Global Affairs Canada, a government arm charged with managing diplomatic relations and providing consular assistance, issued a safety advisory for the Canadian LGBTQ community who plan to visit or reside in the United States.
No Specific States Included in the Advisory
The agency didn’t specify which states were included in the advisory but urged travelers to check local laws before taking a trip to a specific destination.
What Travelers Should Look Out For
The government of Canada advised LGBTQ travelers to watch for laws that “criminalize same-sex activities and relationships [and] criminalize people based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics.”
Republican States Pass Laws Targeting LGBTQ Communities
The move comes after a number of Republican-led states including Florida, passed laws affecting LGBTQ communities over the last year.
Access to Gender-Affirming Care is Restricted
Republican-led laws nationwide limit access to gender-affirming care, penalize transgender individuals for using gender identity-matching restrooms, and empower schools to misgender and involuntarily disclose transgender and non-binary students, among other provisions.
Florida Expands Don’t Say Gay Bill
In Florida, HB 1069, which has been enacted into law, silences educators by prohibiting any instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity from Pre-K through 8th grade, expanding the “Don’t Say LGBTQ+ Law” passed last year.
Limiting LGTBQ Discussions in Schools
The bill, passed in Florida in 2022, also known as the Parental Rights in Education bill, that critics infamously called the “Don’t Say Gay” limits LGBTQ discussion in schools, effectively saying that conversations about sexual orientation and gender shouldn’t start at an early age.
It also gives parents final say about what their children learn and at what age.
Some U.S. States Restrict the Rights of Transgender Community
“Certain states in the U.S. have passed laws banning drag shows and restricting the transgender community from access to gender-affirming care and from participation in sporting events,” Jérémie Bérubé, a spokesman for Global Affairs, said in a statement.
“Laws and customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics can be very different from those in Canada,” the statement added.
Canadians Could Face Risks and Barriers Outside The Country
“As a result, Canadians could face certain barriers and risks when they travel outside Canada.”
The Human Rights Campaign Declares an Emergency
In June, The Human Rights Campaign, the biggest U.S. organization that aims to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. saying that travel advisories alone aren’t enough to help people living in the states that passed laws targeting LGBTQ people.
The NAACP Issues Advisory For Florida
Earlier, The NAACP, which advocates for African Americans, issued a travel advisory for Florida joining a group of other organizations including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino civil rights organization, and Equality Florida, a gay rights advocacy group, in issuing travel advisories for the state.
Florida Tourism Suffers
Florida’s Broward County, home to popular resort town Fort Lauderdale about 30 minutes north of Miami, said losses were mounting as more conventions decided to stay away, citing fear for the safety of diverse groups participating in these events amid “unfriendly political environment.”
14 Conventions Bowed Out of Florida
So far, 14 conventions that have been previously scheduled for Florida, decided to go elsewhere, according to a report published by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Powerful Conservative Groups at Play
The Associated Press analysis found that many bills seeking to ban or restrict gender-affirming health care for transgender youth, who have been the primary targets of state legislation this year, sprang from the pens of a few powerful conservative interest groups.
Not a Good Image of the U.S.
“There are 500 anti-LGBTQ pieces of legislation making their way through various state legislatures at the moment,” said Helen Kennedy, the executive director of Egale Canada, an LGBTQ+ rights group in Toronto. “It’s not a good image on the U.S.”
Similar Policies Enacted In Canada
Similar policies have been recently enacted in the provinces of Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, which now require parental consent when children under 16 years old want to use different names or pronouns at school.
Walmart Employee Terminated After 16 Years As She Exposed Dark Side of Retail Online
Platforms like TikTok have become a popular outlet for users to share behind-the-scenes revelations about various industries, shedding light on their harsh realities. From Domino’s delivery drivers exposing their meager tips to Instacart shoppers calling out fraudulent refund attempts, these revelations can have unintended consequences when higher-ups take notice. Walmart Employee Terminated After 16 Years As She Exposed Dark Side of Retail Online
Die Quickly, Quietly and CHEAPLY: Doctors Expose Dark Truths About Profit-Driven US Healthcare System
A doctor’s video exposing the profit-driven motives of health insurance companies and their alleged disregard for patient well-being goes viral, sparking discussions about the need for healthcare system reform. Die Quickly, Quietly and CHEAPLY: Doctors Expose Dark Truths About Profit-Driven US Healthcare System
Passenger Called Out “Emotional Support Dog” Seated Next to Her Genuine Service Dog on Flight
Remember that time when people were trying to pass off all sorts of creatures as emotional support animals to bring them on airplanes? From peacocks to tortoises, goats to monkeys, and even turkeys, it seemed like anything could be labeled as “emotional support” to justify its presence. Passenger Called Out “Emotional Support Dog” Seated Next to Her Genuine Service Dog on Flighasdt
“It’s Legal Tender!” – Obnoxious Customer Gets EXACTLY What He Demanded From This Cunning Cashier
Confronted by an entitled customer, this quick-thinking cashier makes sure he has a change in attitude. She complies with his requests and without breaking a rule ensures their transaction is anything but convenient. “It’s Legal Tender!” – Obnoxious Customer Gets EXACTLY What He Demanded From This Cunning Cashier
“Not Silenced” – Huge Protests After Judge Orders Newspaper to Destroy Electronic Data Going Against the First Amendment and Freedom of the Press
In a recent decision, a judge has ruled that Kansas authorities must delete all electronic copies of a small newspaper’s files that were made during a police raid on its office and has people questioning the police department’s understanding of the First Amendment. “Not Silenced” – Huge Protests After Judge Orders Newspaper to Destroy Electronic Data Going Against the First Amendment and Freedom of the Press
The post “A State of Emergency” – Canada Raises Alarm as Travel Advisory for LGBTQ+ Community as 500 Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws Sweep the U.S. first appeared on Wealthy Living.
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Source: The Guardian