The Canadian government on Tuesday warned its LGBTQ citizens planning to travel to the United States that they may face risks in certain U.S. territories and urged them to “check relevant national and local regulations.”
The notice links to a government website that points out that some foreign jurisdictions may target people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Published online on the Global Affairs Canada website, these warnings generally target countries known for violating the rights of LGBTQ people, such as Russia, Egypt and Uganda.
Canada’s travel advisories generally focus on risks associated with political instability or natural disasters.
Asked about the warning at a press conference on Tuesday, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stressed that the decision was not political.
“We have professionals in government whose job it is to look closely at the world and monitor whether there is any particular danger to certain groups of Canadians,” he said.
Canada, with a total population of 40 million, has one million LGBTQ citizens, according to Statistics Canada.
The United States is the top destination for Canadians traveling abroad, with 2.8 million visits in June alone.
Ottawa’s call comes as anti-LGBTQ rhetoric grows in the United States, where several states have banned drag shows and banned transgender people from sporting events.
Additionally, supporters of the bans have launched boycotts of brands, like the Target supermarket franchise, that support LGBTQ causes.
Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that employers have the right to refuse service to LGBTQ consumers for religious reasons. [rd/lt]
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