Last Updated on 10/24/2024 by Lindsey
With the rise in extreme anti-trans laws, there is so much news out there impacting LGBTQ folks’ freedom of expression and right to be ourselves. Every month, I highlight a few of the stories that most impact queer and trans travelers, with a breakdown of the issues and what you need to know now.
So read on to discover the surprising New York towns welcoming trans folks, the economic impact of Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill (including how it’s making other African countries think twice about passing similarly draconian laws) and how one red state’s ban on trans-affirming medical care was blocked โ for now.
Idaho Trans Kids Can Get Care for Now
With the political circus cranking up, much domestic news this year is probably gonna be shitty. But we won a thing, at least for now!
A federal judge in Idaho blocked the stateโs ban on gender affirming care for trans youth, meaning itโs not a felony to provided BEST PRACTICE MEDICAL CARE, FFS.
21 states currently ban trans affirming medical care, and 5 have taken the extra step of making it a felony to provide this care, in case youโre counting.
In case you are wondering, Idaho did not make our list of the worst states for LGBTQ travel.
Upstate Trans Pride
Every time I travel, I have to explain that I live in New York Stateโฆnot NYCโฆwhich is all most people think of when they picture โNew York.โ
Which is why it warmed my heart SO DAMN MUCH to see the Guardian elevate upstate NY in a recent article on trans-inclusive communities!!!
Albany, Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo all got praised for their inclusivity and affordability because cough LGBTs canโt afford NYC.
Should I do LGBTQ guides to these cities for QA? Lmk if thatโs of interest in the comments!
Uganda now a tourism pariah
We all know Uganda passed one of the most violent anti-gay laws in existence, right?
Well it may surprise you to know their bigoted law โ nicknamed “Kill the Gays” โ is absolutely TANKING the tourist economy in that country! The NYT had an article profiling the mass ghosting of tours by travelers who won’t codify queer bashing and are canceling trips.
While the full negative impact of the law remains to be seen, what we DO know is that LGBTQ Ugandans are already suffering greatly. Last week, gay activist Stephen Kabuye was stabbed multiple times outside his home near Kampala, Uganda.
Kabuye was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Thankfully, he is getting better. He spoke out from his hospital bed accusing the Ugandan government of using LGBTQ Ugandans as a scapegoat for the country’s problems โ perennial corruption and reliance on churchy do-gooders and foreign aid.
Uganda is far from the only African country to have anti-LGBTQ laws.
I explain in my book on LGBT travel how many of these laws are holdovers from the British colonial period – a point that’s often missing from the criticism of countries with homophobic laws.
The loss of tourism dollars stemming from their hateful law seems to be influencing other African countries like Kenya, where similarly harsh laws have been proposed. In fact, the trend in Africa as a whole may be toward inclusion, rather than punitive laws that harm queer African lives.
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