interview
Bambi Mercury
“It’s crazy to feel like a second-class citizen”
© R. Schmiegelt / Future Image / imago images
What is it like to travel as a queer person and what is it like to travel “in drag”? Bambi Mercury is one of the most famous drag queens in Germany. We spoke to her about travel barriers for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Bambi Mercury is known, among other things, from series such as “Queen of Drag” or as a jury member on the latest season “Viva la Diva”. Together with Booking.com, she advocates for inclusive travel that enables people from the LGBTQIA+ community to enjoy safe vacations. Because even in the most popular tourist hotspots, a safe holiday is sometimes not possible for them. “As someone who works in show business and travels a lot, the topic is of course close to my heart. I want to get from A to B safely myself,” explains the queer icon in a press release. The online platform advocates for certified accommodations that make it easier for queer people to travel worry-free. Plus, this year she has hers “Travel Proud” study on current challenges and developments presented.
BRIGITTE: First of all, for those readers who don’t have much understanding of the term “inclusive travel”, let me put it in your words: What exactly does that mean?
Bambi Mercury: In general, inclusive travel is about holidaymakers having the same rights and Possibilities like all other travelers.
What are your own travel experiences as a queer person?
I have the perfect movie quote here:
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” (Forrest Gump)
And it’s the same with my travels. Positive and negative. The positive predominates, but the negative usually remains. But I look positively into the future. According to a recent study by Booking.com, over four fifths (82 percent) of LGBTQIA+ travelers say they are… Germany indicate that they have experienced positive interactions. That definitely gives reason for hope.
Do you sometimes travel “in drag”?
I don’t travel in drag at all. I try as best as I can to plan everything in advance. Are there opportunities to get “ready” on site? What about time management? Some organizers usually write to me and tell me I should just get on with it taxi come, but don’t see what problems this brings with it. I hardly ever take public transport in drag and only take a taxi when I can’t.
What’s it like when you travel “out of drag”?
I am not treated any differently than other travelers. Every now and then I get recognized and funny conversations and selfies arise.
How did you feel in each situation?
It’s crazy to feel like a second class citizen. Everything is normal in your own safe space. But when both worlds collide, you realize how different it is to live in your own bubble. Things that you hardly have to deal with always come back in such situations.
Study on inclusive travel
According to Booking.com’s 2023 Travel Proud study, positive travel experiences for queer people are becoming more common and boosting the self-confidence of the LGBTQIA+ community. Over four fifths (82 percent) of LGBTQIA+ travelers in Germany say they have experienced positive interactions – especially in interactions with accommodations:
- 38 percent of German respondents had friendly and informative correspondence with the accommodation before arrival (24 percent in Germany in 2022).
- 48 percent of German travelers say they had a great first impression upon arrival, such as welcome drinks and friendly staff (37 percent in Germany in 2022).
Over 1,500 accommodations in Germany already carry the “Travel Proud” certification.With the initiative, the online platform aims to make traveling easier for everyone so that queer people can travel with confidence. The portal wants to ensure that…
- LGBTQIA+ people travel with a feeling of safety:
Certified accommodations are marked with the Travel Proud designation. These accommodations are committed to providing particularly warm hospitality to each and every visiting person. Travelers can rest assured sYou don’t have to adjust yourself in the accommodation. - Accommodations will be particularly inclusive:
The Proud Hospitality training, conducted in collaboration with HospitableMe’s inclusion experts, helps partner accommodations accommodate LGBTQIA+–To offer travelers an inclusive stay. - EA more inclusive approach is practiced:
When booking, travelers must iIn most cases, no longer use gender-specific salutations. Also have sie a wider range of gender options when they a Create an account on the site.
© Bambi Mercury
BRIGITTE: What would you like (politically) for queer people when traveling?
Bambi Mercury: No tolerance! Nobody wants to be tolerated. Acceptance is the magic word. Safety and simply being treated the same as any other traveler.
What is already being done, what can queer people benefit from while traveling, what can they use?
There are many queer people who work in this industry and sometimes have a big influence on what happens and acts. A lot is changing and becoming more open-minded. In some cases that was it. Thanks to “Booking.com” you can also get smart and find “Travel Proud” certified accommodations. These accommodations are committed to being particularly hospitable to every visitor.
And what are your thoughts on this statement: “Traveling is also a political decision”?
Bambi Mercury: We are all responsible for our own actions. We also decide for ourselves which country we want to travel to, which country we want to support with our money and of course we ignore most of it. This is about us, the vacation and nothing else. But can I really vacation in a country where women’s rights are trampled on and queer people are tortured or even killed? There are some countries that do a certain amount of “pinkwashing”, but behind the scenes things look completely different. It’s best to research carefully beforehand where your trip will ultimately take you.
Thank you for the interview!