" This is incredibly f * * * * * * up . "
This is singer-songwriter Bells Larsen, and what’s transpired in the last few days surrounding his tour is a wake-up call.
On Friday, the Canadian musician announced that he had to cancel his upcoming US tour dates over visa complications thanks to the Trump administration’sgender requirementstargeting people who identify as trans.
As a person who identifies as nonbinary, my hands slightly shake as I write this, and my heart breaks for the friends and chosen family who are experiencing a multitude of hardships for simply existing in this world. For myself, I’m burdened by the anxiety of constantly putting a target on my back and fear of retaliation, but artists like Bells give me the tools to overcome — a soundtrack to our heartbreak, resilience, and reality.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Bellssharedthat the American Federation of Musicians emailed him that he could “no longer apply for a Visa because US immigration now only recognizes identification that corresponds with one’s assigned sex at birth.”
“To put it super plainly, because I’m trans (and have an M on my passport), I can’t tour the States,” Bells wrote. “I hesitate to include a ‘right now’ or an anymore at the end of my previous sentence, because — in this sociopolitical climate — I truly don’t know which phrasing holds more truth. The irony of this announcement falling exactly two weeks before the release of my album, which is about my transition, is not lost on me.”
If you didn’t know, PresidentDonald Trumpsigned an executive order in January that required documents, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, to reflect a person’s biological sex, and the US Citizenship and Immigration Services updated their policy to reflect this executive order.
Bells was scheduled to perform a series of US dates in cities like Los Angeles,New York, Boston, and San Francisco. “I am not exaggerating when I say that I shaped my transition aroundBlurring Time.This album is, in many ways, my life’s work. I am more and more gutted with every day that passes by the (seeming) dissonance between the world in which I created this project and the world into which I am releasing it.”
Bells included that his concern over “border horror stories + worried check-in texts from loves + increasingly troublesome updates on the news and on official government websites” made it “clear to me that there was no way to move forward here.”
For Bells, it’s not even opposition against the administration that has “crushed [his] dreams” — it’s simply existing in his truth. “I’m cradling a very broken heart and the realization that I don’t know if or when I will be able to tour in the States again.”
But, do not let the cruel efforts of misguided policies diminish hope. The outpouring of support and the shared frustration of Bells’s situation is a beautiful reminder that people are in this together and not backing down in silence.
Ayo Edebirishared Bells’s post to her IG stories, giving his story greater visibility.
One person repeated the Marian Wright Edelman quote Bells referenced, “You can’t be what you can’t see” and wrote, “As one of your trans American listeners, I am gutted for you, and please also know your work is still impacting us here even if you can’t be physically with us.”
“God this is so infuriating. I’m so sorry Bells. Big love and solidarity,” Canadian musician Dan Mangan wrote.
Another Canadian musician Eve Parker Finley wrote, “This breaks my heart and makes me so fucking mad!”
This user wrote, “I am so very sorry. And as an American so terribly embarrassed. I have never even listened to your music but I’m going to go buy one of your albums and encourage others to do so as well. I look forward to the day when America is safe for you again.”
Leandra Earl of The Beaches wrote, “This is so fucking infuriating and heartbreaking. Love you dude. The fans who need you over there will be waiting for you.”
Canadian singer-songwriter Gabrielle Shonk wrote, “Reading this breaks my heart! You are amazing. Thank you for sharing your story! I just can’t wrap my head around the fact that this is the reality we are living in… Makes noo sense! Sending you tons of love and support!”
Canadian broadcaster and author Grant Lawrence wrote, “Outrageous. The only ‘letter’ that should matter is ‘H’ for human being. I stand with you.”
“Your body of work is borderless— you deserve the freedom of movement. I’m sorry it’s come to this but the work you’re doing is brave and important. Proud to have crossed paths with you, albeit if only for a moment. Sending love,” another person wrote.
Finally, singer-songwriter Katie Pruitt wrote, “This is incredibly fucked up. The irony is, that by attempting to silence you all they’re actually doing is giving you more of a platform to speak your truth. Keep fighting the good fight my friend.”
