Drag Race UK legend Tayce claims she's been repeatedly banned from having gay pals visit her hotel rooms while on tour by 'homophobic' reception staff - quipping they may have feared she wanted a 'gang bang'. Tayce shared her shocking experiences while enjoying a Carpool Karaoke-style chat with cricketing hero Freddie Flintoff while in Manchester for Pride celebrations last week.
The season two lip sync assassin candidly shared how on a 'couple' of occasions while on tour she'd been faced with 'judgey' staff refusing to allow gay pals up to her room. Although the incidents didn't spoil the 28-year-old's nights - as she saw her friends while out socialising later - Tayce said the experience could make some LGBT couples feel scared or ashamed.
Tayce said: "I've had a few experiences where I've been on tour and I've got to the hotel that I'm staying at and had two of my gay friends come over. Once in Birmingham we were in a student accommodation area. I'd just finished a show and got back to my hotel to de-drag. They came over for a little drink.
"The people behind the desk took a look at the three of us and were like 'no, absolutely not going to happen'. I'm like 'why, these are my friends? It's my hotel room, I'm allowed to have whoever I want in it'.
"[But it's been] 'No sorry, not going to happen' and it just seemed very judge-y, very homophobic, which makes me sad. From the way they were looking at me perhaps they thought we were going to have a gang bang.
"Even if I wanted 800 people in my room, it's no-one's concern but mine. They had to go elsewhere, they wouldn't let them upstairs. I just thought 'what the hell is going on?'
"It didn't stop or wreck my night, they went and I saw them out anyway. But imagine if there is a gay couple or a lesbian couple or whoever it may be, they choose to come to a hotel and they're trying to check in and they feel nervous asking for a double bed.
"It could be two guys or two girls asking for a double bed and they feel scared or ashamed or insecure. That just saddens me because you shouldn't feel ashamed at all for just being who you are and doing what you do - wanting to enjoy a night in a hotel like anyone else."
In the clip, a visibly taken aback Freddie, who is also a presenter on Top Gear, said: "For me it's just all things you never think about. I book a hotel and I book a hotel. There's no checking if I'm on my own or with the kids or my wife, it's just things you're not aware of. We should be aware of it because it's not right."
Tayce said it hasn't affected her, but claims it could be upsetting for someone less confident. Tayce said: "It could cause a massive regression. I'm very confident, the only thing I felt was that I was a bit miffed about it. For those trying to find themselves, that can be quite detrimental."
The pair toured the city in a sleek white Porsche courtesy of Booking.com, a lead sponsor of Manchester Pride. The Welsh drag queen and model sported a striking ensemble of statement cut-out jeans and a matching jacket paired with a shaggy blonde bob and immaculate make-up.
Apparently, Freddie got the all-denim memo too, pairing a dark blue polo shirt with a pair of dark blue jeans. It seems Tayce's experience is one reflected by a number of LGBT travellers, as revealed in a recent Booking.com survey.
The study revealed a whopping 71% of UK LGBTQ+ tourists have experienced less than welcoming, or uncomfortable, experiences when travelling. The research, conducted among LGBTQ+ travellers across 25 countries, exposed the barriers to inclusive travel. Nearly half (46%) of LGBTQ+ people have experienced discrimination while traveling, through being subjected to stereotyping (26%), being stared at, laughed at, or verbally abused by other travellers (13%) and/or locals (16%).
Booking.com's Pride sponsorship is an amplification of Booking.com's Travel Proud programme, which aims to make travelling a more welcoming and inclusive experience for LGBTQ+ people. More than 10,000 properties internationally have completed the training programme and have been recognised with a Travel Proud badge on Booking.com as a symbol of their commitment to inclusive hospitality.
Tayce said: "It's great to see brands like Booking.com championing the LGBTQ+ community by working with their accommodation partners to provide more welcoming travel experiences for everyone. I know first-hand what it's like to be made to feel unwelcome on holiday, purely because of my sexuality and who I am.
"Ultimately, we need to raise more awareness of it so that the issue is confronted. I encourage everyone to always be nothing but loud and proud of who they are and always be their authentic self.
"It was great to hang out with Freddie and take part in a road trip to explore more of Manchester's culture and celebrate the city's rich gay history. The car ride with Freddie was the ride of my life, hopefully we can do it again soon."
Freddie Flintoff said: "It's been a real eye-opener to work with Booking.com and learn about the restrictions felt by the LBGTQ+ community when it comes to feeling safe and welcome. I'm a huge champion of being yourself and feeling comfortable in your own skin and that's what Pride is all about, it's great to see. Spending the day with Tayce was ace. It's not often you get to hang out with such an iconic drag queen."
Matthias Schmid, Vice President of Booking.com's Trips Division, said: "Our mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world and addressing the needs of LGBTQ+ travellers is an essential part of this. We're proud to support the Manchester Pride charity, which celebrates and promotes inclusivity in Manchester and beyond.
"We're thrilled to have found like-minded individuals in Freddie and Tayce to help make our mark on the momentous occasion. They were both fantastic participants on the day, creating a fun and joyous memory that Booking.com can look back on proudly."
Find out more about Booking.com's Travel Proud programme here.
