I can only speak in general for the situation in which I am living, but I would love to hear the experiences of others, either currently serving or from RPCV’s. The point of this writing is to generate discussion, opinions, and points for future improvement. Headquarters regularly checks up on this subreddit, so this is also an opportunity to speak on areas they have yet to address, that are impactful for both volunteers and those still in the application process.

Going through the application and interview process, I was very cognizant of speaking candidly about my LGBTQ identity as someone applying to “serve anywhere” (in Lat/South America specifically). I highlighted that I was a native Spanish speaker, with much experience living abroad including in Ecuador, Peru, Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico, etc. I stressed that wherever they put me, it was of the utmost importance that Peace Corps take into consideration my identity as an LGBTQ person and not place me in an unsafe or hostile setting with either country or site selection.

Granted, as any Peace Corps Volunteer will attest to, there are many instances in which Peace Corps asks us to be flexible, resilient, and patient. The question is, where is the line between what volunteers can be expected to endure and the indication of a larger systemic problem that can be seen throughout Peace Corps operations?

The country I was placed in is one of the most unfriendly countries towards the LGBTQ community in all of Latin America. I was immediately aware of this and brought up this concern multiple times during my interview process, of which I was told to trust the Peace Corps and was encouraged to remain closeted during service as a means of protection. I was also informed that failure to accept this invitation meant they could not assure me a future invitation, so I accepted and chose to trust them. In PST I was told that the country was asked if they would be able to host same-sex couples, but the country declined citing likely safety issues for those volunteers.

A piece that I am including as a rumination, but not as part of my lived experience, is the question of trans-identifying persons in the Peace Corps. In-country staff, despite having LGBTQ trainings, do not have a staff member equipped or dedicated to supporting diverse volunteers, since that responsibility is placed in the hands of fellow volunteers. Some in-country staff have privately expressed that they would truly not feel confident or capable in supporting someone who identifies as either a trans or genderqueer volunteer. I often wonder how Peace Corps would handle a volunteer that requests to get on Hormone Replacement Therapy while in service, since there is no basis for that in our medical handbooks.

According to the Interagency Report on the Implementation of the Presidential Memorandum on Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI Persons Around the World (2022) “the agency’s employees are trained and equipped with resources to foster an inclusive and supportive agency culture and environment for trainees, Volunteers, staff members, and the host communities and partners it serves around the globe.” Although I have presented, expressed, and reminded staff of my pronoun’s multiple times, I have yet to have a single instance in the past 6 months where staff addresses me by the correct pronouns.

The memorandum highlights that the Peace Corps has “conducted 20 LGBTQI specific Volunteer recruiting events with approximately 300 participants ‘…’ resulting in 104 new candidates for Peace Corps Service” and that “each Recruiter is working to achieve a goal of incorporating a minimum of 8 diversity outreach events through the end of FY22, including activities that provide outreach and support specifically to the LGBTQI community.” My question here is that if the Peace Corps is consciously targeting the LGBTQ community to serve as volunteers, why is it that they then ask those same volunteers to be ready to live in the closet throughout their service and hide their identity?

Does the Peace Corps truly want the skills and unique outlooks that can only come from the LGBTQ community, or do they just want to fill a diversity hire checkbox? There is so much I feel that I could share with others if I had the chance to live openly. I can’t however, because of the threat to my work and safety that has been reiterated multiple times by staff. I know the value of seeing people be brave in their own lives, living their lives the way they want to and owning their truth, a reality of which must be completely hidden by many LGBTQ volunteers. If the Peace Corps truly “aims to build a Volunteer corps and workforce that reflect U.S. and host country diversity and create inclusive and equitable systems and programs” why are they not ready to publicly support these same volunteers?