The Netherlands has revised its travel advisory for LGBTQ+ individuals planning to visit the United States, reflecting growing apprehensions among European nations regarding the treatment of sexual minorities in America. The updated guidance from the Dutch foreign ministry’s travel portal now emphasizes that individuals identifying as part of a sexual minority should be aware that “laws and customs in the US towards LGBTQI+ people may differ from those in the Netherlands.”
Changes in travel advisory raise alarms
This shift in advisory marks a significant change from previous statements, where the Dutch government noted that U.S. laws were “comparable to those in the Netherlands,” recognizing the country’s progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights. The alteration indicates a heightened sensitivity to the evolving legal landscape in the U.S. concerning LGBTQ+ rights.
In response to the Dutch announcement, the Belgian government has also indicated intentions to update its travel advisory, taking into account stricter border regulations as well as shifting societal attitudes toward transgender individuals and the broader LGBTQ+ community, as reported by the Flemish public broadcaster VRT.
Wider European concerns about U.S. policies
Authorities from Germany and Finland have similarly tightened their travel warnings regarding the U.S. following actions taken by former President Donald Trump, which included the removal of certain protections for sexual minorities. Notably, one such action mandated that gender identification on passports and visas could only be indicated as either M (male) or F (female).
”It reflects a sad and completely needless reality,”
— Dutch MEP Kim van Sparrentak
Kim van Sparrentak, a member of the European Parliament from the Greens group and head of the LGBTIQ+ intergroup, expressed her concerns about the implications of these developments. She highlighted that the fears surrounding U.S. policies are significant not only for those traveling to the U.S. but for a substantial portion of the American population, particularly trans and intersex individuals.