What You Should Know If You Are Transgender Before Traveling to an African Country
In many parts of the world, anti-LGBT+ rights laws have been abolished. People widely now have the freedom to identify with whatever sexual orientation or gender they deem appropriate. While on the flip-side, many countries which have been silent on the matter have now made conscious effort to criminalize anything that isn’t heterosexual.
Today, in about 80 countries -most of which are in Africa- simply being suspected of being gay or trans is a criminal offense. Such a person could serve a prison sentence of at least 2 years, suffer harsh and public whipping or even be sentenced to death. Of course, this means that in these places, many of the local trans-people are stuck in the closet and traveling for them is a tedious and grueling experience.
Needless to say, as a trans man or woman, you would have to take the utmost care when it comes to domestic or international travel within the African continent. Also, you can definitely not expect there to be any provisions that for the sensitive attention that a trans person might need at the airport. If you are trans and intend to take a trip to certain parts of Africa, you will need to take some precautions to avoid unnecessary complications at the airport or during your trip.
So here are some quick tips for you.
Travel Documents
The first thing you will need is a VISA from the country you wish to visit. In countries with liberal law where LGBT rights are recognized, it should be easier for you to get a visa. South Africa visas in particular should not prove to be a problem because of the country's liberal laws. Either way, it is always advisable to speak to your embassy in your intended destination. There you can get direct information about how best to proceed.
After the visa is secured, there is the issue of the boarding pass. The law often requires that the gender and name on your boarding pass match the one on the government-issued photo ID and that all passengers older than 17 provide proof of identity both at check-in and at security. This is where you might encounter a problem.
As of today, no African country recognizes non-binary or third gender classifications. This means it would be best to use the information -name and gender specifically- that appears on your passport or your photo ID when booking your ticket. That is, granted you haven’t updated your travel documents and ID. If your appearance no longer matches your ID, make sure you take a note from a verifiable medical practice explaining the change in your appearance.
Packing and Security Checks
If you need to travel with needles, syringes or hormones, you to take a doctor’s note to prove that they are prescribed. Keep all your medical supplies in one bag so they can be easily screened. If your hormones need to be refrigerated, contact the airline ahead of time to find out if the flight crew can store them for you. In case that isn’t possible, carry a thermos or insulated flask with you. Unless you need them in the air, it would be best to keep them in the luggage you will be checking in.
Most airport security checks do not require that you take of any non-metal clothing items you are wearing. This also applies to prosthetic. However, due to the African norms, to avoid undue attention it may be best to keep your prosthetic in your carry-on bag and request for private screening.
If you are a trans-man who packs, ensure your packing piece doesn’t have any metal parts. Also, be aware that a heavily bounded chest may cause undue attention as it may appear that you are hiding something underneath the wrap. When it comes to a body search, as much as possible, avoid being screened publicly. Ask for a private screening.
Planning your Trip
You need to verify the safety of your proposed destination before you make any plans. The keyword here is research, research, research. When it comes to traveling in Africa while trans. It’s important to learn about the laws of the land, find out about local organizations and groups that are trans friendly. At the end of this post, you will find a list of African countries and their stance on LGBTQ+ rights as this is often a mirror of the domestic stance on trans people.
Apart from what is written in the laws, there are also unwritten norms which govern how you will be received in the place you will be visiting. This is equally, if not as important as what is written in the constitution because it determines the reception you will get once you arrive at your destination.
It’s important to note that most, if not all African countries, have yet to consciously provide gender neutral bathrooms. Also, possession of sex toys is mostly frowned upon in African airports and might attract undue attention. It might also be regarded as evidence of sex work, which may result in detainment.
Before you book your ticket, you will definitely look into where to stay. Regardless of what country you choose to visit, it is most advisable to visit bigger cities for several reasons. Compared to rural dwellers, those in the urban areas are more likely to be accepting of people’s differences. Also, your country’s embassy is likely to be located in the capital city of the country you choose to visit. If you choose to visit Nigeria for instance, then you might want to consider a budget hotel in Victoria Island or the cheap hotels in Ikeja both suburbs are located in the country’s commercial capital. At hotels.ng, you can get pretty good deals on hotels. I’ve heard Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island is particularly good.
Today, in about 80 countries -most of which are in Africa- simply being suspected of being gay or trans is a criminal offense. Such a person could serve a prison sentence of at least 2 years, suffer harsh and public whipping or even be sentenced to death. Of course, this means that in these places, many of the local trans-people are stuck in the closet and traveling for them is a tedious and grueling experience.
Needless to say, as a trans man or woman, you would have to take the utmost care when it comes to domestic or international travel within the African continent. Also, you can definitely not expect there to be any provisions that for the sensitive attention that a trans person might need at the airport. If you are trans and intend to take a trip to certain parts of Africa, you will need to take some precautions to avoid unnecessary complications at the airport or during your trip.
So here are some quick tips for you.
Travel Documents
The first thing you will need is a VISA from the country you wish to visit. In countries with liberal law where LGBT rights are recognized, it should be easier for you to get a visa. South Africa visas in particular should not prove to be a problem because of the country's liberal laws. Either way, it is always advisable to speak to your embassy in your intended destination. There you can get direct information about how best to proceed.
After the visa is secured, there is the issue of the boarding pass. The law often requires that the gender and name on your boarding pass match the one on the government-issued photo ID and that all passengers older than 17 provide proof of identity both at check-in and at security. This is where you might encounter a problem.
As of today, no African country recognizes non-binary or third gender classifications. This means it would be best to use the information -name and gender specifically- that appears on your passport or your photo ID when booking your ticket. That is, granted you haven’t updated your travel documents and ID. If your appearance no longer matches your ID, make sure you take a note from a verifiable medical practice explaining the change in your appearance.
Packing and Security Checks
If you need to travel with needles, syringes or hormones, you to take a doctor’s note to prove that they are prescribed. Keep all your medical supplies in one bag so they can be easily screened. If your hormones need to be refrigerated, contact the airline ahead of time to find out if the flight crew can store them for you. In case that isn’t possible, carry a thermos or insulated flask with you. Unless you need them in the air, it would be best to keep them in the luggage you will be checking in.
Most airport security checks do not require that you take of any non-metal clothing items you are wearing. This also applies to prosthetic. However, due to the African norms, to avoid undue attention it may be best to keep your prosthetic in your carry-on bag and request for private screening.
If you are a trans-man who packs, ensure your packing piece doesn’t have any metal parts. Also, be aware that a heavily bounded chest may cause undue attention as it may appear that you are hiding something underneath the wrap. When it comes to a body search, as much as possible, avoid being screened publicly. Ask for a private screening.
Planning your Trip
You need to verify the safety of your proposed destination before you make any plans. The keyword here is research, research, research. When it comes to traveling in Africa while trans. It’s important to learn about the laws of the land, find out about local organizations and groups that are trans friendly. At the end of this post, you will find a list of African countries and their stance on LGBTQ+ rights as this is often a mirror of the domestic stance on trans people.
Apart from what is written in the laws, there are also unwritten norms which govern how you will be received in the place you will be visiting. This is equally, if not as important as what is written in the constitution because it determines the reception you will get once you arrive at your destination.
It’s important to note that most, if not all African countries, have yet to consciously provide gender neutral bathrooms. Also, possession of sex toys is mostly frowned upon in African airports and might attract undue attention. It might also be regarded as evidence of sex work, which may result in detainment.
Before you book your ticket, you will definitely look into where to stay. Regardless of what country you choose to visit, it is most advisable to visit bigger cities for several reasons. Compared to rural dwellers, those in the urban areas are more likely to be accepting of people’s differences. Also, your country’s embassy is likely to be located in the capital city of the country you choose to visit. If you choose to visit Nigeria for instance, then you might want to consider a budget hotel in Victoria Island or the cheap hotels in Ikeja both suburbs are located in the country’s commercial capital. At hotels.ng, you can get pretty good deals on hotels. I’ve heard Federal Palace Hotel in Victoria Island is particularly good.
African Countries Where LGBT Rights are Criminalized
Country
|
Rights
|
Algeria
|
Illegal since 1966
Penalty: Fine and up to 2 years imprisonment.
|
Egypt
|
Male de facto illegal since 2000, Female uncertain
Penalty: Up to 17 years imprisonment with or without hard labour and with or without fines under broadly-written morality laws
|
Libya
|
Illegal since 1953
|
Morocco
|
Illegal since 1962
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment
|
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
|
Illegal since 1944
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment
|
South Sudan
|
Illegal since 1899
Penalty: Up to 10 years imprisonment
|
Sudan
|
Illegal since 1899
Penalty: Death penalty on third offense for men and on fourth offense for women
|
Tunisia
|
Illegal since 1913
Penalty: 3 years imprisonment.
|
Gambia
|
Illegal since 1888
Penalty: Life imprisonment
|
Ghana
|
Male illegal since 1860s
Penalty: 10 years imprisonment or more
Female always legal.
|
Guinea
|
Illegal since 1988
Penalty: 6 months to 3 years imprisonment.
|
Liberia
|
Illegal since 1976
Penalty: 1 year imprisonment
|
Mauritania
|
Illegal since 1983
Penalty: Death penalty
|
Nigeria
|
Illegal under federal law since 1901
Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment
Illegal in the states of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara
Penalty: Death penalty for men. Whipping and/or imprisonment for women.
|
Senegal
|
Illegal since 1966
Penalty: 1 to 5 years imprisonment
|
Sierra Leone
|
Male illegal since 1861
Penalty: Up to life imprisonment (Not enforced)
Female always legal
|
Togo
|
Illegal since 1884
Penalty: Fine and 3 years imprisonment
|
Cameroon
|
Illegal since 1972
Penalty: Fines to 5 years imprisonment.
|
Chad
|
Illegal since 2016.
|
Burundi
|
Illegal since 2009
Penalty: 3 months to 2 years imprisonment.
|
Kenya
|
Illegal since 1897
Penalty: up to 14 years imprisonment
|
Uganda
|
Male illegal since 1894
Penalty: Up to life in prison or vigilante execution
|
Tanzania
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to life imprisonment.
|
Eritrea
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to 3 years imprisonment
|
Ethiopia
|
Illegal
Penalty: 10 years imprisonment or more
|
Somalia
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to death
|
Somaliland
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to death
|
Comoros
|
Illegal since 1982
Penalty: 5 years imprisonment & fines
|
Mauritius
|
Male: Illegal
Penalty: Up to 5 years imprisonment
Female: Legal
|
Angola
|
De facto illegal
Penalty: Fines, restrictions or penal labor (Not enforced)
|
Botswana
|
Illegal
Penalty: Fine to up to 7 years imprisonment (Not enforced)
|
Malawi
|
Illegal
Penalty: Up to 14 years imprisonment & whippings (Law suspended from usage since 2012)
|
Namibia
|
Male: illegal (not enforced)
Female: always legal
|
Swaziland
|
Male: illegal
Female always legal
|
Zambia
|
Illegal
Penalty: up to 14 years imprisonment
|
Zimbabwe
|
Male: illegal
Female legal
|
If you have everything ready, then all that’s left is to book that ticket. You can get the best prices in africa at fly.africa
 |
| Princess Ilonze |
Princess is a writer who creates content from her introspection for your introspection. There are no original thoughts only louder people and higher podiums.
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