GayStay Offers a New Alternative to LGBTQ Travelers
Jennifer Billock September 12, 2016
GayStay has been introduced as an AirBNB-style marketplace for LGBTQ-friendly lodging across the world.
LGBTQ travelers sometimes have to worry — with the occurrence of discrimination in the world, deciding where to stay can be a risky proposition. But GayStay is looking to change all that. The company, similar to AirBNB, offers LGBTQ-friendly lodging across the world, offering welcome and safe accommodations to the LGBTQ community.
The website works quite similarly to AirBNB. You can sign on as a host or just rent from someone, or do both. The goal is to be completely inclusive of the LGBTQ community, creating friendly spaces that support the company’s initiatives.
In a blog on the company’s website, GayStay notes that this is a better opportunity for LGBTQ travelers, rather than using AirBNB, due to several discrimination incidents:
- On July 7, a traveler was turned away in Texas with this response: “No LGBT people, please. I do not support people who are against humanity. Sorry.”
- In June, a transgender traveler had her reservation canceled by a host who said her son would feel uncomfortable. AirBNB did nothing, even promoting the host to “super host,” until the incident went viral on Twitter.
Further, AirBNB has a zero-tolerance discrimination policy, but new hosts are not required to read it and no federal legislation can be used to enforce it.
“With GayStay, you’ll find the same ease of use and friendliness as any other sharing economy life hack,” the company posted on its blog. “But here, you’re guaranteed to be accepted for who you are. And a portion of the profits from GayStay is used to benefit LGBT youth organizations. So not only are you finding safe spaces to rent, but you’re also giving back to your community.”
[Photo: SBS]
why is this article from over a year ago on the front page of FT? Slow news day?
"AirBNB has a zero-tolerance discrimination policy, but new hosts are not required to read it and no federal legislation can be used to enforce it." Of course, there are countries other than the United States, and many of those _do_ have enforceable laws for those purposes.
This doesn't seem like a problem to me. If someone dislikes you, do you really want to even stay in their home? Don't give them business.
And herein lies the problem with this so-called "sharing economy" - AirBnB hosts aren't licensed business, so it's unclear if they're really subject to anti-discrimination laws. After all, if you're inviting people into your home, you generally have the right to vet them in ways that a commercial hotel wouldn't be allowed to.
Probably a safer alternative in Red States; it's apparently not 2016 everywhere.