UK warns members of the LGBT community travelling to the US

The travel advisory issued by the UK warns about North Carolina and Mississippi's controversial new laws on LGBT members rights

The UK government has currently updated foreign travel advice warning British citizens about risks when visiting America's south, in terms of potential discrimination for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender (LBGT) people.

"The U.S. is an extremely diverse society and attitudes towards LGBT people differ hugely across the country. LGBT travelers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi," the warning quotes.

Explaining the new laws

In North Carolina, the “bathroom law” also known as HB2, LGBT members are not allowed to use public bathrooms that don't correspond with their biological sex. The law has faced strong opposition from gay rights activists and also from VIPs, such as Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Pearl Jam, who have canceled their shows in North Carolina. According to the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, bookings here are at great risk, as the area has already lost $3 million from cancellations and expects to further register more than $44 million due to the new law.

In addition to not being allowed to use restrooms according to the gender people identify with, starting July, in Mississippi, the law called “House Bill 1523” will allow businesses and religious groups to deny members of the LGBT community access to certain services (counseling, weddings, support for adoption procedure).

Despite more than 100 US bills pending that could significantly affect the liberties of LGBT people, Ty Cobb, director of Human Rights Campaign Global, declared that the UK government travel warning was inappropriate. "It is now more clear than ever that these terrible measures are not only harming individuals and taking an economic toll on the states, but are also causing serious damage to nation's reputation, and the perceived safety of LGBT people who travel here," he stated.

The new laws in the US states are considered to be “anti-gay” and are expected to cost the United states significant revenue from leisure and business travel.