Traveling as a person with an LGBTQIA+ identity can pose unique opportunities and challenges. We want students to be their authentic selves while studying abroad/away, but we also want to be up front about the potential safety risks for individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community. It is important for you to know that being “out” while traveling or studying abroad can impact your experiences and interactions with the host community. While many locations are very open and accepting, some countries may be openly hostile or have laws against “homosexuality” or other sexual or gender identities. Depending on where you go, public displays of affection or sharing who your partner is could pose safety and/or legal risks. It is important that you speak with the Smith Center, the Wellness Center, or the program on-site director about whether and how you should disclose your sexual or gender identity to locals, your host family, etc.
- Are LGBTQIA+ identities or discussions around sexual/gender identity taboo in the host community?
- What are the cultural and social attitudes towards sexual orientation and gender identity in my host country, and how might it vary from place to place (for example, between the capital and a smaller town in which I might study, between a university community and a more rural location I might visit)?
- How open do I want to be about my sexual orientation and/or gender identity with professors, friends, fellow students, host family, and site staff?
- Can I think of situations in which I would not disclose my sexual orientation or gender identity in that country?
- How important is it to me to have a community of other LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals in my location? Are there communities that already exist that I can connect with before I leave the U.S.? How can I stay in touch with any existing support I may already have in the U.S. or elsewhere?
- If you experience cat-calling, harassment, sexual misconduct/assault, abuse, or other forms of gender-based discrimination or crimes, how do you report them locally and back to campus, if you want to report them? Remember that crime definitions and reporting processes can vary by country. Be aware of what options you may have in your host country. Our Title IX office is always available to provide you support.
- What are my safety needs and perceptions? What resources are available to support LGBTQ people in my destination community? can I do research on these before I go?
- What is the legal status of same sex behavior and expressions of gender identity in my host country?
- Are there “public decency”, age of consent, or other laws that might affect me, and how rigorously are they enforced?
- How do police officers view LGTBIQ+ locals and visitors?
- Are other laws (carrying identification, loitering) selectively applied against people who are or are suspected of being LGBTQIA+?
- What is the LGTBIQ+ population like in that country? How visible and large is it? How do they dress, behave, etc.? How are they portrayed in the media?
- What are the cultural norms for dating and friendship?
- Are there any LGTBIQ+ friendly establishments in that city? How can I find them?
- Will I have access to resources that I may need, such as hormones, abroad/away? Can I bring a sufficient supply with me, and what does this process look like?
- What type of healthcare can I access abroad/off-campus, or what type of healthcare services may I need? What might I need to disclose, and how prepared am I to disclose aspects of my identity?
Supporting You Along the Way
Helpful Links
Travel Specific Resources
National Center for Transgender Equality – Know Your Rights: Airport Security
National Center for Transgender Equality – Know Your Rights: Passports
U.S. Department of State – LGBTI Travelers
X Passports Travel Safety – US Department of State
Government Resources
U.S. Department of State – LGBTI Travelers
X Passports Travel Safety – US Department of State
General LGBTQIA+ Study Abroad Resources
Carleton College – 10 Reasons Why LGBTQ Students Should Study Abroad (Carleton College)
GoOverseas.com – 9 Major Life Lessons I learned Studying Abroad as an LGBT
NAFSA – Rainbow Special Interest Group – Study Abroad Students
NPR Article: Know an LGBTQ Student Itching to Study Abroad? Here Are Some Things to Think About
University of California Davis – LGBTQIA Resource Center
Equaldex – Collaborative LGBT knowledge base featuring interactive map
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA)
ILGA – Sexual Orientation Laws in the World
Go Overseas – 9 Major Lessons I Learned Studying Abroad as an LGBT
Go Abroad – 12 Best Countries to LGBTIQ+ Study Abroad
Rainbow SIG – Resources for LGBTQ+ Study Abroad Students
IES Abroad – Finding an LGBTQ+ Community Abroad: Alum of the Month Neal McKinney
#OlesOffCampus! My Identity Off Campus Story
“I had the opportunity to do a gender studies course during my semester at DIS Stockholm, which was very important to me as a queer woman. We learned about gender roles in a Scandinavian context and some of the current issues going on regarding women’s rights in Sweden. But my favorite part was our week-long study tour to Berlin. We took a walking tour around the city that was specifically about LGBTQ history of Berlin, attended a traditional-style drag performance, and visited the Museum of Gay History. Most of my classmates were LGBTQ and we went to gay bars together every night. It was so great to relax with people like me and learn about a specific culture with a long history of acceptance, persecution, and celebration.”
– Anonymous ’18, DIS Stockholm
“I’m so grateful for my time at the Oregon Extension. The professors were really sweet and knowledgeable people, and it was wonderful to get to know them and break down that professor/student hierarchy a little. I loved the environment, and the small space with only 28 students was a great place to first come out as trans. I was incredibly lucky to have been admitted to such a safe place to spend the fall semester during COVID.”
-Linden Hoskins ’22, Oregon Extension