Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has been a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ individuals, attending many pride parades over the years, and issuing heartfelt apologies for the “systematic oppression” facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and two-spirit citizens.
The warning is extended to Canadians traveling to the U.S. who identify as “2SLGBTQI+” — which stands for two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex, or other not represented identity. According to the Canadian government, over one million citizens now identify as “2SLGBTQI+” in the country.
The updated advisory states, “Some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ persons." The Canadian government also warns these travelers to “Check relevant state and local laws,” before visiting.
Generally, for all travel, the Canadian government warns, “Carefully consider whether you are comfortable visiting a destination where the laws and social customs affecting 2SLGBTQI+ people differ from those in Canada.”
“Legislation on 2SLGBTQI+ relationships may change from one region to another, even within the same country,” the page titled “Travel and your sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics” reads.
“[Y]ou may face discrimination or harassment if social customs are challenging for 2SLGBTQI+ people.”
The Canadian Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, supported the advisory being updated to reflect new state laws that ban doctors from performing child gender-reassignment procedures, and from prescribing puberty blockers or hormone treatments. “Every Canadian government, very much including our government, needs to put at the center of everything we do the interests and the safety of every single Canadian, and of every single group of Canadians,” Freeland said. “That’s what we’re doing now. That’s what we’re always going to do.”
A U.S. State Department spokesperson responded to the travel advisory update, stating, “The United States is committed to promoting tolerance, inclusion, justice, and dignity while helping to advance the equality and human rights of LGBTQI+ persons. 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.”
In recent years, some states have passed laws banning drag shows or other “adult performances” from being acted out in front of children. Many states are now passing “women’s bill of rights” laws, protecting female spaces and sports teams.
