Canada has published a warning for LGBTQIA+ travellers making plans to visit the US.
On 29 August, the Canadian government’s “United States travel advice” page was amended with a statement addressing its 2SLGBTQI+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or intersex) community.
The message encourages caution for queer individuals travelling to certain members of the US and reads; “some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ persons. Check relevant state and local laws.”
No specific laws or policies are mentioned, nor are any particular states identified as being of risk to the community.
READ MORE: The Future of Queer Travel report identifies eight trends for LGBTQ+ holidays
Warnings for LGBTQIA+ travellers are present on the travel advice pages for other countries, however, they are generally reserved for those known to have discriminatory policies or attitudes towards the community.
A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada suggested that the move was made in response to US laws aimed at the trans community and which target drag performers.
“Since the beginning of 2023, certain states in the US have passed laws banning drag shows and restricting the transgender community from access to gender-affirming care and from participation in sporting events,” the spokesperson explained in a media statement.
“The information is provided to enable travellers to make their own informed decisions regarding destinations,” they continued. “Outside Canada, laws and customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics can be very different from those in Canada.”
READ MORE: 4 in 10 LGBTQ+ people research their threat of safety before travelling, study finds
Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland also came out in support of the change while speaking in the city of Moncton.
“Every Canadian government, very much including our government, needs to put at the centre of everything we do the interests and the safety of every single Canadian, and of every single group of Canadians,” she said.
“That’s what we’re doing now. That’s what we’re always going to do.”
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