U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. (D) submitted a bill to the legislature last year that would have allowed trans and intersex people in the territory to change the gender marker on their official documents. The measure didn’t advance past a committee hearing.
So, last Wednesday, the governor enacted the policy anyway by signing an executive order, making the change to USVI policy. His order marked the first instance ever of official recognition of trans people in the territory, according to Transitics.
“Virgin Islanders have reached out to our administration seeking a way to have their documents reflect who they truly are,” Gov. Bryan said in a statement following the signing ceremony. “This Executive Order provides a fair and compassionate process where none existed before. It ensures that our government recognizes and respects the lived realities of all our residents.”
Intersex Virgin Islanders and trans individuals with a court order stating they’ve had “surgical, hormonal, or other treatment for the purpose of gender transition,” can now easily revise the gender markers on both their birth certificates and government-issued ID cards.
The Virgin Islands counts itself as one of the friendlier territories for the trans community. It’s the only U.S. territory that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and there have been no known attempts to restrict gender-affirming care in the USVI. There are no restrictions on trans student-athletes in girls’ sports in the territory’s schools, and no bathroom bans relating to gender identity.
Six states and no U.S. territories deny citizens the ability to change a gender marker on birth certificates, including Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Iowa, Kansas, and Oklahoma. That number drops to four for state IDs.
Revised documents on island will now use the term “gender” rather than “sex” for the new designations.
Under the new process, an individual aged 18 or older, or a parent or guardian on behalf of a minor, may request a gender marker change from the issuing agency in writing.
One of two alternative documents must accompany the request: a statement, “signed under penalty of perjury,” from a licensed healthcare provider who has treated or evaluated the individual, confirming they have an “intersex condition” and that a gender designation change is appropriate; or, a judicial order from the Virgin Islands or another jurisdiction granting a gender change designation may be submitted in lieu of a healthcare provider’s statement.
A requirement for a healthcare provider’s attestation that an applicant has had surgery or gender-affirming care was deemed unfair by critics of Bryan’s 2024 legislative proposal, who called it a burden on individuals lacking health insurance.
The governor noted his action aligns the Virgin Islands with at least 25 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, which have adopted administrative procedures for amending gender designations on birth certificates, and more than 30 states, Puerto Rico, and D.C., which have similar processes for driver’s licenses.
“Our administration remains committed to fairness, dignity, and respect for every Virgin Islander,” Gov. Bryan added. “This Executive Order brings the Virgin Islands in line with modern standards of inclusion and ensures that all residents have access to accurate and affirming government identification.”
The Arlington City Council will consider removing protections for LGBTQ+ residents Tuesday as part of the changes to its anti-discrimination ordinance. In early September, the City Council voted to temporarily suspend the anti-discrimination ordinance until city staff could propose amendments to it removing specific diversity, equity and inclusion language. Had this not taken place, the city would be at risk of losing $65 million in federal grant money.
Tuesday night, the council will be presented with an edited anti-discrimination clause. The changes include deleting “Gender Identity and Expression” and “Sexual Orientation” from the definition of discrimination. But a leader in the LGBTQ+ community said the proposed change leaves a class of residents without local protections. Previously, the ordinance said discrimination is “any direct or indirect exclusion, distinction, segregation, limitation, refusal, denial, or other differentiation in the treatment of a person or persons because of a race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation or gender identity.”
If the council approves the amendments Tuesday, anyone experiencing discrimination due to their sexual orientation or gender identity will not be able to look to the city for help. DeeJay Johannessen, CEO of the HELP Center for LGBT Health and Wellness, said this is not necessary to keep grant funding. “Out of the 395 cities with sexual orientation, gender identity in their list of protected classes, not one other city is doing it,” Johannessen said. “In fact, historically, no city has ever removed sexual orientation from their list of protected classes. So Arlington would be the first.” When a municipality receives grants from the U.S. government, it enters into a contract with various stipulations on the allocation of those funds. Those contracts have been updated since President Donald Trump took office to prohibit “advancing or promoting DEI” in decision-making, City Manager Trey Yelverton said at the Sept. 2 meeting. In Fort Worth, the City Council voted to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs to protect federal funding in August. The city code still includes sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression as protected classes from discrimination. Sana Syed, a spokesperson for the city of Fort Worth, said due to how the ordinance was written, “no changes were needed to adhere to new federal requirements and none are planned at this time.”
An attorney who Johannessen consulted with regarding Arlington’s proposed anti-discrimination code changes said removing sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected characteristics from the current ordinance “reflects a fundamental and profound misunderstanding of the law. “The inclusion of ‘gender expression’ in this list is somewhat telling, since the term does not appear in the Current Ordinance,” Daniel Barrett, the Fort Worth lawyer Johannessen consulted, wrote in a statement. “Its inclusion exposes the staff’s analysis of the situation as sloppy or, perhaps, based upon something other than legal considerations.” Under the original ordinance, if someone is made to leave an establishment because of their gender identity or sexual orientation, they could go to the city and file a complaint. With the exclusion of those kinds of discrimination in the amended ordinance, the only way to rectify the issue would be through the federal government, Johannessen said. Johannessen was part of the focus group who helped make gender identity and sexual orientation protected classes in Arlington’s anti-discrimination chapter in 2021. “It passed unanimously, and there was not even any public comment voting against it,” Johannessen said. “It sailed through. So that’s why it’s so surprising now that there’s so little push back about having to make this change, even if it was required for them to make this change, there’s no angst about it.”
The City Council will vote on the amendments at the 6:30 p.m. meeting on Tuesday.
Juan Viana recalls having a happy childhood in a Christian community in Bogotá but when he came out as gay at age 18, that all changed.
“Unfortunately, that community of support became a place of deep repudiation of who I really was,” said Viana, now 48.
His family took him to a center for ‘conversion therapy’ — aimed at changing a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity — on the advice of a psychologist.
“I was told that homosexuality was a disease, that it was caused by a demonic force that was going to destroy my family,” Viana said.
He said he went to the center willingly and stayed for months, thinking he was protecting his loved ones from destruction but found himself living in a nightmare.
“They break you in all senses: physically, mentally,” he said.
Several times he thought of taking his own life and tried once, he said.
“They were the darkest moments of my life,” he said.
Such traumatic experiences could become illegal in Colombia, where an estimated one in five LGBTQ people have undergone conversion therapy, according to the government’s Ombudsman’s Office.
Lawmakers are considering a bill to ban conversion therapy in the South American nation. Other countries where it is permitted include China, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
An unknown number of unlicensed rehabilitation clinics in Colombia and elsewhere in Latin America offer such therapy based on the idea that homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender identities are a mental illness that needs to be cured, rights groups said.
The World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses in 1990.
In Colombia, LGBTQ advocates have documented a range of conversion therapy practices that include humiliation, exorcism, food deprivation, electroshocks, waterboarding and rape of lesbian women.
The new legislation aims to criminalize the therapy in the conservative and Catholic country, where activists say faith is often used to mask the practices.
“We hope that more and more Colombians will understand that this is what the right to liberty, the right to intimacy and the right to having an identity looks like,” said Carolina Giraldo, a lawmaker for the center-left Green Alliance and a proponent of the bill.
Third time’s the charm?
Two previous proposed bans were defeated after conservative lawmakers and evangelical and Catholic groups mobilized in opposition.
They argued that a ban on conversion therapy could land priests and parents in prison, and some said LGBTQ groups wanted to turn children gay and trans.
Such a ban “infringes upon family autonomy by preventing parents from guiding their children,” said conservative senator Maria Fernanda Cabal after voting against last year’s bill.
From Brazil and Mexico to Spain and Vietnam, at least 17 countries have nationwide legislation in the works targeting the practice, according to ILGA-World, an international LGBTQ rights group.
LGBTQ activists in Colombia hope the third time is the charm.
“When we first started to talk about these practices, people just didn’t believe something like this could still happen in Colombia,” said Danne Belmont, executive director at GAAT, a Bogota-based trans rights group.
Belmont, a trans woman, said she was given testosterone as a child and underwent exorcisms in efforts to change who she was.
Advocates have altered their approach since the first bill was introduced in 2022, trying to broaden its appeal.
In the current rendition, the campaign is not only that LGBTQ people have “nothing to heal” but it asks their parents to “always love them,” Belmont said.
“This bill is aimed at Colombia’s families, at offering safe spaces where people can ask questions about their sexual orientation and gender identity,” she said.
Contrary to claims made by some Catholic lawmakers and ultra-Catholic groups, Father Carlos Guillermo Arias Jimenez of Colombia’s Bishop’s Conference said the latest bill does not contradict religious freedom.
“The church could not accept, nor has it ever taught, the practice of actions aimed at changing or reversing people’s sexual orientation,” he said.
Colombia’s Evangelical Confederation did not reply to several requests for comment.
In Congress, the bill passed its first reading in April with support from members of various political parties, but it must pass two more readings before next year’s elections.
Survivors, not victims
Belmont said trauma often prevents many LGBTQ people from realizing they have undergone conversion therapy until they hear stories from their peers.
A national network was set up in May of more than 50 people who have undergone conversion therapy to share their stories on social media and at events in hopes they will help others.
“Sometimes conversion therapy is a gradual, sophisticated process that mixes religion, spirituality and psychology that lays the ground,” David Zuluaga, 27, who was raised in the small town of Antioquia.
What started as manipulation and social isolation at age 12 turned into being hit in the stomach at age 14 to make him “vomit the spirit of homosexuality,” he said.
The conversion therapy lasted until he was 17, but it took him far longer to understand what had happened, let alone speak about it.
“Fear has to change sides. We used to be ashamed of having gone through this,” said Zuluaga, now an out gay man.
“But they should be the ones who are ashamed of having done this, of still doing this — mistreating, abusing and torturing people.”
According to research by the United Nations’ independent expert on LGBTQ rights, which has documented conversion therapy in at least 100 countries including Uganda, the Philippines and the United States, the practices leave deep physical and psychological traces.
“It broke my relationship with my family, with spirituality, with my body,” said Viana, who added that it has taken decades to rebuild bonds with his family, trust people and find love.
“Darkness needs to be total to exist. For light to exist, a single spark is enough,” he said.
“The work we’re doing is to multiply these sparks along the way… which we all light up together.”
In June 2025, the Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling allowing parents to opt out of classes that teach material conflicting with their religious beliefs. The decision, which could affect lessons on everything from evolution to cultural diversity, was driven primarily by challenges to classroom instruction about LGBTQ+ people. The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, originated in Maryland’s Montgomery County School District—the state’s largest—which had previously required lessons on LGBTQ+ inclusion without permitting opt-outs. The ruling was celebrated by far-right activists as a major victory in a deep-blue state. But months later, the results are in: of more than 160,000 students enrolled, only 43 families chose to opt out of LGBTQ+ education districtwide.
In a report released on October 2, the Montgomery County School District approved just 58 opt-out requests from 43 families—under 0.03 percent of the district’s 160,000 students. In other words, 99.97 percent of families, even when given the option, chose to let their children learn about LGBTQ+ people.
The books targeted by the handful of families include Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, about the marriage of two gay men; Intersectional Allies: We Make Room for All, which features a genderfluid character; and Planting the Rainbow: Places of LGBTQ+ History in Maryland, which teaches about key moments in the state’s queer history.
For the families choosing to opt out, their children will be placed in separate classrooms or given alternate assignments when LGBTQ+ topics arise. The arrangement underscores a point the school district made during the court fight: creating entirely new materials for such a vanishingly small group is disruptive to classrooms and burdens teachers with unnecessary extra work—all to accommodate the religious beliefs of a tiny minority. Still, because of the Supreme Court’s ruling, those accommodations will now have to be made.
Meanwhile, in Republican-controlled states, officials have taken a far more oppressive approach to LGBTQ+ education. Rather than offering families the option to opt out, many states simply ban the material outright. Under “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” laws—first popularized in Florida and now enacted in 19 states—teachers are prohibited from acknowledging LGBTQ+ people in class instruction at various grade levels. In Texas, several colleges have gone even further, barring professors from recognizing that transgender people exist at all. When contrasted with the minuscule number of families opting out when given the choice, these policies look less like a reflection of public will and more like a top-down morality ban—one that would almost certainly be rejected if parents actually had the freedom to decide for themselves.
Anti-LGBTQ+ school policies remain among the most unpopular measures pushed by Republicans in red states and by the Trump administration. A Navigator Research poll published in August 2023 found that fewer than 25 percent of Democrats and independents—and only half of Republicans—named “protecting children from being exposed to woke ideologies about race and gender in school” as a major priority. Book bans ranked even lower: 92 percent of respondents said such bans were concerning. A more recent Knight Foundation poll echoed those findings, with two-thirds of Americans opposing efforts to restrict books in public schools.
Respondents from Montgomery County, Maryland expressed frustration and vindication after hearing the results of the opt-out process. “Every single one of these ‘anti-woke’ lawsuits and headlines comes from one or a few people making a stink,” said one commenter in a local subreddit dedicated to the county. “Imagine living in Montgomery County and thinking you can opt out of cultural diversity,” said another.
“It looks like most were from elementary schools, but there’s a few from middle schools and two from a high school. Can you imagine what these students’ classmates will think of them?” added a third.
The Supreme Court’s decision is just the latest example of how religious exemptions are being weaponized to roll back civil rights under the guise of “freedom.” Each new ruling gives a single person the power to disrupt an entire classroom, claiming that their beliefs are incompatible with learning about LGBTQ+ people, racial diversity, or any worldview outside their own. These carve-outs have already spread far beyond schools—empowering business owners to deny service to queer customers and pharmacists to refuse medication. But the data out of Montgomery County, Maryland makes one thing unmistakably clear: this crusade is not a mass movement. It’s the obsession of a vanishingly small minority, inflated by a Republican Party that has turned resentment of diversity—and especially of LGBTQ+ people—into the centerpiece of its politics.
In Iran, where being gay can carry the death penalty and the idea of marriage equality is an abomination, gender transition-related medical care has long been a booming business serving locals and foreigners alike.
Part of the Islamic Republic’s expertise in the field comes from 40 years of forcing gay people to choose between transitioning and death.
But now, in a desperate search for currency in the cash-strapped country, the government is luring patients from around the world with steep discounts and luxury lodging, The New York Times reports.
Crippled by war and economic sanctions, Iran has launched a PR blitz promoting its expertise to a global audience, luring foreigners with trans-themed packages including budget-conscious surgeries, luxury hotel stays, and sightseeing tours.
Iran’s theocratic government has set a goal of generating more than $7 billion from medical tourism annually, according to Iranian state news media, a seven-fold increase over a year ago.
In addition to nose jobs and hair transplants, glossy brochures and a social media campaign are offering vaginoplasties, mastectomies, and penis constructions for a song.
“We handle everything from start to finish, providing the best medical services to ensure a stress-free experience,” said Farideh Najafi, the manager of two medical tourism companies. “This includes booking hotels, hospitals, transportation, and more.”
According to one operator, while the cost of comprehensive surgery in the U.S. could be “around $45,000, and in Thailand, it’s approximately $30,000,” patients can pay “less than $12,000” in Iran. A government hospital stay can go for as low as $4,500.
The cut-rate prices are luring patients from wealthier countries like Australia, the United States, and Europe, according to medical tour operators and surgeons, despite the dark backdrop to the country’s transgender expertise.
Many gay and lesbian Iranians who are not trans are “pressured into undergoing gender reassignment surgery without their free consent,” according to a United Nations Human Rights Council report issued in March, and the alternative can be execution.
Amnesty International says more than 5000 gay people have been put to death in the Islamic Republic since the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Public flogging is even more common.
A British Home Office report in 2022 found that roughly 4,000 people underwent transition surgery each year in Iran, compared to just under 13,000 in the U.S. in 2020, which has a population four times greater. The vast majority of patients come from inside Iran, experts say.
The extraordinary number has its basis in a fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini, the founding supreme leader of the Islamic Republic. He declared in the 1980s that transgender individuals could gain legal recognition of their identifying gender on the condition that they underwent transition surgery.
The volume of surgeries has come with a questionable safety record. A 2015 U.N. report described botched procedures like “abnormally shaped or located sexual organs.” Some activists have likened the country’s gender clinics to “butcher” shops.
Raha Ajoudani, a 20-year-old trans woman and activist, fled Iran rather than submit to a forced transition.
“I never wanted to undergo gender reassignment surgery,” she said. “I’ve defined myself outside of this binary. I didn’t want to live according to the governmental definition of cultural expectations of being a woman or a man, nor did I submit to Khomeini’s fatwa.”
Eric, a 45-year-old trans man living in Canada, did take advantage of Iran’s expertise in the field, but acknowledged competing feelings over his choice and the plight of gay people in the country.
“I have heard a lot, especially among trans women, that because they are gay, and they cannot be gay in Iran, they try to do the surgery,” he said. “I’m really sad that gays and lesbians are not recognized in Iran, but on the other hand, I’m happy for trans people because they can do what they’re willing to do.”
On Friday, the Trump administration began massive layoffs throughout the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). As part of that, they completely removed the Office of Population Affairs, which was responsible for a wealth of public health programs, including specific initiatives for the LGBTQ+ community.
“This wasn’t a budget decision — it was ideological,” a former member of the Biden administration told The Advocate. “These are the programs that centered reproductive and queer health, and now they’re gone.”
Donald Trump has welcomed the government shutdown as an opportunity to cut what he has called “Democrat Agencies” to shrink the government. The process is being led by Russ Vought, the head of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and key author of Project 2025, which advocated for such cuts. However, he has also tried to blame those government cuts on the Democrats.
Vought took to X/Twitter on Friday to announce the start of the “Reduction in Force,” or RIF. His office confirmed via Politico that federal employees were being permanently fired, not temporarily furloughed for the duration of the shutdown: “Can confirm RIFs have begun and they are substantial. These are RIFs, not furloughs.”
Adrian Shanker, who served as deputy assistant secretary for Health Policy during the Biden administration, told The Advocate that while the Office of Population Affairs often had its programs politicized, this is “the first time that the office itself is being cut.”
The Office of Population Affairs manages a huge range of public health initiatives. Those include Title X family planning services and grants; programs for adolescents that cover issues such as pregnancy prevention, mental health, and substance abuse; the Embryo Adoption Awareness and Services program; screenings and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and information on preventing the spread of HIV; and LGBTQ+ health initiatives, including information on gender-affirming care.
As well as restricting programming targeted specifically at the LGBTQ+ community, these cuts will restrict access to family planning programs that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to make use of to grow their families.
The cuts to the Office of Population Affairs will leave us lacking when it comes to sex education and with less support for LGBTQ+ youth, Shanker noted, saying it “leaves us more vulnerable to health inequities and worsened health outcomes.”
Wider cuts to the HHS will have broader effects as the CDC is losing over a thousand employees, including the elimination of entire departments. “CDC is over. It was killed,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the out gay former director of the CDC’s National Center on Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, after 1000 scientists, doctors, and public health officials were fired from HHS on Friday. Daskalakis, an infectious diseases expert, resigned in protest of the administration’s war on science-based public health earlier this year.
“This administration only knows how to break things. They have made America at risk for outbreaks and attacks by nefarious players. People should be scared.”
Previous federal layoffs have been litigated in court, with some resulting in court rulings that the people cannot be fired, while other courts have allowed the dismissals to proceed. That process, if it occurs here, will take time, during which public health will suffer a setback.
“Without these people in place, it’s unlikely that a lot of these programs will be able to continue even after the government reopens,” predicted Shanker.
Sex Field Requirements: Effective Oct. 14, 2025, CBP systems will only accept “M” (Male) or “F” (Female) in the sex field of APIS transmissions. Any other characters will result in an “X Response-Insufficient Information” error, requiring airlines to resubmit the passenger data with corrected information.
U.S. Passport Format Validation: Starting Oct. 6, 2025, CBP will implement stricter validation for U.S. passport numbers transmitted through APIS.
Implementation Timeline
Sept. 17, 2025: Testing environment (EDU) available for sex field validation changes.
Sept. 24, 2025: Testing environment available for U.S. passport format validation.
Oct. 6, 2025: U.S. passport format validation goes live in production.
Oct. 14, 2025: Sex field validation goes live in production.
U.S. Passport Number Format Requirements
Valid U.S. passport numbers must follow one of these formats:
Option 1: Numeric Format
Nine numeric digits
Must have a numerical value of 4XXXXXXXX or higher
Option 2: Alpha-Numeric Format
Nine characters total
First character must be A, X, Y, or Z
Followed by exactly eight numeric digits
The leading alpha characters indicate passport type:
A: Regular passport
X: Diplomatic passport
Y: Official passport
Z: Service passport
Impact on Business Travel
Employer Considerations:
Review travel policies and booking procedures with travel management companies;
Ensure corporate travel booking systems capture accurate passenger information;
Brief frequent business travelers on the importance of providing exact passport details; and
Consider potential delays if incorrect information requires resubmission.
Employees Considerations:
Double-check that passport information matches exactly what is on the physical document when booking travel;
Verify that airlines have the correct sex designation as listed on the passport;
Allow additional time for potential rebooking if passenger information errors occur; and
Ensure the U.S. passport number format is valid if traveling on a U.S. passport.
Carrier Responsibilities
Airlines remain responsible for comparing travel documents passengers present with the information transmitted to CBP. Airline carriers must ensure accuracy in all APIS data submissions, including traveler sex designation and passport number formatting.
Practical Considerations
Document Verification: Provide passport information exactly as it appears on travel documents.
Sex Designation Accuracy: Ensure the sex designation transmitted to CBP matches exactly what appears on passports, regardless of personal identification.
Passport Updates: Consider whether passport updates may be necessary to ensure smooth travel.
Early Booking: Complete travel bookings in advance to allow time for any necessary corrections.
Travel Management: Work with experienced travel agencies familiar with APIS requirements.
Communication: Ensure clear communication between travelers, booking agents, and airlines regarding exact document details.
Special Considerations
Document Inconsistencies: If travelers’ passports contains a sex designation that differs from their current identification, airlines must still transmit the information exactly as it appears on their passport documents. CBP systems will only accept the “M” or “F” designation that matches travel documents.
Non-Binary Passport Designations: Passports issued with “X” or other non-binary markers will be rejected by CBP systems, requiring resubmission with valid documentation showing “M” or “F” designation.
Passport Updates: Travelers experiencing documentation inconsistencies may wish to consult with the relevant passport issuing authority about available options for updating travel documents.
Takeaways
The implementation of these changes may cause initial adjustment periods. Business travelers and employers should work closely with their travel management companies to enhance compliance with these new requirements. Providing accurate and complete travel documentation remains essential for efficient international travel.
Philadelphia’s tourism agencies are planning to have a queer-friendly information center that will highlight LGBTQ+ events, restaurants and businesses to visitors coming to the city during a busy 2026.
The Philly Pride Visitor Center, operated by the Philadelphia Visitor Center and Visit Philadelphia, will open at 12th and Locust streets in the Gayborhood in January. Organizers said it will help travelers who are here for the World Cup, MLB All-Star Game and numerous celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
The center will offer itinerary planning, ticketing, travel advice and souvenirs from queer-owned businesses. It will also feature exhibits on some of the city’s queer history, including the first LGBTQ+ sit-in at Dewey’s restaurant in 1965 and the Annual Reminders demonstrations outside Independence Hall from 1965 to 1969. The historical content was curated with community input in partnership with Mark Segal, founder of Philadelphia Gay News.
“Our city helped launch the fight for representation in media, shaped national policy, and created safe, visible spaces for our community,” Segal said in a statement. “Now, with the opening of the Philly Pride Visitor Center, Philadelphia proudly honors that legacy and reaffirms its commitment to those who call this community home.”
Visit Philadelphia said it was one of the first supporters for creating the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York City, which was the first queer institution of its kind in the National Park System. Leaders said they’re eager to bring this support back home.
“For more than 20 years, Visit Philadelphia has worked to show LGBTQ+ travelers that they belong here,” said Angela Val, president and CEO of Visit Philadelphia. “This new center gives visitors and residents a place to connect with Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ history, discover affirming businesses and see how this city helped shape a national movement. It is both a resource hub and a testament to Philadelphia’s role in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.”
Visit Philadelphia and the Visitor Center said that the move is both an investment in its values and reflective of the strong support from queer tourists.
In July, St. Lucia’s courts struck down laws that criminalized consensual same-sex relations, mirroring similar 2022 rulings that eliminated discriminatory laws in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and St. Kitts and Nevis.
These developments represent major advances for English-speaking Caribbean islands, which have long carried some of the most discriminatory laws in the Western Hemisphere. It’s also good news for LGBTQ+ travelers, according to travel advisor Scott Wismont, founder of Rainbow Getaways.
“This evolution means we now have a much broader portfolio of destinations we can confidently recommend,” he said. “We can better guide clients to places where they will feel safe and celebrated.”
Reason to Celebrate
Resorts in St. Lucia were among the first in the tourism sector to praise the recent ruling.
“This year’s St. Lucia Pride carries such profound significance, marking the first since this historic shift toward equal rights for the LGBTQ community,” said Benjamin DiCosta, vice president of marketing and communication for Windjammer Landing Resort & Residences. “To witness the pride flag raised officially for the very first time in St. Lucia was a powerful and moving moment.”
Other St. Lucia hoteliers echoed positive sentiments.
“We have always welcomed LGBTQ+ travelers at both Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain,” said Karolin Troubetzkoy, executive director of marketing and operations at both resorts. “We wholeheartedly welcome St. Lucia’s recent step to decriminalize same-sex relations. It’s a meaningful and long-overdue development that reinforces the message of inclusion and respect.”
A Region in Transition
Anti-LGBTQ+ laws are a holdout from the British colonial era, notes Thomas Julian, partner and head of Caribbean programs at Holborn Assets, a global financial services company with LGBTQ+ people among its clients.
“These laws, as are all the anti-LBGTQ laws in the Caribbean, are artifacts of the colonial era and are seldom, if ever, enforced,” he said. “However, the fact that they are still on the books is a travesty to justice, society and humanity. My hope is that now that these countries are moving forward and modernizing legislatively, they will do so policy-wise as well, and permit LGBTQ couples and families to apply together via their respective passport programs, which are what I sell.”
Mark Brantley, the premier of Nevis, is among the tourism leaders praising recent progress.
“The colonial-era laws criminalizing same-sex relationships were struck down by our courts as unconstitutional, a ruling that brings Nevis into alignment with both our values and our laws,” he said. “Across the English-speaking Caribbean, and particularly here in Nevis, there is a clear and prevailing sentiment of welcome for all travelers.” Dean Fenton, U.S. director of tourism for Antigua and Barbuda, strikes a similar tone.
“Antigua and Barbuda proudly welcomes all travelers, including those from the LGBTQ+ community,” he said. “While same-sex marriage is not yet legally recognized, symbolic ceremonies are celebrated on the island, and many of our hotels and resorts are well-versed in providing inclusive experiences.”
The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, meanwhile, issued a statement confirming its goal of celebrating “diversity in all its forms” and its pride in being “a place where all visitors are welcome” — an attitude reflected in events such as Cayman Pride, which takes place every June, and the destination’s legal recognition of same-sex civil unions, which provide benefits similar to those of marriage.
Inclusivity as a Competitive Advantage
Decriminalization is an important step. But even after recent court rulings, Caribbean destinations still vary widely in terms of legal protections and rights for LGBTQ+ residents and visitors; not all recognize LGBTQ+ marriage or offer anti-discrimination protection, for example.
Some have a longer record of inclusivity than others, such as Puerto Rico, where same-sex marriage and same-sex adoption are legal and anti-discrimination legislation is in place. Discover Puerto Rico, the island’s destination marketing organization, even maintains a detailed LGBTQ+ travel section on its website.
“Puerto Rico has a vibrant LGBTQ+ culture that is not only visible but celebrated,” said José Arana, group marketing director for Discover Puerto Rico. “This is setting an example for the region, showing that when destinations embrace equality, they create an environment where all travelers feel welcome.”
Queer-friendly islands enjoy a distinct advantage in the tourism sector, he adds.
“Destinations that prioritize inclusivity have a clear competitive edge because they are opening their doors to a broader audience,” he explained. “Moreover, destinations that are safe and welcoming for LGBTQ+ travelers are often safe and welcoming for everyone, including women and solo travelers, making them more appealing across the board.”
May-Ling Chun, director of tourism for St. Maarten, agrees.
“Inclusive destinations certainly benefit from appealing to a wider potential customer base, and we recognize that being welcoming to LGBTQ+ travelers is both a reflection of our values and a strength in today’s competitive tourism market,” she said. “While every nation in the Caribbean has its own cultural context, there is an increasing recognition that inclusivity is essential for both social and economic growth.”
Aruba, Curacao and St. Barts also rank high for inclusivity, with same-sex marriage among the legally protected rights. Hoteliers in those destinations showcase their welcoming attitudes in a variety of ways. Dreams Curaçao Resort, Spa & Casino, for example, is accredited with the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA).
“By embracing diversity and welcoming every guest, Aruba not only gains a distinctive advantage, but also reaffirms its promise to be a place where everyone feels at home,” said Jurgen van Schaijk, the hotel’s owner and managing director.
Acceptance of diversity is rooted in the public mindset in St. Barts, according to Alexandra Questel, president of the St. Barts Tourism Committee.
“St. Barts’ commitment to inclusivity isn’t just a policy; it’s part of our culture and way of life,” she said. “That openness resonates with visitors, whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or simply appreciate destinations that celebrate diversity.”
The Role of Travel Advisors
Travel advisors play a crucial role in guiding LGBTQ+ clients toward positive Caribbean vacation experiences, notes Wismont of Rainbow Getaways.
“Many clients view the Caribbean as a singular, homogenous destination, unaware of the vast differences in cultural norms, legal frameworks and local attitudes from one island to the next,” he said. “This is precisely where the expertise of an advisor becomes indispensable. We curate an experience that aligns with their need for safety and acceptance.”
Even in destinations such as Jamaica, where male same-sex intimacy is still illegal, it’s possible to find a welcoming, upscale experience, according to Wismont.
“The case of Jamaica is more complex,” he said. “While the country as a whole has a challenging reputation, we have seen an encouraging trend of resorts making an explicit commitment to being safe and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ guests.”
Among the queer-friendliest hotels in Jamaica is Round Hill Hotel and Villas, according to Wismont. Josef Forstmayr, the hotel’s managing director, agrees about the island’s positive momentum, as evidenced by his involvement in local hotel associations and the Jamaica Tourist Board.
“That shows I’m not being marginalized just because I happen to be gay,” Forstmayr said. “It speaks volumes about the open-minded thinking of the political directorate — as long as you don’t put them on the spot when it comes to public opinion. That’s where we fail.”
The ability of hotels such as Round Hill to provide a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ travelers underscores the need for effective staff training. Forstmayr says diversity, non-discrimination and non-harassment is addressed early on with new hires.
Alaia Belize, an Autograph Collection property in Belize, takes a similar approach.
“We believe that true hospitality means creating a space where every traveler feels safe, celebrated and completely at home,” said Maria Novelo, marketing and communications manager for the hotel. “We are proud to carry forward a culture of inclusivity that welcomes LGBTQ+ guests with the same warmth and respect we extend to all.”
In a combative and chaotic debate Thursday nigh, in Norfolk, Virginia, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican candidate for governor, declared that opposing marriage equality and allowing employers to fire people for being gay “is not discrimination,” igniting a firestorm that has reverberated through Virginia politics and beyond.
The statement came during the only scheduled debate between Earle-Sears and Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term member of Congress. The event, held at Norfolk State University and broadcast by TV station WAVY, was frequently interrupted by Earle-Sears’s outbursts, prompting moderators to repeatedly ask her to stop speaking over her opponent. “Please don’t interrupt,” one moderator said after Earle-Sears cut into Spanberger’s answer. Another warned, “Ms. Earle-Sears, we’re not going to be able to get to as many topics if we keep having to give Ms. Spanberger time.”
Spanberger, who leads in most polls, calmly cited Earle-Sears’s long record of opposing LGBTQ+ rights, including her refusal to support marriage equality or workplace protections for queer Virginians. “My opponent has previously said that she does not think gay couples should be allowed to marry,” Spanberger said. “She’s also said she thinks it’s OK for someone to be fired from their job for being gay.”
Before Spanberger could finish, Earle-Sears interjected, “That’s not discrimination.”
The remark drew immediate backlash online. The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, condemned the comment. Sam Lau, one of the organization’s spokespersons, said, “Yes, Lt. Gov. Earle-Sears, that is indeed discrimination. Vote for Abigail Spanberger.”
The Democratic Party of Virginia called the debate performance “atrocious,” and state Sen. Louise Lucas, who attended the event, wrote that Earle-Sears “took a page out of Donald Trump’s debate playbook — interrupt, interrupt, interrupt — anything to avoid real answers or substance.”
Even some Republicans criticized the lieutenant governor’s behavior. Former GOP U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock said Earle-Sears “demonstrates her bigotry once again,” noting that she “wouldn’t stop babbling and talking over everyone when it wasn’t her time.”
Following the debate, the Spanberger campaign released a statement emphasizing Earle-Sears’s “decades-long, extreme record of opposing marriage equality and equal rights for all Virginians.” The campaign cited her opposition to bipartisan legislation protecting marriage equality that even Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed, noting that she left a handwritten note on the bill stating she was “morally opposed.”
“Virginia families deserve better than a leader who refuses to protect their rights under the law,” Spanberger said in a statement. “The Lieutenant Governor last night showed Virginians that she is more focused on dividing people than solving problems. No company wants to grow in a state where the Governor excuses discrimination and supports firing workers because of who they are. Her comments tell businesses and families that Virginia is closed to the talent, investment, and innovation that keeps our economy strong.”
Democratic National Committee spokesperson Albert Fujii released this statement: “Winsome Earle-Sears is too extreme for Virginia. Her homophobic comments at last night’s debate are disqualifying and prove once again how out of step she is with Virginians. Virginians deserve a leader who will ensure Virginia is welcoming and affordable to everyone — and that champion is Abigail Spanberger. The DNC will keep fighting tooth and nail to ensure Abigail Spanberger wins big in November — the stakes could not be higher.”
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