Denmark and Finland urge caution for US-bound transgender people

[Lori Dee]

Denmark and Finland urge caution for US-bound transgender people
Travel advice updated amid reports of ordeals at US border after Trump said country would only recognise two genders
Link to Full Article
The Guardian - Ashifa Kassam
Fri 21 Mar 2025 16.21 EDT

Denmark and Finland have updated their US travel advice for transgender people, joining the handful of European countries that have sought to caution US-bound travellers in recent weeks as reports emerge of ordeals at the American border.

Denmark said this week it had begun advising transgender travellers to contact the US embassy in Copenhagen before departure to ensure there would be no issues with travel documents.

"If your passport has the gender designation X or you have changed gender, it is recommended to contact the US embassy prior to travel for guidance on how to proceed," the Danish travel advisory page now reads.

Earlier this month, Germany also reportedly flagged that transgender travellers or those travelling with the gender X marked on their passports should contact US diplomatic missions before their departure.

Soon after, Finland updated its advice page. "If the applicant's current sex on their passport is different from their sex confirmed at birth, the US authorities may refuse entry," the page, updated in mid-March, reads.

British officials also appeared to have revisited their US travel advisory, which now notes that anyone found breaking the country's entry rules could face arrest or detention.

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There have been news reports of German nationals being detained in the US and another report of a British tourist who was detained. These people were not detained for a few hours and released; they were held for more than a week in what some describe as a prison cell or solitary confinement. These allegations are being investigated.

https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory/detentions-european-tourists-us-borders-spark-fears-traveling-120011457

Let's be safe out there.

[MaryT]

It isn't only transgender people that are being detained.  It is a good thing that America is a big country, as Americans are going to be prisoners in their own country if they don't make a stand.

[Lori Dee]

It isn't only transgender people that are being detained.  It is a good thing that America is a big country, as Americans are going to be prisoners in their own country if they don't make a stand.

I read an article yesterday that gave traveling advice. I did not post it because some of the information was incorrect due to more recent updates.

One piece of advice given was when you are traveling domestically, do not use your passport for ID. If you have a driver's license or other photo ID with your correct name and gender, use that instead.

Most Americans when moving around the country, if asked for ID, will usually present a driver's license or state-issued photo ID. Most driver's licenses now are Real ID compliant and have a gold star in the upper right corner. That makes it a federally-compliant ID for domestic travel.

Since passports are being scrutinized now, don't use them if you don't need to. Save that for international travel.