Canadians with gender-neutral passports face uncertainty after Trump’s new order
Ottawa: So, there’s this big question mark hanging over how Trump’s latest executive order will affect Canadians with gender-neutral passports. It’s a bit of a mess right now.
Basically, Trump has decided that the U.S. will only recognize two genders: male and female. This means all federal documents, including passports, will have to stick to that. Since 2019, Canadians have been able to use an “X” on their passports if they don’t identify strictly as male or female.
Now, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency hasn’t given a clear answer on what this means for Canadians with an “X” when they try to cross the border. They just passed the buck to the White House, which hasn’t responded yet.
Helen Kennedy from Egale Canada says it’s a really tough time for folks with gender-neutral passports. She mentioned that not knowing what to expect makes it hard for people to feel safe about traveling to the States.
Fae Johnstone from Queer Momentum is also feeling uneasy. She’s decided to avoid traveling to the U.S. for now because she’s worried her passport might not be accepted.
It’s already been tricky for Canadians with “X” passports when trying to enter the U.S. Kennedy pointed out that border officers can deny entry based on that alone, and now it’s become an official policy.
Global Affairs Canada is keeping an eye on the situation and advises Canadians to check their travel advisory website for updates. They remind everyone that it’s up to each country to decide who gets in, so travelers need to be cautious.
In light of recent anti-2SLGBTQ+ laws in various U.S. states, the Canadian government has updated its travel advice. They’re urging travelers to be aware of laws that could affect them based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Both Kennedy and Johnstone are calling for clearer guidelines from Canada about what this all means for transgender and non-binary Canadians heading to the U.S. For now, Kennedy suggests that anyone with a gender-neutral passport should think twice before traveling unless it’s really necessary.
