Aria Sa’id knows all too well the anxieties faced by trans travelers—here are her tips for getting out there.
The prospect of adventure in a faraway land can be very exciting. But it’s not lost on me that, for trans travelers, all joy is often tempered by anxiety about our safety. This is probably the first question I run into when traveling around the world: As a transgender traveler, how do I decide where to travel?
For any readers who may be trans, queer, or non-binary, that intense anxiety in your chest when you start thinking about what could go wrong on the road isn’t self-induced or paranoid—it’s actually trauma-induced of. It’s natural to want to know if the destination you dream of visiting is safe.
As trans travelers, we must consider the people, places, and customs we will encounter, and we must often deal with different religious or political views. It’s our survival instinct to consider these factors before boarding a plane, so how do we decide where to go?
trust your intuition
Before we go any further, I have to ask:What does security look like? How does it feel?If I think critically and reflect, I realize that I have experienced less safe moments in my hometown of San Francisco and Houston than I have abroad. My friends shuddered at the idea of me, a black trans woman, visiting Egypt or Brazil – A country with some of the most aggressive anti-LGBTQIA+ policies in the world. But two things can exist simultaneously: Much of the world is transphobic, and we trans people should be able to see the world and enjoy it.
All things considered, I trusted my gut. For example, I’ve always wanted to go to Brazil—the parties, the food, the beaches of Rio. But as a trans person, I am acutely aware of how many trans people are murdered in Brazil—more in 2023 than in any other country.
One of my most memorable experiences came when I traveled to Brazil to discuss the topic of LGBT safety with local and international leaders. Not only did I meet incredible trans people there who shared their stories of overcoming adversity with me, but I also experienced a country I had never been to.
This experience convinced me that part of my job is to normalize the idea that, as a black trans woman, I should be able to travel, explore the world, absorb the culture of the places I’ve been privileged to visit, and perhaps experience it myself through Exist and let others know that I am actually boring.
Learn to calculate and reduce risk
I think it’s important for anyone (trans or non-trans), no matter where they are or who they are, to consider their own safety. But I still want to travel and explore. If the opportunity to travel to a place of my dreams terrifies me, I examine those feelings and look for ways to make modifications to make the opportunity work.
Maybe I would travel with someone rather than alone to lessen my safety concerns, or maybe I would choose to travel during peak tourist season (summer) where I would be less likely to be harassed if my transness was seen as an issue. I then asked further because I often have to remember that while I may be acutely aware of my transness in an era where there is so much anti-trans rhetoric, the day-to-day reality is that most people walking down the street don’t care about me Is transgender. They just want to get to their destination.
My intuition also helps me solve these problems. The reality is that we don’t have as much control as we think. The same problems I face in my own country can be faced abroad. While there is always an element of risk, I usually choose to take risks with safety in mind.
It’s easier when you don’t go alone
I love traveling alone, but as a trans person, it’s not for the faint of heart. As a solo traveler, I spend a lot of time alone and am extremely vigilant about my safety. It depends on the stage or phase we are at in our lives. When I was in my early 20s, I didn’t think about getting on a plane alone and traveling to Barcelona and London. But I admit, now that I’m in my thirties, it doesn’t appeal to me that much anymore.
Ever since My first fearless trip (Go to Egypt! Wow!)I fully believe group travel is an option for destinations I’m not sure about. I was surprised by the level of detail in Intrepid Coordinating a group trip, I admit I had a lot of hesitation at the prospect. but Now that I’ve experienced it, there are two reasons why I pursue group travel.
First, human connections are beautiful and “safe in numbers.” I was stubborn and all I wanted was Egypt. To my surprise, the Intrepid team went above and beyond to make sure I felt safe in every aspect of my experience. I’m sure they worked behind the scenes with local guides, host families etc and I found this to be a truly unforgettable experience.
Another benefit of traveling abroad with an organized group is that if something happens, there will be someone on hand to support you and intervene. That alone makes me feel so much more relaxed. So now, when I travel to destinations that may not be LGBTQIA+ accepting, I travel in a group. Another bonus? I don’t need to plan my trip. Egypt was the first time I didn’t have to be the “travel planner” in my friendship group for so long.
When we unpack the concept of security, I think we forget that security is subtle. During my recent travels, I realized that I actually feel safest, most adventurous, bolder, and more willing to try new things when I step outside my comfort zone in a group travel setting.
My best advice to any trans or queer person considering adventure travel or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is to consider group travel. I was initially reluctant to spend so much time with strangers in a foreign land, but to the surprise of myself and my best friends, they joined me on the adventure and we met local families, chatting with craftsmen at the market, or crawling into graves. .
Is my transsexuality showing up? Honestly, I don’t know. I thought people didn’t know or care, but my idea of safety got me to where I am today, which is traveling wisely and doing things.
have fun
I know that as trans and non-binary travelers, safety can be a heavy burden we carry. It’s unfair that we have to think about our safety almost every day. But, as my grandmother said, we turn lemons into lemonade. Go on your amazing adventure. Look at the world. Consider your safety, make sure you’re prepared for most challenges that may arise, and then go for it.
If you travel wisely, I think you are about to have a once in a lifetime experience that you will love and remember for the rest of your life. That’s the magic of our travels around the world: they’re always with us.
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