If Washington begins worldwide, some foreigners are away

In Washington, large rainbow flags fly next to the stars and stripes when the city takes part in the world Pride, the global celebration of the LGBTC culture and identity.

But getting the world this year turned out to be difficult. Some international travelers choose to miss a two -year event about travel fears, while others protest against President Donald Trump’s policies.

Alice Sirer, a data analyst founded in Montreal, planned to be present. But traveling to the United States was incredibly at this point, she said the BBC.

“Now the risk of coming and especially as a woman,” she said.

The American capital has received an application for worldwide pride over the years before Trump’s re -election. In January, the organizers of the event predicted a celebration, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of March in Washington, will attract three million visitors and contributed almost $ 800 million in the local economy.

But their expectations have now dropped to approximately a third of previous estimates. Hotel filler coefficients are also reduced compared to last year.

The 30 -year -old Ms. Sirer is occupied both by Canada and the United States, but says she has not been able to restore her passport in the United States from the new rules implemented by the Trump administration, which prevents the Transgender American to change the gender to official documents.

The White House states that it protects “biological reality of sex”.

She could travel south with her Canadian passport, but she was worried that border agents may not accept her gender, which is included in the list of women in her Canadian documents.

Reports of the detained and taken guard of other foreign travelers caused problems, she said.

“It’s too dangerous to risk it,” she said.

A press secretary for the US Customs and Border Protection said a person’s gender identity does not make them unacceptable.

“The gender of the foreign traveler, as shown in the passport, and their personal beliefs about sexuality do not make a person unacceptable,” the BBC press said in a statement. “Claims to the opposite false.”

But Ms Siregar is not alone in her problems. Several European governments, including Germany, Finland and Denmark, have issued recommendations for travel for transgenders and non -businesses traveling to the United States. Australia’s equality, propaganda group, also made a warning about gender people who do not correspond to gender and those who have LGBTC activity history.

Egale Canada, one of the largest LGBTC organizations in the country, said it was not involved in the world pride because of the concern the security of their transgenders and non-binary staff. He used to participate in world events in London, Sydney and Toronto.

“We are very concerned about the overall tone and hostility to the USBTI’s domestic LGBTI, as well as those who can visit the United States from other jurisdictions,” said his executive Helen Kennedy.

Trump repeated comments about Canada’s 51st US state was also a factor, she added. Ms. Kennedy said the organization did not boycott the world honor, but protested against Trump’s policy on LGBTK.

Since Trump’s entry, he has rejected some LGBTK-defense, including the abolition of Biden Executive Order to prevent discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. ” He also banned the policy of diversity, justice and inclusion (Dei) in federal agencies.

Proponents say these politicians help to correct injustice, but others, including Trump, say they are discriminatory.

Its administration also banned transgender people serve in military service and banned federal financing for gender assistance for transgender youth. And this threatens to suspend the financing of the states that allow you to compete with the Transgender to compete.

Trump defended his actions, saying that the woman’s woman in sports “humiliate women, and this is very bad for our country.”

Some of these politicians are currently challenged in court.

This week, US media reported the Navy’s plans Rename It was baptized to honor Harvey Mila. In 1977, there was a former sailor and activist of the Military Fleet and was the first open gay to be elected as a state position in California.

While former US President Joe Biden pursued the PRIDA event on the White House lawn in 2023 and issued an announcement in support of the community Last year, Trump has not talked about the celebration in recent days.

Asked about the president’s position in the world pride, The White House press secretary told the BBC The fact that Trump “contributed to the sense of national pride, which should be celebrated daily” and that “all Americans” serve him.

The Capital Pride Alliance, an organization that manages the world pride in DC, said the BBC that received an “unusual number of issues and problems”.

“Our celebration is quite literally literally in the footsteps of the Capitol building and in the quarter from the White House, about what many people are aware of,” said Sahand Mira, the director of the Operations “Metropolitan Honor”.

According to him, for the first time the DC will be closed the perimeter and weapons detectors, partly because this year the event will attract a larger crowd than usual.

World PRIDE events will also see the increased presence of LGBTC -Podrijki Police, which will be the “first priority” to respond to emergencies, Miramin said.

Washington Mayor Muriel Bowzer, Democrat, acknowledged that visitors are “afraid that the developing environment is anti-lgbtq.”

But “we can’t live in fear, we must live our lives (and) to be as much as possible,” she said.

Kelly Lachko, co -owner of her diner at Dupont Circle, one of the brightest DC LGBTQ neighborhoods, said she also raised security for the weekend.

“I feel that we are usually ready for the celebration,” she said. “And, obviously, the current administration has put this great cushioning.”

Although she will not be in Washington, Mrs. Sirer said she hoped others.

“I think people in the US should attend and be safe in visiting,” she said. “It is important that people get up more than if they are.”

Ms Lachko agrees. “Even joy can become contrary,” she said.