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Jumpstart your planning or read more about this project below.
Moving Guide or State Safety Information
This guide is intended to help families or individuals make an Emergency Evacuation Plan for themselves based on the current information about the safety in each state for transgender people, with a focus on adults. I’ve decided to make this document into a public website/resource, and alter it for the general population’s use in order to help other people take charge of their situation too. I find that having a set plan and a way to execute it makes me feel a lot safer in uncertain times.
Ultimately, the initiation of the EEP will depend on the criteria each group or individual has, and should be discussed with the group of people making the plan. This guide will list out recommendations from my own perspective, but it is ultimately up to the individuals to decide what the point of initiation is, or in other words, when they need to move.
At this time I would also like to make it known that I am not a medical professional or a lawyer. I am not associated with any organization or association, for profit, nonprofit, or otherwise. I am just a trans person who cares deeply for his community and wants what's best for them.
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Using Erin Reed's most current "Anti-Trans National Legal Risk Assessment Map" and The Movement Advancement Project's scoring and research, I compile state information into three(3) categories: Most Desirable, Middle Ground, and Leave. The Leave category has three(3) sub categories: Risky, Worst, and DO NOT TRAVEL.
These links may be updated as my sources update as well.
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I have a small list of criteria for myself as an adult, white, trans-nonbinary man to help me determine when a move is necessary. But each individual or group has their own ideas and needs that need met. My recommendations based on my own personal thoughts, feelings, opinions, and experience may not apply perfectly or at all to them. My EEP is mostly here to serve as a guide for others making their own. You can open the tab below to read about my criteria.
Gender Clothing Restriction/Ban: a bill that makes it illegal to dress in clothing ‘of the opposite sex’ (aka: clothing that does not match their ‘sex at birth’ for lack of a better phrase).
Healthcare Restriction/Ban: a bill that restricts the access to Gender Affirming Care (including medication, surgeries, or therapies) to a trans adult. This criteria is met even if the law specifies a small restriction (such as 21+ or 25+). Sometimes these bills are disguised as bans/restrictions on minor GAC by changing the definition of minor to include some adult ages. This is still an Automatic Initiation even if I have outgrown the age restriction specified, as later bills may force bans on ages above, or outright.
Bathroom Bans: Specifically, bathroom bans that restrict public bathroom usage to ones ‘sex assigned at birth’, ‘based on original birth certificate’, require gender marker changes, or require bottom surgery.
Restrictions/Bans/Reversal on Gender Markers: a bill that bans/restricts the change of a gender marker, or reverses previous changes on state ID/Driver's licenses to being only a person’s ‘sex at birth’, such as in Kansas.
Any other restrictions not already covered that make it illegal or dangerous in a legal manner for a trans person to go about daily activities that are not covered by the above. These might be things that label trans people as ‘explicit/sexual material’ OUTSIDE of school settings, just as an example. Another example of this would be a bounty being placed on trans people, such as in Odessa, Texas.Local/Social Restrictions/Bans:This is anything in my local area that may put myself at risk for routine harassment or physical violence due to being trans. This is limited to group efforts (such as public protests) that favor anti-trans rhetoric. It is not enough for this to happen on its own to cause initiation, but when paired with other situations such as above, it may be used as supporting evidence.
As always, there are exceptions such as if the group’s disruption is regularly violent and attacks are routinely targeted. Use your own discretion.
Elected Officials (President, State Gov, Etc) Are Republican: Although being republican does not automatically make someone transphobic, the party’s candidates have platformed themselves on transphobia for several years now, with support from the current administration.
Social Reaction: Local reactions to politics and or trans people in general can be indicative of safety in a given area. A handful of transphobic people does not necessarily warrant a move, but if the majority or a large group of people pose a danger or express hostility, a move may be necessary.
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This trans legislation tracker can help you keep an eye on your state and the proposed/passed anti-trans legislation from the current legislative session (currently tracking for 2026). It lists which state the bill is in, what the bill number is, what category the bill is targeting, a summary of the bill, and a link for you to view the bill directly. Erin Reed also has her own tracker if you prefer to monitor it through her instead.
Please remember: A bill being introduced is not cause for immediate concern, though that doesn’t mean it should be ignored either. Don’t agonize over every bill in your state, but occasionally glance over them and see which ones affect you. Remember your criteria for initiation. If you feel that even the threat of these bills passing is enough reason to pack up, do so. Do not second guess yourself.
That said, be smart. Recognize when the threat is actually present, take in all aspects of the situation for consideration. Take in your own financial means, risk assess.