This group acts as the National Peace Corps Association’s (NPCA) official affiliate group for Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who identify as LGBTQI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, Queer, Intersex, and other gender/sexual minorities). This group is a new incarnation of the LGBT RPCVs group, which was an amazing group for many years before the COVID-19 pandemic. We are a registered 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC. One of our major goals is to create a network of services and support that uplift Peace Corps Volunteers from the start of their application, through their service, and beyond. Learn more

Support our work by purchasing LGBTQI+ RPCV merchandise from our shop, or donate directly through Zelle, PayPal, or check.

We have multiple, meaningful ways for RPCVs to get involved. During our quarterly Community Calls we gather the community to provide announcements, updates, and spend time in fellowship. You can contact us to see when our next call will take place, or sign up for our newsletter, which will include the date of our next Community Call. 

We invite you to be a guest on our monthly podcast, VolunQueers. Recording an episode with Lex takes about an hour, and is a great way to commemorate your service, share stories, and possibly inspire the next generation of volunteers. All episodes are tailored to the comfort level of the guest, so if there are things you don’t want to share, including your name, we can accommodate you. Talking not your thing? You can also share your story in writing, for visitors to read on our website.

You can also volunteer to speak with prospective PCVs about service. To date, we have matched nearly 50 RPCVs with future PCVs so that the next generation can ask questions about specific countries, or speak with people with similar identities about what their service was like.

Have an idea that you don’t see here? Contact the board and let us know! We love to get new ideas from members.

Short answer: Yes, the Peace Corps does accept applications, and place volunteers who are LGB. There are some countries where same-sex couples can serve together as well. If you are applying to serve, your Placement Officer can help you identify which countries may be the best fit for you. 

Extended answer: Organizationally, the Peace Corps is generally supportive of their volunteers. Over the last decade, Peace Corps staff in many host countries have undergone DEIA training to help them understand and support LGB volunteers within their local context. However, some Peace Corps’ structures may change based on the current administration’s politics, affecting how LGBTQI+ identities are addressed. Staff are usually able to respond/adapt to individual needs/concerns.

Views on queer individuals can vary greatly between countries, regions, cities, and individuals, so your experiences in service will largely be defined by the local culture you find yourself in. We have an amazing network of former PCVs who can answer country-specific questions if you contact us.

Joining the Peace Corps is a highly personal decision that may not be correct for everyone at every moment. Before joining, it’s important to consider your personal motivations for service, your career goals, financial stability, and your capacity to handle the physical and mental challenges presented by service.

Historically, the Peace Corps has not had the most accepting policies for those on the gender spectrum—often clouding this bias in language about safety and security and conforming to locally accepted (often binary) gender roles. The current administration prohibits Peace Corps medical staff from providing any “transition-related” medical care. For some trans Volunteers this has meant choosing between service and hormone access. Despite this hurdle, many trans and non-binary individuals have been able to complete service successfully.

Views on queer individuals can vary greatly between countries, regions, cities, and individuals, so your experiences in service will largely be defined by the local culture you find yourself in. We have an amazing network of former PCVs who can answer country-specific questions if you contact us.

Joining the Peace Corps is a highly personal decision that may not be correct for everyone at every moment. Before joining, it’s important to consider your personal motivations for service, your career goals, financial stability, and your capacity to handle the physical and mental challenges presented by service.

The Peace Corps does not have an official stance on whether Volunteers share their personal identities with those in their communities. The Peace Corps often encourages PCVs to exercise discretion in the early days of their service to evaluate the local culture and opinions around LGBTQI+ identities. For some, being openly queer may be a possibility and have few consequences, while others may need to keep it a closely guarded secret. Some episodes of our podcast, VolunQueers, explore coming out during service. Alternatively, we can connect you with a queer RPCV, who can answer questions about how people in their country of service viewed queer people.