People hold pride flags during the Gay Pride parade in Toronto July 1, 2012. REUTERS/Mark Blinch Acquire Licensing Rights
OTTAWA, Aug 29 (Reuters) – Canada, citing the risk of potential dangers, is advising LGBTQ travelers planning trips to the United States to check how they might be affected by recently passed laws in some states, Ottawa said on Tuesday.
Anti-LGBTQ demonstrations in the United States last year rocketed 30-fold compared with 2017 and legal moves to restrict LGBTQ rights are on the rise.
Canada’s travel advisory for the United States now includes a cautionary message for those who consider themselves two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or intersex – or 2SLGBTQI+ for short.
“Some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ persons,” the advisory says. “Check relevant state and local laws.”
The advisory did not specify which states it was referring to.
The U.S. State Department said the United States was committed to “promoting tolerance, inclusion, justice, and dignity” while advancing the rights of the LGBTQ community and was prepared to work with like-minded partners from across the world in doing so.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, asked why the advice had been updated, said the Canadian government employed experts “to look carefully around the world and to monitor whether there are particular dangers to particular groups of Canadians.”
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