Global Affairs Canada issues LGBTQ+ travel advisory for United States

Story by The Canadian Press •

OTTAWA — Canada has updated its international travel advisories to warn members of the LGBTQ+ community that they may face discrimination if they travel to some places in the United States.

The move comes after at least 18 U.S. states passed laws that limit or ban certain things relevant to the community, including gender-affirming medical care for minors and teaching about sexual orientation in schools.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security also warned in May that threats of violence against the LGBTQ+ community were becoming more frequent and intense.

Mid-morning Tuesday, Global Affairs Canada changed its U.S. travel advice to include a caveat for LGBTQ+ travellers because "some states have enacted laws and policies" that may affect them.

Unlike similar warnings for several other countries, such as Tanzania or Egypt, Canada's U.S. warning doesn't specify which states, or which of their laws or customs, are of concern. It only says travellers should check the local laws for their destination before travelling.

On a more general page about advice to international LGBTQ+ travellers, the government provides some links to resources to look up relevant laws around the world.

"Carefully consider whether you are comfortable visiting a destination where the laws and social customs affecting (LGBTQ+) people differ from those in Canada," the government warns.

In May, the NAACP and the Human Rights Campaign, a U.S.-based LGBTQ+ advocacy group, were among several civil rights groups issuing their own travel advisories specifically for Florida. That came after Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, signed into law restrictions on drag shows, the use of bathrooms and the use of preferred pronouns in schools.

Florida teachers are also now required to teach that sex is "an immutable biological trait," and that students must only use the pronoun of the sex on a person's birth certificate. They also cannot teach anything about gender identity or sexual orientation until high school, a law critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill.

The groups said their advice wasn't to avoid Florida at all costs. But they said if people still chose to travel there, they should use the opportunity to speak out against the laws, and if they chose not to, they should be clear about the reason why.

Canada's general page for LGBTQ+ travellers warns that if they elected to use an X on their passport where it identifies gender, they may face discrimination in some places.

When asked about the change, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said Tuesday that the travel advisories issued by Global Affairs Canada are based on advice from professionals in the department whose job it is to monitor for particular dangers.

She would not say if the Liberals had discussed the matter with U.S. President Biden, but said the relationship with the U.S. is one of the most important for the government.

"We are able to manage that relationship regardless of the choice that the people of the United States make," said Freeland.

"Even as we work hard on that government-to-government relationship, 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 every single group of Canadians."

In a written statement, U.S. Ambassador David Cohen did not directly address the new travel warning but said his country "stands for equality and equal treatment for all."

"The United States is committed to promoting tolerance, inclusion, justice and dignity while helping to advance equality for the LGBTQI+ community," he wrote.

"We all must continue to do this work with our like-minded partners not only in the United States, not only in Canada, but throughout the world.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 29, 2023.

Mia Rabson, The Canadian Press

Canada advises LGBTQ2 travellers to be aware of U.S. state laws
Story by Sean Previl •

Canadian and U.S. flags fly atop the Peace Arch monument at the Douglas-Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey, B.C., on Monday, November 8, 2021. Fully vaccinated Canadians were once again paying long-awaited visits to loved ones, vacation properties and tourist destinations in the United States on Monday as southbound travel restrictions finally began to ease along the world's longest unmilitarized land border.

© THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Amid a wave of legislation in some U.S. states targeting the LGBTQ2 community, Canada has updated its travel advisory for the country specifically advising people to check state and local laws before visiting.

While overall travel advice around risk levels or health concerns has not changed for the U.S. by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the department updated its "laws and culture" section specifically to add a section on considerations for the LGBTQ2 community.

"Some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ persons," the advisory states, using the expanded term that includes reference to two-spirit, intersex and other sexualities.

The advice includes a link to the Canadian government's webpage for travel safety and advice for Canadians who are LGBTQ2.

"Not all countries have the same values and legal system that we have in Canada. As a result, it is important for you to be informed about the legal framework and social customs governing sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics in your destination country," that page notes.

The change marks a shift from just four months ago when several pieces of legislation in Florida prompted organizations including Equality Florida and the Human Rights Campaign to issue travel advisories of their own against coming to the state.

Video: Canadian Civil Liberties Association says anti-LGBTQ sentiment on the rise

When asked by Global News at the time if Canada intended on changing its own travel advisories or advising caution for the United States, GAC said it had issued advice specifically around threats to members of the community before, such as in Uganda.

However, in May, the department did not say whether officials were weighing a similar warning to make note of laws in states like Florida or Tennessee in the travel advice it issues for the U.S.

“Foreign laws and customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics can be very different from those in Canada,” the department had said to Global News.

“As a result, LGTBQ2 travellers could face certain barriers and risks when travelling outside Canada.”

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said travel advisories are done "professionally" by those in government whose job is to look "carefully around the world" and monitor if there are dangers to certain groups of Canadians.

She added the relationship with the U.S. is a priority for the federal government and it works to "manage that relationship regardless of the choices that the people of the United States make," and that they are focused on protecting Canadians.

"Even as we work hard on that government-to-government relationship, 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.”

The response also cited the webpage on travel and Canadians' sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.

That page advises those who plan to visit other countries to be aware of potential restrictions they could face such as if they have an "X" on their gender marker in a passport, and potential difficulties in receiving certain services such as health care due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"Research the laws, safety recommendations and social customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics in your destination country," it states.

While no part of the U.S. has criminalized homosexuality, some Republican-led states have put in place laws restricting or banning gender-affirming treatment, limiting drag artists from performing in public spaces, and prohibiting classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier this year noted a 35 per cent jump in hate crimes in its most recent 2021 data, led by a rise in attacks that targeted sexual orientation.