LGBT Students and Study Abroad

You may already identify as a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender student, or you may still be exploring these issues.  In either case, you will find that the social climate, laws, and personal interactions of other cultures will often differ from the U.S. While researching study abroad programs and preparing for departure, it is important to reflect on the culturally based ideas and definitions of gender identity and sexual orientation.  Consider carefully how your identity as a LGBT person may affect your relationships with host nationals, your cultural adjustment, and your overall education abroad experience. 

Learn about your host country before you go.  

In some cultures, Western understandings of “gay” and “straight” don’t exist, or don’t carry the same importance as they do in the U.S.  People involved in same-sex relationships may not see this behavior or orientation as an identity.  In other cultures, there are active social movements for civil rights for sexual minorities.  In preparing for your study abroad experience, it is important for you to research the LGBT climate of the country you will be visiting.  Though it might seem intimidating to research these kinds of issues, it will help you be better prepared to face the world you will encounter.  The links below will get you started!

If you are open about your gender identity and/or sexual orientation, consider the following as you research potential study abroad countries:
  • The culture of a country might make you feel like you are either "sent back into the closet" or, in countries that are more progressive than the US, freer to express yourself, which can be a shock as well.
  • If your host country is NOT progressive or accepting of the LGBT community, make sure you evaluate what your motivation is if you plan on confronting this way of thinking. Just like other issues, it's not your place to change a culture. Realize that confrontation or pushing an issue they are not ready for will obviously alter your interactions.
If you are not open about your gender identity and/or sexual orientation, along with the above, consider the following as you research potential study abroad countries:
  • Some countries will make it easier for you to come out; make sure that you have a support network during this time.
  • If you are not public with your identity or orientation, realize that finding that community will be a bit more difficult while abroad. Finding support groups or organizations before you go is essential – but get some feedback on these places. Don't put yourself in the position of ending up in a unsafe environment because you didn't do your research ahead of time.

A list of questions to ask yourself, your Study Abroad Adviser, or your study abroad program.   

Part of your pre-departure preparations should include reflecting on the larger context of acting on your LGBT identity while abroad. Here are some ideas for discussion:
  • Does your right to be LGBT in the United States conflict with your host country’s religious or cultural values and traditions?
  • How will you reconcile your human rights with the cultural values of your host society?
  • Are there safety considerations that you should be aware of?
  • What are gender relations in the host culture?
  • What is considered typical male and female social behavior in the host culture?
  • What is the social perception of members of the LGBT community? How are they socially defined?
  • What roles do transgendered people play in the host culture?
  • What is the difference between sexuality and sensuality in the host culture?
  • Does your study abroad program offer LGBT friendly housing?
  • Does your study abroad program discuss LGBT issues during their orientation?

Links to international LGBT organizations, support networks and more.   

Action Without Borders: http://www.idealist.org/
Action Without Borders is a global network of individuals and organizations working to build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives in a healthy environment. AWB is independent of any government, political ideology or religious creed. Its work is guided by the common desire of its members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect.

Alterheros: http://www.alterheros.com/
This is a Canadian resource-based bilingual web site (English and French) concerning sexual diversity. Its goal is to eliminate prejudice and discrimination, to improve the image of homosexuals and bisexuals, and to halt homophobia so that youth can feel proud to be equal members of society. The site includes interesting articles about cultural minority groups and sexuality, including first person narratives by internationals living in Canada, as well as ethnic minorities living in Canada.

Amnesty International Human Rights: http://www.amnesty.org/en/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity
Found in London in 1961, Amnesty International is a Nobel Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with over one million members worldwide. Amnesty International is dedicated to freeing prisoners of conscience, gaining fair trials for political prisoners, ending torture, political killings and “disappearances” and abolishing the death penalty throughout the world. For international GLBT issues check the OUTfront Human Rights and Sexual Identity section on Amnesty International’s Issues page.

Behind the Mask: http://www.mask.org.za/
Behind the Mask is a web magazine devoted to lesbian and gay affairs in Africa. The site includes a country listing that includes legal and social status of homosexuality in each country, as well as links to news items and articles (sometimes in a variety of languages) on that country. There are also message boards, information about arts & culture, specific information for women, and an extensive section devoted to HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Gay Asian Pacific Support Network: http://www.gapsn.org/
The mission of GAPSN is to provide supportive environments for gay and bisexual Asian Pacific Islander men to meet, network, voice concerns, foster self-empowerment, and to advocate on issues of significance to the gay Asian Pacific Islander community.

Gay Lesbian Arabic Society: http://www.glas.org/
Gay and Lesbian Arabic Society (GLAS) serves as a networking organization for Gays and Lesbians of Arab descent or those living in Arab countries. GLAS aims to promote positive images of Gays and Lesbians in Arab communities worldwide, in addition to combating negative portrayals of Arabs within the Gay and Lesbian community. GLAS also provides a support network for our members while fighting for our human rights wherever they are oppressed.

Gay-MART Gay & Lesbian Travel & Resource Guide: http://www.gaymart.com/5persorg/6city/targ.html
Gay-MART’s Travel and Resource Guide is intended to be an accurate, up-to-date, city-by-city guide to resources and places of interest for both residents and travelers.

GLAAD: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation: http://www.glaad.org/
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Global Gayz.com: http://www.globalgayz.com/index.html
Journal website documenting the travels of LGBT persons throughout the countries and cities all over the world.

Indiana University's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Student Support Services: http://www.indiana.edu/~glbt/internationalresources.htm
The IU GLBT Student Support Services office offers a list of regional resources for international GLBT communities.

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission: http://www.iglhrc.org/
The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission’s mission is to protest and advance the human rights of all people and communities subject to discrimination or abuse based on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status. IGLHRC’s constituency therefore includes people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and anyone living with HIV or AIDS. A U.S. based non-profit, non-governmental organization, IGLHRC responds to such human rights violations around the world through documentation, advocacy, coalition building, public education, and technical assistance.

The International Lesbian and Gay Association: http://www.ilga.org/
The International Lesbian and Gay Association is a world-wide federation of national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people everywhere. ILGA focuses public and government attention on cases of discrimination against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people by supporting programs and protest actions, asserting diplomatic pressure, providing information and working with international organizations and the international media.

Japan AIDS Prevention Awareness Network (JAPANetwork): http://www.japanetwork.org/
Japan AIDS Prevention Awareness Network (JAPANetwork) is a group of volunteer educators throughout Japan who are interested in teaching about HIV/AIDS in the EFL (English as a foreign language) classroom. JAPANetwork offers free AIDS lesson plans, articles, games, a video library and a newsletter. Web site has information for teachers and work pages for students containing reading passages, quizzes and project ideas for the classroom.

The Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force, Inc.: http://www.lgirtf.org/
The Lesbian and Gay Immigration Rights Task Force is an organization that addresses the widespread discriminatory impact of immigration law on the lives of lesbians, gay men and people with HIV through education, outreach, advocacy, and the maintenance of a nationwide resource and support network. It is the only organization exclusively devoted to serving the needs--and advocating on behalf--of lesbian, gay and HIV positive immigrants and their partners.

Rainbow SIG: http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/lesbigay/index.html
The Rainbow SIG is comprised of diverse members of NAFSA whose goals are to counsel international students and study abroad students who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered; to support gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered professionals in international education; to combat homophobia, heterosexism and transphobia within NAFSA.

NGLTF: National Gay & Lesbian Task Force: http://www.ngltf.org/
NGLTF is the national progressive organization working for the civil rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people, with the vision and commitment to building a powerful political movement.

PFLAG: Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays: http://www.pflag.org/
PFLAG: Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through: support, to cope with an adverse society; education, to enlighten an ill-informed public; and advocacy, to end discrimination and to secure equal rights. PFLAG provides opportunities for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity, and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

Rainbow Educators' Network: http://www2.gol.com/users/aidsed/rainbow/
Rainbow Educators' Network is a group of educators around Japan who deal with LGBT issues in the English language classroom. There is also an e-mail list, and the group gets together socially at the JALT English teaching conferences held in Japan in the fall.

Trans and Traveling: http://www.gender.org/advisories/airports.html
Trans students traveling may want to take into account issues they could face while traveling.  Specifically, trans people have found themselves to be discriminated against during security procedures in airports.  New body scan procedures have raised concerns about outing people in transition.  The laws governing medication brought into countries differ as well as how the medication may be prescribed.  Some trans people have faced discrimination or been outed when presenting their identification to officials that do not match their displayed gender identity.  A primer for these issues and suggestions from members of the trans community in combating discrimination while traveling are provided on this website.

Legal issues to consider while abroad.   

The laws governing LGBT relationships and sexual activity differ from country to country.  U.S. citizens must abide by the laws of a host country.  Knowing these laws may help you to decide what countries you might like to visit, if you will be out abroad or if you will pursue relationships while abroad.  Even if you do not plan to have a sexual relationship while away, you should be informed about specific laws pertaining to sexual behavior and sexual/gender orientation. When doing your research, try to ascertain:
  • the legality of same-sex sexual behavior (sometimes male-male sexual behavior is illegal while female-female sexual behavior is not)
  • the age of consent for sexual behavior (which may differ from the age of consent for opposite-sex sexual behavior)
  • restrictions on freedom of association or expression for LGBT people
  • anti-discrimination laws (these can be national laws or specific to local areas)
  • sodomy laws
You may find that you can be freer in your behavior than in the U.S., or that you need to hide your sexual orientation or gender identity completely to avoid cultural ostracism or arrest.  Part of being abroad is acknowledging that you’ll need to adapt to the customs and comply with the laws, even if you disagree with them.

For information on laws in countries you may be visiting, please look into these websites:

LGBT rights around the world:
http://www.forplu.com/community/life&style/feature/homosexual_rightsfast.htm

A comprehensive guide to international laws on sex developed in 2005:
http://www.ilga.org/statehomophobia/LGBcriminallaws-Daniel_Ottoson.pdf

AIDS Education Information:
AIDS and Study Abroad: http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/lesbigay/advise/aids.html
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/
CDC: Center for Disease Control and Prevention: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx
NAMES Project Foundation: http://www.aidsquilt.org/

Some of the above was adapted from a handbook, Ready, Set, Go developed by the University of Guelph, and a handout developed by Eero Jesurun, CIEE, titled Same Sex-Different Cultures, 2001.