Making It With Pride, which premiers August 11 on OutTraveler and YouTube, is the newest LGBTQ+ travel series from Out Traveler and equalpride video. This first season follows queer singer Teraj and his boyfriend Barry Hoy as they attend Pride events around the globe, with stops in London, Miami, Toronto, St. Maarten, and Virginia Black Pride.
The couple each are travel influencers, but what sets them apart from other Instagrammers who travel for Pride is the fact that Teraj performs at these events as well. Teraj is an out and proud bisexual pop/R&B artist for whom taking the stage at Pride is steeped in meaning. He’s on a journey that is undeniably about building his career but rooted in his love for the LGBTQ+ community.
In early 2020 Teraj released his first album, Defy, and was on the cusp of kicking off a tour with a March performance at Miami Beach Pride. Then the pandemic hit and the event was canceled.
That year, the singer told Out Traveler that his debut album was a personal testament that was “anchored in messages of empowerment to overcome obstacles, adversity, courageously chase your dreams, and live boldly in your authentic truth. As a male living at the intersection of my Blackness and queerness, it was important to me to share those stories and show others out there that they aren’t alone and that they, too, can defy the odds.”
In the new video series, viewers follow along as Teraj fulfills some of those dreams, beginning with his triumphant return to his hometown of Miami, where he had the huge honor of performing on the main stage at the first in-person Pride there since the lockdown.
Even when not performing, Teraj travels frequently and he’s also the host of the Amazon Alexa podcast Gay Travel Today. Meanwhile his boyfriend Barry Hoy — also known as Asianmapleleaf — is a travel writer and a frequent Out Traveler contributor.
Recently the two were keynote speakers at the PROUD Experiences conference, where they told the luxury travel industry insiders about the casual racism and homophobia they face while traveling. What was striking about their presentation was the couple never stopped smiling. Even when telling horror stories their positivity shows through.
Making it With Pride is an exuberent celebration of local LGBTQ+ communities, of queer love, of travel, and throwing oneself whole heartedly into the pursuit of a dream. The premiere episode, which drops tomorrow, Thursday August 11, focuses on the couple’s trip to Miami where we meet Teraj’s supportive family and join him dancing on a Pride float and attending the inaugural Legends Ball. He and Barry also stay at two LGBTQ-embracing Miami hotels, South Beach’s Kimpton Surfcomber and KAYAK Miami Beach, the first-ever stay experience created by KAYAK.com
Here’s a sneak peek at the Episode 1:
