Trans People Are Moving Away From Their Homes 'In Case of A Handmaid's Tale Situation'
Michigan emerges as a refuge in uncertain times
With trans rights under fire virtually everywhere in the U.S. following the swearing-in of Donald Trump — and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton actively seeking out identification data of trans individuals for years, including names and driver's license numbers — Kennidi Monroe says her desire to leave her home state has been a long time coming.
"Since I knew that we might have a president who wants to essentially exterminate trans people, I knew I wanted to get closer to the Canadian border in case we end up in a 'Handmaid's Tale' situation," Monroe tells Pride Source.
Monroe hopes to move to Michigan from Texas with her husband, Trevor, and six pets despite not knowing a soul here. She's not alone. Outside of moving to states deemed safer, many trans Americans are also contemplating or actively planning to move out of the country to ensure their rights are protected and safe, their healthcare coverage continues and their identities are validated.
Roz Keith, the executive director and founder of Stand with Trans, says she's talked with multiple trans people and their families considering relocation following the re-election of Trump and recent policy changes affecting the trans community.
"I know there are families that are even thinking of leaving Michigan because supportive states — states that have been providing gender-affirming care, that have adolescent gender clinics and are seeing trans adults — are canceling appointments and halting care. I haven't heard specifically of that happening yet in Michigan, but I'm holding my breath," Keith tells Pride Source.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her administration have actively made strides to ensure Michigan's LGBTQ+ community feels seen, heard and protected here. In January, Whitmer ordered state departments to review recent federal executive orders against DEI and transgender policies.
Additionally, throughout her tenure as governor, Whitmer established the state's first-ever LGBTQ+ commission, amended the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to reaffirm and expand protections for sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression (ensuring no one can be fired from their jobs or evicted from their home for how they identify), opposed and vetoed any anti-trans legislation that has made it to her desk, vetoed anti-trans budget language that sought to deny gender-affirming healthcare and banned conversion therapy. In an interview with Pride Source last year, Whitmer said she will continue to work with other members in office to ensure "that we are a state that the LGBTQ+ community can point to across the country as a state that's doing more, that's doing it right and that is drawing people into our state because of our work here."
But the reality is that it's not as simple as picking up and fleeing to a safer space, whether across the country or the world.
Monroe works paycheck to paycheck as a transportation manager with Amazon. She supports herself and her husband, who is disabled, while trying to save for the move, secure housing and ensure her job will relocate her to Detroit. She says she is also currently renting out a storage pod to hold their belongings in, so once they can leave, they can do so quickly.
"It's hard to do it on a whim and it's hard to move if you don't have good credit. So we're at a bit of a standstill," says Monroe.
Still, she and her husband are determined to get to Michigan, even if money is what's holding them back. She created a GoFundMe to try and raise funds to move quicker and also has an online store, Kennedi Co., where she sells shirts, stickers, soaps and more.
"The difficult thing is that most families do not just have the resources to up and move. That's a problem, whether you're thinking of moving to a different state or country. And you can't just up and move to a new country. That takes a lot of planning that doesn't just happen in a day. You have to think about the documents and visas and living situations and making a living. Are you able to just transfer and do your work? How are you providing for your family? Those are not overnight moves and decisions," says Keith.
"I think a lot of people joked 'If this candidate gets elected, I'm moving and leaving the country.' People were very glib about it, but here we are."
While policy changes and concerns about identity documentation continue to emerge, Keith says it's hard to even give advice as the situations change daily.
"It's like living in a science-fiction movie," she says.
As Monroe leans on her community, she looks toward the future. She says her goal is to have a large enough property to one day have tiny homes to house trans youth who have been disowned by their families. She also says she would like to open a queer boutique complete with books, art and coffee, "where queer people can come and feel safe." It would be a place where the youth can work, earn money and land on their feet while learning from trans and queer elders.
"I know this project won't happen overnight, but it is a dream," says Monroe.
Thinking about this dream of hers is something that keeps Monroe going through the planning and prepping. The mental load, she says, is draining.
"The fact that the government doesn't want us to exist weighs a lot on me as an outspoken trans person. I have to speak out on issues, but also understand my own mental health in the process," says Monroe.
"I've gained weight in the last three to four months due to stress eating, scared to know if I can get my family out of this mess. I just want to have a place that is ours, where we feel safe."
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