Sexuality Abroad

To get started, all students should make an academic plan that matches their academic goals. Find out what classes are required to complete your degree when they have to be taken, how long it will take to execute this plan, and where you can fit study abroad or away into all of this. On a study abroad or away program, you can receive major, minor, core, or elective credit - it really is up to you what you want to get out of the program and do with your time away.

Next, start exploring the different Global Opportunities at Santa Clara.

Be sure that you choose a program that matches your academic, personal, and professional goals.

• Does the program offer coursework in your major/minor? Or coursework that will count toward CORE credit?
• Does it offer internship or research opportunities if that’s what you’re looking for?
• What about an opportunity to practice your language skills?

You should choose a program not only because it’s in a place you desire to go to, but one that will serve you academically, personally, and professionally - this way you are sure to get a well-rounded experience! 

The most important factor to consider when choosing a global program is how it will serve your personal, professional, and academic goals. Once you have browsed program options and have picked some countries or programs you are interested in, you should think about what role your identities might play in your abroad experience. 

Just as the level of support from the local community may vary, some programs may be better equipped to address the needs of LGBTQ+ students than others. Any study abroad program available to SCU students is a possibility. The key is to identify your expectations and clarify what kind of support the programs you consider are able to offer. Careful program selection and solid pre-departure planning will help you identify opportunities that will allow your LGBTQ+ identity to be an asset, not a barrier, to your cross-cultural learning.

If you do choose to meet with your program coordinator, it could be helpful to have your concerns and questions prepared beforehand. Here is a list with just a couple of points you might want to discuss, for example:

• How ready is your program provider/coordinator to offer support or address needs related to your LGBTQ+ identity, like arranging a gay-friendly host family?

• How able will in-country staff be to help answer questions about local attitudes and concepts of LGBTQ+ identity

• How will I be perceived in my host community because of my sexuality and/or identity?

• Will I experience discrimination in the country I study in? Who can I talk to about it if I do?

• Are there additional funding sources or scholarships that I can look into?

• How can I talk to my loved ones about studying abroad? 

You should do some research about the experiences of people of your shared identity living, studying, or traveling in your desired abroad destination, in order to get an idea about their experiences based on identity. You may also be able to connect with a returnee to get an insight into the student experience in a particular country or under a particular global program.  

A Word About Location

Being abroad will present opportunities to think about identity in a whole new cultural context, which can be a rewarding learning experience that challenges your preconceived notions of what it means to be LGBTQ+. Concepts of identity and the way LGBTQ+ individuals are perceived vary from country to country, and even between regions within the same country. US students abroad may find themselves visiting places that are more affirming of LGBTQ+ identity than the United States, and this difference may be reflected in national laws that extend equal access and protection. Other countries may have laws that criminalize homosexuality and an accompanying social hostility toward any public expression of LGBTQ+ identity.

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association has an interactive map showing LGBTQ+ specific information for countries around the world. It highlights some stark truths, such as the countries that still apply the death penalty to homosexuals, but it also shows vividly the positive progress being made across the planet to ensure that LGBTQ+ people everywhere are treated with respect and appreciated for the contribution that they make to the world.

However, national laws and public opinion do not always tell the full story of what an LGBTQ+ student can expect. Just as there are Californians who strongly oppose the legalization of same-sex marriage, there are individuals who support the LGBTQ+ communities from countries that demonstrate legal intolerance. It can be helpful to consult with several different sources when gathering information in order to assess the relative standing of LGBTQ+ individuals in any place you plan to visit.

Talking to your loved ones about study abroad or away can be a subject that may require some timing and planning. Coming to study at Santa Clara University might be the first time that you have found yourself away from your loved ones and they may be concerned about you going even farther away from them by studying in another city, state, or country.

If you find yourself a little bit nervous about talking to them, know that you have all the resources you need, including academic and financial planning information, to support your argument about why you want to study abroad or away and how you’re going to do it.

We even have a Family Resources section of our website that you can share! 

You can let them know that it is going to complement your studies at SCU and open up new academic, personal, and professional opportunities for you. And, you can explain that financial aid goes with students who receive it.

If they are concerned about the location that you are going to, be sure to do your research and let them know some reassuring facts about the place. You should also let them know that you will have on-site support by staff and that you will be with other students as well. These are just some of the many points you can use to enhance your conversation with your loved ones about study abroad or away. 

When you venture out into the world, you carry your identity with you even if it is not readily apparent to those around you. Going abroad can therefore represent a second "coming out", and you will need to make decisions about how and when to express your LGBTQ+ identity. It is important to think about what kind of support may be available to you in your new environment, especially since contact with your current community of supportive friends and/or family may be limited.

Web Resources

• International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association ILGA: Information on gay rights around the world

• The Guardian Interactive World Map: Map of LGBT rights around the world

• Department of State LGBT Travel Information

• Amnesty International LGBT Rights

• NAFSA Rainbow Special Interest Group: Includes general information about study abroad, country and region-specific links, articles, study abroad programs, and scholarship opportunities.

• Utopia Asia: Travel information, news, links to resources and organizations, and legislation for various countries in Asia

• Global Gayz: Gay-owned travel and culture website focused on les-bi-gay-trans life in countries around the world

• The Global Gay Guide Network: A worldwide directory of sites of interest, accommodations, events, and news articles

• International laws regarding legal gender recognition, hate crime statistics and anti-discrimination laws