The State Department has recently made changes to its pages providing information for international travel, removing references to transgender, queer, and intersex individuals. The shift from using the inclusive term “LGBTQI+” to just “LGB” has sparked concerns as it now only acknowledges markers for sexuality and excludes gender identities.
One noticeable change is in a section of the website dedicated to LGBTQ parents seeking to adopt internationally, which no longer includes the full acronym. Additionally, the page offering information for “travelers with special considerations” has been updated to reflect these alterations.
This modification aligns with broader actions taken by the Trump administration to dismantle programs and protections related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. President Donald Trump signed an executive order early in his term that specifically addressed gender identity, signaling a shift in policies.
On the same day, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also removed websites and datasets pertaining to LGBTQ individuals. Furthermore, several federal agencies instructed employees to eliminate gender pronouns from their email signatures, as revealed in internal communications.
These changes have raised concerns among advocates for LGBTQ rights and have sparked discussions about the implications of such alterations on the community. The move to erase references to transgender, queer, and intersex individuals in official documents and resources has drawn criticism and calls for greater inclusivity and recognition of diverse identities.
