Ricardo Simich: Travelling under a rainbow flag

There are at least 72 countries where homosexuality is a crime. Photo / Getty Images

The world's not one big, inclusive dance party, writes Ricardo Simich.

Never take for granted the progressive laws we have in Godzone because, around the globe, there are many places where a person's sexuality inhibits their freedom and, in some cases, puts their life in peril.

During a trip to Los Angeles in 1998, the hate murder of Matthew Shepard, a college student in Wyoming, was on every newspaper front page. Those haunting pictures are still etched in my mind. It was a catalyst that made many parts of the USA take a good look in the mirror at how it treated the LGTBQ community.

Good old San Fran, LA, NY and Miami are not the only happy places for gay peeps any more, there is a multi-coloured sky throughout most parts of the US nowadays. Cape Town, London, Paris, Berlin, Toronto, Sao Paulo and Tel Aviv are all celebrated for their vibrant gay scenes.

However, the world is not one big, accepting dance party — there are at least 72 countries where homosexuality is a crime.

I have gay friends who enjoy that beacon of progressive tourism, Dubai. I prefer to stay in transit, rather than marvel at the air-conditioned mecca. It is illegal to be in a same sex relationship in Dubai. Most hotels won't allow gay couples to book a room, however, there are a small number that not only allow it, but also help guests find the underground gay scene.

The law of the land is where I set a benchmark for vacationing. You never know what could go wrong. I had a close call in Lower Manhattan on 9/11 and being without a passport leaves you feeling vulnerable.

Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nigeria, Sudan and Somalia execute people for being gay. Let's face it, these countries have bigger issues than chasing the pink dollar.

Honduras, Malaysia, Philippines, Iraq, Egypt, Afghanistan, Russia and even that great crossing of East to West, Turkey, aren't places you would run the rainbow flag up the pole.

It's nearly okay to be gay in China. Lonely Planet says a same-sex couple staying in a hotel room with only one bed will rarely attract any resistance or comments. Since 1997, homosexuality has been legal in China— but don't expect to get married there anytime soon.

To be fair, when in Rome ... For instance, your average tourist is going to be very respectful of the local culture in any country with Sharia Law. If you can't drink legally in a country, forget about feeling safe as a gay person, or for that matter, having sex out of marriage, full stop.

There are plenty of party places in Indonesia but find yourself in a conservative province and you are at the mercy of the mood of the authorities.

Same again with the Maldives. It may look pretty, but defo don't flaunt your sexuality.

Travelling up the Nile and visiting St Petersburg are on my wish list. How to do it safely?

Travellers know Egypt is volatile. The security services actively work against the gay community. Cases of entrapment followed by detention and torture are regularly documented by human rights' groups. Gay websites are routinely monitored by the security services and chat groups are used to set up fake meetings.

Tip here: a Contiki is your best bet.

Entrapment is rife in Mother Russia too; beatings, murder and blackmail are often set up by thugs on social dating apps. They are also known to check out your social media too, so deleting gay pride links may be a smart option if you are unlucky enough to get a homophobic wanker checking your phone at Customs.

When I finally go to check out the gilded summer palaces in St Petersburg, I will remember back to when men at those courts wore wigs and powdered their faces and power was often deemed by the size of the diamond buttons down their velvet coats, not by wrestling bears.