Calum McSwiggan

Calum McSwiggan | Freelance Travel Writer

Calum McSwiggan, author of Eat Gay Love, is a man on a mission. He plans to spend 2025 exploring how the LGBT+ community is celebrated everywhere on Earth: 12 months, 7 continents, 20 Prides.

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An aerial view of four men in a long blue canoe on the ocean. split with a picture of a man standing with his back to the camera, waving a Pride rainbow flag in front of a beach.

A homophobic remark in Hawaii made me think about how I travel

Channel: Travel Travel January 12, 2026
A park in autumn with a mini Eiffel Tower in the background in Sapporo, Japan

I went to Pride in Japan and it almost broke my heart

Channel: Travel Travel November 12, 2025
A Pride parade in boats on Amsterdam canal. Groups of topless people are waving giant rainbow flags from a boat under a bridge.

Europe’s one-of-a-kind Pride parade that happens on the water

Channel: Travel Travel November 12, 2025
Calum McSwiggan with his parents, marching in front of colourful rainbow memorabilia at Manchester Pride

I went to Pride with my parents for the first time at 35 — it changed everything

Channel: Travel Travel October 27, 2025
A composite image of Calum McSwiggan on a street in Limerick, Ireland, and three drag queens in colourful outfits celebrating Pride

My mother said there were no gays in her hometown — how wrong she was

Channel: Travel Travel October 1, 2025
Two people walking down the street in rainbow outfits at San Francisco Pride, next to dancers in colourful rainbow costumes.

I went on a queer pilgrimage to the city where Pride was born

Channel: Travel Travel October 1, 2025
A composite image of two people straddling each other at a Pride parade in Sao Paolo, and writer Calum McSwiggan on someone's shoulders

I had the gayest night of my life at Sao Paulo Pride

Channel: Travel Travel October 1, 2025
A composite image showing Calum McSwiggan waving a Pride flag at the Capitol building in Washington DC, and three people smiling on World Pride parade float

I found the community I was craving on the streets of Washington DC

Channel: Travel Travel July 18, 2025
A composite image of pictures from a photoshoot in Malaysia in support of Pride

In Malaysia, Pride has gone underground —but it's alive and kicking

Channel: Travel Travel July 14, 2025
Calum McSwiggan and friends at Songkran in Bangkok with water guns, and five contestants from Miss LGBTQ+ Thailand.

I went to the world's wettest Pride parade where everyone gets absolutely soaked

Channel: Travel Travel June 25, 2025
A woman in Miami, Florida, holds a trans rights sign, and Pride flags fly on either side of the American stars and stripes against a blue sky.

Queer travellers are boycotting Florida — but there are other ways to fight back

Channel: Travel Travel May 20, 2025
Left, Calum McSwiggan plays with huskies in the snow in Rovaniemi while holding a Pride flag, and right, two people holding Trans rights and Pride signs at Arctic Pride.

I went to Pride at the North Pole — even Santa's an ally

Channel: Travel Travel May 20, 2025
A group of people in colourful costumes celebrating Mardi Gras on the streets of Sydney, Australia

I gave up alcohol after Sydney Pride — this time I tried it sober

Channel: Travel Travel April 2, 2025
A couple embracing and smiling at one another underneath a Pride flag at Mumbai Pride.

I marched in silence at Mumbai Pride and discovered it was even more powerful

Channel: Travel Travel April 2, 2025