West Hollywood Becomes an Official IGLTA Global Partner
The West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board, also known as Visit West Hollywood, has become the newest Global Partner with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA). The partnership is designed to strengthen both organizations’ shared commitment to promoting LGBTQ+ inclusivity. It also establishes West Hollywood as an even more prominent LGBTQ+ welcoming travel destination.
As the epicenter of LGBTQ+ culture in Southern California, the city takes immense pride in its diverse and welcoming community. It boasts a rich history in LGBTQ+ advocacy, having been the site of the world’s first permitted Pride parade in 1970. Today, the city’s vibrant spirit keeps the Pride celebration alive year-round, thriving within the pulsing dance clubs and friendly neighborhood dive bars that welcome visitors and locals alike. With nearly 40 percent of its population identifying as LGBTQ+, the city is a shining beacon of acceptance.
“IGLTA is delighted to welcome West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board as an official Global Partner,” said IGLTA President/CEO John Tanzella. “West Hollywood’s dedication to intersectionality and their ongoing support for IGLTA’s mission make them an invaluable ally. We look forward to working with them to bridge the gap between LGBTQ+ travelers and exceptional travel experiences.”
“West Hollywood is built on the tenets of inclusivity and acceptance,” said Tom Kiely, President/CEO of West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board. “We are thrilled to solidify the relationship with IGLTA, even more, to bring greater awareness for year-round travelers to find a safe space to celebrate the art of self-expression and self-discovery, which are among the most important benefits of travel.”
West Hollywood was a proud host of IGLTA’s 1993 Global Convention and was also a major sponsor of IGLTA’s 2015 Global Convention in Los Angeles. West Hollywood has been a champion for LGBTQ+ rights and fostering a true sense of community with IGLTA for 30 years. West Hollywood Travel + Tourism Board has remained an active IGLTA member and a strong supporter of the IGLTA Foundation’s India Initiative. Earlier this year, they played a crucial role as a partner for the Foundation’s first LGBTQ+ travel symposium in New Delhi. At the symposium, members of the IGLTA team and thought leaders from the IGLTA network collaborated with Indian tourism businesses to discuss the high potential of LGBTQ+ tourism to and from India.
West Hollywood continues to pave the way for inclusivity, when in 2022, the city installed new design elements on its rainbow crosswalk in the “Rainbow District” (intersection of Santa Monica and N. San Vicente Boulevards) to include a chevron pattern featuring black and brown stripes to represent LGBTQ+ people of color and pink, light blue, and white to represent transgender people. The 2012 installation was the first permanent crosswalk of their kind to embody a theme of pride, which follows nearly four decades of advocating for measures to support LGBTQ+ individuals, in the vanguard of efforts to gain and protect equality for all people on a state, national and international level.
