Holidays in gay unfriendly countries?

[prinz4ming]

Many of the world's more famous and admittedly gorgeous tourist countries are not gay friendly at best and frankly homophobic and repressive in the worst cases. Places like Dubai, the Maldives, Barbados and Morocco are being pushed as tourist destinations but are anything but gay friendly. :no:

Would you visit these places? Alone? With a partner? Or boycott them all together until they change their policies?

 

[gb2000ie]

In short - no!

In the modern consumer world, the greatest power we have is out money, and how we choose to spend it or not. I make it a policy to boycott homophobic countries.

The one exception would be travel for work, because I don't have the luxury of being the boss, so I go where I have to go.

B.

 

[evorious]

I went on holiday to Dubai and it was actually close to horrific...

Justified paranoia is a massive understatement !

 

[XMan101]

No, there is nothing in any of those countries I'm desperate to see enough !

 

[Sinnerr]

I would never come to country where is homosexuality illegal. I'm trying to spend my time in gayfriendly places as much as is possible. In places where I don't have to pretend anything.

 

[brianbb069]

I've done alot of travelling; none of those places listed above interest me at all

 

[Urban]

Theoretically, if there were a place I was really anxious to see and I had an opportunity to do so, I would probably go regardless of the government's position on political/human rights issues. When you start thinking about it, it becomes very difficult to figure out where to draw a line.

I don't particularly distinguish among gay rights and any other human rights issues; there are also any number of other issues that I consider to be important. If I refused to visit a place because of its stance on a specific issue, then there would not only be no place for me to visit, but also no place for me to live.

I've also learned from experience that a country's people may have an outlook that does not even remotely resemble that of the government; I can say without hesitation that it's true of me and the US government.

Of the places mentioned, the only place I have ever considered visiting is Morocco, but the chance has never arisen. But yes, I would visit Morocco & probably the Maldives if the opportunity presented itself.

 

[gb2000ie]

Theoretically, if there were a place I was really anxious to see and I had an opportunity to do so, I would probably go regardless of the government's position on political/human rights issues. When you start thinking about it, it becomes very difficult to figure out where to draw a line.

I don't particularly distinguish among gay rights and any other human rights issues; there are also any number of other issues that I consider to be important. If I refused to visit a place because of its stance on a specific issue, then there would not only be no place for me to visit, but also no place for me to live.

I've also learned from experience that a country's people may have an outlook that does not even remotely resemble that of the government; I can say without hesitation that it's true of me and the US government.

Of the places mentioned, the only place I have ever considered visiting is Morocco, but the chance has never arisen. But yes, I would visit Morocco & probably the Maldives if the opportunity presented itself.

I see your point, but, I think there is at least one clear line you can draw - is it legal for me to be there with my partner as a couple, or could we get arrested? Personally, I go a step further, "is it safe to be out in public as a couple", if not, not going. Go on holiday to the closet, no thanks, spent too many hellish years there!

B.

 

[tonka]

I would never go to a place where I felt unsafe, but not every holiday has to be a gay holiday.
I've done several "cousins" trips. We live all over the USA, so it's a chance to meeet up, see the sites, renew our friendship.
Withholding your spending power? Those who make the laws are not the ones you hurt. It's the waiter, the taxidriver, the hotel maid.

 

[Luoma]

If you're waiting for many of these countries to change their policies, then you may have to wait a very long time...
Nevertheless, one of the primary reasons to travel is to expose yourself (and others) to different viewpoints. Some of my best trips have been to out of the way places. For example, I just got back from East Africa, certainly not a very gay-friendly place. Even so, it was a fantastic (albeit low-key trip), and people were very willing to talk about homosexuality and politics once you broke the ice. As for Malaysia,
Generally, much of the ignorance in these places is just that: ignorance. People just haven't had the exposure. If strong, confident gays immure themselves within liberal enclaves, then those in more conservative areas lose out on the chance to meet gays and realize that we're not so different after all.
That said, where you go depends on what you are comfortable with. If you are worried about criticism of your identity (and if you go to a 3rd world country, there will be many more differences beyond just your gayness), or have a hard time dealing with culture shock, then go somewhere more familiar to you. If you're looking for a more exciting, fulfilling experience, then be smart, but by all means be adventurous.

 

[Sinnerr]

Withholding your spending power? Those who make the laws are not the ones you hurt. It's the waiter, the taxidriver, the hotel maid.

Thats true. And that some country has laws supporting and protecting gays doesn't mean that you can't find some homophobic idiot there. But going to countries where police can take you to prison for homosexual activities is very very riskant. Yes you could acting straight behavior like before comming out. But for me personally it would be very uncomfortable.

 

[bigsal]

In principle, the arguments are compelling. But there are those who also travels to broaden their geographical and cultural horizons.

One of my great passions is scuba diving, so I've been many times in the Maldives, where I made wonderful diving.
Why should I give up these unique experiences. Just be discreet. is still another culture. Certainly the most backward mentally, but worthy of respect.

Up to thirty or forty years ago, even Western cultures were very different.
Even now in the States "most advanced" attacks occur, often fatal, against us, even without "provocation." But you go ahead anyway.

Returning to our holiday, it all depends on what you want to do.

 

[cute-zozo]

well ,,,in fact i live in one of these countries
i am from Egypt ,,,
lots of trouble happens to ppl who came out about their sexuality "gay or bi ".
so all we have to do is to live in the dark ...
we can't change our society's mined about it ...
me for example i can't tell anyone the i am gay not even my close friends .
one of my old friends once tried to tell his bff that he is gay , then his friend told him that they can't be friends any more ...
so living in such society is sux ,,,
so i will say i will wait till the country change their policies , or never go their with my buddy . and maybe i can go alone .

 

[ksuc]

It is still okay to go there but do NOT show any romantic/sexual/misleading gesture in public places, because heterosexual gesture is even still NOT allowed.

 

[gb2000ie]

It is still okay to go there but do NOT show any romantic/sexual/misleading gesture in public places, because heterosexual gesture is even still NOT allowed.

Doesn't that sound like wonderful holiday ..... NOT!

B.

 

[billyhouston]

Most SE Asian countries are 'tolerant' but Lao PDR is unhappy with anyone (gay or straight ) spending the night with a local. That's the official position at least.

 

[ritsuka]

There so many beautiful and interesting places where homosexuality is legal that I'd like to visit--such as Thailand, New Zealand, Iceland, Ecuador etc. that it makes no sense to me to travel anywhere that I could be arrested for just being myself and enjoying time with my boyfriend.

This thread reminds of the recent story where police boarded a gay cruise ship to arrest two men being affectionate with each other on their balcony while docked. Personally I wouldn't go in for cruise ships or typical tourist traps anyway, but it is disturbing.

 

[tarzan2009a]

I would say North Carolina doesn't sound too inviting with Sean Harris and co. I'm glad there are friendlier places to visit in the country.

 

[Urban]

There's a saying in the US, & I would guess in the rest of the English-speaking world:
"Don't cut off your nose to spite your face".

That's basically how I feel about what a lot of you guys are saying.

Sorry, but I'm not going to deny myself a chance to see things I want to see & meet people because of what their governments say. Definitely if there's a danger I will have second thoughts. But if all I have to do is refrain from kissing my partner in public, I don't consider that to be a problem. I can't think of a single place I've ever been, including my own (USA), where I would feel comfortable kissing or holding hands with my partner everywhere in the country, or even throughout a city (NY, LA, or SF).

 

[jeansGuyOZ]

I've been to many different countries, in Europe, Asia, North and South America, and Australia and New Zealand. Some of those countries (including my own) had laws at the time against homosexual acts, varying in their severity. Some didn't, In many cases I did not know, or need to know, the law as there was no way I was likely to get caught with another man.

I think it's a mistake to boycott a country just because you disagree with some of its laws. A saying about "casting the first stone" comes to mind. Americans in particular should remember two words: "Matthew Shepherd."

I mean, be reasonable. Before going to a country you should do a little research on what sort of a place it is. If you still want to visit, behave accordingly. If not, don't go. I'd be very interested to visit the Middle Eastern countries. If I did, I would not expect to be able to wear skintight jeans or short shorts. Fiji, from all accounts, is a fabulous tourist destination, but it's also known for homophobic laws, and you would have to be a bit dopey to take your boyfriend there, book double rooms and expect to be able to root to your heart's content.

Something to ponder: lots of countries have abolished the death penalty (if they ever had it), and consider that imposing the death penalty is barbatric. Should they boycott countries where the death penalty is carried out? Just sayin'.