Annual rankings from the ILGA-Europe show Europe’s best countries for LGBTQ rights and policies in a useful Rainbow map of Europe’s gay-friendly social policies and laws
Op-Eds, Politics, and Think Pieces
Blog posts about the politics & ethics of travel as well as my opinions, editorials, and think pieces related to travel and lifestyle topics
Unveiling the Influence: Op-Eds, Political Stories, and Think Pieces in Politics
In the realm of politics, opinions shape narratives and inspire action. Op-eds, political stories, and think pieces serve as powerful tools to dissect, analyze, and provoke discussions on critical issues.
As the world evolves (or sometimes seemingly devolves), the need for diverse perspectives becomes increasingly significant. The blogs and articles in this section of my blog try to dive into the influence and impact of these written forms within a political landscape.
Travel is inherently political and the way we live our lives increasingly have effects beyond what you might expect. These are the articles where I can dive deeper into my true thoughts and beliefs, and experiment with my own ideas.
Op-Eds: Amplifying Voices, Shaping Discourse
Op-eds, short for “opposite the editorial,” are opinion pieces that provide platforms for individuals to express their viewpoints on political matters. Op-eds empower writers to voice their perspectives, sharing their unique insights and advocating for specific causes. By appearing in prominent publications, op-eds can reach a wide audience and influence public opinion.
The potency of op-eds lies in their ability to challenge prevailing narratives, encourage critical thinking, and foster public discourse. They often serve as catalysts for debates, spurring conversations that drive social and political change. Readers are presented with diverse viewpoints, compelling them to reassess their own beliefs and broaden their understanding of complex issues.
The op-eds you’ll find here on my blog stem from my experience as a journalist.
Political Stories: Narrating the Political Landscape
Political stories play a crucial role in illuminating the multifaceted nature of politics. These narratives transcend the cold facts and figures, offering readers a glimpse into the lived experiences, struggles, and triumphs of individuals and communities affected by political decisions. By humanizing political issues, stories have the power to evoke empathy, empathy that fuels action.
By weaving together personal anecdotes, historical contexts, and socio-political analyses, political stories create a compelling tapestry that captures the essence of the political landscape.
They shed light on the interconnectedness of policies, society, and individual lives and in the instances here, my very gay life and those of other LGBTQ+ travelers. Political stories inspire readers to engage with politics on a more personal level, encouraging them to actively participate in shaping the future. And I hope my politically-motivated pieces around gay, trans, and other LGBTQ+ issues will spur you to activism.
Think Pieces: Engaging Minds, Challenging Perspectives
Think pieces offer a space for in-depth analysis and intellectual exploration of political issues. These thought-provoking articles delve into complex subjects, offering readers new insights and fresh perspectives. Think pieces often challenge conventional wisdom, interrogating deeply ingrained beliefs and questioning established power structures.
By delving into the intricacies of policy-making, historical contexts, and societal implications, think pieces encourage critical thinking and intellectual engagement. They hopefully provide you with the tools to navigate the complexities of political debates, equipping you with nuanced arguments and expanding their intellectual horizons. Think pieces create an environment where dialogue and intellectual curiosity thrive, driving readers to question, discuss, and seek innovative solutions.
Op-eds, political stories, and think pieces serve as powerful conduits of political engagement, shaping public opinion, and driving social change. As readers, we have the responsibility to seek out diverse perspectives, challenge our own assumptions, and engage with these forms of political writing to foster a more informed and inclusive society.
Read my most insightful and thoughtful blogs here:
The gay pride flag has a lot of symbolism and is a sign of inclusivity, love, and support – what it means to me as a gay traveler
This is an updated version of an earlier article from 2017 when a viral blog post about capitalism went viral. Read the original below: Okay. So for a few days now there’s been all this talk of this Yelp/Eat24 staffer in San Francisco. She wrote a blog (an open letter) to her company’s CEO, basically …
I’ve been dealing with heartbreak again—hence the outpouring of emotional blogs on love as a risk, rainy day movies (ie, sad day movies), how to deal with sadness, the cost of dating, and a few other related blogs. Sorry for the outpouring of emotion, but as a writer, words are my way of coping. Poetry …
It’s not some noble desire to be my own entrepreneur. Rather it’s a healthy mix of fear and worry and frustration with the state of the world. We’re a generation of scrappy fighters, forced to take on new challenges to live the life we always thought we’d have.
In a survey run by the U.S. Travel Association representing the American travel/tourism economic sector, 9 in 10 USA voters want COVID relief
These are my thoughts on a broken blog and what’s in store for restarting & refreshing my brand during a tumultuous time.
Sharing an insider look into my experiences as a gay travel writer, nothing to really learn here except to just do you
Everyone has a handful of tips and secrets to creating a successful travel blog – but what are the things they’re not actually telling you?
After visiting Cereal Killer Cafe, a story about how this hipster Brick Lane café came to be the symbol of London’s gentrification & why it doesn’t matter