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NEWS
Gay nomads drum up support
New community group wants to become the first dedicated Gay and Lesbian chapter of Australia’s biggest RV clubA small group of like-minded travellers is hoping to raise the nationwide profile of those in the LGBTI+ community who enjoy caravanning and camping.
The so-called Gay Nomads have up until now operated on a more ad hoc basis, regularly getting together at 'Gay Pride' events along the east coast like the annual ChillOut Festival at Daylesford in Victoria.
But Gay Nomads co-founder Lynne Hocking is hoping to create a more formal structure for the group and attract new members from around Australia. A member of the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia, she is hoping a new chapter for ‘gay nomads’ can be formed within the CMCA,which is Australia’s largest RV club and already caters for various sub-groups including solo travellers.
“There’s now 40 of us between Victoria and New South Wales that regularly go away,” explained Hocking, who spends around half the year travelling in her Winnebago Esperance motorhome.
She says the Gay Nomads have already attracted some industry support, with a ‘pop-up’ caravan park planned for next year’s Mardi Gras Fair Day, to be supported by the NSW Caravan & Camping Industry Association. The Fair Day event is part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras festival and attracts around 80,000 people.
“We’ll probably have a float in the Mardi Gras parade too but I’m not sure yet,” she said.
The Gay Nomads group comprises men and women of various ages, from tent campers to those with retro vans and motorhomes.
“There’s obviously a large market for single women that are buying (recreational) vehicles out there, and a lot of gay boys too,” she said.
As well as a play on the popular ‘grey nomads’ terminology, Hocking said the group also plans to have some fun with the alternative meaning for ‘camp’, on a new Gay Nomads website which should be up and running shortly. There's also a dedicated Facebook page..
“LGBTI+ people, often perceived by the wider community as inner-city urban creatures, are in fact very much drawn to the beauty and freedom of Australia’s great outdoors,” she said.
“Are we any different to any other travellers – not until happy hour!”
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Written byChris Fincham
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