Canadian LGBTQ+ Athletes Boycott World Pride Aquatics in DC Over US Policies

Concerns Over Athlete Safety and Rights

• 🏳️‍🌈 Canadian LGBTQ+ athletes and their swim teams, like the Toronto Purple Fins, are choosing to skip the World Pride Aquatics Championship in Washington D.C.
• ⚠️ The primary reason cited is fear of treatment at the US border and within the country due to current US policies and laws.
• ❓ Athletes are questioning whether their rights will be respected, if they could be arrested for simply existing, or if authorities would defend them against attackers.

Impact of US Policies and Laws

• ⚖️ Policies enacted under President Trump and new state laws are creating a chilling effect on LGBTQ+ participation.
• 🚫 The US government's official policy is stated as recognizing only two genders: male and female.
• 🛂 Former US administrations have rolled back orders combating LGBTQ+ discrimination, and the US no longer issues passports to transgender and non-binary Americans that reflect their gender identities.

Athlete Perspectives on Participation

• 👤 Stefania Berezn, a water polo athlete, feels physically safe due to her presentation but doesn't want to attend events where others feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.
• 🤝 The International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA) board is working to ensure participant safety, with co-president Rosalind McCree stating they will "fight for our community".
• 📣 Ryan Boss of the Capital Pride Alliance encourages participation as an act of defiance and a message of hope, even while respecting boycott decisions.