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LGBTQ2S+ Students

As an opportunity to expand academic knowledge and develop cultural awareness, study abroad also presents students who identify as LGBTQ2S+ (1) with new, exciting, and affirming possibilities to explore other cultures and conceptualizations of identities around sexual orientation and gender expression. It can also present challenges and your safety and opportunity to thrive may vary based on local laws and cultural attitudes.

We encourage you to think about your needs. What you value, need, and have experienced will be different to anybody else. To have a safe and rewarding experience when taking part in global learning activities abroad, we encourage you to think about how your sexual orientation and gender expression may shape your experiences abroad. Local and cultural attitudes towards sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, as well as local laws that may affect people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression may affect your experience. We encourage you to use these resources to make informed and safe choices about destinations and programs that best meet your needs. Remember – in some cases attitudes and enforcement of laws may vary by town/city, region, and even by neighbourhood.

The goal of these resources is to ensure you can make an informed decision about global learning abroad. As you navigate these resources, feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have.

This information was adapted with thanks from the work of the following universities:

1. We recognize that LGBTQ2S+ is not a universal term, and that what is preferred varies by person, region, and often evolves over time. Our intention is not to exclude anyone by using this term.

  • If being a part of or having access to a LGBTQ2S+ community is important to you, it may be beneficial to do some online research about local organizations in your potential destination. If you know of someone who identifies with the LGBTQ2S+ community and has either studied abroad or visited that location, you may want to ask them about their experiences. Just remember, there are always going to be different opinions and viewpoints.
  • Many host countries have clusters of LGBTQ2S+-oriented districts in larger cities, allowing students to meet with people within their respective communities. Host universities may also have LGBTQ2S+ advocacy groups or student support groups that are safe ways to meet like-minded people.
  • Host university websites may have relevant information, although this may vary by region/country. You may also wish to try and find LGBTQ2S+ groups online, e.g., through Facebook. If you are having trouble finding the resources available to you at the host university, your study abroad or exchange coordinator may be able to help you.
  • Think about the resources that you currently have and/or use at Queen’s, Kingston and/or your home location. We encourage you to investigate the types of resources that may or may not exist in your potential global learning abroad location.
  • What are the documents that you will need for travelling and studying abroad that include the identification of your gender/sex? Would it be useful to change the gender/sex marker on any of those documents before traveling? For Canadian passports, the Government of Canada’s LGBT Travel website has information on passport policies for LGBTQ2S+ individuals. Other countries may have different requirements. Note that this may require assembling more information and may take time to complete.
  • Personal health, safety, and medical needs can vary from person to person. You may wish to speak with a medical professional such as a doctor or counsellor prior to departure.

Sense of Community

  • How important is it to me to find other LGBTQ2S+ students or friends while abroad, and how prepared am I to create these relationships? How will I manage the potential difficulties of not finding one while abroad? 
  • Are there open LGBTQ2S+ communities in the country/region/city/town? Or at the local university? 
  • If you are part of an LGBTQ2S+ community at Queen’s/in Kingston/your hometown, how important is it for you to remain in contact with this community, and have you considered how you would do this?

Home Resources

  • Are there resources available for LGBTQ2S+ people or LGBTQ2S+-friendly centres in the host country?
  • If a sense of LGBTQ2S+ community is important to me, how will I manage the potential difficulties of not finding one while abroad?
  • Does my global learning program offer LGBTQ2S+ friendly housing? 
  • Does my global learning program offer gender-neutral housing facilities i.e., bathrooms and dormitories?
  • Culture shock is something that most students will experience and as a LGBTQ2S+ person, feelings of isolation may be intensified – who will be my support network and who will I share my experience with?
  • What resources are available to me upon my return to Queen’s campus?

Disclosing Sexual Orientation and/or Gender Identity

  • If I am open about my sexual orientation and/or gender identity at Queen’s, will that change at all when I am abroad? 
  • How open will I be about my sexual orientation, gender expression and personal pronouns with my teachers, peers, friends, host family, and others? 
  • Does the host program/university’s version of SOLUS have the ability for me to use a name other than the one that may have been given for legal/admission reasons name or pronouns? If not, how will I navigate this?
  • Are there situations in which I would not disclose my sexual orientation or gender identity? 
  • If I choose to conceal my sexual orientation or gender identity while abroad, what impact will this have on me while abroad and upon my return?
  • If I choose to be out while abroad, how will this affect me and my relationships with friends and family while abroad and upon my return?

Local Attitudes

  • What are the cultural and local attitudes toward sexual orientation and gender identity in your destination country? 
  • What do cultural expressions of gender and sexuality look like in your destination country?
  • What do gender relations look like in your destination country? 
  • What are the behavioural norms within the local LGBTQ2S+ community?
  • How are friendships and emotions expressed? What are the body language norms for that region? In places where these are different from Canada and/or your normal country of residence, you may experience confusion or uncertainty about who may or may not be LGBTQ2S+.
  • What is considered typical male and female social behaviour and customary gender relations?
  • What has happened recently in the news? Attitudes can change depending on the socio-political climate of a country.
  • What are the cultural and local attitudes toward sexual orientation and gender identity in my host country?
  • What are the local attitudes toward and other individuals who do not conform to gender and/or sex binaries in the host culture?

Personal Health & Safety

  • What are my safety needs, and how can they best be met?
  • Is the program able to make accommodations for students who request single rooms, private baths, or certain roommates?
  • Will I need access to any medications, supplies, or services to properly care for my medical needs, including those related to physical transition, like hormones? Are they available in my host country? If not, will I need any other documentation to travel with any medications or supplies? Will it be possible to travel legally with these supplies?
  • Mental health – navigating a new country and culture can be tiring and difficult. What resources are available in the host country and university? What mental health support can I access while abroad either online or in-person? Student Wellness Services at Queen’s offers some supports that can be accessed outside Canada. 
  • Visit Environmental Health and Safety page for more information on our partnership with International SOS.

Legal Issues

  • Are there any restrictions on freedom of association or expression for LGBTQ2S+ people?
  • Are there “public decency” or “public indecency” laws?
  • Are there laws against cross-dressing?
  • What are the laws about identity and travel documentation?
  • Are there hate crime laws in place that provide certain protections for LGBTQ2S+ persons?
  • What is the legality of same-sex sexual behaviour?
  • What is the age of consent for sexual behaviour? Does it differ for heterosexual versus same-sex couples? 
  • What is the police attitude towards the local LGBTQ2S+ community?

Trans Identities

  • What are the local attitudes toward transgender individuals?
  • What are the laws about gender identity and travel documentation?
  • What are your rights regarding airport screening/physical searches?
  • What are my safety needs, and how can they best be met?
  • What do cultural expressions of gender and sexuality look like in the host country?
  • Will I need access to any medications, supplies, or services to properly care for my medical needs, including those related to physical transition, like hormones? Are they available in my host country? If not, will I need any other documentation to travel with any medications or supplies? Will it be possible to travel legally with these supplies?
  • If I am currently using insurance for any health services, including those related to physical transition, what does insurance coverage look like while I am abroad?

  • The Government of Canada LGBTQ Travel website provides general travel advice for LGBTQ2S+ individuals. They also have a country-specific database that includes information on LGBTQ2S+ rights. You must follow the law in your host country. Once outside of Canada and/or your normal country of residence you are not protected by those laws. In some countries same-sex acts are illegal and the penalties if caught can be very severe.
  • Try to consult with others who have been to the location you are thinking of going. If you do not know someone, try to find personal stories others may have shared online about their experiences. Expressions of friendship and body language may be quite different than in Canada and/or your normal country of residence and may cause confusion or uncertainty about who may or may not be LGBTQ2S+. 

There are many support services available to aid you on your journey, but sometimes it is hard to know where to begin. Below we have outlined various internal and external support services you may wish to connect with while thinking about and/or participating on a study abroad program:

Services and Supports at Queen's

Service/Support Description

Your Faculty International Office

This office can speak with you about the study abroad experience. It can also refer you to the below services (you can also access them without a referral).

Positive Space

Identifies and encourages the development of positive spaces within the Queen’s community where sexual and gender identity is affirmed and individuals can receive support and information on LGBTQ issues. 

Levana Gender Advocacy Centre

A student-funded organization committed to creating and nurturing a radical community of Kingston students and residents devoted to fighting gender oppression and advocating for gender empowerment.

Yellow House

Yellow House is a safe, comfortable, and accountable space for queer, racialized, marginalized students to create community, to feel empowered, to empower others, and to celebrate and to honour their histories. The clubs in Yellow House are:

  • African & Caribbean Students’ Association
  • Levana Gender Advocacy Centre
  • Queen’s Black Academic Society
  • Queen’s University Muslim Student Association

You may find it helpful to speak with folks in the Yellow House if you have concerns about how your identity may be perceived by other cultures while studying abroad.

Services and Supports Outside Queen's

Service/Support Description

Host Universities

Host universities can provide information about opportunities, support services, and experiences. Students can contact them directly or work with their Faculty International Office to initiate contact (for instance, we can help you write an email, send questions on your behalf, and/or meet with you and the host office virtually, or help you with research).

International SOS

International SOS (iSOS) is a third-party security service available to Queen’s students, faculty, and staff. Students can call into iSOS and speak with a regional expert to learn more about the place they are consider/traveling to.

iSOS also offers short-term counselling to students living or studying abroad.

Social supports

Social supports can help you navigate a new culture that will likely include new intersectional relations between you and people who hold multiple identities. Consider who you would contact when you feel like you are discriminated against while abroad. Having a support system of family and friends may also help you deal with feelings of isolation and culture shock.

Knowing the social and historical situation in your destination country can help you prepare for the transition from Canada/your home country and back. This can help you be prepared if troubling incidents arise. However, don't expect prejudice to happen either.