It Is Morally OK to Flee the United States

Trans people can’t be expected to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.  We have a right to safety.

By Jane Migliara Brigham

“I cannot express how tired I am of thinking about, worrying about, talking about, and stressing about whether it's time for me to flee the United States while I have the means and opportunity to do so. I do not want to leave. I like it here. But this country is becoming increasingly unlivable for trans people.” -Katelyn Burns

Transsexuals constantly talk about wanting to escape.  Whether it's escaping some town where they are not respected, escaping to the city in search of a better life, or more recently, escaping the United States, the topic never goes away.  

We all seem to be dreaming of a better life.

The fact is that most of us live under the stress of being a hated and persecuted class, and we want to live in peace.  Seeing our persecution increase and our standards of living degrade, we are getting more desperate.

A few years ago, transsexuals who talked about fleeing the country (such as myself) were seen as insane.  

Now, it seems everyone has at least thought about it, and is expected to have an opinion one way or the other.  

The case for leaving is as follows: protecting yourself from bigotry often means separating yourself from your existing community.  

This is true of leaving the countryside and suburbs for the city, and it’s also true of leaving an intolerant country for a more tolerant one.  Therefore, should we be promoting it as a means of keeping us safe?