LGBTQ travel influencer Matthew Schueller
It was while traveling abroad that LGBTQ travel influencer Matthew Schueller came to terms with his own sexuality.
Long before he and his husband Michael Lindsay had racked up over half a million followers on social media documenting their lives and their travels, Matthew was just a kid from small town Oregon with a deeply conservative religious upbringing.
But as he sat in a London pub sometime in college, something clicked.
There he was, closeted and deep in denial, insisting to two gay strangers that he "could never imagine kissing a guy."
But as they continued talking, Matthew said they gave him something he'd never seen before—a glimpse of what queer life could actually look like.
"It was the first time that I'd actually sat down with people who lived in an accepting environment where they have community," Matthew recalls.
"It was a window into seeing, oh, these are gay people living normal lives. They have community, they're having great lives, and that's possible."
That moment stuck with him—showing how travel could be as much about inward discovery as outward exploration.
Matthew and husband Michael Lindsay
Creating Space for Magic
Wanting to share that magic with others, last year Matthew launched Sidequests Travel, leading LGBTQ group tours to destinations like Greece, Thailand, and Peru. This winter, he's taking travelers to Colombia, with another Greece trip planned for next summer. The groups accommodate 16 to 26 travelers, mostly ranging from their mid-20s to mid-50s, with about 60 percent traveling solo.
But the draw isn't just the destinations. It's the community building that happens months before anyone even boards a plane.
Unlike traditional group travel, where you meet everyone on day one, Matthew creates WhatsApp groups and hosts monthly Zoom calls so travelers can get to know each other in advance. It's a simple shift, but it’s effective.
"People are looking for ways to connect with other individuals, and there's not a lot out there to provide true opportunity for that," he explains.
On a SideQuests trip to Machu Picchu
The Farewell Dinner That Wasn't Planned
Near the end of the Peru trip, something unexpected happened at the farewell dinner. One by one, travelers got up to speak about how the week had impacted them—expressing gratitude for the experience and how it had changed their view of themselves.
"That wasn't planned," Matthew says. "That was so cathartic just to hear, because people's experiences and how they changed their view of themselves had really impacted me."
During trips, Matthew offers optional morning meditations and facilitates conversations around themes like self-love and body positivity—topics that often carry shame in queer communities but that people often find easier to explore when they're away from home and everyday distractions.
Matthew’s second trip to Greece is this summer
Building Community When We Need It Most
Matthew has watched long-lasting friendships form, seen people start dating after trips, and even witnessed two people who met on a Zoom call (for different trips!) end up in a relationship months later. "People are finding love, people are finding best friends, people are traveling to see each other," he says.
In a political climate where the LGBTQ community faces increasing attacks, that sense of connection feels more vital than ever.
"I think people in power are attempting to tear us apart, and I think it's so important to lean into anything that's going to bring us together," Matthew says. "That's what these experiences are about. You can get amazing itineraries anywhere and everywhere on the internet. There's so many trips available online, but there's a reason behind what we do, and that reason is to connect and build your community."
Where Matthew's Heading Next
As for destinations, Matthew's already planning his return to Greece—specifically the island of Crete, which blew him away on the first trip. "It's the only place that I've been where you sit down at a restaurant and they actually give you free alcohol and free desserts," he says. "People are just so happy that you're there."
He came back from the Greece trip calling it "by far one of the best weeks of my life, if not the best week of my life."
Colombia this winter, Greece next summer—there are just a couple of spots left on the Columbia trip and a few spots available on the Greece trip.
You just might find your people somewhere along the way.