Why Safety is Always a Priority for LGBTQ Travelers

Travelers who are queer face some unique pressures, due to everything from cultural and religious attitudes to local laws. As such, safety must be paramount when considering travel, even today. We spoke to a handful of members of the LGBTQ community to find out what influences where and how they travel, and how they plan ahead.

The importance of safety

“Safety is very important for my travels, in general and as a gay man,” said Carlos Julio Aponte (he/his), a retired physician. “Every location and situation could be dangerous … I will not go to a place where we are ‘illegal.’ I have written Uganda, Iran, and a few other countries off my bucket list.”

Andy Luu (he/him), a gay teacher from Cleveland, is a global traveler and said that safety is of high importance to him.

“In recent years, there has been more anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes around the United States and some countries around the world. When I travel, I want to be where I’m comfortable with my sexuality rather than hide who I am. I spent 32 years of my life in the closet, and I refuse to go back in again,” he said. 

But for Rayme Gorniak (he/him), a gay fitness industry consultant from Chicago, safety is a concern, but it isn’t the primary one, based on his personal travel patterns. 

“I tend to look for vibrant gay communities and feel safety comes with a larger, prominent community,” Gorniak explained. “If traveling internationally, safety becomes more of a factor. I presume I feel this way from living in big cities where I’m always aware of my surroundings. It’s innate for me.”

Merryn Johns (she/her), a lesbian New York journalist, said that safety is a high priority, especially when traveling as a cisgender gay woman. 

“According to some sources, women are more likely than men to experience sexual harassment and harassment while traveling,” she said. “Especially if traveling solo, and even when traveling in pairs, i.e. without male company. Queer women traveling as romantic couples are more likely to attract unwanted attention, especially in certain countries. In other countries, they may be more likely to experience opportunistic crime, kidnap, or targeted attack.”

Ivan (he/him), a gay physician, said that safety for an LGBTQ traveler has additional layers.

“Some places have anti-LGBTQ laws in place; however, these laws may not be enforced. Then it is relatively safe to visit such destinations. The opposite is also true—politically, a country may be tolerant or silent about the sexual orientation or gender identity of a person, but the regular citizens may show aggressive and hostile behavior towards LGBTQ persons,” he said.

Ivan also noted that different countries have varying ideas of what is culturally appropriate, such as hand-holding or physical affection in public. Thus, one needs to learn about the place they intend to travel to assess the general attitude of the public. 

To go or not to go?

Michael (he/him), a gay research specialist, said he has come to accept that there are parts of the world he will simply not see because it’s not safe for him as a gay man. 

“The majority of our travel is for vacation purposes and going back in the closet for safety reasons, is something we would only do out of necessity, not by choice,” he said. “We declined going on a cruise that included Russia due to the LGBT propaganda law (and many other things too). We have long considered going to Abu-Dhabi but have ruled it out due to ultra-restrictive laws that include same-sex intimacy.”

“I prefer to travel and be with locals, so if I am expected to stay in a resort, I will likely not go to that destination. Jamaica has been on my list, but the recommendations to stay on respite property is not appealing,” said Gorniak.

Similarly, Luu had considered traveling to Brunei until he found out they support stoning anyone who is homosexual. 

“I have had layovers in many of Middle Eastern countries, but I refused to visit the country itself because of their anti-LGBTQ+ laws. I personally don’t feel safe there,” said Luu.

Similarly, Johns said there are many places she wants to go, but has put off, especially in the Middle East. 

She wants to visit “Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt, but not in the current political climate,” she said. “Morocco also, is a dream, but I cannot consider that trip unless I had financial and social ‘insulation,’ shall we say. To go unescorted or even with a girlfriend I think is foolhardy. I am not saying some cultures are more ‘unsafe’ than others. But I am saying there are good and bad times for certain regions or destinations.”

Do your homework!

Ivan said he normally searches online and reads travel blogs on a particular destination before going. He’ll specifically search for LGBTQ-related laws and cases of enforcement there. Good indicators of tolerance towards LGBTQ people can include whether there are any gay bars or businesses, queer organizations, or LGBTQ events in the place.

“There are also multiple traveler groups on social media, where one can ask direct questions to the community of fellow travelers. And as a rule, someone has already visited this place and can tell you all about it, and even address specific concerns,” said Ivan.

“Do all the research, get all your shots, make sure you have the necessary insurance, visas, etc. And then always before you go, run through all the ‘what ifs,’” said Johns. “What if I get my phone/wallet/passport stolen? What if I am stalked, harassed, or accosted? What if I am assaulted/kidnapped? What if I get sick, get food poisoning, get roofied at a bar, pick up a local and they’re a psycho? Whatever the ‘what ifs,’ play them all through in your head and if you don’t have the answers of what you will do in any of those circumstances, you’re not ready to book your ticket!”

And Michael said he feels a lot of queer travelers know where to avoid, which stems from always having to look over their shoulders. 

“If it’s a place we are not sure of, we often turn to the internet and look for reputable/trusted resources for guidance. Most recently, https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/lgbtqi.html has been an excellent resource,” he said.

When and where to be cautious

All things aren’t equal in travel, and some places may be less safe for LGBTQ travelers.

“Accommodations like hotels or Airbnbs are fine; public spaces that are crowded spell problems,” said Aponte. “I have used public transportation often, but knowing the language helps. Time of the day is key, too—I was attacked twice in the early morning in Bogotá. Lonely places are more dangerous than crowded places.”

Luu feels that the most important thing to focus on is public spaces.

“This is where you have to interact with or see so many people. You don’t really know people’s attitude toward the LGBTQ+ community and it’s easier for the negative reactions/behaviors to occur without a safe space to hide,” Luu said. “I think as long as you don’t display affection in public, you should be safe. You shouldn’t have to worry so much about guided tours, because they are generally quite safe with a small group of people. At the end of the day, I prefer to travel to countries and places that I know are LGBTQ-friendly because I can be myself without having to care or worry about my safety due to my sexuality.”

Gorniak also suggests you always learn alternative exits or escape routes from a place. Google Maps allows him to pinpoint where his hotel and embassy/consulate are in relation to everything else. 

“Hotels in countries can be a challenge when checking in as a same sex couple and asking for one bed. I try to gauge the reaction for a litmus test,” he said. 

“I think you are safest in accommodations—although I have had friends who were robbed on hotel premises in Rome and Argentina,” said Johns. “Restaurants feel safe to me for the same reasons hotels usually are and guided tours do, as well—there is a management and staff and certain protocols. Reviews online can tell you which establishments/companies to avoid. Passport control, public spaces, and transportation can be much more dangerous for queer people and for women, both cisgender and transgender. In my own case, I have experienced discomfort, discrimination, and unwanted attention in those places.”

“I’ve learned my lesson in each and every case—that it was either something about my behavior or lack of preparedness that opened the door to that experience, or it was something about the other culture/gender that is to be expected. Bad things happen everywhere. My advice to women wanting to go to places which they feel concerned about, safety-wise, is to consider group and guided travel,” she said. 

“I would probably say that having private accommodations, or other services from a person you don’t know is the biggest risk factor when it comes to safety,” concluded Ivan. “I would recommend never going for the cheapest option—that is usually too good to be true. In my experience, the cheapest accommodation in comparison to the average price in a particular town, city, or country, is due to an undesired or unsafe area that may ruin your vacation from the first day. Be vigilant and careful, but most importantly just enjoy your vacation, experience new places and cultures, and make memories for life!”

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