Canadian singer-songwriter Bells Larsen has announced the cancellation of his upcoming U.S. tour due to new visa regulations under the Trump administration targeting transgender applicants.
Larsen, whose second album Blurring Time is set to release on April 25, had initially planned performances in New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other U.S. cities this June. However, in an Instagram post on Friday, April 11, he revealed that he was forced to cancel these dates after being informed that he would not be granted a U.S. visa.
According to Larsen, he received an email from the American Federation of Musicians notifying him that he could not apply for a visa due to the U.S. Immigration policy, which only acknowledges identification that aligns with an individual’s assigned sex at birth.
In February, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a memo directing consulates and immigration offices globally to reject transgender visa applicants under a provision of the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act. This provision imposes a “permanent fraud bar” on individuals who provide false information on their visa applications. This directive followed President Donald Trump’s executive order on February 5, which called for a national and international ban on transgender women participating in women’s sports. Legal experts have pointed out that the new visa guidance is so expansive that it applies to all transgender applicants.
“To put it simply,” Larsen wrote on Instagram, “because I’m trans (and have an M on my passport), I can’t tour in the United States.”
Larsen shared that he had been contemplating canceling his U.S. tour dates for weeks, but had initially hoped to continue with “harm reduction” in mind. He explained that his plan was to travel with a cisgender companion, present passports and visas with “M”s on them, and perform only in states that were considered more progressive. However, as troubling reports and updates continued to emerge, he realized that proceeding with the tour was no longer feasible.
After consulting with two immigration lawyers and hearing from the American Federation of Musicians, Larsen concluded that there was no way forward under the current visa policy.
He described the Trump administration’s new policy as “crushing my dreams,” noting that he had hoped Blurring Time, an album centered around his transition, would help him break into the U.S. music scene and form connections with American musicians.
“More than anything, though, I just really wanted to perform my album for queer and trans people in the U.S. who saw their stories reflected in my own,” he added.
On April 14, United Musicians and Allied Workers responded to Larsen’s announcement on X, denouncing the new anti-trans visa policy. The union stated, “Trans musicians like Bells Larsen… deserve safety, dignity, and access to work. The Trump administration is weaponizing their inhumane immigration and visa policies in new horrifying ways every day, and we cannot allow it.”
Larsen assured his followers that his Canadian tour would proceed as scheduled.
“I will continue to be my most authentic self in the public eye, hoping others may find courage and solace in my music,” he wrote. “I consider it an honor, a challenge, and a duty to bring queer joy, power, and catharsis to audiences through my project, and I can’t wait to perform Blurring Time across Canada this spring, summer, and fall.”
Larsen also called for solidarity among Canadian musicians and encouraged others to invite him on their Canadian and European tours, allowing him to extend the reach of his album.
On Monday, Larsen announced that he would open for Canadian singer-songwriter Dan Mangan during his upcoming Canadian tour this fall.
