Online Travel Agency Takes Twist on Gay Pride

DALLAS, TX - eDIRP.com (that’s pride spelled backward), launched earlier this year to offer members of the GLBT community an online travel company solely dedicated to their needs. The company also pledges to raise awareness of the inequalities faced by the community and donate 10% of profits to organizations focused on GLBT equal rights issues.

“I refuse to believe the majority of Americans agree it should be legal to fire an employee solely because they are gay or lesbian,” said Kemp, president and founder of eDIRP.com Travel, Inc. “Yet that is still the case in 34 states in our nation.” The lack of state and federal laws protecting workers from discrimination based on sexual orientation is one of the main reasons Kemp went into business. “After years of hiding who I was for fear of losing my job, I decided it was time to start my own business and call attention to these issues.”

The company’s website features online booking systems for gay-friendly hotels, last minute deals, flights, cars and cruises, as well as a searchable database of travel options and destination information geared for the gay travel market. Agreements with major travel suppliers enable eDIRP.com to compete directly with other online travel agencies. In addition to its self-serve online booking options, the company offers traditional travel services by phone through its reservation center in Dallas, Texas. It is an authorized agency for the community’s leading gay and lesbian cruise and tour operators and all other major travel suppliers.

“Our community spends approximately $54 billion on travel each year, much of which goes to corporations that do very little when it comes to standing up for our issues in Washington,” Kemp said. “The surge in anti-gay legislation is one of the factors that drove us into business, and we will continue to do everything we can to help counter those efforts.”

eDIRP.com Travel Inc. is a full service travel agency specializing in travel planning and booking services for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community. Self-serve online booking is available 24 hours a day at http://www.edirp.com. Custom leisure and business travel services are available by calling toll free 1-888-334-7739.