Egale Canada, one of the leading LGBTQ+ rights organizations in the country, has announced its decision to boycott all in-person events in the United States, citing the Trump administration’s ongoing attacks on the transgender community. The boycott will affect major gatherings such as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations and WorldPride, which is set to take place in Washington, D.C., later this year.
In a statement released this week, Egale Canada explained the rationale behind the decision, highlighting the significant risks faced by transgender and nonbinary individuals in the U.S. due to recent policy changes. “After deep consideration, we have decided not to engage in-person in this year’s Commission on the Status of Women or any other UN, OAS (Organization of American States), or global convergences, including WorldPride, taking place in the United States in the foreseeable future,” the group said.
Boycotting U.S. Events Amid Ongoing Transgender Rights Challenges
Egale Canada’s move comes as the U.S. government continues to roll back protections for transgender people. A key factor in the boycott decision was the U.S. State Department’s decision to stop allowing gender marker changes on U.S. passports, effectively halting the issuance of travel documents with the “X” gender marker. This change has left many nonbinary individuals unable to obtain documents that align with their gender identity. The removal of transgender-specific resources from the U.S. State Department website, replaced by the acronym “LGB” instead of “LGBTQI+,” has further marginalized transgender and intersex individuals within the larger LGBTQ+ community.
Egale Canada pointed to these actions as the primary reason for its withdrawal from participation in U.S.-hosted events. The organization expressed concerns about the safety of its transgender and nonbinary staff members, who would face potential discrimination or mistreatment at U.S. borders. “This decision is foremost based on the need to safeguard our trans and nonbinary staff who would face questionable treatment at land and aviation borders to attend such convenings,” the statement read.
The group also noted its solidarity with international colleagues who share similar concerns about entering the U.S. amid the ongoing legal and policy changes. The U.S. government’s crackdown on gender identity recognition has caused significant anxiety for many LGBTQ+ activists and travelers, particularly those from outside the country.
ACLU Lawsuit and Legal Uncertainty for Transgender Travelers
In response to these issues, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven individuals who have been unable to obtain U.S. passports that accurately reflect their gender identity. The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s “gender ideology” executive order, which mandates that government-issued identification documents, including passports, reflect a person’s sex “at conception.”
The full impact of this directive on transgender and nonbinary travelers remains uncertain. Immigration Equality, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, warned that travelers whose federal identification documents do not match their state-issued documents, such as a driver’s license, may face harassment or discrimination by travel security agents or airline personnel.
Broader Economic and Political Context for the Boycott
Egale Canada’s boycott is not limited to the Trump administration’s policies on transgender rights. The organization also cited the president’s recent threats against Canada, including a proposed 25% tariff on Canadian goods entering the U.S., as a factor in its decision. These economic and political threats have led some Canadians to reconsider their travel plans to the U.S. and to advocate for a broader boycott of U.S. goods and services in retaliation.
The group emphasized that its decision to boycott U.S. events is also a response to what it describes as “economic warfare” and threats to national sovereignty. “We cannot in good conscience engage in a process of disentangling our organization from the U.S. goods and services… and then proceed to travel to the U.S.,” Egale Canada’s statement read.
In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by making light of Canada’s sovereignty, joking about annexing the country as the United States’ fifty-first state. This idea was echoed in a Super Bowl interview with Fox News, where Trump reiterated his support for the notion.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to these remarks on Friday, calling Trump’s threats a “real thing” that could have serious consequences for both countries.
Ongoing Support for Transgender Rights and Global Advocacy
Despite the challenges, Egale Canada remains committed to advocating for transgender and LGBTQ+ rights on the global stage. The organization has long been a vocal supporter of policies that protect the rights of marginalized communities, and its decision to boycott U.S. events is a demonstration of its commitment to those principles.
While Egale Canada’s actions are rooted in the protection of transgender rights and a rejection of discriminatory policies, the organization also seeks to raise awareness about the broader implications of these policies for global LGBTQ+ communities. The boycott serves as both a protest and a call to action, urging the international community to stand in solidarity with transgender people and to hold the U.S. accountable for its treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals.
As the situation continues to unfold, Egale Canada’s decision to withdraw from U.S. events marks a significant stance in the ongoing battle for LGBTQ+ rights and the fight against discriminatory policies.
