My Experience With misterb&b | 'Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement'
In ongoing celebration of Rise Up: Stonewall and the LGBTQ Rights Movement, open through September 12 at MoPOP, we're sharing stories and highlighting resources from the LGBTQIA+ community.
misterb&b is an app and website component that specifically is made by and supports members of the LGBTQIA+ community, operating similarly to Airbnb. The tagline is “Experience a More Welcoming World” and participants can choose from 1 million rooms, apartments, and friendly hotels. All hosts are members of the LGBTQIA+ community and/or are friendly and supportive of our community.
Prior to moving back to Seattle, I was living in West Hollywood (WeHo), California and had a two-bedroom apartment in the heart of WeHo, directly between Sunset Blvd. and Santa Monica Blvd. I registered with misterb&b and became a host to those visiting the Los Angeles area. In doing so, I met some wonderful people within our community from across the United States, plus one couple visiting from Germany. I always wanted to give visitors their privacy, but was there to give them the highlights of where to go in WeHo, as well as Los Angeles as a whole. My place was within short walking distance to iconic venues like The Viper Room, Whisky a Go Go, Rainbow Bar & Grill, The Abbey, Troubadour, and The Comedy Club; not to mention the myriad of gay bars and restaurants along Santa Monica Blvd – PUMP for one.
One visit comes to mind of an older/younger couple that had been dating through a somewhat long-distance relationship, but took a vacation to Los Angeles together. During their visit there was a marriage proposal in conjunction with meeting one side of the future in-laws. I learned of the proposal as they asked if I had champagne glasses for their celebration and of course I obliged. They were a fun and great couple that enjoyed a long weekend and we have stayed in touch since their visit.
misterb&b is a safe and secure way to travel locally or globally, while supporting our LGBTQIA+ community. You will meet new friends from around the world while either staying somewhere new or becoming a host yourself. You can also learn about the various gay cultures and areas that you visit, some of which are historic and unique in their own way. I know I learned a lot from my experiences, and I hope you get to try it, too.
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