The safest countries for LGBTQ+ TEFL teachers

There are typical concerns for TEFL teachers looking to travel abroad; am I qualified? Do I have the right visa? Will I be able to plan engaging and constructive lessons? 

For TEFL teachers in the LGBTQ+ community, though, there are more pressing concerns when picking a country to go and teach in. While vast swathes of the globe have slowly introduced more LGBTQ+ friendly policies and become safer for marginalised communities, there are still a number of countries where it’s potentially unsafe, or even illegal, to be LGBTQ+.

But there’s still plenty of great destinations for LGBTQ+ TEFL teachers around the world. From some top destinations in South America, which have passed important legislation on equal marriage and self-ID, to some surprising TEFL picks you might not have considered before.

For this, we’ve used Asher & Lyric’s ground-breaking work in identifying, by nation, where the safest areas are for LGBTQ+ people. Their data is current as of late 2023, and features several countries that have made significant progress over the last 12 months alone.

To celebrate Pride Month, here are our top safest countries for LGBTQ+ TEFL teachers in 2024.

The Netherlands

With good English literacy rates, the Netherlands might not seem like a prime pick for TEFL teachers in 2024. However, the home of tulips and Vincent van Gogh looks specifically for highly-trained, well-qualified TEFL teachers to work with skilled students in universities, schools and colleges.

An EU country, the Netherlands is beholden to EU legislation on equality. However, the Netherlands excels in terms of tolerance and celebration of LGBTQ+ culture. Asher & Lyric named the Netherlands the 3rd safest country to be an LGBTQ+ person in 2023, with over 75% of respondents to a poll agreeing that it was a great place to live in terms of legal rights and tolerance.

In terms of TEFL, jobs are competitive but well-rewarded. A typical salary for a TEFL teacher is 

£1,900/$2,370 per month, with attractive freelancing hourly rates and solid career progression.

Pride Highlight

The biggest celebration of LGBTQ+ culture in the Netherlands takes place in Amsterdam between the 27th of July and the 4th of August. The Amsterdam Pride schedule features street parties, canal parades, gigs in the park and a whole lot more.

Chile

When Chile legalised same-sex marriage and adoption in 2021, it was a huge step forward. An absolute jewel in South America, Chile is as underrated as it gets for the prospective TEFL teacher. With a higher standard of living than much of the continent, excellent wages, a vibrant culture and beautiful views as far as the eye can see.

When Chile’s senate and lower house passed the bill to legalise same-sex marriage rights, it wasn’t a particularly close-run thing. Chilean public opinion was very much in favour, and it sparked scenes of jubilation from Santiago to Punta Arenas.

As a TEFL destination, Chile remains underrated. Full of busy cities, the wages in Chile aren’t eye-watering from a Western perspective, but in terms of the cost of living, an English teacher will more than comfortably get by. 

Students can be boisterous, but there’s good-natured humour to the Chilean people that makes it perfect for any extrovert who’s unafraid to immerse themselves in the local culture.

Pride Highlight

Santiago’s main Pride event, ‘Marcha del Orgullo’, is on the 29th of June . It’s a special one in 2024, celebrating the 25th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Chile.

Portugal

In Asher & Lyric’s definitive study of all the nations on earth, only 7 countries got bona fide A grades for safety in terms of LGBTQ+ rights. Portugal was one of those.

As a liberal country, even for a Western European nation, Portugal has really taken the lead in social issues since the turn of the 21st Century. Formerly comparatively strict, not decriminalising homosexuality until 1982, Portugal was one of the first 10 nations worldwide to legalise same-sex marriage, doing so in 2010.

Portugal’s two biggest cities do not mess about when it comes to Pride. Lisbon and Porto celebrate Pride in style annually and are internationally recognised for their gay club scene. In short, if you’re looking to party - while making a fine living as a TEFL teacher - Portugal should be on your list of destinations.

You’ll need a degree and at least a 120-hour TEFL certification to land a decent job there. However, you’ll be rewarded with one of the better salary packages in Europe for TEFL teachers, and one of the safest, most progressive and expressive cultures going.

Pride Highlight

Lisbon Pride hosted 185,000 visitors in 2023, so yeah - it’s kind of a big deal. A colourful celebration of all things LGBTQ+ in the nation’s capital, organisers ILGA are keeping their cards close to their chests but expect some big announcements soon for events to take place on the 22nd of June!

Uruguay

Let’s go back to South America now, and if you want to talk about leaders in LGBTQ+ legislation and public support, you can’t miss out Uruguay .

Uruguay was the first Latin American country to allow civil unions, in a law called Ley de Unión Concubinaria. Then, in 2009, same-sex couples were allowed to adopt. Uruguay has consistently taken a lead on LGBTQ+ equality, and it’s no surprise to see the nation ranked in the top 20 worldwide for safety and legal protection.

As for TEFL? Uruguay is an underrated gem with a high-quality education system and free university tuition. Wages aren’t brilliant, but opportunities abound. Uruguay ranks ‘moderate’ for English proficiency, so while standard wages at educational facilities won’t make you rich, you’ll find plenty of tutoring opportunities to top up your income.

A comparatively small country by South American standards, Uruguay is an interesting, diverse and - most crucially here - progressive country. It might not top the prospective TEFL teacher’s bucket list, but just like neighbouring Chile, Uruguay deserves consideration.

Pride Highlight

Uruguay’s capital, Montevideo, is known as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world . Little surprise, then, that its annual pride celebrations are meant to be an absolute riot. Montevideo Pride takes place in September, with the crowning event being the Marcha por la Diversidad (March for Diversity). Around the march, there are loads of smaller events, like club nights, concerts, readings, forums - you name it. 

If you like a party, you will not be disappointed.

Malta 

Malta might not be the biggest nation on Earth, let alone continental Europe, but given that it rose to 4th in Asher & Lyric’s table of safe destinations for LGBTQ+ people, we couldn’t miss it out. It also happens to be the case that Malta is a very cool place to teach English , with gorgeous weather, cultural influence from Greece, Turkey and Italy, and a low cost of living - especially compared to neighbouring countries. 

From an equality point of view, Malta is an interesting country. Despite public opinion, Malta has had a quirky relationship with values and the law - it didn’t even legalise divorce until 2011 . In more recent years, Malta has been incredibly progressive in terms of marriage equality, adoption rights and general equality law. Gay marriage was brought into law in 2017 , to enormous fanfare. 

Malta’s super progressive, in short. As a TEFL destination, it’s an interesting place - there’s plenty of work and lots of demand, but the standards are high. You’ll need a special English Language Teaching Permit from the ELT Council of Malta . No half-measures here!

Pride Highlight

Malta Pride lasts 9 days, and it’s not even in June. Taking place between the 6th and 15th of September, the first Pride demonstration in Valletta was in 2004, and though it’s a smaller event than the others on our list, it’s still a very important one.

With over a week’s worth of performances and events and a real sense of community, all in a stunningly beautiful part of the world, we’d definitely recommend Malta Pride!

Popular TEFL destinations

You’ll notice that some very popular TEFL destinations are missing from our list of highlights. Thailand , Japan , South Korea , and Middle Eastern nations, for example, don’t make the cut.

Now, let’s be clear - this isn’t to say that LGBTQ+ people haven’t travelled to these destinations and had a fantastic time. On the contrary, plenty of LGBTQ+ TEFL teachers have thrived in programmes like JET (Japan) or EPIK (South Korea).

We wouldn’t discourage LGBTQ+ people from venturing out to these places. However, it’s inarguable that certain regions of the world lag behind in terms of recognition and equality for LGBTQ+ people. Taiwan , for example, ranks 44th in the world for LGBTQ+ rights and safety; violence against LGBTQ+ people isn’t treated as a specific hate crime, and adoption rights for same-sex couples are non-existent.

Japan, meanwhile, ranks 80th for LGBTQ+ safety. Same-sex marriage is not legal, and there is next to no legal protection against discrimination. 

In China , “promotion” of LGBTQ+ issues can land people in prison. In Saudi Arabia , homosexuality is strictly illegal and can be punishable with death. 

If you have a specific country in mind to teach TEFL abroad as an LGBTQ+ person, but don’t know what kind of legal and cultural protections you have, resources are available. American travellers can use state resources , while ILGA World , the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, regularly update their suite of information about safety around 

the world. Asher & Lyric have published a brand-new study for Trans-safe destinations, with Malta topping the list. 

A TEFL choice that works for you

Again, everyone has different experiences. LGBTQ+ people, despite the lack of legal safeguarding or cultural tolerance, can get on absolutely fine teaching English in Japan, for example.

Also, it’s worth pointing out that there is no “perfect” destination for LGBTQ+ people; we should be under no illusions that, everywhere, there is still immense progress that needs to be made. 

The point is, it’s about your comfort and safety. What works for one person might not work for another.

Whatever choice a TEFL teacher makes in terms of travelling to teach English, the important thing is safety and being able to exist peacefully.