News Travel Tourism: Canada Issues Warning to LGBT+ Travelers Visiting the United States

Ottawa has issued a warning to members of the LGBT+ community planning to visit the United States regarding potential risks they may encounter in certain U.S. states.

The Canadian government, in its online advisory published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, recommends travelers to "check local laws" in reference to "laws and policies that may affect" members of the LGBT+ community in specific U.S. states.

Typically, travel advisories from the Canadian government pertain to countries known for violating LGBT+ rights, such as Russia, Egypt, or Uganda.

In general, Canadian government travel advisories address risks related to political instability or natural disasters. When asked about this matter in a press conference, Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland emphasized that this decision was not politically motivated.

"We have government officials whose role is to observe what is happening in the world and monitor particular dangers that certain groups of Canadians may face," she stated.

Canada, with a population of 40 million, is home to approximately one million individuals from the LGBT+ community, according to Statistics Canada.

The United States is the top destination for Canadians, with 2.8 million visits in June alone.

Ottawa's advisory comes as anti-LGBT+ rhetoric intensifies in the United States, with a slew of laws targeting transgender individuals pushed by conservative lawmakers and targeted boycotts of brands that have supported LGBT+ causes, such as the supermarket chain Target. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court, for the first time, allowed certain businesses to refuse service to LGBT+ customers for religious reasons.