Imagine this: You’re stepping off a plane, the scent of adventure (and maybe a little jet fuel) in the air, passport in hand, ready to take on a new city. But as a queer or trans traveler, there’s always that extra layer of planning, that extra consideration of safety, comfort, and whether you’ll be able to find a coffee shop where the barista won’t call you ‘sir’ when you’re serving nothing but ‘ma’am’ realness (or vice versa).
That’s where Packing Pride: Traveling While Queer and Trans comes in! This zine is a lovingly crafted collection of art, comics, tips, and short stories about the experiences of queer and trans travelers. Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter, a road trip connoisseur, or someone just dipping their toes into the wonderful, chaotic world of travel, this zine is for you.
Why a Travel Zine for Queer and Trans Folks?
Because let’s be real—traveling while queer and/or trans is a different game. From TSA adventures (aka Will My Binder Set Off the Scanner?) to navigating foreign languages while trying to explain pronouns, to finding the safest, most affirming places to stay, travel presents unique challenges and joys for our community. And what better way to celebrate those experiences than by putting them all together in a rad, DIY-style zine?
What I’m Looking For
I’m calling on fellow queer and trans travelers, artists, and storytellers to submit their work for this first edition of Packing Pride! Here’s what I’d love to see:
- Personal stories – Tell me about your best, worst, or weirdest travel experiences.
- Comics & Illustrations – Got a travel misadventure that can only be explained in pictures? I want it.
- Travel tips – Packing hacks, destination recommendations, how to navigate tricky situations—share your wisdom!
- Photography – Show us what traveling while queer and trans looks like through your lens.
If you’ve ever thought, Someone should write about this absurd thing that happened to me at the airport, guess what? That someone is YOU.
Submission Details
- Deadline: March 1st, 2025
- Send your submissions using the contact form
- Format: PDF, JPEG, PNG, DOCX, or Google Docs link
- NO AI: Your submission must be 100% human-made
This zine will be a space for celebrating the resilience, creativity, and joy of queer and trans travelers. It’ll also be a place for the kind of brutally honest, laugh-through-the-pain travel tales that only we can tell.
So, if you’ve ever found yourself explaining ‘Mx.’ to a customs officer, dealing with a hostel roommate who just didn’t get it, or discovering the most unexpectedly queer-friendly corner of the world, I want your story!
Let’s pack our bags, hit the road, and make this zine a reality. Submit your stories, share this call with your fellow wanderers, and let’s create something wonderfully, incredibly queer together.