a dusty path in Ibiza and found the 'White Isle's' most iconic hotel
Metro
19-05-2025
- Metro
Articles up to May 19th, 2025
Calum McSwiggan | Freelance Travel Writer Calum McSwiggan, author of Eat Gay Love, is a man on a mission. He plans to spend 2025 exploring how the LGBT+ community is celebrated everywhere on Earth: 12 months, 7 continents, 20 Prides.
Metro
19-05-2025
- Metro
Queer travellers are boycotting Florida — but is it doing more harm than good?
Calum McSwiggan is celebrating 20 prides on seven continents over 12 months. In his latest despatch from Florida – under fire from anti-LGBT+ legislation – he finds a community bonded together. Calls to boycott the state of Florida flood my social media feed. 'Boycott Florida, no trips, no purchases,' one woman writes, her message shared thousands of times. People from around the world are resisting the Sunshine State's anti-LGBT+ legislation. It led to further reflection on my decision to include Miami in my Year of Pride . None of the destinations I am visiting have been included without consideration. The boycott has been gaining traction for several years, driven by a slate of laws that have scaled back LBGT+ freedoms. In 2022, Florida Governor Ron de Santis signed the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, which prevents LGBT+ topics from being discussed in classrooms. One year later, Republicans passed the Bathroom Ban , which effectively makes it a crime for trans people to use single-sex spaces. Sweeping LGBT+ book bans, attacks on drag performers, and a petition to make it illegal for Pride flags to be flown from government buildings have also made headlines. It's making queer travellers think twice about visiting. I understand this, but spending time in Miami has helped me to see a different perspective. Florida may have long voted red, but Miami Beach has remained defiantly blue, consistently voting Democrat across local, state, and national elections. These aren't just statistics; you can feel this liberal identity everywhere you go. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! From the famous rainbow beach hut to the iconic pastel crossing, the city is decked out in Pride colours year-round. Twist, Miami's oldest gay bar, flies two enormous rainbow flags in the middle of the busiest boulevard, while Palace is renowned for its drag shows that run seven days a week. Every night, the crowds are so large they spill out onto Ocean Drive; it's impossible to visit this tourist landmark without seeing LGBT+ people not only represented, but loudly celebrated, too. During my visit, I attend a street naming ceremony for Matti Bower, the beloved activist who founded Miami Beach Pride. It's unprecedented to name a street after a person who's still living, but for her, they make an unchallenged exception. Bower served as the city's first female and first Hispanic mayor, as well as being a Cuban migrant and a proud Democrat. Naming a street after her is a win for the LGBT+ community, but it's also a win for other minorities living in the state of Florida. Alongside famously queer cities like Key West and Fort Lauderdale,Miami Beach has long been a haven for the LGBT+ community. Yet in catering so heavily to queer travellers, the city is reliant on revenue from LGBT+ tourists to keep queer establishments afloat. Go figure. A boycott threatens the livelihood of queer business owners, many of whom are already struggling. At the iconic 'hetero-friendly' Axel Hotel, I witness this firsthand. Calum McSwiggan, author of Eat Gay Love, is a man on a mission. He plans to spend 2025 exploring how the LGBT+ community is celebrated everywhere on Earth: 12 months, 7 continents, 20 Prides. In an exclusive Metro series, Calum will journey from the subzero climes of Antarctica to the jewel-toned streets of Mumbai, telling the story of Pride around the world. Follow his journey on Metro, in print and on our socials to learn how Pride is celebrated around the world. Next up? Thailand. Thunder and lightning flash overhead as the DJ bops up and down by the side of the pool. It's long served as a thriving hub for the LGBT+ community, but today, they are being forced to close their doors before Pride has even begun. The dismal weather doesn't stop people from showing up to say goodbye, though. They huddle together under the canopy as they celebrate the legacy of this important community space. It's not the only LGBT+ space to close down. Two gay swimwear stores have closed up shop since my last visit two years ago. A recent study from shows that 43% of LGBT+ travellers have cancelled a trip after seeing that a destination is unsupportive of LGBTQ+ people. Now, businesses are struggling, but this goes much deeper than economics. 'Even in times when the state's political narrative is targeting the LGBT+ community, Miami Beach has a long history of standing against this,'LGBT+ restaurant owner Egidio Guerreri tells Metro. This support goes back to the battle against Anita Bryant's homophobic 'Save Our Children' movement in the 70s. 'We will always be united, we will always make our voices heard, but we need support from the wider world too,' Egidio says. 'That's why it's so important that international LGBT+ travellers continue to visit – they're not just supporting our economy, they're supporting us by showing up and being visible, and helping to show that we're very much here to stay.' Florida is home to both the world's largest cruise port and some of its biggest theme parks – while an LGBT+ boycott certainly sends a message, it makes only a small dent in the state's broader economy. For small LGBT+ businesses, it could be fatal. Across Miami, there is a push for trans inclusivity, too. During a pageant competition to crown Mr & Mrs Miami Beach Pride, contestants are invited to dress in one of the colours of the six-stripe Pride flag. Instead, however, Oscar Gonsalez takes the stage in white. Wearing an intricate headpiece and winged gown, he deliberately breaks the rules to wear one of the colours of the trans Pride flag instead. He explains, in Spanish, that his outfit is a tribute to his transgender sister. He's crowned the winner shortly afterward. Rules be damned, Miami Beach consistently stands firm in its love and acceptance of every letter of the community. Perhaps most importantly, drag performer Sacha Colby is invited to be Grand Marshal in the parade. With both the drag and trans communities under the attack of state legislation, it feels especially poignant that they also place a transgender drag queen to be the festival's headline act. 'Give it up for the dolls,' she calls to the cheering crowd, using a term of endearment for transgender women. She's still dripping wet from dousing herself in water during her performance. 'We're still struggling, y'all. We still don't have healthcare. We still don't have human rights. We need to figure out how we can make everyone feel human. It's just being human.' These words feel healing. In fact, the whole festival feels like a therapeutic moment for Florida's LGBT+ community. People carry bright colourful signs that read 'Just breathe' and 'We will get through this.' One woman joyously waves a banner that reads ' Proud mother of a transgender son .' Moments of togetherness are what the city does so well. It's ironic that efforts to tear the community apart has only brought us closer together. More Trending It's not all political. Placing the Pride festival on the sands of Miami Beach makes for a unique atmosphere. People walk around in bikinis and swimwear, and there's a genuine sense of happiness and freedom that goes hand in hand with Miami's relaxed and easy way of life. To the outside world, it may seem like Florida is not a welcoming place to visit these days. But cities like Miami Beach are proof to the contrary. I can't tell you whether or not to boycott – that's a decision people will have to make for themselves. But if you are going to visit, my recommendation is that you spend your money generously within the state's queer establishments. That goes for our allies too – stop by an LGBT+ owned restaurant, go to see a drag show and tip those performers generously. Florida may be red, but the people of Miami are blue through and through. Getting there Virgin Atlantic offers return fares from London Heathrow from £412. Not only are they an inclusive airline, they've collaborated with organisations like Open For Business to highlight the economic impact of LGBT+ discrimination. Where to stay: Hotel Gaythering is now Miami's only LGBT+ hotel. For other queer-friendly recommendations, the following have all completed Travel Proud training: – Moxy Miami South Beach (££) – The Goodtime Hotel (£) – Nobu (£££) Things to do (beyond Pride) Walk or cycle along Miami Beach's pedestrianised promenade. With more than eight miles of picturesque coastline, you can see it all on a Citibike for as little as $6.50. Swim and sunbathe at Miami's vibrant gay beach. Just head to 12th street and look for the rainbow volleyball nets. To support a local LGBT+ business you can pick up swimwear from Outfair's online shop. Squeeze in a workout: Muscle Beach is incredibly popular with LGBT+ tourists and locals alike. If you prefer cardio to lifting weights, the Miami Gay Run Club meets every Wednesday. All abilities welcome. Where to eat and drink Bakalo: Bringing their Mediterranean concept all the way from the gay mecca of Mykonos, Nikos Nanou and Egidio Guerreri are partners in both life and business. Stepping into their charming restaurant feels like being welcomed into their home. Jaffa: Founded by renowned LGBT+ chef Yaniv Cohen, this kosher and vegan-friendly restaurant delivers everything from beef brisket to turmeric-roasted cauliflower. Palace: No trip to Miami would be complete without enjoying their iconic drag brunch. Bring cash; make no mistake, these drag artists earn their tips. MORE: Black tornado looms 'like scene in Stranger Things' during storms which killed 27 MORE: Map shows severe storms in US after 21 killed across three states MORE: I holidayed like a local in Japan and didn't touch Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto
