When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to only do what feels right to them. 

Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Belgium is!

LGBTQ+ Laws

The LGBTQ+ laws in Belgium are some of the best in the world, and the country helped pave the way for government acceptance of the community.  After recognizing same sex partnerships since 2000, Belgium was the second country in the world to legalize same sex marriage in 2003. Same sex sexual activity has been legal for more than 200 years, and adoption became legal for same sex couples in 2006 along with equal access to family planning including IVF. The first anti-discrimination law was enacted in 2003 and updated in 2007, with both banning discrimination of people based on their sexual orientation. In 2013 the law was amended again to include people of different gender identities and gender expressions. Belgium was and is a leader in LGBTQ+ equality.

Social Climate

Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people in Belgium seem to be very positive. A 2015 Eurobarometer Poll showed that more than 75% of Belgian people believed that same sex marriage should be legalized throughout Europe. Numerous LGBTQ+ politicians have served openly in Belgium, including a previous Prime Minister, and LGBTQ+ themes are widely accepted and normalized in the media. There are active gay communities all over the country, and Belgium was host to the World Outgames in 2013. They continue to be a shining example not only in Europe but all over the world, of an open and accepting country.

Gaybourhoods

The most prominent LGBTQ+ scene in Belgium is in the capital city of Brussels. They are host to the annual Belgian Lesbian and Gay Pride, as well as the Brussels Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The Brussels gay village is in the Saint Jacques neighbourhood, and is home to many LGBTQ+ establishments. Other lively gaybourhoods exists in cities like Antwerp, Leuven, Ghent, and Bruges, with gay bars, clubs, and parties. While most of the nightlife is geared toward gay men, Belgium does have events that are made for women. While some lesbian parties are held monthly, others happen annually during the Pride celebrations. There is even a multi day lesbian event each year that is organized by Girls Heart Brussels, featuring awesome itineraries geared toward lesbian women.

Our Experience

We really enjoyed our time in Belgium together. We spent our visit in Brussels and Bruges, and could definitely see that Belgium is a top destination for LGBTQ+ travellers due to it’s progressive laws and the positive attitudes of the locals. We love travelling to countries that recognize our marriage, and destinations that make us feel safe and welcomed. We certainly felt comfortable being out and open as a couple while we were in Belgium, and we were met with nothing but kindness from the locals. We would happily return and would love to check out more of the gay scene in Brussels as well as some of the smaller cities. We highly recommend Belgium as a great European travel destination for lesbian travellers and lesbian couples who are looking for an open and accepting place to explore.

Have you been to Belgium? Share your experience in the comments below!

View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!

The post How Lesbian Friendly is Belgium appeared first on Lez See the World.

When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to only do what feels right to them.

Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Australia is!

LGBTQ+ Laws

Australia has been in the spotlight this year having just legalized same sex marriage at the end of 2017! Now their laws can be seen as very progressive in regards to the LGBTQ+ community, and this was a major step forward. Same sex sexual activity between females has always been legal in Australia, and it’s been legal for males in all states and territories since 1997. As of 2017, same sex marriage is legal following a Marriage Law Postal Survey which returned a 61.6% YES response in favour of marriage equality. There is federal discrimination protection in Australia for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and intersex status, and there has been since 2013. Same sex couples can legally adopt, and they have equal access to assisted reproductive technology. Australia has come a long way, and it looks like they will continue to move forward in the coming years.

Social Climate

Australia is regarded as a very LGBTQ+ friendly country, with research polls showing high levels of support for the community. The Marriage Law Postal Survey showed more than 60% of people in favour of same sex marriage, and a 2013 Pew Research Poll showed nearly 80% of Australians being accepting of homosexuality, making it the 5th most supportive country in the world. There are Pride celebrations held in many Australian cities and regions each year, with the largest being a three week long Mardi Gras event in Sydney. The public opinion certainly seems to be in favour of the LGBTQ+ community, but of course like other large countries, it differs by region. Attitudes in rural areas of Australia tend to be less accepting, but with the marriage equality bill being passed last year, attitudes will continue to change, and I think we will see Australia continue to push forward.

Gaybourhoods

Australia has many gay friendly areas, with the most notable being in the country’s biggest city, Sydney. Home to the Mardi Gras celebration each year, Sydney is full of gay culture with the gaybourhoods being around Oxford Street and in Newtown. Melbourne also has a thriving gay scene, specifically in the Fitzroy neighbourhood and in St Kilda; and Brisbane has it’s own gaybourhoods in the West End and Fortitude Valley. If you’re looking for gay friendly destinations outside of Australia’s cities, head to the Rainbow Region up on the North Coast of NSW, where Byron Bay, Kings Beach, Bangalow, and Mullumbimby are all gay friendly spots.

Our Experience

We’ve visited Australia three times together as a married lesbian couple, and we’ve really enjoyed our experiences. Australia is a beautiful country with thriving cities and adorable beach towns. It’s a great destination, and we’ve found it to be very lesbian friendly! Similar to other large countries, the rural areas in Australia tend to be more conservative, and the cities are quite progressive and open minded. We spent our time in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Byron Bay, and felt comfortable being out as a same sex couple and showing affection in public. We were open with locals and told them we’re a lesbian couple, and we were welcomed by everyone and treated respectfully. We imagine that if we’d travelled outside of the large cities to more rural areas in Australia, we may have felt less accepted. Overall, we love travelling to Australia and will definitely return! We highly recommend it as a destination for lesbians and lesbian couples.

Have you been to Australia? Share your experience in the comments below!

View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!

The post How Lesbian Friendly Is Australia appeared first on Lez See the World.

When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to do what feels right to them.

Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Scotland is!

LGBTQ+ Laws

The laws in Scotland regarding LGBTQ+ people are very progressive, and in both 2015 and 2016 the country was recognized as the best country in Europe for equality for our community. Same sex sexual activity has been legal in Scotland since 1981, and marriage equality was passed in 2014 after civil union had been legal since 2005. There is discrimination protection in place for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as hate crime laws prohibiting crimes against the LGBTQ+ community. Scotland continues to be a leader in anti-discrimination, and this year they launched a campaign calling out homophobes and transphobes, telling them that “love lives in this country, not hate”.

Social Climate

Scotland has a complicated history with our community, and prior to 2000 there was quite a bit of hostility toward LGBTQ+ people. In the past two decades, so much progress has been made with public opinion turning in favour of the LGBTQ+ community, and attitudes changing to accept the idea of equality. Polls through the SSA (Scottish Social Attitudes) show a large increase in support of same sex marriage, especially among young people and those who are non-religious. In the past several years there have been multiple LGBTQ+ politicians serving openly, and there are active LGBTQ+ scenes in all of Scotland’s major cities. The largest Pride celebration is held annually in Glasgow, with additional celebrations including a march in Edinburgh. Scotland is widely considered to be a very LGBTQ+ friendly country and travel destination. The Scotland tourism website even includes an LGBT section with resources about events and venues.

Gaybourhoods

There are prominent LGBTQ+ scenes in several of the major cities in Scotland, with the biggest being in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The capital city of Glasgow boasts a large gay scene with several regular events, as well as many gay bars and establishments. The second largest Scottish city, Edinburgh, also has many LGBTQ+ establishments as well as special LGBTQ+ nights and events. Smaller, but still wonderful gaybourhoods can be found in Aberdeen, Dundee, and Stirling.

Our Experience

We fell in love with Scotland and can’t wait to return. It’s a country that truly stole our hearts, and one of the reasons we loved visiting was because of how open and accepting it is. We spent our time in Edinburgh and Glasgow and had a wonderful experience. We felt completely at ease while in public, and held hands and showed affection without any worry. We were out and open as a married lesbian couple with everyone we met, and we received nothing but kindness and enthusiastic acceptance. We would love to return and continue to explore the country, including the highlands. We highly recommend Scotland to other lesbian couples and lesbian travellers! It is an amazing country with so much to offer, and it is so wonderfully accepting of our community. We really love to travel to countries that genuinely believe in LGBTQ+ equality, and Scotland certainly does.

Have you been to Scotland? Share your experience in the comments below!

View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!

The post How Lesbian Friendly is Scotland appeared first on Lez See the World.

When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to only do what feels right to them.

Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Costa Rica is!

LGBTQ+ Laws

Costa Rica has made great strides in recent years in regards to their LGBTQ+ laws. In 2018 the president actually issued an apology to the community for the past persecution and discrimination that they faced. Same sex sexual relations are legal, there is discrimination protection in place, and the country is currently working towards marriage equality. In 2018, the Costa Rican supreme court ruled in favour of lifting the ban on same sex marriage, and legislators have 18 months to legalize it. LGBTQ+ individuals can legally adopt as individuals, but not yet as couples, and there isn’t family planning available for same sex couples. Overall, Costa Rica is quite progressive and inclusive, especially in comparison to other countries in Central America. 

Social Climate

Costa Rica has made a lot of progress in the past few decades when it comes to their acceptance of LGBTQ+ people. While the laws are finally starting to include and support the community, the public opinion may be taking more time to follow suit. Costa Ricans tend to be socially conservative due to the large influence of the Catholic Church, and the feelings and traditions that are deeply rooted in their country’s culture. More recently, with politicians showing support for LGBTQ+ rights, hopefully the feelings of the general population are continuing to progress and change. All that being said, Costa Rica is considered to be one of the more LGBTQ+ friendly travel destinations in Central America, and does cater toward gay and lesbian travellers.

Gaybourhoods

Costa Rica is a fairly small country, and there are LGBTQ+ friendly area scatted all over the country. Manuel Antonio is meant to be a specifically gay destination, but it is geared mostly toward gay men. Tamarindo is a lovely beach town that also caters toward LGBTQ+ travellers. There are boutique hotels scattered all over the country that advertise themselves as being LGBTQ+ friendly, and there is gay nightlife scene in the capital city of San Jose. The LGBTQ+ scene in Costa Rica is certainly growing! 

Our Experience

We spent 4 weeks in Costa Rica, and had a really wonderful experience. As always we were out and open, and showed affection in public whenever we felt safe doing so. We travelled to various parts of the country (San Jose, Jaco, Manuel Antonio, La Fortuna, Monteverde, and Tamarindo) and felt safe everywhere we went. We stayed in both Airbnb accommodations and hotels, and we were treated kindly by hotel staff when bookings rooms with single beds. We mentioned to the locals that we were a married couple, and we were met with acceptance and hospitality. One local Costa Rican explained the feelings toward LGBTQ+ people as being quite accepting of gay men and more feminine lesbian women, but suggested that most people aren’t entirely accepting of the whole community. We think that there is certainly more room for progress when it comes to the feelings of the Costa Rican people, but things are certainly headed in the right direction. Costa Rica is a beautiful country, and we definitely recommend it as a lesbian friendly destination in Central America.

Have you been to to Costa Rica? Share your experience in the comments below!

View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!

The post How Lesbian Friendly is Costa Rica appeared first on Lez See the World.

When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to only do what feels right to them.

Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Switzerland is!

LGBTQ+ Laws

Switzerland has progressive laws in regards to LGBTQ+ people, but there is still work to be done. Same sex sexual activity is legal and has been since 1942, and while there are legal registered partnerships for same sex couples, there is no marriage equality. There have been initiatives to legalize same sex marriage, and there is an act, which is expected to be presented to parliament in February 2019 for deliberation. Hopefully we will be seeing marriage equality in Switzerland next year! There is some discrimination protection in place for LGBTQ+ people, and there is a pending bill that would outlaw all discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It seems safe to say that we will continue to see great progress in Swiss laws. To read more about the current laws in Switzerland, click here.

Social Climate

Public opinion is becoming increasingly in favour of the LGBTQ+ community, with a recent Pew Research Centre Poll showing 75% of Switzerland citizens supporting same sex marriage. Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people seem quite positive, and the country ranked #9 on the Gay Happiness Index. There are active LGBTQ+ organizations as well as Pride events, and the mayor of the country’s largest city, Zurich, is openly lesbian. Similar to other countries in Western Europe, Switzerland seems to accept and support the LGBTQ+ community.

Gaybourhoods

The biggest LGBTQ+ scene in Switzerland is definitely in the city of Zurich. It’s home to many gay bars and establishments, and hosts a large Pride celebration each year. There is a smaller, but still relevant gay scene in the city of Geneva, and even smaller gaybourhoods in the cities of Basel, Bern, Lucerne, and Lausanne. Like other cities, the nightlife is geared mostly toward gay men, but there are a lot of mixed venues that are inclusive of lesbian women. If you’re looking for gay culture in Switzerland, you have a good list of options!

Our Experience

We really enjoyed our time in Switzerland. We drove through some rural areas of the country, and spent some time in the city of Geneva. Like other countries in Western Europe, we felt really comfortable being out and open as a lesbian couple. Like other places, rural areas in Switzerland tend to be more conservative than the cities, but we felt safe everywhere we went. In the city of Geneva we held hands while walking down the street, and showed affection to one another without any fear for our safety. The city seemed to be very open and welcoming, and we would consider it to be very lesbian friendly. We would definitely recommend Switzerland to other lesbian coupes and lesbian travellers and we wouldn’t hesitate to return!

Have you been to Switzerland? Share your experience in the comments below!

View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!

The post How Lesbian Friendly is Switzerland appeared first on Lez See the World.

When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to do what feels right to them.

Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Portugal is!

LGBTQ+ Laws

The laws in Portugal regarding LGBTQ+ people have progressed quite a lot in the last 20 years, and are now regarded as some of the best in the world! Same-sex sexual activity has been decriminalized since 1982, and Portugal was the 8th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010, after recognizing unregistered cohabitation since 2001. Same-sex couples have also been able to legally adopt children since 2016, and they have equal access to family planning such as IVF. Since 2003, Portugal has had anti-discrimination laws in place for people of all sexual orientations, and the following year the constitution was amended to prohibit any discrimination based on sexual orientation, making Portugal one of the only countries on the globe to ban this type of discrimination in their constitution! In 2015 the country formally designated May 17th as their National Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and further proved their commitment to fighting discrimination toward the LGBTQ+ community. Portugal continues to be a true leader in equality for LGBTQ+ people, and hopefully we will see more countries follow suit in the coming years.

Social Climate

While Roman Catholicism is still very prevalent in Portugal, the public opinion has become more and more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community in recent years. A 2015 Eurobarometer Poll showed that more than 70% of Portuguese people believe in equal rights for gay and lesbian people, and 60% of people are accepting of marriage between same-sex couples. Those numbers have gone up significantly in the past ten years since the introduction of the same-sex marriage bill. Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people seem quite positive overall, and there are active gay communities all over the country, especially in the larger cities and popular tourist areas. Similar to other Western European countries, locals are pretty open and accepting, and Portugal is definitely considered to be a LGBTQ+ friendly country to visit.

Gaybourhoods

The biggest LGBTQ+ scene in Portugal is in the incredible capital city of Lisbon, and the next prominent is in the city of Porto. In Lisbon, most gay establishments and gay nightlife can be found in the Bairro Alto neighbourhood, as well as the nearby Principe Real, and Chiado areas. There are a lot of gay and gay friendly bars, lounges, and nightclubs, most of which seem quite welcoming to women. The closest thing to a lesbian bar is called Purex, which is a gay and lesbian hotspot that draws the most diverse crowd. Lisbon also has popular gay friendly beaches such as 19 beach, and Bela Vista beach, as well as a large Pride festival which happens every June. Another annual event is Queer Lisboa, an International Queer Film Festival that takes place every September. The city of Porto also hosts a Pride celebration each year, and they have a gay scene in The Galleries area. Smaller gaybourhoods in the country can be found in the Algarve region in the cities of Faro, Lagos, Albufeira, and Tavira. Overall, Portugal is a country where you can feel safe and welcomed, and experience some local gay culture. It’s an amazing LGBTQ+ friendly European destination!

Our Experience

We’ve been to Portugal twice, and both times we had a really wonderful experience. We spent our time in the city of Lisbon, staying in the romantic old town called Alfama. Lisbon feels magical, and we spent hours getting lost on narrow cobblestone streets, and taking in unbelievable views. We walked around the whole city enjoying the beautiful architecture, the lively neighbourhoods, the gorgeous waterfront, and the rich history. We also took a day trip to nearby Sintra, to admire the incredible castles, palaces, and estates, and we loved soaking up the local Portuguese culture. There is so much to see and do in and around Lisbon, and we found the city to be very lesbian friendly. We were out and open in public, and always felt accepted when we were honest with the locals about being a lesbian couple. The city has a lively gay scene, amazing nightlife, and feels very inviting. Portugal seems to be quite welcoming of tourism, and we felt safe and comfortable on both of our trips there. We like to hold hands and show affection in public, and we did so without ever feeling unsafe, or getting any unwanted attention. We love visiting countries that legally recognize our marriage, and we felt so safe knowing that we are protected by law, as lesbian women. We would happily return to Portugal and would love to explore more of the country one day. It’s truly special and there is so much to see. We highly recommend it as a lesbian friendly destination for solo travellers and lesbian couples!

If you’re interested in travelling to Portugal, be sure to read our Lesbian Guide to Lisbon! 

Have you been to Portugal? Share your experience in the comments below!

View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!

The post How Lesbian Friendly is Portugal appeared first on Lez See the World.