Guest Author: Johanna M., one of our alumni from that spent a semester studying abroad with EdOdyssey shares her experience and insights from her time living and studying in Lima, Peru.

A few weeks into my Spanish Immersion program, taking classes during the day and going on local tourist outings in the afternoon, my friend asked our Spanish professor what the word for “gay” was in Spanish. In Texas, where I’m from, I’d been taught the word “homosexual,” which I volunteered as an answer when he asked.

JOHANNA’S PERUVIAN EXPERIENCE ABROAD

One of the teachers from the language school during my orientation corrected me and said that in Perú, the word “gay” is much more commonly used. I remember smiling and thinking, “wow, that’s so much more normal”. Later, she said something that struck me to my core: “El matrimonio de los gays no es legal en este país,” or “Gay marriage is not legal in this country."

While obviously, I was not planning on getting married during my study abroad semester, I was immediately reminded of the day I celebrated the legalization of gay marriage in the United States. In 2015, while I was a Junior in high school, the Supreme Court ruled that it would be the law of the land. I had become so comfortable already with my right to be seen as an equal under the law that I was crushed to realize I wouldn’t be viewed or treated in the same way in my new host country.

Public displays of affection, especially for young people, are very commonplace in Perú for straight couples. I would see literally hundreds of young couples at my college during the day, but later, I’d always ask my Peruvian friends and host family, “Donde están los gays?”, or “Where are the gay people?”.

THE LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY & MY PERUVIAN EXPERIENCE

I didn’t realize before I lived in a country without a very visible queer population, how important it was to really see LGBTQ+ people in public spaces. 

The first time I went to a gay club in Perú, and realized I could find the same love and acceptance there, I felt for the first time in a long time that I could be open about who I was. Talking to my friends, to other young Peruvians who are more progressive seeking out queer spaces gave me islands of safety. I felt excitement to actually embrace my LGBTQ+ identity and meet other queer people like me.

What I learned about visibility, in these spaces, wasn’t just how important it was to see other LGBTQ+ people. I also learned how important it was to me that I take on that challenge and be more visible in normalizing being gay everywhere I went.

MY EXPERIENCE & WHO I AM TODAY

As weird as this may sound, without my experience in Perú, I don’t know if I’d be as connected to that part of my identity. I’m truly grateful for all of the opportunities and experiences I had in Perú to learn about all of the cultures that were new to me, and not just the ones we read about in travel guidebooks.

From everyone at EdOdyssey, we hope that Johanna’s story provides insights into how her impactful experience abroad has helped her discover and connect with her identity. Our team continues to help foster understanding with students and their peers through engaging them throughout the process of admissions, pre-departure and especially during the study abroad experience.

To see how we support all of our program participants from the LGBTQ+ community, please see our blog Study Abroad & Supporting The LGBTQ+ Community for more information.

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