GLBTQ students usually have spent quite a bit of time struggling with identity issues in their lives, and are excellent candidates for study abroad.
The time spent abroad may be a time for experimenting, redefining yourself, developing a positive GLBTQ identity and breaking from old expectations.
However, every culture around the world has a different level of tolerance for GLBTQ issues and rules for defining sexual identity.
In some places, habits that you would find perfectly normal are considered totally inappropriate, and vice versa.
Every GLBTQ student is an individual with individual issues and memories, and no two students will have the same experience, but many GLBTQ students report facing a different set of challenges in "blending in" than straight students.
Being knowledgeable about your identity and host country will help you have a safe and rewarding international experience.
Western Europe (England, France, Switzerland, Ireland, Spain, Italy)
LGBT students will find Western Europe to be a very welcoming environment.
While there are some individuals that view homosexuality as immoral, in general, Western European countries are tolerant of sexual orientation and alternative lifestyles.
Most countries have anti-discrimination laws protecting the GLBTQ community.
The GLBTQ community enjoys much greater acceptance than most countries outside of Europe.
Belgium became the second country in the world to legally recognize same-sex marriage.
Following this trend, same-sex marriage became legal in Spain in 2005.
Easter Europe (Russia)
Article 121 in the Russia's constitution, which criminalise gay sex, was finally repealed in 1993.
The collapse of the Soviet Union accelerated the progress of the gay movement, and the GLBTQ community is slowly opening up in large urban areas such as Moscow.
Russia at the present time has neither legislation against gay people nor anti-discrimination laws.
Just like in China, Russia no longer deems homosexuality a mental illness.
Students should still be wary as open homosexual sexuality is often seen as a sin.
Most of the resistance comes from different religious groups that see it as attack on morality.
Asia (China, India & Thailand)
Although there are large gay communities in China, homosexuality is technically illegal and Chinese face overwhelming social pressures to remain closeted.
Students should be aware of the pressure that locals face.
Therefore it is important that students respect the person's right to decide where, when and how to participate in a gay lifestyle.
This does not mean that gay bars and meeting places do not exist.
Due to the increased exposure to foreign attitudes, social norms are slowly changing.
Only in the early 2000's did China delist homosexuality from list of mental illnesses.
Still most Chinese prefer hide their sexuality for 3 main reasons:
fear of being ostracized by their community, family, etc.
fear of being fired
family pressures to get married and have children (important duty for a man in traditional Chinese society)
There have been efforts, especially through the Internet, to give voice to the GLBTQ community and to spread awareness.
There is a continuous effort to teach tolerance and understanding which has shown some progress in recent years.
"We don't have any," is the classic Indian response to homosexuality in India.
Indians say this even when they know of and generally tolerate homosexual acts in their communities.
On 2 July 2009, a Delhi High Court ruling decriminalized homosexual intercourse between consenting adults.
However, homosexuality remains a taboo subject.
In recent years, attitudes towards homosexuality have shifted slightly.
There have been more depictions and discussions of homosexuality in the news and by Bollywood.
Thailand currently does not have any laws prohibiting homosexuality. The overall attitude towards homosexuality seems to be mixture of tolerance, ignorance and evasion: generally accepted but not discussed within families. The community rarely faces open discrimination but most Thai people opt not to speak about it. This has prevented the GLBTQ community from organizing and promoting programs for the community. Social norms consider the topic of sex as a taboo.
Thailand is renowned for its gay scene, but this largely caters to the tourist industry.
Western travellers often take notice of the "ladyboys".
They are generally accepted by society, and considered a third gender.
The homosexual gender role is often seen in the effeminate gà’tuhy of Thailand.
Latin America (Ecuador)
The population of Latin America is predominantly Roman Catholic.
Due to the strict religious views of morality, most choose to ignore that a GLBTQ community exists or prefer to believe that it is just a phase.
Most of the population is still against GLBTQ rights to marriage.
Although attention to the topics of sexuality is growing, it tends to be something people do not discuss.
Most gay places of business remain discreet and often unmarked.
The culture does not openly accept different lifestyles, but rather assigns specific gender roles.
This is where the term machismo developed, meaning "a strong sense of masculine pride: an exaggerated masculinity".
There is a big movement in Mexico towards visibility and empowerment.
The community is looking to integrate a GLBTQ lifestyle with the cultural traditions of the Latin America.
Africa (Kenya & Tanzania)
Homosexuality remains illegal in Kenya and a taboo subject in Kenyan society.
It is often seen as a perversion brought in by the Western powers.
Only a small part of the Kenya's population feel that GLBTQ individuals should be accepted by society.
Although rarely enforced, punishment in Kenya for gay sex is five to 14 years in jail.
Individuals remain closeted or live double lives due to the suppression.
Most of the openly gay community in Nairobi is confined to Western expatriates.
Under the Penal Code in Tanzania, homosexuality is against the law. No clauses of equality and non discrimination exist under the constitution.
Homosexual acts carry long jail sentences.
Christian and Muslims groups are in opposition to any gay rights movement.
Most Tanzanians believe homosexuality to be a un-African practice. Usually it is blamed on Westerners and brought in a part of colonialism.
Homosexuality remains a taboo subject.
Not all countries in Africa share the political and cultural views of Kenya and Tanzania.
The South African constitution was the world's first to enshrine equal rights for gays and lesbians.
It was the 5th country in the world and first in Africa to legalize same-sex marriages. However, a large percentage of the population still believes homosexuality is immoral.
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