By Soren Rivero
In recent years, a handful of countries around the world have become much more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. Some have even gone as far as to inflict punishment for individuals who commit hate crimes against queer people. That’s not to mention the rise in representation that LGBTQ+ folx have seen in mainstream media and to some extent, political representation.
While certain places may seem to be more welcoming to gay, lesbian, and bisexual-identifying individuals nowadays, transgender people still find it difficult to find a safe space in societies worldwide. A disturbing number of places have even become more dangerous for trans members of society within the past decade alone.
As times change, so must we. Maintaining safety as someone who identifies as transgender has become all the more important. In this article, we will highlight some ways that you, or someone you know, can protect their safety while traveling as a transgender person.
Research the Area You’re Going To + Surrounding Areas
How to stay safe as a transgender tourist is a difficult enough question to answer, as it relies on you knowing the laws of your target destination. The issue becomes even more complex when layered with other personal features such as race, appearance, country of origin, assigned gender at birth, and other various factors. The most important thing one can do while traveling as a trans individual is to conduct deep research on every destination that’s on their travel list. More specifically, you’ll want to look at a list of the fully-detailed LGBTQ+ laws regarding gender representation, homosexual activity, and cross-dressing.
Remember that you must adhere to the laws and regulations of the country you're in, regardless if you're a tourist and/or how you identify. Some places may be more lenient towards foreigners due to embassy issues, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you're 100% safe. Always do your research before traveling as a trans tourist.
You'll also want to consider researching the surrounding areas as well. Your vacation might take you through multiple states or cities, and while your target destination may be trans-friendly, another city you pass through may not. To help avoid any unwanted conflict, we highly recommend sticking to traveling to destinations that are well-known for being LGBTQ+ friendly.
Keep All UPDATED Documents on You
A general safety tip is to make sure you have all necessary travel documents on your person available at all times. This includes your ID, passport, work permit, and green card (if applicable) among other items. Make sure your name, gender, photo, and country of origin are updated to match your government-issued photo ID. If the items are not updated with your current name, photo, and gender, make the necessary steps to update those to avoid any issues while at the airport or in another country. Any items that are not matching (e.g. the gender on your passport does not correlate to the gender on your ID) may cause issues when traveling. Depending on where you’re from, you might have the option to mark ‘X’ on your passport (such as the case with the United States in recent years), that indicates your gender. Be prepared to have an explanation or supporting documents when traveling to countries that do not recognize, if deemed necessary by your country of citizenship’s rules.
It’s also important to know that Airport Body Scanners are designed to check “anomalies'' on a person, which can mean things like binders, prosthetics, or generally any item that is deemed as "suspicious." These items may be flagged for removal or disposal if it does not match the traveler’s assigned-gender or if it is recognized as a “threat” to public safety. Some airports won’t cause you any trouble with these items, just be aware that certain types of prosthetics, clothing, jewelry, etc. might require extra checking. Other items such as gel-filled prosthetic breasts may be considered a medical necessity and not subject to the three-ounce liquid limit. Again, be prepared for extra inspection.
Should you need (or want) a Pat-Down instead of going through a Body Scanner, please know that you will (more-than-likely) be assigned a TSA officer that matches your gender representation. Use your best judgment when asking for specific help.
Let Someone Know Where You Are
Always (and we cannot stress this enough) always let someone you trust know where you are. This can be a close friend, family member, lawyer, partner, or travel buddy. All it takes is a simple call, text, or other form of e-communication. It is vital that your designated emergency contact will know where you are headed. There are even built-in tools on most commercial phones that allow you to share your location, so be sure to take advantage of them.
Some additional tips: Take pictures of where you are if you feel unsafe. Let your emergency contact know who you were with, at what time, and what you were wearing. The more details, the easier it would be to find you if something were to happen.
Consider Buying Travel Insurance
Opting for insurance is always recommended when it comes to travel, but it's especially important for LGBTQ+ traveler safety, due to increased risks of hate crime and ridicule. Insurance can help cover medical evacuation and other emergencies that may occur while abroad. We definitely recommend transgender travelers to consider applying for travel insurance— especially if you plan to visit a country that's not LGBTQ+ friendly.
Be Aware of Embassies
Certain countries will treat tourists differently (more lax, less prejudice) to avoid dealing with a foreign embassy. Know where your country’s embassies are beforehand whenever you travel abroad.
If you are a United States citizen/national traveling abroad or living in a foreign country, you can take advantage of the FREE Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) which enrolls your trip to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in whichever country you are visiting!
Take an Objective Look at Your Appearance
Preface: This next step requires you to be completely honest and rational in your decision making. This section is by no means advocating for you to change who you are or how you choose to express yourself. Rather, it is intended to keep you safe by providing information about laws and social norms around the world that might get you into unwanted trouble.
A shocking number of countries put specific targets on transgender (and other LGBTQ+) folx simply for the way that they look. As sad and inhumane as it seems, this is the harsh reality that we live in. If you feel like your safety is in jeopardy at anytime while traveling due to your sexuality or gender, please try your best to not draw any extra attention to yourself. Your safety should be prioritized before anything else.
Aside from not drawing attention (which could result in hateful remarks or assault) it is also strictly illegal in some countries to wear clothing that does not match one’s assigned gender at birth. For example, Saudi Arabia issues up to three years in prison (criminal offense) for cross dressing or "imitating the other sex" in terms of attire, behavior, appearance, and speech. Please be sure to learn about your destination's dress codes ahead of time to avoid unwanted problems.
PDA, Gestures, Signals, and Methods of Communication
Being a tourist doesn't mean you can behave in a way that is not in line with the standards. It's just a matter of kindness to respect the behavioral norms and cultural traditions of anywhere that you visit. With that being said, you have to be more cautious as an LGBTQ+ traveler. Certain places have set forth societal expectations purposely designed to eliminate LGBTQ+ representation. If not adhered to, the results can be dangerous. For example: because same-sex marriage is illegal in some countries, public displays of affection could result in taunts, assault, or even arrest. Be mindful of your gestures, behaviors, and speaking patterns.
Additional Resources
- Emergency Help for U.S Citizens of Hate Crime/Violence Abroad
- Human Rights Watch Country List
- Official U.S. Department of State LGBTQ+ Travel Flyer
- ILGA Sexual Orientation Laws Across the Globe (FREE Downloadable PDF available in multiple languages!)
- National Center of Transgender Equality - Airport Security
- Asher & Lyric Fergusson NEW Publish Global Trans Rights Index
Please don't let the information in this article deter you from living out your travel dreams – everyone deserve to have access to safe travel. Though there are extra precautions for LGBTQ+ – particularly transgender – travelers, there are still tons of places around the world that are LGBTQ+ friendly, and some may even surprise you!
Updated as of May 2024