Why Did The UK Just Issue A Travel Advisory for Brits Visiting the US?
The United Kingdom just issued a travel advisory for anyone traveling to the United States, particularly those planning to visit North Carolina or Mississippi.
Because We’ve Become Confused About Which Bathroom To Use?
Travel Advisories are usually issued to warn travelers about particularly hostile military conflict zones, deadly diseases or other ‘life threatening’ or extremely dangerous situations. Apparently Brits feel the bathroom laws recently enacted in North Carolina and Mississippi are so extreme that they warrant a travel advisory warning visitors from foreign countries, as if the United States is now a warzone.
According to constitution.com, North Carolina’s laws requires people to use the gender-specific public facility – restroom, locker room, changing room, etc. – that is consistent with their gender at birth. The exception is if a person has had surgery rearranging his or her genitals such that they vaguely resemble the genitals of the opposite sex; and that person’s birth certificate has been updated to reflect that “gender change.” Also, the law only pertains to public facilities. It doesn’t attempt to control privately owned entities.
Mississippi’s recent religious liberty law is designed to protects businesses and people from being discriminated against by the government. For instance, just as a “gay” florist should be free to refuse to serve a Christian customer, a Christian business owner should be free to refuse to serve a “gay” customer.
Here’s the UK’s travel advisory directed towards Brits who may be coming to visit the United States, particularly North Carolina or Mississippi:
Foreign travel advice
USA
Local laws and customs
“Laws vary from state to state. When you are physically present in a state, even temporarily, you are subject to that state’s laws. You must carry a passport showing that you have leave to enter or remain with you at all times.
The US is an extremely diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT people differ hugely across the country. LGBT travellers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi. Before travelling please read our general travel advice for the LGBT community. You can find more detail on LGBT issues in the US on the website of the Human Rights Campaign.”
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sources: Wikipedia, constitution.com