Home » Canada warns LGBTQ travelers about risks in the US

Canada warns LGBTQ travelers about risks in the US

by Ainsley Ingram
Canada is advising LGBTQ travelers planning a trip to the United States to consider how they might be affected by recently passed laws in some states, citing the risk of potential dangers, Ottawa says.

Anti-LGBTQ demonstrations in neighboring United States have increased 30-fold in the past year compared to 2017, and legal action to limit LGBTQ rights is mounting.

The Canada travel alert now includes an alert for those who identify as dual spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, quizzical or intersex — or 2SLGBTQI+ for short.

“Some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ individuals,” the statement said. “Check relevant state and local laws.”

The Recommendation did not specify which States it referred to.

The U.S. Department of State said the United States is committed to “promoting tolerance, inclusion, justice and dignity” while advancing the rights of the LGBTQ community, and stands ready to work with like-minded partners from around the world to do so.

Asked why the advice had been updated, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the Canadian government had deployed experts “to look around the world and monitor closely to see if there are particular threats to certain groups of Canadians.”

Speaking to reporters in Atlantic Canada, she added, “Every Canadian government … must put the interests and safety of every individual Canadian and every single group of Canadians at the center of everything we do. That’s what we’re doing now.”

She declined to say whether talks were being held with the Biden administration ahead of the change. The overall risk profile for the US remains in the green, indicating normal security practices.

The US is Canadians’ favorite travel destination, and in June, residents returned from around 2.8 million trips south of the border.

According to official data released last year, approximately 1 million people, 4% of Canada’s population ages 15 and older, are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or have a sexual orientation other than straight.

The largest LGBTQ advocacy organization in the United States, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), has declared a national state of emergency, citing the proliferation of laws in state capitals aimed at regulating the lives of queer people.

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