Some Canadian LGBTQ+ athletes are skipping the World LGBTQIA+ Aquatics Championship during Washington D.C.'s pride month, saying they're worried about their treatment in the U.S. because of President Donald Trump’s policies.

Washington

Some Canadian LGBTQ+ athletes have decided not to attend the World LGBTQIA+ Aquatics Championship in Washington D.C., citing concerns about their safety and treatment in the United States. Members of the Toronto-based gender-free swim team, the Toronto Purple Fins, expressed apprehension over potential difficulties at the border and the possibility of not having their rights respected while in the country. Team member Rye Shisler said that questions about safety and legal protections influenced their decision not to participate.

Recent policy changes in the United States, including a stated government policy recognising only two genders and restrictions on passport issuance for transgender and non-binary Americans, have contributed to unease among athletes. Some athletes, such as Toronto water polo player Stefania Berezne, noted discomfort about attending an event where not all participants might feel welcome or safe.

Rosalyn McCann, co-president of the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics (IGLA), which organises the games, acknowledged a decline in participation compared to previous years. McCann assured that organisers are making efforts to ensure the safety of those who choose to attend. Ryan Boss, executive director of Washington's Capital Pride Alliance, stated that he respects individuals' decisions to stay away but encouraged those who feel safe to participate, highlighting the significance of visible support and activism within the community.



Some athletes plan to skip Pride Week aquatic games over Trump fears

Transgender athlete Rye Shisler had planned to bring their backstroke to the upcoming World Pride Aquatics Championship. But Shisler's gender-free swim team called the Toronto Purple Fins decided to skip the upcoming games in Washington D.C. for fear of how they might be treated at the border and beyond. Are my rights going to be respected? Can my team's rights be respected? Are we going to be arrested just for existing? Are we going to be assaulted and have the authorities defend us instead of the attacker? Those are all questions we couldn't definitively say yes to. So we had to say, no, we can't come. Some of U.S. President Donald Trump's policies and new laws in some states have put a chill on the events. As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female. From his first day in office, Trump has rolled back orders combating LGBTQ plus discrimination. And the U.S. no longer issues passports to transgender and non-binary Americans that reflect their gender identities. Stefania Berezne is a Toronto-based water polo athlete. Because of the way that I present, at least for the time being, I don't feel like I stand out as being non-binary. So I don't worry so much about my physical safety. But I don't really want to go somewhere where other people aren't feeling comfortable and where on some level, I'm also absorbing the fact that I'm not welcome as my whole self. We are definitely not seeing the numbers that we usually see. Rosalyn McCann is co-president of the board of IGLA, which organizes the games and says they're doing all they can to ensure the safety of participants. The athletes who do come and the athletes who are in the United States are going to show up and speak up. And we are going to fight for our community because it's important to us, right? So we won't sit down and be quiet. We are going to stand up. You're going to be safe here. The executive director of Washington's Capital Pride Alliance, Ryan Boss, told Reuters he respected people's decisions to boycott D.C., but he also implored people to come out in force. What I challenge them is you're active actually coming here, especially if it is safe and you feel safe coming here. That act is the defiance that birthed pride and is the message that we need to show, again, to those who right now don't feel that they have hope.

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