The Travelin' Bum @thetravelinbum - Tumblr Blog

I grew up in East Texas, and was a dancer and a gymnast. So basically, I was being made fun of for being different, and called gay in about the 3rd grade. I was conditioned to be unhappy with myself no matter what, even when I achieved amazing things (2nd in Texas in gymnastics). In 2017, I left the US for the first time, alone, to live in Spain and travel Europe for 9 months. I came out to all my family the week before, and didn’t care if they were happy with me or not. My bf basically threw me out of his life the week before I left. I was so broken, but the most free I’d ever been in my whole life. It was the hardest, but best thing I’ve ever done in my life, and I made beautiful memories and art with people all over the world. I’ll be able to look at this picture and remember how beautiful I am, exactly as who I am. Inside and out. I’ll never let anyone make me feel small ever again. I hope people that feel how I used to can see this picture, and read this message, and can feel powerful and beautiful too. (at Míkonos)

Sometimes being gay can feel like being the lone wolf walking through the world with people who constantly attack you. I feel like I am finally free from my cage knowing we have such a strong LGBTQ community and that I will be marrying the love of my life soon. Being happy with yourself with someone you love has been the best moment of my life. (at Florence, Italy)

The first person I came out to was my friend Kali at 15. I came out to her twice actually. The first time was like a trial run to see if she’d accept me or not. She just kept saying “YOUR TOO STRAIGHT TO BE GAY!”. And I laughed it off. But the second time around I made her believe me. And she ended up loving me even more. It taught me that I should be okay sharing who I am to the world. To stand for something even though everyone might turn against you. When you take your last breath, make sure you lived your life completely happy with yourself. (at Austin, Texas)

“No matter how many people give me advice I’m going to do what my heart tells me to do”- @lanadelrey enjoy your weekend everyone follow me @jf9109 I will be taking over @thetravelinbum for the day 🍑 (at Quintana Roo, Mexico)

I came out when I was 14 . I remember high school my freshman year being one of the hardest in my life being bullied and called a Faggot as soon as I stepped on the school grounds. I ended up changing high schools to a technical school for culinary arts where everything was better and more accepting . I thank god for my mother and grandmother who stayed by my side while my fathers side of the family cut me off for 8 years, as I grew I became the president of the LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 club in my high school and would hold support meetings for my piers and those younger than me to protect them. I am now 22 living in manhattan like one of the gay men I would see and fantasize of being one day when I was younger .. I know everyone does not always have a perfect story of coming out so I wanted to share mine ❤️together we make strength.. and to anyone out there struggling with their family or coming out please message me, I will be taking over @thetravelinbum all day 😘 (at Island of Maui)

“I climbed the tree to see the world” is what my tattoo says. That piece was a reminder that I can & I will be more than my environment. When I was younger I would climb in my grandmas tree & daydream about living a life where I could be free from hiding the real me from others. What I didn’t realize at the time was that I had to accept myself before searching for acceptance from anyone else. Years later, here I am standing strong in my truth. The love I have for myself, harnessed within my spirit & soul, is all the freedom I’ll ever need. (at Sydney, Australia)

Pretty sure I thought I was slick doing the no pants subway ride but I ended up getting the flu like an idiot. Sorry for the lack of posts and everyone in DM purgatory. @zakartwins and @ryanjordansantana will be taking over until Tuesday so I’m sure they will entertain you while I get better. 😘 (at SoHo, Manhattan)

We hosted a house party the other day, one of my flatmate’s straight friends thought I was coming on to him when I was only trying my best to be a friendly host (he isn’t my type at all, by the way). A few weeks further, on Christmas Day, a London ‘it boy’ (who ironically runs an online LGBTQ+ platform) attacked and shamed me over Twitter for being ‘thirsty’. It was later revealed he didn’t mean to tweet his thoughts publicly but instead in a private message to his friend, some apology. I live in London and for the most part feel very safe as a gay man, but even in 2018 we’re faced with homophobia not only in the typical form of fragile hetero-masculinity, but also from within our own community. I’m very fortunate, however, my friends and family are beautiful and were so more accepting of who I was than I had ever been. They’re my safety blanket, my counsel. I felt emboldened by their acceptance. I came out relatively late in life (aged 25) and I often re-read the beautifully crafted and touching messages I had been sent. My mother’s friends sent me letters of encouragement. My brother’s told me nothing would change and I was still their little bro and that they’d fight anyone who disrespected me. My mother told me she felt as if she had failed me because if she had been a better mother then maybe I would have come out sooner. My father sent me one of his favourite Kate Bush songs and signed his email off with - ‘but as far as I am concerned it makes NO difference as you are my Son and I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU dearly’. I often forget how lucky I am and how much I am loved… so I dedicate this post to the straight men and the gay men who seek belittle us, your comments may seem throwaway or meant in ‘jest’, but think - what if the person at the receiving end of your spite doesn’t have the same support network as I do. What then? Who will they turn to? (at Rhône-Alpes, France)

I knew I was gay since I was about 5 years old. Like every other young LGBT child I mastered the art of the closet and became an everyday actor. My biggest regret about coming out was not doing it soon enough! Unfortunately, I never got a chance to share my true self with my father before he passed of a drug overdose. A few months before he passed, I pushed him away and came out to everyone I knew but him. I blamed myself and had guilt that he never got to know me for who I really was. Why was I not courageous enough to do it sooner? Did he know already? Was I afraid of what he would think or did I not care enough? From then on, I live my life confidently doing things I never thought I’d do in hopes that I never regret anything else again. He always wanted more for me than what he could provide and always wanted me to move to NYC to make my dreams a reality. Here’s to 2018! A year of living life to the fullest and no longer caring what others will think of you!! (at Rochester, New York)

Hey guys I’m Troy! Being raised in small mountain by my father, a mountaineer/survivalist, I spent most of my childhood outdoors - we often went fishing and backpacking. My father raised me, his only son, to be tough and "manly," which is why coming terms with my sexuality took years of confusion and denial. It wasn't until I moved to the Bay to continue my studies that I experienced gay culture for the time. For the first time in my life I felt truly free. I fell in love, had sex, and met the most amazing people - I was in ecstacy. Four years later and four years of being out, I've had many loves, lots of sex, and I continue to meet the most amazing people. Coming out and taking control of my life has been the best decision I've ever made. While everyone's situation is different it's important for all of us, especially in the gay world, to continue to instill love, support and empathy into our communities! Thanks, everyone! Also, if you like to backpack let me know - we need more gay backpackers in SF! (at Portland, Oregon)

We had gone on a 5 day cruise to the western Caribbean to celebrate our best friend's dirty 30. None of us met until we went on this trip, other than talking in our Facebook chat 😂. We had some great adventures together and met new Friends along the way. It's funny, while I was filming this, there was a 13 yr old snokeling with her mom and the mom totally called us out and basically told us to suit up because her daughter didn't need to see it. We told her to swim away lol. In 2018 I want to encourage everyone to step out of your comfort zone and travel alone and meet someone new because we all hope to make this a yearly tradition as the bonds we formed in the short week trip and stronger than some with people we've known for years. (at Cozumel, Mexico)

New Year's Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked and embraced. Answers to be discovered and a little transformation of self-discovery. Today reflect back on yourself and what you can do next to accomplish your dreams in 2018, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change. Happy new year beautiful people. Here is to another great year🍑 (at Times Square, New York City)

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you all 🎅🏽🍑 And yes we were locked out after taking this and had to drive home, my parents were thrilled 😂 (at Syracuse, New York)

Today marks my 11th year anniversary of coming out. I remember someone told me then that you’ll spend every day for the rest of your life coming out. I didn’t believe them at the time, thinking it’s a one time event and that’s it. But it is something you do all the time. You learn something new about yourself every year. In 2017 it was about feeling comfortable in my skin. Whether it was taking a bum photo or dancing terribly on the dance floor. Can’t wait for what 2018 has in store for me (at Lincoln Memorial)

The first person I told I was gay was my best friend 5 years ago. It took 2 hours to say the one sentence "i am gay". I don't know why but one or two tears were rolling down my face. He reacted better than I could have ever imagined. His answer of my coming out was "more girls for me". Since than he has stayed my best friend and I always can talk to him about every problem. - Thx bro After 5 years of silence I decide to tell my parents this summer. I was soo fucking excited. All my bad thoughts disappeared when they told me they still love me like before. This year was a big year, I came out to my parents and I broke up with my boyfriend. I hope 2018 will be an even better. Happy holidays (at Munich, Germany)

With this year coming to an end, I decided to reflect on the best year of my life. 2017 has delivered the best experiences I could ever imagine. I was fortunate enough to be able to embark on journeys to 7 different countries; each with an amazing story behind them. With that in mind, reflect on this holiday season and the new year. Don’t be afraid to drop everything and go. Buy that plane ticket, go to that party, love whoever you want to LOVE, and in the end, take the risk. A new year is coming, don’t be afraid to do something extraordinary! Oh and Santa, please bring me lots of booty-ful adventures this Christmas! (at College Station, Texas)

I came out on March 8th of 2011. It has been 6 years 9 months and 3 days since I finally started living my life as it was meant to be lived, and I can honestly say I have NEVER been happier. Sure my Parents told me there was a Demon in me and that Satan was trying to take over my life, Sure they sent me to straight therapy and spent $400 an hour for a Mormon Doctor to tell me that these “thoughts & feelings were immoral”, Sure I’ve been called every derogatory term in the book, but none of that matters because IT HAS GOTTEN BETTER. Day by day I have grown to love and accept myself for exactly who I am. Moving to NYC only helped me grow to love and accept myself even more because for the first time in my life I now live in a city where you can be ANYTHING and EVERYTHING you want to be. So cheers to being YOU, cheers to NYC, cheers to the Holiday Season, Love yourself and ALL that you are. You are perfect & You are loved. (at Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

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