Cover Photo: Public Domain via Picryl / US Navy
We lost a legend on Friday when Jimmy Buffett sailed away into a Key West sunset, but his meaningful music, profound philosophies, and spirited spirit live forever in us! Whether Jimmy was flying in the skies, cruising on the sea, or regaling his audience with stories and songs, Jimmy Buffett did it with pure joy and love. Those sterling qualities are what made him so endearing and beloved.
We know the world doesn't necessarily think of Jimmy Buffett as a "gay icon," but he surely relates to our LGBTQ+ community in a beautiful way that touches our very souls. He showed us how something as simple as changing your latitude, whether it's your physical location or simply in your mind, affords you the opportunity and power to change attitudes. At GayTravel.com, we embrace that notion and carry it across the ocean! In fact, our Founder convinced Jimmy to write a song called Take it Back for the 1987 America's Cup challenge to inspire the crew of Stars and Stripes to win back the cup from the Australians. Here's a snippet about that:
I got a call one day to write a song for the Stars and Stripes challenge. The Americans were trying to win the American Cup back from the Australians. Soon after that, my first trip to Australia came together, and we opened the tour in Perth at the time of the race. For me, it was the party of the 80s, and I think of this as the background music for an incredible stay down under.
P.S. The team won, and a friendship between our founder and the artist was formed.
Of course, Jimmy Buffett's credo is manifested by his place in the travel industry as the founder of Margaritaville®, which brings people from all over the world together. In Margaritaville, they know how to blend a drink, but they also serve up a unique and wonderful blended harmony!
At GayTravel.com, our mission is to inspire and connect LGBTQ+ travelers with people and places that share our vision of diversity and inclusiveness by encouraging travel and unifying the community and their allies to change attitudes, lives, and ultimately, the world in which we live.” Like Jimmy, we believe that travel teaches us many life lessons. We are grateful he had the ambition, desire, and talent to share his experiences, pearls of wisdom, and treasures with the world along the way.
BRAVO to a life well-lived! May we all embrace your grace and pay it forward just like you, Captain Jimmy!
