# Gaycation (TV series)

Gaycation is a 2016 American television documentary series hosted by Elliot Page and Ian Daniel. The series premiered on 2 March 2016 on Viceland as part of its new programming launch. The series explores LGBTQ cultures around the world, as Page and Daniel meet different people during their travels and hear their stories.

## Development

Gaycation was introduced as part of the programming launch of Vice Media's new channel, Viceland. The series was originally conceived when Spike Jonze, as the co-president of Viceland, approached Elliot Page and requested input on possible show ideas for the new channel; they suggested a travel show with an LGBT perspective. After Jonze recommended that Page be accompanied by a companion during the series, Page suggested Ian Daniel, a personal friend who was an art curator and the Director of Artistic Programs at The Civilians Theater Company, to be brought on as a co-host.
The series was renewed for a second season in 2016.

## Production

Filming for the first season began June 2015, in New York City. Notably, Page's attempt to interview Ted Cruz at the Iowa State Fair was recorded by bystanders and went viral; the exchange would appear in the United States episode of the series. Each of the episodes were made available for online viewing shortly after each episode's premiere.
Filming for season 2 began in March 2016. A special episode aired on August 24, 2016, focusing on the aftermath of the mass shooting that occurred at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The second season began airing on September 7, 2016. In January 2017, the series was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Reality Program.

## Series overview

| Season | Episodes | Season premiere | Season finale |
| 1 | 4 | March 2, 2016 (2016-3-2) | March 23, 2016 (2016-3-23) |
| Special | Special | August 24, 2016 (2016-8-24) | August 24, 2016 (2016-8-24) |
| 2 | 4 | September 7, 2016 (2016-9-7) | September 28, 2016 (2016-9-28) |
| Special | Special | April 30, 2017 (2017-4-30) | April 30, 2017 (2017-4-30) |

## Episodes
### Season 1 (2016)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date |
| 1 | 1 | "Japan" | March 2, 2016 (2016-3-2) |
| In the series premiere, Elliot and Ian explore the contradictions surrounding the LGBTQ community in Japan by immersing themselves in the culture and meeting people who have struggled with the nation's ambiguous stance on homosexuality. ||||
| 2 | 2 | "Brazil" | March 9, 2016 (2016-3-9) |
| A visit to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, explores how Brazil's queer community manages to live in a place that has the highest LGBTQ murder rate in the world. ||||
| 3 | 3 | "Jamaica" | March 16, 2016 (2016-3-16) |
| Elliot and Ian travel to Jamaica, a country notorious for its homophobia, and explore how the area's gay community is perceived. Featuring Beenie Man. ||||
| 4 | 4 | "United States" | March 23, 2016 (2016-3-23) |
| Elliot and Ian go on a road trip from Iowa to New York City, during which they explore both the progress and setbacks of the LGBTQ movement in the United States. They start with a brief detour to Saskatchewan in Canada to attend a gathering of Two Spirit Native Americans. At the Iowa Republican Caucus, Elliot asks Senator Ted Cruz during live Q&A about his stance on LGBT rights. Their trip ends at the Gay Pride parade in New York City. ||||

### Special (2016)

| No. | Title | Original release date |
| 5 | "Gaycation Presents: Orlando" | August 24, 2016 (2016-8-24) |
| In a special presentation from Gaycation, Elliot Page and Ian Daniel sit down with a diverse group of individuals affected by the shooting in Orlando to discuss the aftermath of the tragic event. |||

### Season 2 (2016)

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Original release date |
| 6 | 1 | "Ukraine" | September 7, 2016 (2016-9-7) |
| In the second-season premiere, Elliot and Ian travel to Ukraine two years after the revolution and meet LGBTQ activists fighting for equality in a post-Soviet era. ||||
| 7 | 2 | "India" | September 14, 2016 (2016-9-14) |
| Elliot and Ian travel to India, where guides from the local LGBTQ community help them explore how the country can evolve while maintaining its long-held traditions. ||||
| 8 | 3 | "France" | September 21, 2016 (2016-9-21) |
| Ian travels to France, where he once lived as a student, to look at what it's like for LGBTQ persons whose stories and struggles are often hidden. Featuring transgender showgirl Marie-Pierre Pruvot, aka Bambi. ||||
| 9 | 4 | "Deep South" | September 28, 2016 (2016-9-28) |
| In the second-season finale, Ian embarks on a road trip through the Deep South to explore the culture of local LGBTQ communities and the social stigmas they're forced to endure. ||||

### Special (2017)

| No. | Title | Original release date |
| 10 | "Gaycation Presents: United We Stand" | April 30, 2017 (2017-4-30) |
| In a special presentation of Gaycation, Elliot Page and Ian Daniel go beyond the headlines and take a look into what the Trump administration could mean for the LGBTQ community. |||

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
| 2016 | 68th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program | Elliot Page, Spike Jonze, Nomi Ernst Leidner, Brendan Fitzgerald, Patrick Moses, Shane Smith, Eddy Moretti, William Fairman, Niharika Desai, Alex Braverman | Nominated |
| 2017 | 32nd Imagen Awards | Best Informational Program | Gaycation | Won |
| 2017 | 2017 Gold Derby Awards | Reality Host | Elliot Page and Ian Daniel | Nominated |
| 2017 | 69th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program | Elliot Page, Ian Daniel, Spike Jonze, Niharika Desai, Nomi Ernst Leidner, Bernardo Loyola, Shane Smith, Eddy Moretti | Nominated |
| 2017 | 28th GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Reality Program | Gaycation | Nominated |
| 2018 | 29th GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Reality Program | Gaycation | Nominated |