Denmark's Foreign Ministry has updated its travel advice to the United States for transgender people, following the lead of other European countries such as Germany and Finland, which have suggested that members of minorities may face difficulties entering the United States.
Denmark has changed its official website to warn transgender people to contact the US Embassy before traveling to the country.
“When applying for an ESTA or a US visa, you can choose between two gender options: male or female,” says a new warning for travelers from Denmark.
“If your passport lists gender X or you have changed your gender, it is recommended that you contact the U.S. Embassy prior to travel for instructions on what to do next,” the ministry advises.
While the travel advisory does not specifically mention the Trump administration, it comes just weeks after the US president signed an executive order requiring the federal government to define gender exclusively as male or female and reflect that on official documents such as passports and in policies such as federal prison assignment orders.
The US State Department has stopped issuing travel documents with the “X” gender marker, which is preferred by many non-binary people who do not identify strictly as male or female.
The department also banned citizens from changing the gender listed on their passports or obtaining new passports that reflect their gender rather than the gender assigned at birth.
The head of the transgender group LGBT+ Denmark, Susanne Brunner, told Danish radio station RadioIII that her organization had approached the Danish Foreign Ministry this week asking for an update on the guidelines.
She noted that there are several thousand people in Denmark who have changed their legal gender and could face trouble at airports when trying to enter the United States or even be denied entry because their passports do not list the gender assigned at birth.
“If you are transgender or have an X on your passport, are you at risk of being refused entry? We would like to have clear answers to this question,” Ms Brunner said.
Other European countries have also changed their official guidelines for members of the transgender community in response to the situation in the US.
Earlier this month, the German Foreign Ministry issued an advisory advising “travelers with gender assignment X or whose current gender assignment differs from the gender assigned at birth” to contact the U.S. diplomatic mission in Germany “before entering the country and inquire about applicable entry requirements.”
Finland also informs potential travelers on its official website that if their “current gender listed on their passport differs from the gender assigned at birth, U.S. authorities may deny entry.”
“It is recommended that you check with US authorities in advance for entry requirements.”
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
