To reduce risks, prepare well and research your destination in advance, including legal restrictions and social attitudes. Before traveling, you should be aware of local attitudes toward sexual health, sexual orientation, and access to sexual health services. Know your rights, investigate and don't let fear take the driver's seat. With that in mind, here are some tips for staying safe and getting the most out of your trip.
The laws came into force in the country of Brunei in April, a campaign urging travelers to boycott certain properties owned by the Sultan of Brunei. However, instead of thinking of a list of places to boycott, L, G, B, T, Q. Travelers could actively support L, G, B, T, Q. The L, G, B, T, Q International.
And Purple Roofs is specifically tailored to the needs of queer travelers looking for friendly hotels and rental accommodations. Regardless of a country's reputation, it's vital for L, G, B, T, Q to do the legwork ahead of time on local laws and customs. More than 70 countries have laws that restrict sexuality and sexual orientation, and sites like Equaldex track those laws country by country. Travelers can also visit the U.S.
UU. Foreign Office websites for additional information on travel warnings around the country. The National Center for Transgender Equality offers specific travel advice for trans people, and the American Civil Liberties Union receives complaints from trans people who feel that their rights were violated while traveling. Connect with local L, G, B, T, Q members.
The community can be an indispensable resource for exploring local culture and even finding inclusive health care. Many travelers use Facebook, Instagram, Tinder and Grindr to meet people in new places, even on a platonic basis. Because traveling often involves contact with strangers, both with fellow travelers and with locals L, G, B, T, Q. People often find themselves in the awkward situation of deciding how and if they should come out of the closet.
Air travel can be a source of discrimination, and transgender and non-binary travelers, in particular, may face additional difficulties when going through airport security. The National Center for Transgender Equality has resources to deal with what can be a potentially awkward and scary scenario. Some potential obstacles include traveling with a passport whose gender marker doesn't match your gender presentation, or traveling with prostheses. There are a variety of steps to take before traveling to be as prepared as possible, such as asking the doctor for a letter of medical necessity when traveling with needles or prostheses, and studying local restrictions on prescription drugs.
All travelers have the right to dignity and respect at security checkpoints, and the National Center for Transgender Equality urges transgender travelers to request private screening or request to speak to a supervisor if they ever feel uncomfortable. All travel experts avoided giving strict rules about where not to go. Instead, they advise travelers to research and track the evolution of a country over time, and then to make their own decisions. Jess McHugh covers gender, identity and European issues from New York and Paris.
Using public restrooms can be stressful for transgender and non-binary people at home, regardless of using them abroad. The IGLTA has an excellent article with lots of information for transgender and non-binary travelers, including tips on how to navigate bathrooms while traveling. As a general rule, avoid gender-confirming bathrooms and use family or single-cabin bathrooms. Finding them is fairly easy at airports, malls, and hotels, but if you're traveling on a road trip or in a rural area, look for big gas stations, such as TA (TravelCenters of America).
These mega-stations are usually well-lit and have unisex family bathrooms. The article also suggests having a bathroom partner so you don't have to go to gender-confirming bathrooms alone. You can learn more about traveling abroad for treatment at the National Travel Health Network and Center. Attitudes toward lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) travelers around the world can be very different from those in the UK.
Addition of a new section on advice for transgender travelers traveling abroad for medical treatment or surgery. Advice from the Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT+) people traveling abroad. Traveling is stressful enough for anyone, but for LGBTQ travelers, there's the added stress of overcoming prejudice and traveling safely. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) travelers can face unique challenges when traveling abroad.
Unfortunately, the State Department doesn't have much information specific to LGBTQ travelers, but it's a good idea for any traveler to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) when traveling abroad. .
