Tell me about your international travels while not passable?

[Daisy Jane]

It's a dream of mine to be able to travel all over the world, and I think Anthony Bourdain has the best job in the world. The thing that makes me saddest about transitioning is that, as someone who is 6'3 (190cm) and shoulders that are too wide for a woman, it will limit the places I can travel to without fearing for my safety.

I would really like to hear from anyone willing to share their stories of international travel. Where did you go? How were you treated?

[phdinfunk]

Well, I don't even really TRY to pass, because it just ain't going to work.  But I do often go around Taipei dressed as a woman.  Also, my legal name is a woman's name even though NO ONE is going to think I'm a woman by looking at my body or my bald head.

Snickers on buses and trains sometimes.  I lost one job.  Some people seem to get out of control angry just SEEING someone dressed as the 'other gender,' but those fools are rare.  A whole lot of people seem to think I'm interesting and want to get to know me.  Parties are fine, and I have my group of friends.  Fortunately, I'm pretty happy and easy going most of the time, so I make friends easily.  And Taiwanese people are easy going.  I imagine China or Japan would be similar.  In Korea, if you aren't Korean, you're kind of scum anyways.

In the Phillipines, everyone just took me as gay, which femme gay is kind of common there.  One gay comedian even called me out in the audience to compliment me and try to proposition me, LOL.

India is fun.  But I always walk around dressed like a guy there.  There's no law saying you cannot stealth it up.  India is a whole can of worms, and I love the place and have gone four times.  It's just so different to everything else.  I cannot say it would be safe or unsafe.  As long as I'm with educated Indians, I feel it would be fine.  But that culture has sometimes got some STRICT rules against genders fraternizing with each other so unless you just REALLY PASSED I think it could cause problems.

--Lyra

[rachel89]

Some people seem to get out of control angry just SEEING someone dressed as the 'other gender,' but those fools are rare.

Yep, I've had that happen to me on more than one occasion, not abroad, but in my town of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Usually you can tell that their intense hatred of transsexuals is far from their only issue in life though.

[ryokohimura]

Hmm...I've been wondering about this as my friend is getting married in Australia next year. I'd like to make the trip but most likely my passport will not be updated. Has anyone had any experiences at customs mid-transition?

[judithlynn]

 Well;
I am still travelling International as a male, but domestically a lot as a woman these days. The biggest problem I have found is  the US Body scanners ( I have B nearly C size breasts so  I normally get the extra pat down. The biggest issue though is Customs as in some countries  they want to know why I have two suitcases (one mostly womens clothes) and another smaller one (of a few mens clothes). It takes some explaining some times.
Judith

[Daisy Jane]

Well;
I am still travelling International as a male, but domestically a lot as a woman these days. The biggest problem I have found is  the US Body scanners ( I have B nearly C size breasts so  I normally get the extra pat down. The biggest issue though is Customs as in some countries  they want to know why I have two suitcases (one mostly womens clothes) and another smaller one (of a few mens clothes). It takes some explaining some times.
Judith

I can deal with the body scanners. I mostly just want to know if I'm going to be turned away from restaurants, hotels, etc or if I might have to worry about getting beaten up in the streets.

[phdinfunk]

As a general rule, I would think any country where they have particular rules about gender separation would be the ones to look out for.  Travelling in Tamil Nadu South India, with my girlfriend, we carried a fake marriage certificate because it's not really legal for an unmarried couple to get a hotel room together.  This is not the kind of place where I would want to appear openly queer.

I think if you're using common sense, and reading a little bit ahead of time wherever you go, it should be fine.  A place like Taiwan, where there is little to no violent crime of any type, well.....  you're just not going to get beaten up.  That's kind of the opposite end of the spectrum.

Meanwhile, I'm visiting my family in an upstate New York rust belt town and wandering out to a dive bar for Saint Patrick's day, hearing the twenty somethings fussing with each other about how much they love or don't love cocaine, watching a boy walk away from the group and slam his fist into a wall as he passed behind me.....  Well, I don't think ANYONE is particularly safe here.

Which is why I brought this up.  Compared to places in America, like Atlanta near Georgia State University where I attended college, I've never been anywhere that felt "so dangerous."  Maybe Manilla.  But compared to underground Atlanta, it's definitely a "maybe."  When walking around most any city in China, after getting comfortable in the environment, most Western women will comment at some point, "Wow, I don't ever feel unsafe here."

So, if you're from the states, keep in mind, most places you're probably going to go in Asia might actually have a lot less danger than home.  Exceptions might be in SE Asia, but they're MAYBE exceptions, again compared to downtown Atlanta at 11pm on a friday night after class ends.  Just to put it all into perspective.

--Lyra

PS:  I can only speak to where I have lived and explored, I guess there are places that aren't Europe, America, or Asia, which could be very dangerous.  Where were you planning to go?

[JenniferLopezgomez]

I had loads of international travel experience prior to my transition to womanhood.  The international travel I have done since transitioning to full-time womanhood involves Europe and Africa. I was treated great on flights to and from Spain, simply called Senora (means Madame in Spanish) at ticket counters, immigration, customs (not much of a customs check), zero secondary inspections.

I am legally female on my passport, so that helps immensely. I have been full-time for awhile now, so I obviously have only women's clothes and makeup and hair care products.

Even entering Morocco 2 weeks ago -- an Arab country -- I had no hassles. I was politely called "Madame" in French.

I used the female public toilet/restroom with not even a second look from other woman or the 2 female employees.

I find the best way here because it is very conversative here, is simply "go-stealth." I have told only 1 person face-to-face here that I am trans.

So here I am treated just as any other non-Moroccan foreign woman. It is the best way. xx

[Daisy Jane]

I had loads of international travel experience prior to my transition to womanhood.  The international travel I have done since transitioning to full-time womanhood involves Europe and Africa. I was treated great on flights to and from Spain, simply called Senora (means Madame in Spanish) at ticket counters, immigration, customs (not much of a customs check), zero secondary inspections.

I am legally female on my passport, so that helps immensely. I have been full-time for awhile now, so I obviously have only women's clothes and makeup and hair care products.

Even entering Morocco 2 weeks ago -- an Arab country -- I had no hassles. I was politely called "Madame" in French.

I used the female public toilet/restroom with not even a second look from other woman or the 2 female employees.

I find the best way here because it is very conversative here, is simply "go-stealth." I have told only 1 person face-to-face here that I am trans.

So here I am treated just as any other non-Moroccan foreign woman. It is the best way. xx

Thank you so much Jennifer! Morrocco is one of the many place I would like to see in Africa.

[JenniferLopezgomez]

Thank you so much Jennifer! Morrocco is one of the many place I would like to see in Africa.

You are very welcome. Be very careful though that you choose a stable country. Morocco is stable. Libya is about 2000 miles away from me (2 countries east of here). I sure won't go to Libya. I am willing to take SOME risk but Im not totally nuts, lol.