US Security Warning About Potential Attacks on LGBTQ Individuals and Gatherings

The US State Department issued a global security warning due to the "potential for terrorist attacks" against LGBTQ individuals and gatherings. In this security warning, released on Friday, May 17, it is stated that considering the likelihood of "terrorist attacks or violent actions against citizens and US interests, the State Department advises American citizens abroad to exercise increased caution." The State Department specifically warned of the potential increase in violent actions by foreign terrorist organizations against LGBTQ individuals and events. This warning was issued on May 17, coinciding with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, and two weeks before the start of June, which is when Pride parades for LGBTQ individuals are held worldwide. The US State Department has advised US citizens to be vigilant in places frequently visited by tourists, including locations hosting LGBTQ gatherings. Earlier last week, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security similarly issued a warning that foreign terrorist organizations and their supporters may target LGBTQ gatherings and locations as June approaches. Last year, Austrian police successfully thwarted a plot to attack the annual LGBTQ parade in Vienna, arresting three suspects aged 14, 17, and 20 who were linked to extremist Islamic groups. In the same year, the Human Rights Campaign declared a national emergency for the LGBTQ community in the US for the first time in its 40-year history of supporting this group. According to the latest research by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, currently, more LGBTQ individuals in Europe feel free to express their identity compared to three years ago, but they are facing increased violence, threats, and harassment.