With many thousands of LGBT travellers attending Pride events and holidaying abroad this summer, Circa heeds timely advice from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on how best to stay safe whilst straddling the gay globe.
“Every year, numerous LGBT Brits travel to global Pride events, or more generally abroad,” says Steve Jewitt-Fleet from the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which boasts its own highly active internal LGBT staff support group; and was one of the first such government departments in the world to actively address the concerns of LGBT travellers - having waged campaigns as far back as 2002 to help assure all queer voyagers that they’d get effective practical help and advice should they encounter problems overseas.
Recently, the FCO initiated an official project requiring all its 261 embassies, high commissions and other diplomatic outposts around the world to proactively support and promote LGBT human rights in their countries. It issued an LGBT Toolkit highlighting the British policy on gay rights and illustrating how to "provide added value to equality and non-discrimination work" on the ground, locally. Union Jacks have already been replaced with, or joined by, the international rainbow symbol of the LGBT community at several British embassies during Pride events, including at homophobic hotspots Riga and Warsaw.
The FCO itself prefers not to provide a list of countries where same-sex relationships are legal or illegal lest it mislead, since in some countries same-sex relationships aren’t specifically mentioned in law, and in others the law is unclear. In some, same-sex relationships may be legal, but certain acts may not be - or the local society may be intolerant, regardless. In others, same-sex relationships may be illegal, but the law not strictly enforced.
Yet a new report from the International Lesbian & Gay Association suggests at least 76 countries, from Jamaica to Zimbabwe, have laws punishing gay sex with jail time – at least seven (Iran, Mauritania, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates & Yemen) even sanctioning the death penalty. ILGA marked the occasion of their recent 30th anniversary by publishing a map (www.ilga.org/map/LGBTI_rights.jpg) graphically illustrating relative LGBT persecution, and legal recognition and protections, around the world – showing active persecution throughout much of Africa and Asia; and a wide-scale lack of explicit legal recognition or protections - outside of Europe and Australia, plus parts of southern Africa and central America.
Naturally, many an openly gay traveller may wish to give some of these nations a wide berth. But, as a general rule, we can all take a few simple steps to minimise our chances of encountering gay-related problems abroad. Says Jewitt-Fleet: “Attitudes towards LGBT travellers differ widely around the world, and from those in the UK. Yet, you can cut down on avoidable problems if you research your destination before you leave home.”
GAY TRAVELLER BEWARE – TOP TIPS…
Naturally, worldwide attitudes and laws concerning LGBTs vary enormously. In some countries same-sex relationships are illegal and punishable by imprisonment - or even death. However, the better prepared you are, the fewer problems you are likely to encounter.
- Before you go, heed advice to queer travellers on the Foreign Office website: www.fco.gov.uk – both in the general LGBT travel tips section, and under individual country headings.
- Get a good guidebook which includes local queer-related laws and customs. Scan the web.
- If in any doubt about your personal safety as a gay person, consider whether you should be going at all.
- Hotels in many countries don’t accept same-sex, same-room bookings. Best check before you go.
- Be aware that Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) may be especially rife in some parts of the world and STI clinics non-existent.
- Those living with HIV should check to see if any entry restrictions apply; and what the availability of emergency drugs or treatment might be at their destination.
- Outside any distinct queer quarter, open expressions of sexuality might be frowned upon - or worse.
- Note that in some cultures, straight same-sex friends show affection by holding hands; however, obvious foreigners so doing could be viewed quite differently.
- Police in many areas of the world still try to entrap gays.
- Beware new-found “friends” or a prostitute who could turn into an exploitative thief or blackmailer.
- Take full details of British Consular Offices in all countries you plan to visit, in case of any difficulties.
Other websites of relevance:
Adrian Gillan
