State Department Creates a New Website for LGBT Travelers

And appropriately enough the new LGBT Travel Info kicks off with a quote from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the godmother of this new enterprise. "We realize that "gay rights are human rights, and human rights are gay rights," she's quoted as saying, a splendid opener for this much-needed source of information.

The site's primary asset is its frank, no-nonsense approach to the problems faced by LGBT travelers. That includes information on visa issues, the challenges that confront LGBT couples living abroad, and the illegality of homosexuality in certain countries. I'm hoping that in the near future the site will include country-by-country information on the challenges facing gay travelers. At this stage, it only includes a link to the Human Rights Report (of 2011, not 2012 yet) which includes information on all human rights issues. It would be more helpful if the State Department could break out this information for LGBT travelers.

Still, the very existence of this official site represents a huge step forward. So kudos to the State Department. Long overdue!