Checking in...with Pride 🌈

Behind the scenes as an editor for June's Travel + Leisure.

Whether you celebrate Pride or not, it’s a meaningful month for many LGBTQ+ folks. A significant career highlight was working as a contributing editor for June’s Travel + Leisure (T+L) — specifically, in a section titled the “evolution of LGBTQ+ travel.” Here’s what it was like and why it matters.

It all started back at the end of 2023. Unlike a story that’s published online, making magic happen in a magazine takes longer. A lot longer. For this edition of Checking in, let’s go through what it was like to work on this issue as a freelancer.

It all started with an email…

I’ve been fortunate to work with an amazing editor (hi, Paul!) who emailed me about a Pride-themed section of T+L’s June issue. I pride myself (see what I did there) in fostering and maintaining relationships with editors, colleagues, PR folks, etc. This editor asked if I’d be interested in playing a role in the creative process for T+L. 

This was the first time I had ever been approached to be a contributing editor. I was honored. But I also had imposter syndrome. I’m a gay man but an expert on LGBTQ+ travel? I didn’t think so. However, while working on this issue, I came to learn so much about the industry, behind-the-scenes of a magazine operation, how gay cruises are so much more than Atlantis, and why so many queer people rely on apps when they travel (beyond hookups!).

Not only did I not need to be a gay travel expert, I had a vast network to lean on. So of course, I said yes. It was time to get to WERK.

My first step by the end of 2023: create a briefing document, essentially outlining story ideas, sources, themes, etc. for the section. Think of it as being an outside advisor for my editor and the in-house team. Note: I did not do this work for free, it was a paid creative brief.

An outline of the document.

I scoured the internet for sources, talked to friends and colleagues, conducted informal interviews with travelers, and researched trends. LGBTQ+ travel is such a wide, varied topic. I thought carefully about T+L’s audience while also considering a diverse range of voices and sources.

Jan. + Feb: Quieter months

My editor and I emailed here and there about story ideas, but a lot of decision-making was out of my hands. The final list of stories is ultimately an in-house call.

It’s worth pointing out that a “contributing editor” can mean a lot of different things. In my case, I contributed to the lineup of stories (including writing up several). However, I didn’t actually “edit” other writers’ work. And of course, while I was doing this project for T+L, I was also working on a million other things. That’s the life of freelance.

March + April: Making the big(ish) bucks

Fast forward a couple of months later, and now it was showtime. I had been tasked with writing two stories and interviewing two LGBTQ+ travel experts for Q&A style blurbs. That meant everything from researching Grindr habits (and evaluating my own experiences 👀) to digging into the travel companies that were pushing the inclusivity envelope.

A little peek at one of my stories for the issue…

But we needed to fill some story gaps, too. It was important to ensure a breadth of perspectives within the queer spectrum, from cis gay men to trans folks and more. For one final story, I sent out a call for pitches from writers (that was a first for me, and now I truly understand why editors’ inboxes are the way they are). Note: A majority of the money I made from this issue came in these months.

Finally, after hours of research, maybe a dozen phone interviews, and several hundred emails, I filed my content along with story backup (meaning I had to record and document every fact and quote).

May + June: The issue is here! 

The final product in my hands!

It’s the two months in my life where so much happens: May is AAPI Month, it’s my birthday month, and then, there’s Pride. Add in the excitement of having this issue publish.

In mid-May, the June T+L hit newsstands in print form; I also got a PDF version of the “evolution of LGBTQ+ travel” section before anyone else. Then, the physical copy came in the mail. When I opened it, It was a burst of Pride…just in time for the actual month to begin.

During the process of helping with this issue, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I wanted this to reflect a wide spectrum of identities but also showcase the impact LGBTQ+ travel can have on all travelers. At the same time, there’s no possible way in 5-6 stories, everyone is going to be able to feel seen. However, I’m proud of how this issue turned out and so happy to have played a part in it.

Happy Pride, y’all 🏳️‍🌈

Checking in from LA,
Chris