I am not an alarmist.
I do not have an exit/escape plan.
I live in a relative safe location for a trans woman.
All that began to change last week. All that might radically change next week.
Last week, the President of the United States and his administration announced a plan to define transgender people out of existence for the federal government. Furthermore, the Department of Justice argued in court that transgender people are not a protected class under federal law, and are therefore, fair game for job discrimination. Add to this all the recent efforts of the Department of Education to rollback protections for trans kids, and it paints a pretty clear picture. The Trump Administration hates transgender people, and clearly wishes they would just disappear forever.
Next week, we have the Midterms. The outcome in Congress is worrisome enough, but here in Georgia, we have another worry. Georgia is electing a new governor. The choice is between a progressive, inclusive, black woman, Stacy Abrams, and a bigoted, religious conservative, white man, Brian Kemp. It’s a tight race. Brian Kemp promises to pass legislation that will rollback rights for LGBTQ+ folks, specifically their right to adopt. The tech and film industry has threatened to pull out of Georgia if that happens. That’s a $9 billion hole in our economy, and a great setback for the booming tech and film industry here. Many are worried they’ll have to leave the state just to stay employed.
I’m worried that if everything goes red next week, I’ll have to leave the country. Maybe not right away, but how long should I wait? Do I wait until I have to be smuggled out? Or do I leave while I can still walk out and emigrate to a country that is accepting where I can begin a new life and career? I could just move to a bluer state, like California. However, if passports are no longer issued to transgender people, especially in the way they present and appear, I won’t be able to leave the country easily. That is worrisome. I don’t share these fears alone. Many of my trans brothers and sisters, and enbies of all stripes have the same worries.
I’m not an alarmist, but I think it’s time to start sounding the alarm on this. I don’t have an exit plan, but I think I need to get one together. Just in case. Hope the for the best, but plan for the worst. Right?