Identity abroad

The U.S. Department of State (DoS) offers advice on women’s safety. Please review this information and discuss any concerns with the MIT office organizing your trip abroad.

International SOS (ISOS) also provides travel and safety tips for women and is available to help educate travelers on specific destinations before departure and while overseas. Please contact International SOS to speak with a travel security professional.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other individuals traveling outside the United States may encounter legal and cultural challenges, as well as potential personal safety risks. In many locations around the world, laws, social norms, and attitudes present increased risk to LGBTQ+ travelers. To understand those risks, we strongly encourage you to research the laws and attitudes of the countries you plan to visit:

• DoS LGBTQI+ Travel Information
• DoS Country Information: Look under the Local Laws and Special Circumstances section for your countries of travel.
• GlobeSmart: Find country specific information under each locale’s Local Business Environment section.
• International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association: Find maps of sexual orientation laws in the world.
• Human Rights Watch: They document and expose abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity worldwide.
• United Nations Free & Equal: Learn more about the human rights challenges facing lesbian, gay, bi, trans, and intersex people everywhere.

You can also reach out to members of the MIT community from the countries you plan to visit and by contacting LBGT@MIT.

MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) has compiled many resources to help the MIT community consider how different races and religions might be perceived in other countries and how to navigate possible cultural challenges.