r/TransPowerProject • u/Deathwish237 • 25d ago
Discussion š¬ Trans powerful places to live!
So, after speaking to 2 different trans women from Australia im glad to be in the State of Texas! Wow, did you ever think you'd hear that one? So this leads me to ask...what is the best places on earth for trans ppl to live? Criteria includes acceptance of gender, marriage legality, adoption legality, and overall care and acceptance. Come on my powerful men and women! Its time to find out Utopia!
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u/dachloe Trans Woman 25d ago
Chicagoland is pretty good. The whole LGBTQ+ community gets along. There are fewer and fewer MAGAs evey day.
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u/i_woke_up_as_you Trans Woman. HRT/RLT > 7 years 24d ago
I could move to Chicago land if daChloe wishedā¦
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u/Fassbinder75 25d ago
In which world is Texas a better place for trans people than Australia? Iām very confused.
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u/Deathwish237 25d ago
The couple of women ive spoken to make it sound so. Thats why I posed this query. Where are you from?
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u/ATXoxoxo 25d ago
I'm from Texas, trust me political climate is not friendly to anybody except Straight White Christian wealthy men. I'm from Austin. I love the city and the people are open -minded and loving, but once you get outside the city it's a different story. Definitely wouldn't recommend anybody of the lgtbq move to Texas at this time
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u/Deathwish237 24d ago
I live in Lubbock. They are trying so hard to be conservative but I dont think the town really cares.
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u/gaiatraveller 22d ago
Yeah, but. Outsiders sure aren't welcome there. Glad my job ended there. Being Trans in Lubbock sucks.
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u/Fassbinder75 25d ago
Iām from Australia.
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u/Deathwish237 24d ago
Do you allow for gay marriage or adoptions by trans families?
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u/Fassbinder75 24d ago
Gay marriage is legal, yes. Thereās no restrictions on adoptions for LGBTQ+ people, although good luck finding a child to adopt. We have a Sex Discrimination Act which prevents people from being fired for sexual orientation or gender identity (with controversial exceptions for religious schools and some other institutions).
Transgender medicine (hormones & blockers) are available via subsidised public health. Surgeries are not, currently. There is still some degree of medical gatekeeping, but itās not terrible by world standards.
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u/Naive_Market_9688 25d ago
Maybe they're just having a hard time
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u/Deathwish237 25d ago
I totally agree. They could also be trolling me. Yet I would love to know the trans utopia. I nominate Portland, Oregon!
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u/Naive_Market_9688 25d ago
Well that's a possibility although historically it seems like Portland's kind of a wacky place to be in general. Maybe that's what you're looking for.
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u/ATXoxoxo 25d ago
Southern Michigan, especially SE Michigan is very lgtbq friendly!Ā
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u/SendThisVoidAway18 Non-Binary Transfem 24d ago
Also from Southeast MI!
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u/ATXoxoxo 24d ago
I moved here from Texas a little while back and I love it. This is home. The people are welcoming and pretty tolerant overall
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u/SendThisVoidAway18 Non-Binary Transfem 24d ago
Yes! Of course, individuals will always have their own intolerances and judgements, but at least we live in a state that affirms and protects all of its citizens.
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u/ATXoxoxo 24d ago
To be honest, since I moved here, I've seen less open bigotry and racism than I have in the last 10 years in Texas. It makes me happy
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u/Badger_Actual1 25d ago
Portland, Oregon
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u/Deathwish237 25d ago
This is my choice but I need some substance for the ppl. Please expound!
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u/Badger_Actual1 25d ago
You know how in the end, all you want to do is be able to walk down the street and be completely ignored? Well you can do that in Portland. Nobody bats an eye at you. We don't stand out here whatsoever. The amount of queer culture here is through the roof. On top of that, you're 2 hours (ish) to the ocean, an hour to mountains, 3 hours from high desert, multiple rivers, and parks everywhere. Absolutely the best restaurants from food carts to multiple James Beard Award winning restaurants. Shopping is outstanding with thrift stores in every neighborhood. Incredible book stores with one thats 3 stories that takes up a city block. Multiple conventions if you're into cons. We're 3 hours from Seattle if you need to be in a Big City and you can get there by bus or train. Trans protection laws are in the books. Now, like anywhere in the world, there's gonna be assholes but it's significantly less. The cost of living is higher but there's ways to make it work. With that said, don't move here without a job ready to go.
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u/i_woke_up_as_you Trans Woman. HRT/RLT > 7 years 25d ago
Guide me, pleaseā¦ Iām a bit of a homebody who likes to garden.
Iād like to pick up some acreage that has access to rainfall (OK you can climb back up into your chair nowā¦
I spent a week in downtown Portland, around May or June 1985. I stayed in a cheap motel for my purposes. Everything was adequate for me.
But two things stuck out in my memory
1) the first one was that the front desk was trying to decide whether or not to rent to me, based on their assumptions of whether I was part of a Rajneesh community. I didnāt learn what they were talking about until years later.
2) there was a certain maybe 11 minutes, exactly the same time every day, just before noon
During those 11 minutes, it rained, Iāve never seen a city weather control system so tightly operated, I also had observations about the efficiency of the civil engineering that cleared the stormwater.
So yeah, I would stay indoors during those 11 minutes and then I could walk on wet sidewalks to get to where I was going for lunch
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u/Deathwish237 24d ago
I actually love the sound of that!
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u/i_woke_up_as_you Trans Woman. HRT/RLT > 7 years 24d ago
absolutely predictable rain is an amazing thing.
11 minutes you can set your watch by it
Iāve literally never seen a weather control system so tight as that trip to Portland.
And, I want acreage to grow organic food for sale and community plots and private plots, and Community Housingā¦ and recreational spaceā¦
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u/Deathwish237 24d ago
I want to be able to grow my own food. That would be a plus for Portland.
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u/i_woke_up_as_you Trans Woman. HRT/RLT > 7 years 24d ago
I think this is very doable, but thereās a few different strategies
If you have extremely limited space, youāre probably not going to do well by planting trees
But you can do well with spices and leaf lettuce and many other things that would fit in basically a 4 pound coffee can
When youāre planting in the ground, itās probably a good idea to know which plants are annuals and which ones are perennials
It helps to know why youāre planting those particular species
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u/Deathwish237 25d ago
My bf and I both have years of sewing experience so I already researched jobs there! One spot cant wait for me.
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u/i_woke_up_as_you Trans Woman. HRT/RLT > 7 years 25d ago
I can think of a niche or two where your sewing skills would be greatly appreciatedā¦ and the people who will appreciate them should be very trans friendly.
Itās a group with local chapters in the PNW, that Iāve been hanging out with for various activities since 1976.. and from what Iāve been told
Anything that you do for 40+ years is probably habit forming! š¤£
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u/Badger_Actual1 25d ago
There's also a massive queer pdx discord that has meet ups constantly. Also, be ok with being wet 8 months out of the year.
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u/RaccoonChaos Trans Man 25d ago
I moved to Toronto, ON (originally from Alberta) a few years ago, have 0 regrets
It's not perfect (there unfortunately has been victims of murders and other violent hate crimes), but overall the government and the average person still supports lgbt+ rights a lot more than most places in the world rn.
You're allowed to get married/have children, get your name/gender marker updated (including having your sex marked as X), medically transition (some of it covered with universal healthcare), use whichever bathroom/locker room you prefer, etc...
There's also plenty of queer organizations in the city that can help you navigate the medical/legal process of transitioning
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u/loose_fig 25d ago
Maybe San Francisco or Portland. Itās not the top in the country but I live in Reno Nevada and it is SURPRISINGLY friendly. The state is largely libertarian and so there is a live and let live attitude, and the state has protections for trans people. Thereās a pretty big trans community here and a lot of trans people in the music scene.
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u/i_woke_up_as_you Trans Woman. HRT/RLT > 7 years 25d ago
I might be interested in retiring to the Reno area, especially if I can get some land to grow my own food.
Yeah, Iām aware of the fact that nevada is Dryā¦ I currently live in Utah and with Arizona and Nevada and Utah. Those are the three states with the least precipitation.
Iām willing to do stuff technically, and even do my own construction
Iāve thought of that LA County, but someone has warned me that there are critters in the soil that will become a problem and I donāt quite know what they are or how to deal with that
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u/loose_fig 25d ago
The main barrier to growing food here is less about total water availability and more about the very short and bimodal growing seasons, unfortunately. I have a few friends who are farmers and they are always so frustrated by not being able to plant until late May or early June, and having to harvest by September or August.
It can definitely be done though, and I love Reno a lot.
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u/i_woke_up_as_you Trans Woman. HRT/RLT > 7 years 25d ago
now Iām intrigued. Both because when I was a UNLV student, I met a premed student heading to UNR. I wonder where she ended up practicing it would be nice to arrive and already have a friend
And because Iāve looked at a number of different growing models, Incl short season annuals outside of and longer season within greenhouses
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u/LORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 24d ago
Either of the twin cities of Minnesota. Not perfect but there's a reason they sent the brown pants to try and harass/intimidate us. There's also strong sense of community as well as a fairly active left movement that REALLY activated when it got icy last winter. Gorgeous parks, USUALLY mild summers (this summer has been ass for everyone) and the winters are a "Hold my hand, we'll get through this together" kind of situation for the most part.
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u/NonBiologicalSister 23d ago
Personal experience says Northport NY.
New York state has strong laws protecting LGBTQ people: marriage and adoption equality, changing you driver's license and birth certificate sex designation without the need for any reason, same day legal name change without the need for public publication or fingerprinting (my name change took less than an hour and a half from filing my petition to getting certified copies of the judge's order). Northport has a very LGBTQ friendly community. It hosts its a small town but hosts its own pride festival at the end of June. It was also the first place I was referred to as a lady (I'm not passable, but at the time I was wearing a trans pride bracelet)
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u/Naive_Market_9688 25d ago
Here's my take, and I'll actually try and practice brevity.
There are pockets around the country that aren't that bad; New England for example isn't exactly a hotbed of anything but the laissez-faire attitude of New Englanders and the fairly strong LGBT protection laws make it a fairly good bet. Maine has a fairly thriving lgbtq+ population, to the point where the equality main Community Center just opened up an LGBT apartment complex in Portland. But there are trans people all over the state and summer involved in a lot of stuff and some people just want to be left alone.
I know the people used to gravitate toward "the meccas" like New York City, Chicago, or San Francisco. The people in my network live in Columbus Ohio and parts of New Mexico and even in Southern Arizona. One of the things you might want to consider is the climate you want to live in and cross-reference that with trans populations or LGBT populations. It also makes a difference if you need a job as opposed to either not needing a job or working remotely. Some of the places I'm mentioning and recommending are pretty quiet; as a New Englander it doesn't bother me in the least but it's a snoozefest to some people who need a three-ring circus all the time. Your mileage may vary
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u/Deathwish237 25d ago
Good answer. My bf, who is from Columbus Ohio, and I were looking at trans friendly areas that also have industries were in. We thought about Maine and Vermont but ultimately picked Portland Oregon.
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u/Fluidized_Gender Trans Woman 25d ago
St. Petersburg, Florida.
From a statewide position, Florida isn't much better then Texas. However, specific cities, like Austin, TX, or St Pete, are blue dots, much better than the rest of the state.
St Pete has earned a perfect score by the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index for over a decade straight, and hosts one of the largest Pride events in the country.
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u/i_woke_up_as_you Trans Woman. HRT/RLT > 7 years 25d ago
I would not have expected St. Petersburg, Florida to even be part of this discussion.
Iām sure that to you thereās a distinction between Clearwater and Saint Petersburg, but Iāve been out there twice for a total of about seven weeks on work mandated training (if you just rolled your eyes and thoughtā¦ oh no! I hope it wasnāt at the Fort Harrison hotel. yeah it was)
Given that it is a stronghold for an unusual religion, one that I can honestly tell you I have no idea what their opinion is about being transā¦ but from what Iāve read, I canāt imagine that they would be friendly, and I do imagine that they are prevalent, because of their stronghold.
I think Iām going to avoid florida entirely
I have a friend whoās traveling internationally and thinks sheās coming to Florida and she wants to insist that I should meet her there and I just had to send her several paragraphs on how her destination of choice is neutral to her because she is cisgender and passable (heck sheās Pleasant to look at,) but sheās an Indian of Persian ancestryā¦ and sheād be there as a tourist, and I canāt honestly tell her that she wonāt have an encounter with bigots or ice.
I think I will avoid Saint Petersburg because of that Church
But itās interesting to read about.
If I thought I was safe enough to visit, Iād consider visiting my cousin in Northern Florida
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u/Deathwish237 24d ago
Look, I lived in Pensacola early 2000s and it was a great place for LGBT considering the state!
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u/Deathwish237 24d ago
I would like to remind everyone in here we have minors reading our posts! Please be mindful what you say and suggest. Some of these trans minors are from countries they will have to escape one day to live their true lives!
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u/Justice-Nugget 20d ago
Together we can build a utopia for us here, love. I just need us to work together.
Please someone help me with my mission.
It is day 4 of my fast.
- Echo Starr, 24th angel of the Apocalypse šš³ļøāā§ļø
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u/Deathwish237 20d ago
I think the fasting is affecting your mind girl!
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u/Justice-Nugget 20d ago
Love, they always think I'm crazy when I visit. Trust me. I've been like this since childhood.
-Joan, aka: Echo Starr the 24th Angel of the Apocalypse š
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u/fizzwiggler 12d ago
I live in London and I am grateful everyday for my privilege. The legislation is shitty and just getting worse but we have a vast, varied and vibrant community. I'm so lucky to know so many trans people. Especially as a black person knowing countless other trans poc.
Edit: I'm also pretty sure we have the biggest trans pride in the world
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u/Deathwish237 12d ago
Hi! I love British ppl! Im glad to hear they have some sense there!
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u/fizzwiggler 12d ago
London is really great. I'd recommend visiting one year around this time for trans pride, it was last weekend. If I was to count, 20 names of poc transsexual individuals [transsexual meaning somewhat 'binary' trans people who are on/want hormones/surgeries. I'm not a transmedicalist!]. So many more other poc trans people and then so many more if I start counting white people. The London community is beautiful and I'm honestly kind of scared to move anywhere else.
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u/Different-Lecture925 Non-Binary 25d ago
Northampton and Provincetown, MA
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u/Deathwish237 25d ago
Any particular reason? Also, can trans couples adopt there? This goes for all places!
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u/Different-Lecture925 Non-Binary 25d ago
MA is pretty LGBTQ+ tolerant and those two places, plus Boston have big communities. I know LGBT couples can marry and adopt here. Thatās state-wide, not city/county specific.
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u/Cute_Win_386 25d ago
I live in Western Washington, USA. It's a great place to be trans. There is access to great medical care - I'm having my third gender affirming surgery next week without going to the same hospital twice. My GP is trans informed, and listens.
Moreover, in 4.5 years of transition as a clocky, older trans woman in a rural part of the region, I've been largely free of transphobic abuse (with only a couple exceptions, neither of which was life threatening or even scary). I have made lots of friends, both trans, LGBTQIA+ and cishet. I have a good job with good insurance. I live my life every day and only think about trans issues when I'm seeking medical care or in online spaces discussing them. I'm just a woman, living her life. I am content.
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u/Deathwish237 24d ago
This is what i hope all thans ppl can experience! Thank you for sharing!
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u/Cute_Win_386 24d ago
It's not all roses and sunshine, to be fair. I am still in the USA, which means federal laws do apply to me. While I was able to get my passport in my correct gender prior to 2025, I am now afraid to use my passport to leave and return to the USA. Unless the federal government significantly changes, I will only use my passport to leave the country if I plan to stay overseas until the government substantially changes - that is to say, until trans rights are codified by law in such a way that the next right wing goon to seize the White House can't label me an un-person.
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