Canada has warned LGBTQ+ citizens traveling to the U.S. that they may face discrimination if they visit some states.
A travel advisory issued by Global Affairs Canada on Tuesday morning said: “Some states have enacted laws and policies that may affect 2SLGBTQI+ [two spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex, and more] persons.”
The advisory did not specify which states it meant, but recommended that travelers “check relevant state and local laws” when planning trips.
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This year alone, 22 U.S. states have passed over 100 bills limiting or banning LGBTQ+ rights, according to NBC News. Many of the bills target trans rights, including restricting access to gender-affirming healthcare, or drag shows for minors.
The American Civil Liberties Union is tracking 495 anti-LGBTQ+ bills in the 2023 legislative session. It states that 83 of those bills have passed into law and 216 have been defeated.
Florida’s so-called Don’t Say Gay bill was signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis last year, banning discussions of gender and sexual identity in schools.
In April, an LGBTQ+ advocacy group took the “extraordinary” step of warning against travel to Florida over concerns about “health, safety and freedom.”
A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada said in a statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation: “Since the beginning of 2023, 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.”
The statement continued: “The information is provided to enable travelers to make their own informed decisions regarding destinations. Outside Canada, laws and customs related to sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics can be very different from those in Canada.”
Newsweek contacted Global Affairs Canada for comment by email on Wednesday.
Canada’s deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, said on Tuesday that the travel advisory was based on the judgment of professionals in the government department and should not be interpreted as a slight to the countries’ relationship.
“We are able to manage that relationship regardless of the choice that the people of the United States make,” said Freeland.
“Even as we work hard on that government-to-government relationship, 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 every single group of Canadians.”
In a written statement to the Canadian press that did not directly mention the travel advisory, the U.S. ambassador to Canada David Cohen said: “The United States is committed to promoting tolerance, inclusion, justice and dignity while helping to advance equality for the LGBTQI+ community.”
He added: “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.”
Update, 08/30/23 6:25 a.m. ET: This article was updated to add extra information.