This June, many travelers are making plans to take part in Pride Month events around the world, including New York City's huge parade on June 30, but safety concerns are casting a shadow over celebrations.
A travel advisory issued by the State Department last week advised U.S. citizens abroad to “exercise caution” at Pride celebrations and events, as well as locations popular with the LGBTQ community, due to the potential for terrorist attacks and acts of violence. ing.
The advisory follows a joint public service announcement issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on May 10, stating that there is a growing security threat to Pride events in the United States and elsewhere. He warned that terrorist organizations and their supporters could try to target them. Gathering.
Neither alert mentions a specific threat or location, nor does it recommend against travel. Here's what you need to know:
What caused the warning?
The State Department recognizes the increasing potential for violence inspired by foreign terrorist organizations against the LGBTQ community, the alert states.
The FBI and DHS announcement points to an anti-LGBTQ article circulating online in pro-Islamic State circles in February 2023. ISIS messages also encouraged its followers to carry out attacks on “soft targets”, usually easily accessible public places and events.
Last June, Austrian authorities thwarted a plot to attack participants in a Vienna Pride parade with knives and a vehicle, arresting three suspected ISIS sympathizers, according to a statement.
The announcement also noted that June 12 marks the eighth anniversary of the mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, in which a gunman claiming allegiance to ISIS killed 49 people.
Efforts to incite violence against holiday celebrations, including Pride, “are further complicated by the current escalation of threats in the United States and other Western countries,” the announcement said.
How rare is this?
Threats against LGBTQ people by terrorist organizations and their sympathizers are not uncommon.
Terrorist groups can use such threats as a recruiting tool to exploit shared prejudices, explained Colin P. Clark, research director at the Soufan Group, a New York-based intelligence and security consulting firm.
“This is another arrow in the arrow, allowing the group to cast a wider net,” he wrote in an email. “Some potential recruits may be motivated by sectarianism, others by anti-Western propaganda, and still others by homophobia.” So if it resonates, terrorist groups will use it as a means of incitement.”
The State Department maintains a web page with information tailored to LGBTQ travelers, but global safety warnings for Pride events are rare.
“The State Department's recent global travel advisory specifically targeting the LGBTQ+ community is unprecedented, but also consistent with the escalation of anti-LGBTQ+ behavior around the world. John Tanzella, president of the LGBTQ travel network IGLTA, said in an email.
What should travelers do to stay safe?
“The first rule is to follow the advice and guidance of the Pride organisations – they know their city, they know their event, and they will work with the police to keep you safe,” Steve Taylor, a member of the board of European Pride organisers, the Copenhagen Pride Association and leaders wrote in an email.
“Secondly, please look out for each other,” he added. “Our eyes and ears keep us safe. If something doesn't seem right, say something. And thirdly, stick to major events and keep track of where you are.” Let others know if you're going.”
In places like New York City, Pride event organizers are working with law enforcement and private security teams to ensure people follow safety guidance, including advice on creating buddy systems and reporting suspicious activity. is encouraged.
“There are bad actors,” said Sandra Perez, executive director of New York City Pride, the organization behind the city's Pride march, which drew 75,000 participants and about 2 million spectators last year, according to organizers. he said. “What we know is that we cannot allow their threats to dictate our visibility.”
She noted that while people should always take safety seriously, there is also a unifying force in attending and celebrating.
“The reality is that rain can sometimes have a bigger impact than other threats,” Perez said of demonstrators.
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