Finding International Queer Community in Scotland

Expect the Unexpected

When signing up to study abroad in Stirling, Scotland, I didn’t stop to consider that it would be Pride Month while I’d be there. Spending my teenage years online due to COVID-19 meant that a large part of my identity as an asexual person had developed through a screen. I had little idea what to expect from the real-world LGBTQIA+ community, much less in a different country and culture.

My obliviousness meant the warm welcome I received came as a true surprise! Immediately upon arriving, I noticed the Progress Pride flag flying right alongside the Scottish flag—even in front of government buildings. That kind of bold support is something I am not used to seeing in the US. I knew straight away that I had picked a study abroad destination where I could be authentically myself!

My friend took this picture of me enjoying the view from the Wallace Monument.

Self-Expression On-Campus

My host institution’s summer school program kept the welcoming vibe going strong in a really fun way. Every week, they offered art nights where students could relax and express themselves using the wide variety of paints, pencils, and markers provided. One of my favorites of these was ‘Pride Art Night’. I spent the evening chatting and laughing together with a large group of fellow students, painting our own flags and finding new ways to use their colors. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know my classmates and connect with other queer students!

I used the colors of the combination aromantic and asexual flag to draw mountains and a loch for this pendant design!

Modern Queer Joy in Edinburgh’s Old Town

Not long after Pride Art Night, I found out that there would be a Pride parade in Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh. I had never had the chance to attend one in person, so I was delighted to discover that our CEA CAPA Site Director Jeanna was planning to take a group of students to celebrate with the rest of the city. I enthusiastically voiced my interest in coming along!

I had already visited Edinburgh on an earlier excursion, but was more than ready to visit again—there was so much I hadn’t seen (and lots that I still haven’t!). Edinburgh is always a cheerful and bustling city, and I was looking forward to seeing vibrant rainbows and jubilant crowds filling the medieval cobblestone streets.

Edinburgh’s famous Victoria Street, taken from a terrace above.

When we arrived in Edinburgh, Jeanna treated us to lunch in a cozy restaurant. We enjoyed some classic Scottish cuisine and even tried cranachan, a local dessert made with whisky cream, oats, and raspberries (which was delicious!). After that, we spent some time exploring the city, and then it was time for the parade.

A glass of cranachan, a popular Scottish dessert, which I shared with other CEA CAPA students in Edinburgh.

When we stepped out of the quiet National Museum, we were immediately surrounded by bright colors, music, and laughter. Crowds of cheerful people filled the street of George IV Bridge as far as I could see, an endless rainbow wave marching southward. Everyone was decked out in bold outfits and waving flags without fear. The joyful energy was infectious!

Pride flags flying during the Edinburgh Pride Parade!

I suddenly felt a little embarrassed that I hadn’t thought to wear something so fashionable and brightly colored myself. That thought, however, quickly evaporated when I saw someone holding the combination aromantic and asexual flag. It made me incredibly happy to realize that there were people just like me celebrating right alongside everyone else.

All along the parade route, people lined the sidewalks and cheered the revelers on. There was even a group of people standing in the doorway of one of Edinburgh’s palatial cathedrals, making sure to let passersby know that queer people were welcome in their church. It was easy to get swept up in the collective joy.

What I Learned About Global Connection

As I was preparing to leave my home country for the first time, I was wrestling with some big unknowns. I wasn’t sure what my days would look like, how it would feel to be so far from home, whether I would feel lost or unwelcome or out of place. But Scottish hospitality is legendary, and it certainly extends to queer people. Even though I was a foreigner, I felt welcomed and celebrated during my stay. My time in Scotland helped me realize that I am not as disconnected from the world at large as I had thought. In other words, I feel like it helped me grow into a true global citizen—and find my place as a member of the worldwide queer community!