Today, in honor of National Coming Out Day, we present to you this video of CISabroad rocking it out at the 2018 Pride Parade in Northampton, MA and a bunch of LGBTQIA+ study abroad resources. CISabroad is committed to ensuring access & inclusion to education abroad for ALL students, regardless of who they are and where they come from.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7jLnFj-fWo[/embed]
National Coming Out Day means a lot of things to a lot of different people. And, while there may be calls to end this yearly holiday to dispel the narrative that "coming out" is the most important thing in a queer person's life, we think that LGBTQIA+ students should embark on their international programs with as much information as possible about what it might be like to be out (or not) in their destination country.
We recognize that going abroad as an LGBTQIA+ or gender nonconforming student brings an additional set of challenges and options to consider. That's why for National Coming Out Day we've put together this master post of resources for LGBTQIA+ students looking to study or intern abroad.
This is a master post (aka reeeeeeaaaally long) and we don't want you to have to scroll all the way through. Utilize this handy outline to jump right to the LGBTQIA+ study abroad resources you're interested in.
There are some questions you may want to ask yourself, and research to be done, before choosing a study abroad location. Being safe and comfortable is important to any study abroad adventure, and CISabroad wants to ensure both of those for our students. As a proud supporter of Generation Study Abroad, we have focused on LGBTQIA+ students in an effort to not only increase students’ knowledge about and access to education abroad, but to also better serve those students as Ally Advisors.
If you need help figuring out where to go based on your answers to these questions, check out the list of LGBTQIA+ friendly countries below, or feel free to ask our friendly staff in the Global Advising Center for their advice.
If you've already applied for your program and want to talk about how we can support you when you go abroad, your program coordinator is a good resource to reach out to.
In 2016, we sent an in-depth survey to our program partners, and combined with positive feedback from students, the following have made the list. We acknowledge that not everyone will have the same experience in every location, but research and expectations are key. Find out more info (like prices, dates, and application deadlines) on each of these programs at www.cisabroad.com.
Your safety is our first concern when you're abroad. No matter where you study or intern with CISabroad you'll have an on-site staff member dedicated to supporting you during your time abroad. That said, it is always good to be prepared with knowledge about how your identities could affect your experience in your host country. Check out these resources below for more info specific to your identities.
We did a survey of our LGBTQIA+ identified students in 2016 to ask them if they had any advice for LGBTQIA+ students looking to study or intern abroad. Here is some of their advice:
“Fortunately my identity did not impact my experience abroad, despite Ecuador having a notoriously negative view on homosexuality. For the month that I was abroad, I simply “re-closeted” myself, and only revealed my sexuality to those I trusted. As unfortunate as that may sound, it seemed necessary at the time and was probably the safest option when traveling to a new place. Because of this, I was not treated any differently in the country. To future students, I would recommend doing your research about the country you want to visit. And remember, even when traveling to an LGBT friendly place such at Canada or the U.S., always value safety above all else.”
- Carson P., Intern in Ecuador
“I identify as a gay/bisexual woman, and I studied in Reutlingen, Germany from January to May. It didn’t impact it at all really, I feel very comfortable with who I am and my friends and family support me, so I’ve been very fortunate that I haven’t run into any problems. I had such an amazing time abroad, and I would strongly encourage anybody who’s interested, to definitely spend some time abroad, you may discover something else about yourself!”
- Anonymous, Semester in Germany - Business, Engineering, & Culture at the University of Reutlingen
“I went abroad to Italy. It was perhaps the best experience of my life. The people were incredibly friendly and kind there. I learned a lot and traveled a lot, and made so many new friends. However, I never came out and told anyone that I am gay. I hid that fact from everyone there. I did not want to be judged based upon my sexual orientation. Also from what I learned in the first few weeks was that Italians were not the most accepting of being gay. I mean they were not outwardly hostile or prejudice toward people who were gay or lesbian. They had more of an attitude of if you are fine that is okay, just keep it to yourself and don’t show it around us. It is a little hard to describe how I felt about it or how it impacted me as I kept this to myself. Perhaps I was a little afraid that if I did come out abroad then I would have been alienated by some in the community and those in the abroad group as well. I just went about my days like I always would and lived life to the fullest while there.”
- Anonymous, Semester in Italy
“I am a young bisexual woman who has been out to my friends and family for a couple of years now. Right at the end of my stay in London, America legalized gay marriage throughout the country. I was ecstatic and so were my new friends. We decided to all go out to the pub that night to celebrate the incredible news. I found London to be a pretty safe space for LGBT+ people, and I observed signs of support for my community through the city. London let me be proud of who I am, and supported me as I celebrated the amazing changes taking place in America.”
- Jennifer W., Summer in London
“Being in London for four months was great because I wasn’t just getting a small taste of gay life in London. I lived it the entire time I was there and loved every second. Being in such an accepting atmosphere helped me to realize that I’m more than some gay athlete (yeah, I play sports at college and that’s not always so accepted as we know). In general, it was such a great experience because if anything else it made me even prouder to be gay. Every last second was perfect to me and my sexual orientation did nothing to cause problems.”
- Nick M., Summer in London
“The summer I went to London, I came to terms with the fact that I was pansexual, not bisexual. That same summer, I went to my first pride parade in London. It was the typical rainy day and all the rainbow confetti and glitter was sticking to everything! I’ve never felt happier or more accepted. It was life-changing to attend such an incredible event after I had just come to better understand my own sexuality.”
- Sally S., Summer in London
“In London, my identity as a gay man did not affect how people treated me. Being Mexican-American definitely had an effect, but not being gay. It was surprising for me personally, being in a space where I did not fear being/coming out. It has helped me in being me. London is such an open city. Yes there is the rare homophobic slur, but it literally only happened once, The rest of the time people simply didn’t care. For future students I would say, do research on the country that you are going to. Find out how it treats its own LGBTQIA+ citizens. You will have to live in that space as either out or not. But it will help knowing what to expect in before going.”
- David O., Intern in London
“Advice to future LGBTQ+ students: If you’re out and going abroad and are shy to tell people like I usually am or if you’re not out but think abroad you want to be (I know a few people who came out abroad) I say just do you. Don’t be afraid to be yourself.”
- Marissa B., Semester in London - University of Roehampton
“I identify as queer, and I went to Edinburgh with CISabroad. Everyone I met was very open and accepting, and most of the girls on both my football and rugby teams were out and proud lesbians. My decision to go the UK was based on that it was an English speaking country and that it was (relatively) liberal compared to the other countries I was looking at, such as Italy and Cuba. If you identify as a girl, I especially advise you to join a rugby team since girls’ rugby seems to attract a lot of queer people. I do wish that before I had gone abroad that someone had told me that the UK is NOT as conservative as I originally thought.”
- Anonymous, Semester in Edinburgh
“I went to Madrid, and I had no idea it was such a gay-friendly city. I wish I had known sooner I would have done a whole year rather than just a semester.”
- Anonymous, Semester in Madrid - Universidad Antonio de Nebrija
This past semester, I studied abroad in Tokyo, Japan. I aimed to live by the quote "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone," and because of that, I have gotten to experience incredibly fascinating things and meet amazing people. Tokyo almost feels like a second home to me now. I am immensely thankful for the opportunity to have experienced the beauty of Japan and its rich culture.
Based on personal experience from my home University, Australia does not tend to be a popular destination for study abroad, likely due to its distance. However, I am extremely grateful I made the decision to come here. The geographical diversity, numerous cultural representations, and major cities so close to nature make Australia a truly unique and unforgettable country. Spending three and a half months here will be an experience I treasure for the rest of my life.
Everyday was something new. CIS provided a brilliant network of people so I never felt alone, but I got to explore a place completely different from anything I could have imagined. It was challenging, a new culture, a language I didn't know completely, a new place to navigate, but that was the beauty of it all. No one goes abroad searching for comfort, but you learn that comfort can be found anywhere, if you know how to look.
Studying abroad has allowed me to grow as a person. I have conquered fears, experienced new things, tried new foods, and met wonderful people who helped make my experience unforgettable. I am more confident in myself and the person that I want to be in the future.
Studying abroad in London has been an experience I will never forget. Living in a new country is something I think everyone should experience in their life. I've made so many new life long friendships I never would have unless I came here. I've also grown so much as a person and become more independent. The CIS team has been so supportive during the whole process. From applying to my program to arriving on campus in London. My site directors have been so helpful and supportive answering any questions I have. The social program activities were amazing and helped me see a different side of London than I would have without it. I will never forget this experience it really has changed me for the better.
Studying abroad changed my life in all of the best ways and CIS Abroad made it all happen!! Through CIS I was able to make my first friends and integrate into the culture way easier than I would have on my own.
My time abroad has been the most eye opening journey and I’m a more independent person because of it. I’m so grateful for all the experiences, friends, and memories I’ve made along the way!
Unlike many people on this trip who come with the intention of being a tourist, I feel like I had a different goal. I wanted to rediscover my culture and where I belonged. Being a hafu living in America and not fluent in Japanese, I was never really able to get in touch with my Japanese heritage. This trip completely changed that and I now have a goal of one day living in Japan for the rest of my life.
The CIS program was truly a one of a kind experience. I was able to meet many students from all across America, attend several events (such as food tours or a trip to Kyoto), and make many friends. I would not trade it for anything. I am thankful I decided to study with CIS Abroad. Before this, I was thinking about just plowing through my degree, getting my master's and PhD, and immediately entering society. However, this experience changed my life. Through meeting many people from many places, and living in a new area for an extended period of time, my view of my own philosophies, culture and place of living, changed. This would not have happened if I stayed in the states. I would say if you are able to go, you should go. There is no time like the present.
I spent the past 4 months in Tokyo, Japan and it has been a life changing experience. I have been on so many new adventures and met people who I will never forget. This trip really helped me grow as an individual and I cannot wait to see what adventure I go on next!
Studying abroad in Japan was lifechanging! Embracing a rich culture, forging international friendships, and gaining valuable insights broadened my perspective , fostering personal growth and unforgettable memories.
I knew I wanted to study abroad, particularly in Japan, because it was on my bucket list. Thanks to CIS, I was able to go to Tokyo! Even now, it is surreal to me that I got to go! I can't put it into words how much fun I had in Tokyo. I enjoyed every second of my time there, from walking around the bustling streets of Shibuya and Shinjuku to going to class, eating delicious Japanese cuisine, and even going to the convenience store. Even the simplest things were incredibly fun to me. I was initially anxious about being homesick, my Japanese skills and traveling alone, but I'm happy to say that I very quickly made lovely, lifelong friends and was met with nothing but kindness from the locals. I learned not to let my worries get in the way of an opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you, CIS Abroad. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I had to go to Tokyo.
During my time in Costa Rica, I took Intermediate Conversation and Cultural Photography at Veritas University. I really enjoyed how relaxed the classes were and how the teachers taught us not only Spanish, but also culture and day-to-day life. I was also involved in the biology lab here (BIOMOL) and had fun doing some lab work every week. Not only with classes, I got to explore multiple places with my program, such as Manuel Antonio, Curubandé, and Jaco. I went surfing for the first time and got to hike some amazing trails. I highly recommend traveling to Costa Rica for study abroad; it is a beautiful country with beautiful people and memories to make!
I took Spanish for Healthcare Professionals and Conflict Resolution & Healthcare at Universidad Veritas in San Jose, Costa Rica. I really enjoyed how interactive my elective class was; the students often led the class by doing presentations on various topics. We also had a field trip to the local school. My favorite part of the study abroad experience was all the weekend trips. It was awesome to see so many different places in the country. My favorite trip was to Tamarindo and Curubande where I got to take a surf lesson and hike to waterfalls.
This past month I spent my time studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy with CIS Abroad. The opportunity of being able to study in Italy was a dream come true! From my peers in the program to Frankie and Kayla, everyone has been so open and welcoming. CIS has done any amazing job making sure I felt prepared for my travels and was available to answer my many questions. Without CIS, this opportunity would have seemed like a dream, but they helped me turn it into a reality. I have met some amazing friends and grown into a better person during my time in Sorrento!