TIPS FOR TRAVELING LEATHERMEN

In July 2021, I gave a presentation on travel for SF Ring, a men’s BDSM educational group based in San Francisco.  I created this page from the notes I prepared for my presentation.  [This includes my pictorial on packing for Folsom Europe with carryon bags only.  I did a demonstration of this during my presentation.]  I did my presentation in San Francisco, so it was targeted to Americans.  But there is useful information here for anyone.  Feel free to send me a message if you’d like more information on any topic I bring up.  For many of the topics below, I’m just letting you know my experience.  Please don’t take it as any sort of legal advice!

[If you think I got something wrong and you have an update I should make, please send me a message.]

TRAVEL BASICS
Your Passport
Booking Travel
Airlines
Money
Tourism and Travel Discounts
State Department and CDC Warnings
Packing (including my pictorial on packing with carryon bags only)

TIME-SAVING PROGRAMS FOR TRAVELERS
TSA PreCheck
Global Entry
Mobile Passport
CLEAR

TRAVEL TERMINOLOGY
Immigration/Passport Control vs. Customs
EU vs. Schengen Area
Common Travel Area (UK & Ireland)
ETIAS
Eurozone
VAT

PLACES TO GO

EVENTS TO GO TO
United States
International

PACKING GEAR AND TOYS

GAY-FRIENDLY VS. GAY-UNFRIENDLY COUNTRIES
Gay-Friendly Countries
Gay-Friendly vs. Gay-Legal
Gay-Unfriendly Countries
Considerations for Hotels
Considerations for Medications

TRAVEL BASICS

Your Passport

• • The most important thing I can tell is to be sure that your passport has at least 6 months left on it before you leave the country.  If you plan to travel internationally with any frequency, you should also know what year your passport expires.  You do NOT want to be scrambling at the last minute to try to get an expedited renewal.
  • Don’t be surprised if you’re checking into a hotel in Europe and the front desk clerk wants to hold onto your passport for a while.  I was freaking out a bit when this happened to me at a hotel in Milan.  But it’s pretty standard at smaller hotels.  They need to take down your info for the local authorities.  At a larger hotel or chain hotel, they’re more likely to take care of this right away and hand your passport back to you rather than holding onto it for a while.

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Booking Travel

• • I almost always book directly with the airline.  It’s extremely rare that I book a flight through a third-party site.  Same goes for booking hotels.  However, I always start by searching on third-party sites to find good fares.  Then I’ll go to the airline’s site to book.  If you book on a third-party site and an issue comes up with your flight, you run the risk of getting the runaround.  The airline won’t help you because you’ve booked with someone else.  And the third-party site you booked with may or may not be sufficiently helpful.  It’s a risk I prefer to avoid.
  • On rare occasions I’ve use a site like Orbitz to book flights on foreign airlines when booking directly wasn’t feasible.  Agoda is also a great site I sometimes use for booking hotels in Asia.
  • Whatever you do, don’t book on discount sites.  They are notorious for changing your flight after you’ve booked it.  Suddenly your cheap, attractive flight has become a flight with five stops along the way and unbearably long layovers.  Don’t succumb to the temptation!
  • Get travel insurance.  It’s the grown-up thing to do.  I don’t mean getting flight insurance with the airline in case your flight is canceled or delayed.  I mean getting insurance with an insurance company that covers major expenses like medical evacuation in addition to trip cancelation.   If you’re not sure where to look, InsureMyTrip isn’t a bad place to start.
  • Consider getting carbon offsets for your flights.  Some people scoff at them and say they don’t accomplish anything.  I say every little bit helps.

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Airlines

• • Americans who travel with some degree of frequency should at least have frequent flyer accounts with American, United, and Delta.  Possibly Alaska too.  It’s not a bad idea to have credit cards affiliated with these airlines too.  I have credit cards that get me miles on American and United.  Delta has affiliations with American Express, so it’s easy for me to transfer my AMEX points to my Delta account.
  • Make sure you’re signed into your account when using the airline’s website.  Sometimes you’ll get deals that are only available to customers that have an affiliated credit card.  And be sure to use that card when you purchase a ticket.  You may get certain benefits that way.
  • Make sure you have the app for any airline you’re traveling on.  When I was headed to CLAW in Cleveland in 2019 on United, my flight from San Francisco to Denver was canceled while I was sitting on the plane.  Along with everyone else, I quickly headed to the (long) line at customer service once we got off the plane.  But while standing in line, I was able to effortlessly change my flight using the app.  And I got a nonstop flight to Cleveland too!
  • Most major airlines are members of one of the 3 big airline alliances.  They are Star Alliance (United, Air Canada, Lufthansa, Swiss, SAS, TAP, and more), Oneworld (American, British, Alaska, Iberia, and more), and SkyTeam (Delta, KLM, Air France, and more).  The alliances aren’t quite what they used to be when they started out.  Previously, for example, you could fly British Airways and get miles on American exactly as if you were flying on American.  Or you could use your United miles to book a flight on Air Canada just as if you were booking a flight on United.  But the airlines have gotten stingy.  Now maybe you’ll only get your American miles while flying on British if you bought the right ticket class.  Or maybe you’ll get miles but only a fraction of the miles you would get if you were flying American.  Nevertheless, you should always be aware of what alliance the airline you’re booking a flight with is in.  After all, some United miles are better than none.  And maybe you can get a really good flight on Iberia using your American miles.  If you travel a lot, get to know which airlines are in which alliance.

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Money

• • Inform your banks and credit card companies that you’ll be traveling overseas so they won’t assume your transactions are fraudulent.  Usually you can do this right on the companies’ apps.
  • I virtually never get foreign currency ahead of my trip.  I’ll just go to the ATM when I arrive.  (The major exception to this was when I went to India and they were having a currency crisis.  I ended up having no problem getting cash when I arrived.  However I did have trouble finding working ATMs a number of times on that trip.)  Make sure to go to a bank ATM and not a generic one.  You’ll get a better exchange rate that way.  There are “EC” (Euronet) ATMs all over Europe.  Avoid using them.  You won’t get a good rate.
  • If the ATM gives you the option to make your withdrawal using the local rate for your cash or the converted US dollar rate, DO NOT choose the US dollar rate option.  You’ll get ripped off.  (This applies to whatever your local currency is at home.  Always choose the local currency at your destination.)
  • Consider opening an account where you can get a debit card that you can use with no foreign transactions fees.  Schwab and Capital One are a couple options.
  • Try to use a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transactions fees.  American Express, Chase, and some airlines offer credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.  (Be aware that American Express isn’t as widely accepted as it is in the U.S.)
  • Only use a debit card overseas for ATM withdrawals.  DON’T use it to make purchases.
  • Be aware of what the exchange rate is so you know how much you’re getting out of the ATM and so that you can quickly estimate in your head how much something costs.  I use the OANDA website and app for checking the exchange rate and doing conversions.
  • For info specifically on euros, see my section on eurozone below.

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Tourism and Transit Discounts

• • If you’re going to be doing a lot of sightseeing on your travels, it’s worth checking out tourist discount cards that many destinations offer.  Some of them are combined with passes or discounts for public transportation as well.  Sometimes these cards can save you a decent amount of money.  Other times, you have to see just about every attraction in the city for it to be worth the price of the discount package.  So do the math before you pick one of these up.
  • Many US cities offer cards like this called City Pass.  Toronto, too.  In Europe, most major cities have a discount card called City Card.  The best of these, such as Berlin WelcomeCard, combine discounts on attractions with a transit pass.
  • As with the tourist passes, figure out how much you’re going to be using public transportation before jumping on a visitor pass.  Often times you need to ride several times a day to get your money’s worth.
  • Berlin’s transit system has a unique type of ticket called the Kurzstrecke (“short trip”).  If you’re only going 3 stops by S-Bahn (local train) or U-Bahn  (subway) or 6 stops by tram or bus, you can use this ticket and save money off the regular fare.
  • In some cities, you can save money by buying tickets in bulk.  For example, in Berlin you can buy a 4-pack of transit tickets for a lower cost than buying 4 individual tickets.
  • If you’re going for longer train rides, you might think about getting a Eurail pass.  Eurail passes are only available to non-Europeans.  Americans have long fantasized about getting a Eurail pass and traveling around Europe.  But it’s usually not worth it.  On my first trip to Germany, I did a lot of traveling around southern Germany and getting a Eurail pass for Germany made sense.  But if you’re only going to be traveling by train a few times or if you’re only making short trips, it’s almost always going to be cheaper to buy individual tickets.  Do the math first!

State Department and CDC Warnings

• • Whenever you’re traveling internationally (for Americans), it’s not a bad idea to check the State Department and CDC websites for what they have to say about your destination.  Be aware that they always err on the side of caution.  What they have to say might even seem alarmist.  The State Department may caution you that there’s a danger of terrorist attacks in the Western European nation you’re headed to.  But you might get some useful information if you’re going to a less developed country.
  • The CDC might frighten you about the diseases you could pick up at your destination.  And there might be a long list of preventive medicine regimens you might need to go on.  Do what I did before I went to India.  Read what the CDC has to say.  Then talk about it with your doctor and decide what risks you need to address and what risks you can live with.

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• Packing

• • Pack as light as you can!  You’ll especially be glad you did if you’re going to be getting around by trains and other modes of transportation.  I pretty much always travel with carryon bags only.  This is the only way to guarantee that the airline won’t lose my bags.  And waiting around the baggage carousel is always such a drag, not to mention a little stressful, wondering whether your bags arrived.
  • If you’re like most people and you check a bag or two, especially when you’ve packed all your gear, MAKE SURE you have your medications and at least one change of outfits in your carryon.  Maybe you want to have a vest or some other gear in your carryon so you can show up at the bar in some gear even if your bag didn’t arrive with you.
  • But back to traveling with carryon bags only.  When I went to Folsom Europe in 2018, I challenged myself to go with carryon bags only.  When I got there, people couldn’t believe that I did it.  So when I was packing up to go back home, I created a pictorial to show people how I did it.  Here it is:

• • See below for more about packing gear and toys.

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TIME-SAVING PROGRAMS FOR TRAVELERS

[These are programs worth checking out if you travel with any frequency.  They are primarily for Americans.  Some relate specifically to international travel.]

TSA PreCheck

• • Everybody hates going through security at the airport.  With TSA PreCheck, you can go through the shorter line at security, and you can skip things like taking off your shoes.  It’s available at just about any decent-sized American airport.  (I still have to take off my boots and belt because they always trigger the alarm.)  TSA PreCheck costs $85 for a five-year membership.  If you have a credit card with travel benefits, check to see if they will reimburse you for the fee.  A very short in-person interview is required as part of the application process.  Whenever you travel from a US airport with TSA PreCheck, MAKE SURE you see the TSA PreCheck symbol on your boarding pass.

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Global Entry

• • With  Global Entry, you can go through a quicker, more automated line to go through immigration when you return to the US.  It’s available at most major American ports of entry.  It’s also available at certain foreign airports for flights to the US.  Global Entry costs $100 for a five-year membership.  If you have a credit card with travel benefits, check to see if they will reimburse you for the fee.  A very short in-person interview is required as part of the application process.  One of the best things about Global Entry is that TSA PreCheck automatically comes with it.

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Mobile Passport

• • Mobile Passport is a free app that can be used for expedited entry into the US, similar to Global Entry.  You can use it at most major ports American ports of entry.  You need to enter certain personal information into the app each time you arrive in the US.  If you subscribe to Mobile Passport plus, you only have to entry your personal information once.  The plus version also saves your trip history.  Mobile Passport plus costs $14.99 for a one-year membership or $4.99 for a one-month membership.
  • I have Mobile Passport, but I haven’t used it since I got Global Entry.

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CLEAR

• • CLEAR is a program that uses biometrics to help you get through security faster.  It’s available at select American airports.  CLEAR costs $179 for a one-year membership.  If you have a credit card with travel benefits, check to see if they will reimburse you for the fee.  CLEAR can also be used at certain sports and entertainment venues.

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TRAVEL TERMINOLOGY

Immigration/Passport Control vs. Customs

• • After you get off the plane when you fly to a foreign country or when you fly back home from an international trip, you usually have to go stand in a long line with your passport in hand.  What are you standing in line for?  Most people will say customs.  But they’re wrong.  What it really is, in the US, is immigration.  In other countries, it’s usually called passport control.
  • The difference between immigration/passport control and customs is quite easy to understand.  Immigration/passport control deals with the flow of people across borders.  Customs deals with the flow of things across borders.
  • For God’s sake, when you’re going through customs, don’t make stupid jokes if the customs agent asks what’s in your bags.  You WILL regret it!

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EU vs. Schengen Area

• • Pretty much everyone has heard of the EU (short of the European Union).  The country that used to be the most famous for not being in the EU was neutral Switzerland.  When you looked at a map of the EU, it looked like Europe with a Switzerland-shaped hole in the middle.  These days, the country most famous for not being in the EU is UK due to the infamous Brexit thing.
  • Less well known than the EU, but much more relevant for international travel, is the Schengen Area or Schengen Zone.  The countries that make up the Schengen Zone are countries with so-called “borderless travel” where you can travel from country to country without having to go through passport control.  It’s virtually the same as traveling from state to state within the US.
  • I first learned about the Schengen Zone on my first trip to Germany.  I spent one day in southern Germany in a town along the Swiss border.  I decided I’d walk into Switzerland.  Knowing that Switzerland wasn’t in the EU, I was surprised that I walked across the border right past an unmanned guard shack.  Absolutely no one was aware I traveled from one country to the other.  After the trip, I researched this and learned about the Schengen Zone.
  • Most EU countries are in the Schengen Zone.  A major exception is Ireland.  (Even when it was in the EU, the UK was never in the Schengen Zone.)  There are some EU countries in southeastern Europe that aren’t currently Schengen, but they are expected to be in the future.  In addition to Switzerland, other non-EU countries in the Schengen Zone include Iceland and Norway.
  • If you read my section on immigration/passport control vs. customs, then you should be able to understand the important difference between the EU and Schengen for travelers:  The EU handles customs (flow of goods), and Schengen Zone deals with passport control (flow of people).
  • When you’re traveling through the Schengen Zone, you go through passport control in the first country you enter.  If you have checked bags (and they’re checked through to your final destination on one ticket), you’ll go through customs at your final destination.  So if you’re headed to Berlin for Folsom Europe and you have a connection in Amsterdam, you’ll get your passport stamped after you arrive in Amsterdam.  A customs agent may want to check out the floggers in your checked bag after you arrive in Berlin.  (In reality, unless you have something to declare, you usually go through customs in Europe without even noticing it.)
  • Things can get complicated when you’re traveling crossing a border when both countries are Schengen but only one is EU, especially at a land crossing.  Say you’re driving from Madrid to Berlin for Easter and the fastest way is through Switzerland, you may think you’re in the clear because you know you’re not leaving the Schengen Zone.  But you might be surprised by Swiss customs agents who want to inspect your car.  That’s because you’ve temporarily left the EU.  The border is not relevant to you and your traveling companions (people), but it is relevant to your dildos and butt plugs (things).  To save time, it might be quicker to go around Switzerland to get to Germany after all.
  • Generally speaking, Americans (and citizens of certain other countries) are currently allowed to visit the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days at a time or within a 180-day period without a visa.  (IMPORTANT!:  See ETIAS below.)

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Common Travel Area (UK & Ireland)

• • Long before the Schengen Zone was established, Ireland and the UK had a similar arrangement known as the Common Travel Area.  This is why they didn’t join the Schengen Area.  An important difference is that it mostly applies to cross-border travel by Irish and British citizens.  There was concern that Brexit would impact the Common Travel Area, but it got worked out.

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ETIAS

[This is EXTREMELY important for Americans and residents of certain other countries planning to travel to Europe in the future.]

• • ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System.  As I mentioned above, Americans (as well as citizens of certain other countries) currently don’t need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone.  That’s expected to change in 2025.  (The exact date is not known at this point.)
  • Europeans used to be able to visit the US with a visa.  Technically, they still are.  But after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration began requiring Europeans to pre-register for travel to the US under a system called ESTA–Electronic System for Travel Authorization.  The Europeans didn’t like it, but it’s taken a while for them to reciprocate.
  • When ETIAS goes into effect, Americans (and citizens of other countries who have not needed a visa to travel to Schengen countries) will have to fill out an online application with a few days of their initial trip to a Schengen country.  The application comes with a fee of about $10.  The nice thing is that the certification is good for three years.

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Eurozone

• • Above I talked about the difference between the EU and the Schengen Zone.  There’s one more important collection of European countries relevant to international travelers–the eurozone.
  • As you probably know, many, but not all, European countries use the euro.  All eurozone countries are members of the EU.  But not all EU countries are in the eurozone.  Currently, Scandinavian countries and many Eastern European countries that are members of the EU use their own national currency.
  • There are some small countries that are not official members of the eurozone but use the euro as their national currency.  These include Monaco, Vatican City, and Montenegro, among others.

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VAT

• • VAT is short for value-added tax.  (In some countries, including Canada and Australia, it’s known as GST–goods and services tax.)  It’s like sales tax in the US…but VERY different.
  • One difference is that it’s usually much higher than sales tax in the US.  In the EU, the minimum VAT is 15%.
  • Another big difference is that when you buy something in a country with VAT, the VAT is included in the price.  It’s not added on to the price at checkout like it is in the States.  What you see is what you get–or what you pay, in this case.  As an example, if you buy something for €120 in a country with 20% VAT, then the base price of what you’re buying is €100 and VAT of €20 is included in the total price.  (To make it a little confusing, the VAT was 17% of what you paid because €20 is 17% of €120 euros.)
  • Another really big difference is that you might be able to get a refund of the VAT that you paid.  (You know you’re never going to get a refund of sales tax in the US.)  You can’t get a refund for all the VAT you’ve paid.  For starters, you can only get a refund on the VAT paid on unused merchandise you leave the tax jurisdiction with.  So the merchandise must still be in its original packaging.  Also, you can only get a refund on VAT on big-ticket items of around €175 or more.  And your paperwork has to be perfect, with a customs stamp.  They don’t make it easy.  Usually the clerk at the store where you buy refund-eligible goods can help you out.  (Remember, the EU is a single jurisdiction for customs.  So if you picked up something expensive at Boxer in Barcelona and unwrapped it and used it when you got to your hotel in Paris, you never left the EU so you can’t get the customs stamp at Charles de Gaulle on your way back to the States.)

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PLACES TO GO

• • These are what I refer to as the Big 4 cities because they’re usually the top 4 cities on the Top Cities page, or pretty close to it:  Berlin, Fort Lauderdale, New York, and Palm Springs.
  • Then there’s San Francisco, the #1 city for Leather in the US.
  • Amsterdam and London are two European cities that aren’t quite what they used to be because of bar closures, but they’re still a lot of fun.  (Berlin has indisputably taken over the title of the #1 city for Leather in Europe, and probably the world.)
  • Even as London’s star has dimmed a bit, Manchester, a short train ride to the north, is a city on the rise that Leathermen need to check out.
  • Antwerp is home of Darklands, one of the most popular leather & fetish events on the planet.  And it’s also home to The Boots, Europe’s largest Leather club.
  • Melbourne and Sydney are always places where fetish men are more than welcome.
  • Speaking of places in the southern hemisphere, the major metropolises of South America–such as Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Santiago–are loaded with Leathermen who want to show you their local scenes.  As a matter of fact, Alianza Fetish & Leather LATAM is an umbrella group for leather and fetish clubs across Latin America.
  • You might be pleasantly surprised by offerings for manly men in the megalopolises of East Asia.  When I was planning a trip to China, I was surprised to find a site for bear circuit parties in Shanghai.  And an interestingly named event called Bear Train goes on regularly in Tokyo.
  • Taiwan’s capital, Taipei, is the actual gay mecca of East Asia.  Taiwan is the only Asian country with legalized gay marriage.

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EVENTS TO GO TO

United States

• • I think there are the Big 4 Leather events in the U.S.:  MAL in DC in January, CLAW in Cleveland in April, IML in Chicago in May, and Folsom in San Francisco in September.
  • There are the Big 3 BDSM events:  The 15 Association’s Boot Camp in Northern California in June, Delta Brotherhood International’s Delta in Pennsylvania in September, and Chicago Hellfire Club’s Inferno in Illinois, also in September.
  • Pig Week in Fort Lauderdale every December is surely the sluttiest week of the year.
  • Cigar-smoking Leathermen gather every April in Las Vegas for Smokeout.
  • Another desert-based event is the increasingly popular Palm Springs Leather Pride in October.
  • Also in October is another one of my favorite smaller events, Mates Leather Weekend in Provincetown.  Its even smaller brother is Snowbound Leather Weekend in February.
  • Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, might not be a place you’d expect a popular annual Leather event.  Let Bears, Bikers & Mayhem defy your expectations every August.
  • On the rubber side of things, there’s International Mr. Rubber, held every November in Chicago.
  • For pure fucking and nothing else, there’s the Horse Market SF.  That’s the party where the mares (bottoms) get hooded and the stallions (tops) get their pick of whom to mount (fuck).  The party started in SF, but it’s popping up in cities all over the country.  Of course, Horse Market SF is based on Europe’s infamous Fickstutenmarkt parties.  And speaking of places beyond American borders…

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International

• • I think there are the Big 3 international Leather events.:  Darklands in Antwerp in February or March (in May in 2022), Easter Berlin in Berlin in March or April, and Folsom Europe in Berlin in September.
  • And don’t forget those infamous FickstutenMarkt parties, where stallions (tops) mount (fuck) whichever blindfolded mares (bottoms) they choose.
  • Just like Manchester is an up-and-coming city on the international Leather scene, Manchester Leather Weekend in October is becoming a very hot event.
  • Maspalomas Fetish Pride brings men in gear to the beach in the Canary Islands in October.
  • Something unusual I want to check out is Arctic Pilot.  It’s a leather and fetish event held in conjunction with Arctic Pride in October or November in Tromsø, Norway.  Tromsø is way up there.  It’s more than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle and over 1,000 miles north of Oslo.  But it has a moderate climate, and it’s a total gay-friendly party town.
  • If you want to get down and dirty, consider Steppenbrand.  It’s a BDSM camping event for fetish guys in northern Germany held every July.  It can get quite muddy, so like I said, down and dirty!
  • On the rubber side of things, there’s Barcelona Rubber Weekend, held in Barcelona every November.

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PACKING GEAR AND TOYS

• • See above for my general tips about packing, including my pictorial on packing for Folsom Europe with carryon bags only.
  • I don’t usually travel with a Muir cap, especially as I pack light and don’t check bags.  Some guys pack their Muir cap in a special case made for pilot’s caps or military caps.  (And that’s pretty much what a Muir cap is.)  You can do a quick search online, including Amazon, for a pack for a pilot’s cap, and you’ll be all set.  Other guys go a simpler route and use a plastic container, like Tupperware, and stuff it with socks and jocks after placing the cap in it.
  • You might be surprised to learn that handcuffs are allowed in your carryon bag in the US.  I certainly was, especially when my cuffs got pulled out of my carryon bag at security at LAX back in the ’90s.
  • Adult toys such as dildos and butt plugs are also allowed in your carryon bag in the US.
  • You should put your ropes and impact gear in your checked baggage.
  • As a rule of thumb, when in doubt about something, put it in your checked baggage.  (I’m a lazy bottom.  If a top wants to use gear on me, he’s going to have to bring it himself.  So that’s why I can travel with carryon bags only.)
  • For items in your carryon bag you think you might get questioned on, put them in a clear plastic bag.  That makes them easy to find in your bag and easy to identify.
  • Regardless of whether battery-operated toys are going in your carryon bag or checked baggage, remove any batteries.  You don’t want to go through security or customs with buzzing bags.
  • For travel in the US, if you’re not sure whether you can bring something on board, check the TSA website here.  They have a surprisingly comprehensive list.  If you’re still not sure, contact them ahead of time.
  • If you get questioned at security, honesty is the best policy.  Tell the agent the item in question is for sex.  Don’t try to make something up.  They’ve seen it all anyway.
  • You can always bring a printout of TSA-approved items with you or even have the webpage handy on your phone if you’re questioned about an item that you’re sure should be allowed.
  • If you continue to have a conflict, don’t be afraid to ask to speak to a supervisor.  Just do it very calmly.

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GAY-FRIENDLY VS. GAY-UNFRIENDLY COUNTRIES

Gay-Friendly Countries

• • There are the usual suspects when it comes to gay-friendly countries:  the U.S., Canada, Western European countries, Australia, New Zealand.  Obviously, even in these countries you have to be smart about holding your boyfriend’s hands in certain areas.
  • Big metropolises in Latin American cities such as São Paulo in Brazil, Buenos Aires in Argentina, and Santiago in Chile are very gay-friendly.
  • As I mentioned earlier, Taiwan is the only Asian country where gay marriage is legal.  Yay Taiwan!
  • Israel has a thriving, vibrant gay community based in Tel Aviv.

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Gay-Friendly vs. Gay-Legal

• • In some countries, there is a dichotomy between what is legal and what is accepted.
  • Homosexuality is illegal in Singapore, but the gay community is making progress there.  There’s an annual gay pride celebration.  When I was there, it was great to see rainbow flags flying from the balcony at a gay bar in Chinatown, where Singapore’s gay section is located.
  • Homosexuality is legal in Bahrain.  But I wouldn’t advise letting your freak flag fly there.  You and your boyfriend probably should play it straight in the street.
  • Homosexuality is illegal in the nearby UAE.  But that doesn’t stop Dubai from having a huge underground gay scene, especially as the UAE is a majority expat nation.  (Really, almost anywhere in the word there will be some sort of a gay underground.  Almost.)
  • Then there’s Russia.  It’s a country where homosexuality is legal, but under Putin, gay rights are under serious threat.  And national authorities look the other way as anti-gay atrocities are being carried out in Chechnya.  Nevertheless, Moscow has a big gay scene and SPBL (Saint Petersburg Leathermen) is a very active club.
  • China, the world’s most populous country, is another country where homosexuality is illegal but publicly frowned upon.  But that doesn’t stop the circuit parties for bears I mentioned above.  And if you like spicy food, you might be interested in Chengdu.  It’s the capital of Sichuan province, birthplace of one of the world’s favorite spicy cuisines.  It’s also China’s unofficial gay capital.  Known affectionately as “Gaydu”, it’s China’s most welcoming city.

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Gay-Unfriendly Countries

• • Sadly, the most gay-unfriendly countries tend to be Islamic countries.  I already mentioned Bahrain, which is gay-legal but gay-unfriendly, and UAE, which is gay-illegal but can be somewhat gay-friendly.
  • And then there’s Iran.  You probably will never be heading to Iran for a Leather Pride weekend.  But if you do go there someday maybe for business (unlikely if you’re American) or for a tour, you may want to deactivate your social media accounts as you might be asked to identify your accounts when applying for a visa.
  • You can try getting around internet censorship in these places by using a VPN.  But you still need to be extra careful, especially when using hookup apps!  Someone on the other end of the line could be lying in wait to extort you, or worse.

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Considerations for Hotels

• • I’ve traveled to a number of Islamic countries and I’ve never had a problem at hotels.  Of course, I’ve always traveled there alone.  There are different considerations for traveling to gay-unfriendly places as a gay couple.
  • Your safest bet is usually staying at a big Western chain–Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental, etc.  Most of the management will be Westerners and a lot of the staff will be too.
  • Otherwise, you can check ahead and ask if the hotel is okay with gay couples staying there.  (Maybe you want to use a different email from the one you’ll use to check in, just to be sure.)
  • As a last-case scenario, book a room with two beds.  Homosexuality is so far off the radar of most everyday people in these countries, the staff will assume you’re friends or maybe coworkers traveling together.

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Considerations for Medications

• • I’ve never had an issue with anyone checking my medications traveling to Western Europe.  On my second trip to Australia on the other hand, I did notice that medications needed to be declared at customs.  (Maybe I didn’t notice that on my first trip.)  So I went to the line at customs for travelers with something to declare.  They took a look at my medications and quickly sent me on my way.  The funny thing was that the line for people with nothing to declare was hellishly long.  I didn’t have to wait at all.  So having something to declare turned out to be a major benefit!
  • Ahead of my trip to Singapore, I was required to submit a list of all of my prescriptions to the government.  They sent me an approval that I had to have with me as I went through customs upon arrival.  So make sure you know if your destination country requires anything like this.
  • Before my trip to the UAE, I had to determine if any of my medications were prohibited.  They were mostly concerned about psychoactive drugs.  I thought the antidepressant I was on at the time should be okay.  But I figured, better safe than sorry.  So I submitted a list of my prescriptions.  I got back a response basically saying I didn’t have to bother doing that because none of my prescriptions was prohibited.  But again, better safe than sorry.
  • Tragically, there are some countries that will ban you from bringing in HIV medication or PrEP.  You can be deported if you are discovered with these on you.  And it wasn’t all that long ago that the US banned people with HIV from entering the country.
  • During the US ban, some HIV-positive people disguised their HIV meds by putting them in different bottles.  Some people use this same solution for countries where you’re prohibited from bringing these medications in.  Obviously this solution comes with high risks.
  • The best solution if you’re going to one of these countries and you’re HIV-positive is to discuss the situation with your doctor.
  • The following websites are resources for people traveling with HIV:
    hivtravel.org
    aidsmap.com

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