Every June, people across the world come together to celebrate Pride month and LGBTQ communities unite to celebrate the freedom to be themselves. Pride is both a recognition of what the LGBTQ community have achieved but also an acknowledgement of the struggles they continue to face.
In honour of Pride Month, we have put together a short letting guide for LGBTQ people, specifically, how to find LGTBQ-friendly accommodation. We will also look at how Airbnb hosts can demonstrate allyship of the queer community.
Short letting tips for LGBTQ guests:
1. Aim for transparency - If you are worried about how a potential Airbnb host will react if you are open about your orientation or identity during your stay, it is worth carefully asking if the property is welcoming of people from diverse communities and lifestyles. Your host’s attitude to this question will give you a good indicator of any prejudice they have.
2. Be aware of how to report misbehaviour from hosts - Airbnb has an anti-discrimination policy in place that requires all user to sign an anti-discriminatory pledge. But unfortunately, this is not always enough and as recently as 2017, a study found that gay couples are less likely to find bookings on Airbnb. If you do find that you are discriminated against online by an Airbnb listing, message or profile, please click or tap the flag icon. To report a message while using the Airbnb app, tap the more icon 
3. Never stay where you feel unwelcome - Guests renting an entire property instead of a shared space might not interact at all with the property owner or manager in person throughout the duration of their reservation. But if you have an unpleasant experience, please do not stay in an Airbnb that causes you to feel threatened or uncomfortable. Many booking platforms or property management companies will arrange hands-on booking support to find you a safe place to stay.
4. Know your filters! - Many short-letting apps have a filter for gay-friendly properties. Simply type in the location, dates and number of guests. Then click ‘more filters’, enter ‘GAY’ into the keyword section and hit go. Tripadvisor also features a gay travel forum and now includes a section for gay-friendly short rentals! Other platforms such as Booking.com allow hosts to disclose that they are LGBTQ friendly in their property description.
Short letting tips for hosts and allies:
1. The importance of expressing your allyship - Even if you do not identify as LGBTQ yourself, you can be a supportive ally in the Airbnb community by expressing support through your listing. Try and explicitly state that your property is ‘queer-friendly, this will also deter prejudiced guests from staying in your home!
2. Educating yourself - If you truly wish to be an exclusive Airbnb host, then it’s best to do your homework! Things as simple as taking the time to learn how different members of the queer community identify themselves (including using the correct pronouns) will go a long way in making LGBTQ guests feel welcome and comfortable in your home!
Everybody, regardless of their orientation or gender expression, should feel included and welcomed when they rent an Airbnb, especially those who face prejudice and discrimination. Hosts need only take these simple steps to ensure that their Airbnb is an inclusive and safe environment for all identities.