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Denmark and Finland have recently revised their travel advisories for transgender individuals heading to the United States. This move aligns them with several other European nations that have issued similar warnings amid growing concerns regarding the treatment of transgender travelers at U.S. borders.
The Danish government announced that it now recommends transgender travelers to reach out to the U.S. embassy in Copenhagen before their trip. This precaution aims to clarify any potential issues related to their travel documents.
This advisory update follows significant legislative and policy changes introduced during Donald Trump’s presidency, which saw a renewed focus on rolling back rights for transgender and non-binary individuals. Key changes included a stance that recognized only two genders and executive orders that aimed to limit transgender participation in the military, sports, and access to gender-transition healthcare for minors.
Although the Danish foreign ministry did not mention Trump directly, it highlighted a compatibility issue regarding the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization. This system restricts choices to either male or female, while Denmark’s laws permit individuals to identify as X, a non-binary option.
The Danish travel advisory explicitly advises, “If your passport features the gender designation X or if you have changed your gender, it is advisable to contact the U.S. embassy before traveling for guidance on how to proceed.”
So far, there have been no reported instances of Danish citizens being denied entry to the U.S. or detained. However, advocacy groups such as LGBT+ Danmark have urged the government to issue this travel advisory out of concern for potential discrimination or harassment at airports. Susanne Branner Jespersen, representing the group, expressed worries that travelers could face uncomfortable situations upon arrival. “We are concerned that people could be stopped at the airport and refused entry, or that something inappropriate and uncomfortable could happen at the airport,” she told Danish broadcaster Radio IIII.
In a similar vein, Germany also updated its travel guidance earlier this month, cautioning that transgender individuals or those with X markers on their passports should consult U.S. diplomatic missions prior to departure.
Finland followed suit, revising its travel guidance to alert travelers that discrepancies between their current gender as indicated on their passport and the sex assigned at birth may lead to entry refusals by U.S. authorities. This update occurred in mid-March.
Other European nations have increased their scrutiny of U.S. entry requirements. Following reports that three Germans were detained at the U.S. border, Germany emphasized in its advisory that possessing a visa or entry waiver does not guarantee admission into the country.
A representative from the German foreign ministry reiterated, “The final decision on whether a person can enter the U.S. lies with the U.S. border authorities.”
Changes to advisory guidelines have also been observed in the UK, where officials have reaffirmed that failing to adhere to entry rules may result in arrest or detention. This update comes on the heels of an incident involving a British tourist detained for ten days, prompted by a misrepresentation of her visa type.
When asked about these alterations, the UK Foreign Office opted not to disclose the reasoning behind the changes or the timeline of implementation, leaving travelers with more questions as they prepare for transatlantic journeys.
Source
www.theguardian.com