Danish Foreign Ministry Advises to "Check Procedures in Advance"
Germany, Finland, and Others Issue Similar Updates
On the first day of his presidency, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order recognizing only two genders, prompting several European countries to warn their transgender citizens about traveling to the United States.
AP News, Hong Kong's South China Morning Post (SCMP), and the UK's The Guardian reported this on the 22nd (local time).
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs updated its travel advisory to the U.S. the day before, stating, "When applying for the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) or a visa, travelers must select their gender as either male or female."
It added, "If the passport indicates the gender as X or if the traveler has changed their gender, it is recommended to contact the U.S. embassy before traveling to receive guidance on the procedures."
The updated Danish travel advisory did not mention the Trump administration. However, foreign media pointed out, "This development follows President Trump’s signing of an executive order in January directing the federal government to recognize only male or female genders."
Several countries allow individuals whose passports do not classify their gender as male or female to select 'X'.
However, earlier, President Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office titled “Protecting Women’s Sports and Restoring Biological Truth in the Federal Government,” emphasizing prioritizing biological sex.
The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that since the Trump administration took office, there have been no cases of Danes being forcibly deported at U.S. borders. However, a representative from LGBT+ Denmark, a human rights organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals, expressed concern that "people might be denied entry or face inappropriate and uncomfortable situations at airports."
Besides Denmark, several countries including Germany and Finland recently issued similar travel advisories regarding the U.S.
The German Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised earlier this month, "Those who have marked 'X' in the gender field or whose current gender differs from their birth gender should contact the U.S. consulate in Germany before entering the U.S. to understand the applicable documentation requirements."
The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also recommended on its website that citizens planning to visit the U.S. "If the current gender recorded in the passport differs from the birth gender, U.S. authorities may refuse entry," advising travelers to verify entry requirements with U.S. authorities in advance.
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