Concern is being expressed about U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order to recognize only two genders.
He signed it during his first day in power.
Pride groups call it a hostile attack on the trans and non-binary community.
Co-chair of Borderland Pride, Doug Judson, says it could have an impact on Canadians with gender-neutral markers on their passports and looking to visit the U.S.
“I think it raises a lot of questions about whether identification might be accepted at the border, or if you’re admissible to the United States or live there, can you use public facilities that require that you identify within this gender binary?” says Judson.
“It creates a lot of uncertainty and risk for people who fall within a gender diverse category.”
Borderland Pride is the only Pride organization that operates in both Canada and the United States.
It traditionally hosts a Pride parade that begins in International Falls, Minnesota and ends in Fort Frances.
Judson says they are evaluating the ability to safely provide Pride programming in the Falls.
“We always monitor safety and bring concerns to law enforcement on both sides of the border if there are issues about people that will be disruptive or be threatening. There haven’t been any serious incidents like that in the past in relation to the parade, but I think in the current political climate, it’s something that we’re going to have to be increasingly vigilant about.”
Judson says they do plan to seek support from community leaders to affirm our area’s towns, cities, and Indigenous communities as places of safety for gender-diverse people.
