LGBTQ+ Pride: Celebrate Authenticity Abroad!
The Study Abroad team wants to bring attention to the joys and needs of LGBTQ+ students as they go abroad. Studying abroad should be for everyone, and we want to make sure all students feel supported and respected as they embark on this incredible opportunity. Here are some tips for families of LGBTQ+ students considering a Study Abroad experience.
Finding an LGBTQ+ Friendly Program
As your student narrows down their program choices by academic fit, semester, language, and other factors, they should also consider their wants and needs in terms of resources for their gender and sexual orientation. Laws and social attitudes about different parts of the LGBTQ+ community differ greatly from country to country, and you and your student should do some research into different program locations to make sure they offer what your student is seeking.
Fortunately, many cities and countries around the world have thriving LGBTQ+ communities with social events and meet-ups, nonprofit organizations offering resources, and LGBTQ-focused restaurants and nightlife. I myself attended the Pride festival in Madrid, Spain, when I studied abroad during my undergraduate experience. Known as MADO, Madrid’s pride festival is one of the largest celebrations of the LGBTQ+ community in the world. Although not every Study Abroad program location hosts these opportunities, many do. If this sense of community is important to your student, they should do some research on program cities as they decide where to apply.
Likewise, many of our partner institutions abroad have resources available for the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to large-scale city events or local businesses, your student can turn to their host university for a sense of LGBTQ+ community. Some host universities have LGBTQ+ Resource Centers on campus or LGBTQ+ student organizations. Finding other LGBTQ+ students, both locals and other international students, can be a great way to feel connected while abroad. Your student can find this type of resource on a host institution’s website or by searching for these school-based opportunities on social media. For example, St. Mary’s University, which hosts the UA London program, has a network of LGBTQ+ staff and allies who are happy to connect with students about their needs. Similarly, the American University of Rome, host of the UA Rome program, has a Facebook page for their LGBT student club. Many institutions beyond these examples offer similar resources, making it easier to immerse oneself in a local community.
Addressing Less Friendly Locations
There are some program locations where local people will generally not be as open to LGBTQ+ individuals. This may be an issue of familiarity or may come from cultural beliefs. Programs in these locations may still be a great fit for your student’s academic and professional goals abroad, but participating in them may come with a compromise. Your student’s safety and happiness are important factors in their decision to study abroad, so remind them to prioritize their well-being as they make their location selection. You and your student can use a resource such as Diversity Abroad as a starting point when looking into national attitudes.
Supporting Mental Health
Minority Stress, the extra anxiety or tension that individuals may experience when they differ from the local majority, is an issue that impacts people from all sorts of minorities, including minority gender identities or sexual orientations. When added to other stresses like Culture Shock abroad, Minority Stress can be a lot to handle. When students go abroad through the University of Arizona, our team enrolls them in GeoBlue health insurance, which includes Global Wellness Assist mental health services. Additionally, the University of Arizona’s Counseling & Psych Services (CAPS) office is always here to help point students in the right direction for the services they need.
Funding the Experience
Encourage your student to take pride in their identity and share their story! Students can earn scholarships by writing about their goals and aspirations as an LGBTQ+ student going abroad. As an example, the Rainbow Scholarship through the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is specifically for LGBTQ+ students participating in an international educational experience. Previous recipients have studied abroad all over the world, with the Summer 2022 recipients going to South Korea, Spain, and France. Saving money on program costs is a great way for your student to expand their opportunities for travel and activities abroad, and earning a scholarship can connect your student to an alumni network of previous recipients.
Getting Started
Many students in the LGBTQ+ community have safe, meaningful, and positive experiences abroad in locations all around the world, and your student can too! As you consider the tips above, remember that your family is not alone as you make decisions about studying abroad. Your student’s Study Abroad Coordinator, your student’s Academic Advisor, the health teams at CAPS and the Travel Clinic on campus, and the office of LGBTQ Affairs can all offer your family support and advice as your student makes plans to go abroad. We want to help every student live their most authentic self as they expand their educational experience.
Learn more about Study Abroad HERE