Travelling abroad for work is a rewarding opportunity that can come with challenges for any student or staff member. For those identifying as LGBTQ+, such travel can be associated with further complications. Legal restrictions and societal norms of some countries (https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/map-of-criminalisation/) may make LGBTQ+ staff feel anxious, unwelcome or unsafe. Being your true self in certain environments can directly impact your safety. On the other hand, presenting an edited version of yourself may negatively impact your mental health and wellbeing. Because there is no one correct way to navigate such situations, we have collected resources, advice and stories from travelling LGBTQ+ staff members and students. While this page should not be considered an exhaustive list or a definitive travel manual, we hope it helps reduce anxiety around travelling, improves the overall experience of going abroad, and fosters conversations including those between supervisors and subordinates and co-travellers.

WHat can we do

What the university could/should do

What supervisors or senior staff can do

  • Be aware of the different LGBTQ+ laws and attitudes in countries where you conduct fieldwork and / or have collaboration.
  • Don’t rule out LGBTQ+ individuals from fieldwork, support individuals to make their own decision.
  • Be aware of the additional mental burden LGBTQ+ students / staff might be facing in the field.
  • Get educated on reporting mechanisms if things do go wrong in the field, so you can support students / staff.
  • Be aware of potential challenges for transgender and non-binary staff and students, including official documentation (i.e., where a trans person’s gender expression does not match the gender marker on their identification documents), access to medicines and access to public bathrooms

What other researchers can do to be an ally in the field

  • Be aware individuals may choose to selectively come out / be careful not to out colleagues in the field.
  • If you feel safe to, be vocal in your support of LGBTQ+ rights or state your discomfort in the language being used, if confronted with individuals using homophobic / transphobic language, and be aware that LGBTQ+ individuals themselves may not feel comfortable in doing this.
  • Be aware of the additional mental burden LGBTQ+ colleagues might be facing in the field.
  • How to be an ally and considerate traveller with a colleague

What can the individual do?

  • Prioritise your safety and mental wellbeing.
  • Know that it’s okay not to come out when in the field – this will be location dependent.
  • Be aware that remaining in the closet may be mentally challenging and engage with support networks e.g., family, friends, staff, LGBTQ+ travel group.
  • Know that it’s okay to not be a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights whilst in the field.
  • Seek out local LGBTQ colleagues / networks. 

Find out about queer identities around the world

  • Queer communities may be less visible in some countries but they are present in every corner of the globe, so don’t feel alone, wherever you may be travelling.
  • Find out about the inspiring activism of LGBTQIA+ groups in countries where same-sex relations and some forms of gender expression are still criminalised: for example Nigeria and Kenya
  • Find out about how queer identities have been recognised and often celebrated in different cultures, sometimes for hundreds of years e.g. Two-spirit, A map of gender-diverse cultures

FAQs