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Border Challenges and Solidarity

By
Margie McCumstie
Date Posted
31 Mar 2025
Date Revised
31 Mar 2025

People from racialised and other stigmatised communities have long faced significant challenges when crossing borders, particularly individuals from the Global South. The scrutiny, costs, and barriers imposed by high-income countries have deep historical roots.

Recent news reports highlight troubling developments, including the detention of tourists and green card holders. Any perceived irregularity—whether linked to work, appearance, or documentation—can raise concerns and lead to adverse consequences.

People with intersex variations can face additional obstacles, including due to the impact of presidential decisions on classifying sex. Different ways of determining and classifying sex can have contradictory impacts on people with intersex variations.

If you have changed your sex marker, including to an X marker, this may increase the likelihood of facing unwanted attention.

For those travelling to the US, it’s crucial to dedicate extra time to ensure your documents are accurate and in order. Proceed with caution to minimise potential difficulties. Similar challenges exist, to varying degrees, across many jurisdictions.

We stand in solidarity with everyone affected by the recent actions of the U.S. government, both within its borders and around the world. It’s important to note that these issues are not exclusive to the U.S.

Travel safely!

Text reads: "Planning a trip to the United States? Here's what you need to know as an intersex person." Image of InterAction for Health and Human Rights logo- name plus purple circle. Photo of a pale skinned woman with long brown hair. She is open mouthed and wearing red lipstick. She has white sunglasses on. The woman is holding a passport and tickets.
Text reads: Passport and Identification Issues: If you have to travel to the US, spend extra time to make sure your documents are in order. Exercise caution. Image of InterAction for Health and Human Rights logo- name plus purple circle. Photo of a passport and documents.
Text reads: Safety Concerns: Any perceived irregularity might create causes for concern. This could be to do with your work, your appearance, or your documentation. Image of InterAction for Health and Human Rights logo- name plus purple circle. Photo of a dark skinned man with short black hair and short facial hair. He is wearing a pink polo shirt and dark sunglasses. he is holding his passport and tickets.
Text reads: Safety Concerns: Intersex travellers who are also trans or gender diverse might encounter discrimination or harassment, especially in areas where awareness and acceptance of differing identities are limited. If you have changed sex marker, and if you have an X marker, then these are likely to cause unwanted attention. It's important to be cautious and prepared for such situations. Image of InterAction for Health and Human Rights logo- name plus purple circle. Photo of a pale skinned woman with long straight brown hair sitting on a brown suitcase. She is wearing a white blouse and jeans and a floppy brimmed white hat. She is resting her head on her fist as she waits.
Text reads: There are some additional issues impacting intersex people, including due to the impact of presidential decisions on classifying sex. Different ways of determining and classifying sex can have contradictory impacts on people with intersex variations. Image of InterAction for Health and Human Rights logo- name plus purple circle. Photo of a woman with dark hair and eyes leaning on her pink suitcase and holding her passport and tickets. She is wearing a blue and white striped top and looks annoyed.
Text reads: InterAction for Health and Human Rights stands in solidarity with all people impacted by the action of the new US government, both inside the US and everywhere else. Image of InterAction for Health and Human Rights logo- name plus purple circle. Photo of the American flag.

Equality Australia have written about the issues for transgender and non-binary people - take a look at United States Travel Alert - Equality Australia

Acknowledgement of Country
Our Australian staff and board live and work on First Nations lands. We recognise that sovereignty over this land was never ceded and that this always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the continued connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to land, waterways and community and pay our respects to all First Nations people.
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InterAction for Health and Human Rights
Bundjalung Jagun, PO Box 92,
The Channon, New South Wales,
2480, Australia

ABN 73 143 506 594

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