Research Project: Glbt Study Abroad Students

By Julie Trimpe, Virginia Tech University

 I am conducting research to explore how the process of coming out while abroad or questioning sexual orientation and/or identity impacts the cross-cultural re-entry adjustment process for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (glbt) students. This research is for completion of my graduate degree at The School for International Training. You may have read about this last October in The Chronicle for Higher Education’s article, “Some Study Abroad Programs Start to Consider Needs of Gay Students.” While the article, I believe, did well to highlight issues for glbt students studying abroad, it did not accurately represent the focus of my research. It also misquoted me as saying “there is no stigma” abroad. Certainly, stigmatization of gay culture exists outside of the U.S. My comment was that students may perceive that there is no stigma, or less, as they are away from family, friends, and the home culture. Being in a new environment, students have the opportunity to concentrate on themselves, their own feelings, and identity. How does such self-exploration while a student is abroad impact their re-entry process?

The goals of the study include:

• validating glbt student experiences and concerns related to the final phase of study abroad (the return home) by gathering information to identify them

• increasing the awareness of future glbt students who study or work abroad that they are not alone in their concerns and experience; and

• increasing the awareness and knowledge of study abroad professionals on issues and concerns identified.