In the latest Bigger, Better World Podcast episode, a gay, interracial couple talks about how they were treated in the 28 countries they visited over the past six years.
Bigger, Better World
The current week’s episode of the web recording “Bigger, Better World” is special, in that it addresses a point that connects with much that is happening nowadays.
This is a follow-up conversation with guests Damon Morris and Todd Hilton from the previous week. They were introduced as a married couple last week, but their decision to sell everything they owned and begin traveling the world for a few months at a time in different countries was not brought up again. Additionally, Damon’s race as a black man was never mentioned; It simply had no bearing on the subject.
Given the current climate in the United States, where minorities and the LBGT community appear to be subjected to more discrimination and having their rights questioned once more, this is a timely topic. Accepting gay marriage and interracial couples, which the majority of Americans thought were settled, are being targeted once more in some states for some reason.
Therefore, it is fascinating to listen to these two men discuss their travels over the past six years to more than 28 nations.
Travelling Abroad
Even though they can think of a few places in the Middle East where they had to act like they weren’t a couple, they’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much acceptance they’ve received outside of the United States.
On a trip to Bali, their tour guide kept telling them he could take them to places where women hang out. When they finally admitted that they were married, he asked if that would be a problem. Because he teaches his family that love is love, he explained that he didn’t mind at all.
Damon admitted that he and his family were worried a lot when they started their journey, that he would have trouble in other countries because he was black. In fact, Damon was initially reluctant to reserve a room on AirBnB, believing that Todd, a white man, would secure a better deal and less opposition.
In fact, Damon began making his own arrangements for the accommodations after a while, and he found that they were treated the same regardless.
Southeast Asia
Furthermore, it is not the case that his race is disregarded in any way. Damon claimed that he was stared at or pointed at in Southeast Asia. He stated that the reason they were pointing and doing that wasn’t that he was rude or didn’t belong there. It was more in interest and in being captivated that he was there and that they truly needed to draw in with him, and even to where they quite needed to try and simply contact his skin.
Todd went on to say that they became almost famous for taking pictures with children and families. Additionally, once you begin taking pictures with a particular family, other families, and individuals followed suit.
Damon and Todd
Damon and Todd have been together for more than 20 years at this point, yet could get hitched when California passed a regulation permitting same sex marriage in 2005. They discussed their hardships before that, with little thinks most wedded couples underestimate; having the ability to buy health insurance together through work, having the right to visit in hospitals, giving consent in case of medical emergency, and so on.
Todd and Damon tell a number of stories about how complete strangers have invited them into their homes or parties and opened up their lives to them, something that, according to them, is uncommon in the United States.
Damon’s final piece of advice to people who want to travel outside of the United States is to get out there and do it. He also wants to share this message with other people of color who are interested in doing something different and traveling. Because it’s so easy to get caught up in being afraid and wondering if you’ll be accepted, he says not to be afraid. He believes that if you give yourself permission to simply go out and see the world, you will have one of the best experiences.
They have been on this crazy journey for six years, and it has been an amazing journey. They started it without knowing what they were going to do. Therefore, regardless of your race, sexual orientation, or gender, they encourage you to go out into the world and experience it because they promise that things will become more accessible to you than you could have ever imagined. In addition, meeting people from all over the world has helped them make more friends, which they would not trade for anything. The most memorable part of traveling over the six years they’ve been doing it is the large number of people they’ve met who have shown them such kindness and hospitality.
Find more now:
Listen to the full podcast at https://www.buzzsprout.com/2086182 , or just search for “Bigger, Better World” on any podcast platform or app.
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