Safe tourism if you're gay???
Hi there. My partner of 5+ years has suggested meeting together in Zanzibar. We both know the stigma around gay people across Africa so our plan is to just keep that part private and tell everyone we're good friends who like to make music together (he wants to shoot some videos with my go pro and put together a couple songs with me).
However, Im worried that I might already stand out as a white American, but there's also the issue of my voice and hair. I'm worried I might appear too feminine even if I try not to. But I also don't want to overthink the attitudes of people I've never met. I've just seen some mentions about people being harassed in Tanzania for being suspected of being gay since it's criminalized and heavily stigmatized.
Do you think Zanzibar would be safe for me and my partner if we kept our relationship private? I even plan to look for 2 bed hotel rooms and keeping our luggage separate and making both beds appear to be slept in separately. Again, tell me if I'm overthinking this. The only other country I've traveled to was Japan in 2023.