As the prospect of Donald Trump’s second term advances, apprehension escalates within the LGBTQ community. This fear has seen a surge in gay couples moving ahead with their wedding plans and a fair number considering the extreme step of relocating outside the country. Prior to Trump taking his oath of office once again, renowned television personality Ellen DeGeneres and her spouse Portia de Rossi relocated from California to Cotswolds, U.K, demonstrating that they are not the only ones grappling with such fears.
Laverne Cox, an acclaimed transgender actress, admitted to Variety that subsequent to the election results, destinations across Europe and the Caribbean have become subjects of research among her friends, with safety as the primary consideration. Cox admitted to being in a state of fear despite the societal privileges her position as a public figure offers her. Highlighting her fears of being singled out because of her public image, she expressed her concerns over the massive sums invested in anti-trans commercials.
In her conversation with TheWrap, Kirsten Schaffer, the executive director of Women in Film, expressed her anxieties revolving around her own life and the larger community, especially transgender individuals. As a lesbian who is in a long-term relationship with her partner and is a mother of two, thoughts of getting married have been causing sleepless nights. She went on to express enhanced concern given Trump’s control over the House, Senate and judiciary.
Various LGBTQ members worry about the possibilities of Trump implementing some of the strategies highlighted in Project 2025. Among them, the removal of ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ from all pending legislation commands attention. These fears have been echoed by several other LGBTQ individuals and with some apprehensive about the Supreme Court revisiting the rights to gay marriage. Many voiced their worries of being singled out, particularly those involved in the high-profile entertainment sphere.
Ma’ayan Anafi from the National Women’s Law Center penned down her thoughts about the conservative blueprint, stating that the erasure in question is not metaphoric but a systematic plan aimed at depriving LGBTQI+ people of protection against discrimination, persecution, and violence. The sentiment prevalent in the trans community might be best described as terror. A poll conducted nine months ahead of the election revealed that almost half of the transgender population was contemplating leaving the U.S.
Brent Hartinger, who departed the U.S in 2017 following Trump’s first electoral victory echoes this sentiment. He predicts that Trump’s potential re-election could trigger a mass exodus from America. Google’s Top 25 Searches showed a surge in searches on methods to relocate to various other countries in the immediate aftermath of Trump’s victory.
Several of the individuals spoken to by TheWrap confessed to entertaining the idea of leaving the U.S. However, financial constraints make it difficult for everyone to restart in a new country. Rod Carrillo-Lundgren, former television executive turned travel consultant, registered increased traffic for his LGBTQ+ emigration resources post Trump’s electoral victory. From observing his clientele, he found people thinking not only about their own safety but also the safety of their loved ones as they search for a future where they are safe and accepted.
Hartinger and his partner Michael Jensen, who ventured out of the U.S. in 2017, have made a life as ‘digital nomads’, spending time in different countries based on visa restrictions. Shortly after the election results, Hartinger’s blog documenting his experiences as a traveling expat saw a spike in subscribership. The question of whether the level of concern is justified still prevails. Many gay men are opting to wait and see if things take a turn for the worse in Trump’s second term.
There is hope, given that well-known gay members of the GOP inclusive of Peter Thiel, a conservative supporter of Trump, and Scott Bessent, Trump’s Treasury Secretary pick, are in significant positions. But whereas one portion of the community sees potential threat, some individuals feel more secure, with California being considered a safer space. However, the worry of rolling back on gay rights in the manner women’s rights have been pushed back still persists.
The anxiety is palpable within the transgender community. A poll from the National Center for Transgender Equality registered that nearly half of all respondents revealed that they were contemplating leaving the U.S., while a lesser segment confirmed that they had already moved in response to anti-LGBTQ regulation. Deborah Zahal, an immigrant herself who moved to the U.S. 25 years ago from Scotland, embarked on a search for a safe place for her transgender child, Del, when rumors of Trump’s re-election started circulating.
Del, who identifies as gender-fluid, is primarily worried about becoming a potential target, and is taking measures to ensure anonymity. Though they understand that moving out of the U.S. could be a step towards protecting their rights, they feel equally worried about leaving their friends behind. Adding to these fears are the displays of support seen from tech giants like Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, and Mark Zuckerberg towards the incumbent president following his re-election.
But there are some, despite sharing the general fears within the LGBTQ community, who are choosing to stay and fight. Oscar-winning co-director Rob Epstein urged for resistance through storytelling. Others, however, caution that the shifting political climate is witnessing a worldwide drift to the right making moving away less safe than one might think.
Laverne Cox voiced her fear that the situation might escalate to the levels seen in Germany during the 1930s, when the rise of Nazism saw queer, Jewish, and immigrant communities being targeted. Relocating out of the U.S. might seem to be an answer but it comes with its own set of challenges, such as acquiring visas, making a living, and most crucially for trans individuals, continued access to health care and hormones.
A conservative shift in countries like Germany and Japan, according to a survey by Statista, further narrows down the potential places to move. This underlines that the situation seen in the U.S is not an isolated problem. A few minoritized entertainers like Jason Stuart have contemplated moving but have decided against it, affirming love and commitment towards their country.
Comedian Bruce Vilanch communicated to TheWrap that he is unhappy with the unfolding events but is choosing to stay and fight. The belief that it is still a privilege to live in America persists despite the fear of the next four years of Trump’s presidency. Del holds out hope for the future, expressing a desire to return if the circumstances do eventually improve, implying that the option of finding home elsewhere will always remain open.