I just don't know what to make of this migration. I hate that it has to happen and I hate that many trans people can't leave even though they want to. I hope it's also an opportunity to build stronger communities in new places.

my partner is trans and we are planning to move. we have wanted to for years because of issues in our state/area, but now it's become more urgent. but we have friends and community here we'll be leaving behind, and it makes us really sad. we are also conflicted about our personal well being vs staying and representing our community.

if you're in a hell state, will you move? have you already? or will you stay where you are?

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[–] wulfinna@beehaw.org 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I'm a 25 transfemme in East Tennessee. I used to be a Kentuckian until I moved closer to family due to an abusive relationship at the time, about mid 2021. I'm happy to say I've found a person here who treats me spectacularly, and while I've given this state my best attempt to find a home here... the people who run this state are genuinely Evil. I didn't really believe in evil until talk about "g*nital inspections" started coming up in this state and others for dictating incredibly dehumanizing policies onto an already incredibly vulnerable minority. Disgusting hateful nonsense cloaked in religion plagues this state, the birthplace of the KKK. My partner is from here and she's more interested in staying and fighting or waiting the situation out. I'm incredibly conflicted. It seems like every day a law against us isn't coming out is just another day they're plotting to attack us in our weakest points. I find myself daydreaming about me and my partner trying out long-distance until she figures out employment where I would be after moving to a relatively non-freedom-infringing state like Minnesota or Michigan. I just don't know which path to go down. We're both believers in armed self-defense, and one advantage of being in a deep-red state is being able to be strapped out in public while looking adorable. I value that agency to be oneself and assert that you will Not be bothered. In some sense, I would like to leave the United States altogether, but I don't know what the winds have in store for me. I just despise with all the hate in my heart what is happening here and even abroad with UK's transphobic fervor and Uganda's green-lighting of queer genocide. I don't know what's going to happen, but there are two incredibly determined forces gearing up to smashing head-on into each other after a multitude of skirmishes and punditry no longer suffice. Life itself is going through one great turning of the wheel, it seems.

[–] soiling@beehaw.org 2 points 1 year ago

thanks for sharing. I echo a lot of these sentiments. I don't think there's a right answer in a situation like this. we didn't choose to be targets of hatred, we're just dealing with it.

[–] cadeje@beehaw.org 1 points 1 year ago

I'm also in east Tennessee and have been brainstorming an exit plan in a worst case scenario. It sucks because I really do love it here.

As far as trans rights go, the US is a lot better than a lot of countries just because we have informed consent. I was actually looking into what countries are good for trans folks and the list is shorter than you'd think. Honestly, if we fight it out here, I think the US could become one of the best places to be trans in.

But yeah... With what's happening with Vanderbilt, it's probably a good idea get an exit plan at the very least