Cross-Border LGBTQ+ Advocate Discusses Rising Threats to Trans Rights in U.S.

Vivian Myers-Jones, a dual citizen and U.S. veteran, says she feels a growing sense of unease each time she crosses the Canada-U.S. border. “There’s a level of trepidation every single time I do it, even as a dual citizen,” she said during a recent interview with host Vicki Hogarth on Southwest Magazine on CHCO-TV. The comment reflects broader concerns she hears from the LGBTQ+ community as political tensions rise in parts of the United States.

Myers-Jones, who lives in New Brunswick and is active in Saint John Pride, has become an advocate for trans rights across both countries. She describes a sharp decline in protections for transgender Americans, attributing it to what she calls a deliberate and systemic erasure. “They took the steps first by removing references to trans health in the CDC documentation,” she explained, citing early actions during the Trump administration. “That’s a method of erasure—it’s not dissimilar to cultural genocide. It’s the book burning of the 1930s.”

Her comments come as a growing number of U.S. states enact laws restricting gender-affirming care, trans participation in sports, and public expression of queer identities. Although Canada offers greater legal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, Myers-Jones said these rights cannot be taken for granted. “We really need to teach future generations… open minds, open hearts,” she said, urging educators and families to take an active role in combating stigma.

Her advocacy is informed by her military background, where she witnessed the real-world consequences of shifting policy on LGBTQ+ service members. “Seeing somebody who is 19 years in, one year from retirement, all of a sudden get another honourable discharge out of that—that's reprehensible,” she said, referring to service members removed from duty under changing rules.

Myers-Jones’s work is increasingly focused on building solidarity between LGBTQ+ communities in Maine and New Brunswick. Recent local Pride events in both Canada and the U.S. drew participants from both sides of the border. “It was so wonderful,” she said of the turnout, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public visibility and demonstrating community resilience in a time of increasing threats.

Looking ahead, Myers-Jones believes Canada may see more LGBTQ+ refugees from the U.S., and that Canada will be enriched by it. 

“We make the world a better place because when we're our authentic selves. Just take the time to listen to us, listen to our experiences. We're amazing, and I'm glad we're all here." she said. Her message is about the basic human rights to be seen, to be safe, and to live freely — and the urgent need to defend those rights for everyone, every day.