When we launched Brand g Vacations (http://www NULL.brandgvacations NULL.com/) for The Mark Travel Corporation, our goals were to choose destinations that have led the way in improving the lives of gay people, and to eventually incorporate philanthropy into all of our vacations because we believe that travel has the power to change our lives and inspire us to give.

As more and more countries and states step up with full LGBT equality, it is important for our community to also be recognized for the fully engaged, community-minded people that we are. As our inaugural blog is being launched during the holiday season, which for many of us means giving – either to friends and family, or to those less fortunate – I thought it was appropriate to talk about what it means to me.

Giving tends to be learned in our families. I grew up in the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, where we pretty much gave 10% to charity – it was expected. It also meant giving time – as an extended family we always volunteered for the holidays to serve meals to people who needed help. So in the case of the LGBT community, where some of us may be alienated from our families (although less now than before), and where over 80% of us do not have children, how does year-end philanthropy fit into our lives?

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