Category Stories: LGBTQ+
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Seeing Through A Different Lens: The Benefits of Studying Abroad as an LGBTQ Student
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As I prepared for my 4-month IFSA study abroad program in Buenos Aires over the summer of 2019, I had a lot of questions about what my semester in Argentina would be like. In addition to the usual concerns about academics, the language barrier and adjusting to social life in a different country, I had…
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Does Toxic Masculinity Exist in London?
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Recently, I spoke with several male friends studying in London, either full-time or with IFSA, to discuss if toxic masculinity exists in London, and how it differs from where they’re from. I was surprised to find so much overlap in their responses! Alex, who attends Pomona College in California but is studying at University College London with IFSA…
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As Cliché As It Sounds, I “Found Myself” Abroad
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Preconceived Notions are Hard to Overcome American students studying abroad have almost become a parody of themselves. From painstakingly staged Instagram posts of picnics under the Eiffel Tower to bar-hopping in Barcelona, the portrait of the college junior taking a semester to “study” whilst draining their parents’ wallets romping around Europe is not entirely flattering.…
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On Nightlife, Drag, and Identity Expression in Buenos Aires
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On Nightlife It was around 3 AM on a Saturday morning in late March, and I was celebrating a friend’s birthday at Fiesta Whipin Almagro, Buenos Aires. I was dancing mindlessly on the club’s second floor when I noticed people stepping back to create a circle. In the center, a tall figure was swaying to the…
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Strengthening My Queer Identities in London
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It can be quite hard to study abroad if you identify as a queer person, because not all countries are open towards queer and trans people. However, London is an amazing city where different kinds of gender expressions and sexual orientations are accepted by the majority of Londoners. As a result, my queer identities have…
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Living with Social Anxiety Abroad
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I always knew that I was an introverted person, but I did not know that I have social anxiety until the second year of college. I realized that had felt stressed and anxious in almost all social settings: from a theater rehearsal room, a Friday night party, or the cafeteria resounded with American small talks,…
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What’s It Like Being Queer in London?
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What is the experience of being queer abroad like? It’s about understanding the nuances of your sexual identity and finding a community for yourself. This is what I learned from my friend Julianna, a junior from Wesleyan University studying at Queen Mary, University of London. In the busy coffee shop on Queen Mary’s campus we talked…
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Coming Out: The Abroad Edition
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I have always felt uncomfortable about the phrase “coming out” because of the inherent implication about there being a “normal” or “standard” sexuality, while others are regarded as “other” or “strange.” This past summer, I had to wrestle with this concept. I spent a lot of time thinking about my own sexuality. After many conversations…
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The Invisible Identity Survival Guide
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There’s always a lot on students’ minds when studying abroad, from general worries to specific.I want to keep in touch with family…but will people judge me if my calls home are in Spanish?I’m worried about getting lost…what happens if I have a sensory meltdown?I hope I make friends here… but what if they ask me…
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Queer Tango: Being LGBTQ+ in Buenos Aires, Argentina
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When I was researching study away programs and locations, one of the biggest factors was safety. There are many places in the world where it is not safe for LGBTQ+ individuals to live openly, and I was not prepared to go back into the closet for a semester. From the research I had done before,…
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