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LGBTQIA+
Studying abroad is an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ students to view their sexual identity from a different cultural perspective. Review the information on this page for important considerations prior to your experience.
Initial Planning
Before you travel abroad, you should be familiar with the laws, customs, and attitudes towards thee.g. my passport or housing placement while abroad)?
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Is the language of my host culture gendered? If I identify as transgender, gender non-conforming, or non-binary, will it be difficult for me to adapt?
Davidson Student Testimonials
Read through these reflections from past LGBTQIA+ individuals who studied abroad.
"In retrospect, it is through effort and really putting myself out there that I made friends with many Bolivians and found a niche in the LGBTQ community there. These more intimate encounters added another dynamic, meaningful layer to my experience. Only through the relationships was I able to more fully understand what it’s like to be queer in Bolivia. I also learned a lot about myself as well as what it means to be queer in the United States."
Read more: Bolivia
"Even though I could not consistently rely on my host families for acceptance... one of my most powerful memories abroad remains coming out to my Nepali host mom and being accepted with open arms."
Read more: Chile, Jordan, Nepal
"Deciding to study abroad in the biggest city in the world (population-wise) worked to my advantage. Shanghai is a city filled with people from all walks of life, including many people from the GLBTQ community. While the GLBTQ community is not as visible as those in New York, Sydney, or London, social gathering places do exist."
Read more: China
Resources
Review these useful resources for details about LGBTQIA+ individuals abroad and how you can prepare yourself for your experience.