Travelling is an incredible adventure that every person should be able to experience, but for us trans folk, there are extra considerations to take into account. These can be handy to to research before you take flight incase any anxiety kicks in. So, to help get your brain going, here are five tips for planning your holiday as a trans person, presented to you as a trans man with extreme wanderlust.
- Use filters when looking for accommodation to check they are LGBTQ+ friendly
Whether you’re booking a hostel, a hotel, or an air bnb, being comfortable is key. Using filters such as, ‘LGBTQ+ Friendly’ on websites can help ease your mind that you will not be met with a group of frat boys or a homophobic/transphobic host.
Whether you’re using well-known accommodation apps like Booking.com and Hostelworld or more obscure LGBTQ+ options like MisterB&B and Quouch, most accommodation sites these days have the option of filtering results to only show you LGBTQ+ friendly places. Don’t be afraid to take advantage of these filters and book a place which suits you! Believe me, there’s nothing worse than dreading to come back to a space which is supposed to bring you peace. Especially on holiday.
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Use apps like flush/toilet finder to find public, safe to use bathrooms
The dreaded public bathroom. It’s funny how debated this subject is among people when going into a men's bathroom myself, as a trans man, is in fact not the highlight of my day. Loud groans, clogged toilets and stalls with broken doors - believe me if we had the option to stop our bladders from working when we’re out we would. But unfortunately, it is a bodily necessity.
Apps like Flush and toilet finder can help to scope out the public bathroom situation before going out. They allow you to check requirements, such as if there are any fees, and what toilets they have available. With most toilets being gendered, you can check to see whether there are any disabled toilets at a premises before waltzing in, if you would feel more comfortable using them.
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Keep in contact with loved ones, and let them know where you are in case any emergency situations arise
While it can seem silly at times, being in communication with loved ones ensures someone knows A) where you are and B) that you are safe. Sending a simple ‘I’ve arrived at my accommodation (with a link of where you’re staying)’ is suffice. And, giving a check in update every few days with some pictures of your holiday will probably ease your friends/families minds too!
While having fun should be your main priority when travelling around, exercising caution should be pretty close behind this. Taking risks is a given, we risk our lives doing mundane tasks daily: walking downstairs, crossing the road, driving etc... Without risk we would not be truly living and enjoying life. But we have a responsibility to ourselves to oversee our own safety. So, recognising when a certain risk seems to cross your boundaries is important.
Being LGBTQ+ increases potential risk when travelling. And depending on how openly you express yourself through outfits for example, this risk factor can increase. Listen to your intuition and trust your gut! I’ve found myself in situations that have really taught me the importance of listening to my body, an under-appreciated skill when travelling.
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Research any medical and emergency resources, especially trans friendly medical facilities
Before travelling you may find it useful to check what level of trans healthcare is available wherever you may be going. Then you can evaluate - based on the level of care and the likelihood of you needing treatment – whether it's worth it to go to your chosen destination or whether it would be better to wait until you’re unlikely to need to see a doctor.
If there are hospitals/medical facilities that specialise in trans healthcare in your chosen destination, it can be handy to have a few numbers and locations jotted down on your note's app just in case.
Sexual health is also something to consider. One tip that I hadn’t known about till recently is that if you’re travelling around Europe, there are HIV testing clinics, otherwise known as ‘checkpoints’ scattered all throughout. The term ‘checkpoint’ came into circulation in 2002 when one of the first community-based HIV rapid testing service known as ‘checkpoints’ was established in Amsterdam. They also test for all sexual health related infections and give out vaccinations. Having these ‘checkpoints’ available allows a safe place for LGBT+ people to go which is free from judgement. To see a map of all of these in the EU click here.
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Weigh the need for personal safety over the need for self-expression.
Self-expression, put in simple terms, is how you express your personality, thoughts and feelings through certain mediums. These mediums can be art, music or style based for example. To some, being able to openly express themselves is a natural requirement. And the notion of having to repress this and present themselves in a way which doesn’t correlate with how they feel is unthinkable.
Certain religions, social taboos, and political environments can cause some countries to be unsafe if you want to openly express yourself; asking yourself the question of whether you can sacrifice your self-expression to visit said countries is important. Going into ‘stealth’ mode, while necessary in certain areas to be safe with external conflict, can create a lot of internal conflict within ourselves. So, putting yourself, your needs, and your safety first should always be the priority!
However, an important reminder - no matter how much research you do, the people and cultural norms of a country can be entirely different from what you expect.
To help put this into perspective, my parents moved to the UK from South Africa. Because of this I often visit family over there. From an outsider's perspective, South Africa is a dangerous and politically corrupt place. And while that is somewhat true... I can say for a fact that I have never met nicer people than the locals there. However, the former may also apply, you may think a country is very progressive in their views from the outset and get hit with an upsetting realisation when you’re there.
Long story short, you can never be fully prepared for the reality! And while that is a daunting thought, it’s also the reason why we travel.
A good tip for travelling worldwide is to always pack a safe outfit or two for the ‘what if’ situations you may find yourself in. Such as visiting religious temples and needing a covered-up clothing option. Or realising that the air bnb you booked is in a location that doesn’t seem as LGBTQ+ friendly as the city. Simply packing things like sports bras, long trousers and full coverage shirts will help to ease your mind.
Like I stated at the beginning of this blog, travelling is for every body. You have the right, regardless of sexuality or gender, to see countries and make memories that will last you a lifetime. While there may be some extra steps in the process of planning and booking your holiday, don't let this dissuade you. With some good music in the background, good snacks, and maybe some company, planning can be a great chance to get you in the holiday spirit!
