When visibility meets representation:
Why representation of Queer people with disabilities in media and travel matters

Hi, I’m Matthew Medeiros, but everyone calls me Matty. I’m from Vancouver, British Columbia, and I wear a few hats in the travel world. I’m the Program Coordinator at Travel Best Bets, supporting more than 500 home-based travel advisors across Canada, and I’m also an Accessible Travel Advisor and Advocate. Those two roles go hand in hand because my mission is simple: to help make travel more inclusive for everyone.

My journey here wasn’t exactly planned. In 2017, I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis, which eventually deformed my knees and made me rely on a mobility scooter for long distances. At first, I thought my traveling days were over. But instead of stepping back, I leaned in – determined to prove that accessibility shouldn’t limit anyone’s ability to explore the world.

Being part of both the 2SLGBTQI+ and disability communities means I live at the intersection of two identities that often go unseen in travel and media. And trust me, that invisibility is real. Working in the travel industry, I’ve noticed that 2SLGBTQI+ and accessibility are often treated as two separate conversations, if they’re mentioned at all. Representation tends to appear in bursts, especially around Pride Month, when rainbow logos and inclusive ads suddenly appear. But once the confetti settles, it’s quiet again.

And when it comes to showing queerness and disability together? You almost never see it. There’s this unspoken rule that our stories are “too niche” or “don’t fit the image.” But the truth is, travellers like me exist and we’re not rare. We’re out here, exploring, advocating, and reminding the world that identity isn’t a checkbox.

That’s why it’s so powerful when brands do get it right. I’ve seen genuine progress from a few travel suppliers who lead by example. Playa Hotels & Resorts celebrates love in all its forms, especially through their 2SLGBTQI+ destination wedding marketing. Princess Cruises has invested in accessible travel training and created detailed advisor guides to support travellers with different needs. And Virgin Voyages? Their marketing embraces diversity without making it a statement – it’s just part of who they are. Seeing those kinds of campaigns gives me hope because it proves representation doesn’t have to be performative. It can be real, authentic, and part of the everyday story of travel.

Representation matters because it’s about more than visibility. It’s about belonging!! When travel brands and creators include diverse voices and experiences, they’re saying to every traveller, “You belong here too.” That message carries weight. It shapes how people see the world, and more importantly, how they see themselves in it. When travellers with disabilities, queer travellers, or anyone from marginalized communities don’t see themselves reflected in ads, campaigns, or destination imagery, it quietly sends a message that travel isn’t for them. But when we show authentic, inclusive stories from accessible staterooms to queer couples exploring the world, we expand what’s possible.

For me, visibility is everything. When I see someone who travels like me – who uses a mobility aid, who identifies as queer, who faces the same barriers I do, it changes the story completely. It reminds me that I’m not alone and that I belong in these spaces, too. That kind of representation isn’t just encouraging . . . it’s empowering. It helps people imagine themselves in those moments of joy that travel brings. It replaces fear with confidence and turns isolation into connection.

That’s why I’ll keep advocating, writing, and sharing to show that inclusive travel isn’t a trend, it’s the future. And it starts with all of us. Whether you’re a traveller, a content creator, or a brand, you have the power to shape how others see the world. Ask who’s missing from the story. Speak up when something isn’t accessible or inclusive. Support the companies that prioritize equity. Because every small step makes the world a little more open.

I truly believe that inclusion starts with awareness, but it grows through action. Travel has the power to unite us, but only if everyone is invited to the journey.