It is the month of Pride! This wonderful and significant month is getting off to a wonderful and important start with a variety of features that are fully dedicated to LGBTQ+ travellers. Learn about a tropical honeymoon destination that welcomes couples of all genders by following along on a writer who is gay as he takes a thought-provoking road trip across Kentucky. Then, use our guides to the ins and outs of gay cruising, quaint LGBTQ+ bookstores that you can support, and the world's most dynamic gay towns to gain inspiration for your upcoming travels. No matter how you decide to navigate the features, we are happy to have you here with us to celebrate the splendour and significance of inclusivity and representation in the travel industry and beyond.

Visitors who identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community will find a warm welcome in French Polynesia, better known as Tahiti. Marriage equality is the law of the land in this semi-autonomous country inside the French Republic, and there are considerable protections for LGBTQ+ persons against discrimination.

Nonetheless, many tourists are likely unaware that French Polynesia is also a socially conservative nation, particularly in areas of the country that are not part of the Society Islands (which include Tahiti and Bora Bora), which are the destinations for the majority of the country's tourist traffic. The fact that many travellers will encounter genderqueer persons early on and frequently throughout their stay is particularly incongruous given the social conservatism that prevails in this country.

To get a more well-rounded understanding of the culture of the French Polynesian islands, it is vital to have an appreciation for the difficulties of gender identity in French Polynesia, which have similarities with other cultures in the Pacific. The following is important information to keep in mind when organising a trip.

Mahu
When I went to Tahiti for the first time, the front desk agent at the resort was a man, but he had attributes that were more feminine. Even though he was dressed in the masculine uniform, he wore his long hair pulled back into a bun and adorned it with a flower crown. The mahu, which loosely translates as "in the middle," is a form of gender identity that was practised in French Polynesia prior to the arrival of Europeans in the region.

Outside of the Pacific, a straightforward explanation for mahu is not readily available. They are most accurately referred to as "third gender," despite the fact that they are frequently confused with transexuals. Neither male nor female, but mahu, which literally translates as "in the centre." In Polynesia, other regions of the Pacific, and even among the indigenous peoples of North America, identifying as someone other than their biological male or female gender is not at all unheard of. It is particularly Western conceptions of gender that appear to be thrown off by mahu.

The name "mahu" refers solely to gender identification; individuals who identify as mahu can have any sexual orientation, including being celibate, and are accepted to varied degrees in their respective groups.
Rae-Rae
In French Polynesia, transgender women who were given masculine roles from birth are referred to as rae-rae. In contrast to mahu, who do not go through the process of medical gender confirmation, rae-rae do. In spite of the fact that rae-rae are becoming more accepted in French Polynesia, there is still a stigma attached to them because the concept of transgender identity is seen as an import from France or Europe to Polynesia. This stands in contrast to the traditional conception of mahu.

As of the year 2022, Rae-rae are becoming more visible to the public. Pahoa Mahagafanau, who identifies as transgender, most recently appeared in the film "Pacification," which was an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival (she wore a custom dress made from Tahitian tapa cloth on the red carpet). Abel Hauata, a transgender woman who competed in the Miss University pageant, recently made history by becoming the first transgender person to win the competition.
LGTBQ+ Communities
Among cisgender people in French Polynesia, there is still an evolving understanding of homosexuality in relation to the framework of mahu and rae-rae. Jean-Philippe Lo Siou, a gay guy in his 30s who was born in Tahiti and is of Chinese and Tahitian heritage, recalls that when he eventually came out to his parents through video chat when he was living and working in the United States, their thoughts immediately went to rae-rae. They inquired as to whether he desired to have the identity of a female. He says that over time, their opinions shifted, but it wasn't an easy process.

The Island Paradise That Embraces All Genders https://t.co/iDow5XyhEW #Travel #CityGuide #CityBreak #Photography #Vacation #Hotel #Resort #TravelGuide #TravelTips #Trip #Trips #Voyage #Expedition

— Travel View (@Travel_View) June 13, 2022

In contrast, he felt that coming out to his siblings went more well, remarking that "they took it well and most of them already knew," which indicates that they were already aware of his sexual orientation. Despite the fact that it was a relief, he still notes that it was difficult being a gay teenager growing up in Tahiti alongside such nuanced notions of gender and sexuality. He points out that some mahu are married to women and have children, which makes it difficult for a gay teenager to grow up in a society that has such complex ideas of gender and sexuality.

In French Polynesia, Lo Siou believes that a better awareness of cisgender LGBTQ+ persons has been fostered as a result of the importation of films and television shows from both France and the United States. The presence of gay, lesbian, or bisexual characters in popular television shows has helped soften prejudices and paved the way for a tiny community of LGBTQ+ individuals to start delicate campaigning.

The PACS, or civil solidarity pact (the closest equivalent in the United States would be a palimony agreement), was not automatically extended to French Polynesia, for example, even though France's marriage equality law is applicable in French Polynesia, allowing same-sex couples to marry. This is in contrast to the situation in the United States, where the law prohibits same-sex couples from marrying. Cousins Cousines is a local LGBTQ+ advocacy group that is working to improve that situation.
Things You Should Be Aware of Before You Go
While planning your next trip to French Polynesia, what are the most important things you should keep in mind? In the first place, it is essential to keep in mind that local conceptions of gender identity do not contradict progressive perspectives on gender and sexuality; in the Western sense, those are still in the process of developing.

According to Jean-Marc Mocellin, Chief Executive Officer of Tahiti Tourisme, "the Tahitian people have a reputation for being extremely hospitable and accommodating, and they love to share their culture and day-to-day life with visitors." They will accept gay couples without any questions being asked since they have regard for other people and because of this respect they have for others. Mocellin observed that despite this tolerance, some same-sex couples may still find it awkward to demonstrate an excessive amount of intimate intimacy in public.

There is more to these islands than what is immediately visible on the surface, which is something that many travellers to the South Pacific have already discovered. When travelling to any location, the best piece of advice is to take your cues from the locals, which means approaching what you see with an open mind and a readiness to understand things in the context of a new culture. This is true even when travelling to other countries.