Dutch advocacy group warns transgender people against U.S. travel
Transgender Netwerk Nederland (TNN) is advising transgender individuals in the Netherlands to avoid traveling to the United States unless absolutely necessary, NOS reports. The warning comes in response to the tightened travel advisory for LGBTQ+ individuals, issued by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs following similar updates from Germany, Denmark, and Finland.
The advocacy organization cites recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump and restrictive state laws as reasons for concern. One of the primary issues highlighted is the requirement for travelers to provide their birth-assigned sex when applying for a U.S. travel authorization. The American authorities only recognize 'M' (male) or 'V' (female) as valid gender markers, effectively blocking nonbinary individuals with an 'X' on their passports from traveling to the U.S.
“This policy effectively shuts the door for nonbinary people wishing to visit the U.S.,” TNN stated. “Additionally, we believe transgender men and women should seriously reconsider traveling there. Our advice is simple: only go if you truly have no other choice.”
TNN warns that the overall social climate in the U.S. has become increasingly unsafe for transgender individuals, a situation they say has worsened significantly since Trump’s inauguration. While some of the executive orders in question are still being challenged in court, their impact is already being felt. “Traveling to the U.S. as a transgender person is becoming more and more difficult,” the organization said.
Beyond travel restrictions, laws in several U.S. states limit the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly in areas such as healthcare access. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs now cautions LGBTQ+ travelers that U.S. laws and social norms may differ significantly from those in the Netherlands.
Philip Tijsma, spokesperson for COC Nederland, strongly condemned the situation, calling it a human rights violation. “These measures are appalling. It is absurd that the U.S. refuses to recognize passports from other countries,” he told NOS.
Tijsma emphasized that while the new policies primarily target transgender individuals, the broader LGBTQ+ community is also affected. “Transgender people are the immediate targets, but the entire community is being scapegoated. We stand in full solidarity with them, and it is safe to assume that this won’t stop here.”
The U.S. government has taken multiple steps in recent years to limit the rights of transgender individuals. Trump previously attempted to ban transgender people from serving in the military, though the courts intervened to block the move. Additionally, he signed an executive order barring transgender athletes from participating in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
