09/07/2025
A friend just asked me for advice on fleeing the Tangerine Tyrant's regime. Here's what I did.
1) Decide where you want to go and how much it will cost to get there and secure an Airbnb or something for a bit. Learn as much about the country and it's asylum process as you can.
2) Hyperextend your credit to cover expenses. Get every cent of credit and loans you can. Buy your tickets, secure your housing, pay for visas, luggage, whatever else.
-CREDIT SCORES WILL NOT FOLLOW YOU TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. If you know you aren't going back to the US, you can burn your finances to the ground and take everything you can get. You would need a LOT of debt to make it worth pursuing you internationally. Like, more than anyone reading this is likely to carry 😅
3) Use an international finance app like Wise to funnel everything you have left into more easily accessible funds with very cheap exchange rates.
4) Get wherever you want to be, then before the visa that got you there expires you want to claim asylum. You will want to find out the specific protocols for wherever you are going.
5) I have learned that a Refugee Visa is its own thing separate from the asylum process and, at least in NZ, is required to work and access some benefits. Claiming asylum makes it legal for you to physically remain somewhere, but you will likely need a specific visa to really plug into society.
6) Don't be afraid to make friends and ask for help. Every decent person on Earth knows why trans folx are fleeing the US, and they are generally sympathetic. That has been my experience at least.
This was the most difficult thing I have ever done, for multiple reasons. My future is uncertain, sure...
But better than the CERTAIN future for trans people in the US.
Stay safe out there, whatever that looks like for you. And much love 💜💜