Trans folks are asking: Is it a bad idea to move to the USA as a trans person?

Trans rights in America are far from perfect, with a record number of more than 600 anti-trans bills in consideration so far in 2024 — 45 of which have already been passed. Still, is living in the United States better for trans people than, say, living in the United Kingdom?

One trans person wasn’t sure, so they took to a trans subreddit to ask for advice. “I am from the UK and am pursuing bottom surgery. I don’t want to wait 10 years on the NHS,” they explained in their Reddit post. “I already have a network of people in the States. Plus there are loads of trans resources, and my mindset is more similar to liberal Americans than liberal Europeans.”

They clarified that if they came to the US, they’d likely move to a large city in a blue state, with New York City being their top choice.

“I have heard Americans say it’s a bad idea to move to the States, but surely it depends on the state? Is federal law so bad I shouldn’t move?” they continued. “It remains a fact that more people can access trans surgeries there than most other countries.”

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Most commenters had the same advice: wait to decide until after the 2024 election. If Kamala Harris and Tim Walz win the White House, trans rights will likely have a much better trajectory than if Donald Trump and JD Vance snag the victory, they said.

“I would 100% make my decision AFTER the election,” one commenter recommended.

Others added, though, that if New York City is the goal, the election results won’t be felt as strongly as they would be in more conservative or rural areas. “If you’re going to NYC then I don’t think the election will matter unless things get markedly worse in the next 10 years,” one commenter wrote.

“Maybe wait for the election to decide but currently if you’re moving to NYC then it shouldn’t be too bad I would think,” echoed another.

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“The Venn diagram of chasers and transphobes is like almost a perfect circle at this point,” one Redditor commented.

On the other hand, even if Harris and Walz win, there are other forces at work in America’s government that could set trans rights back, as more commenters pointed out.

“I’ve always said that the US is one of the best places to be trans, especially in terms of access to gender-affirming care,” one commenter wrote. “However, it will definitely depend on the results of the election in November. If Republicans gain control, they could start doing a lot more anti-trans stuff at the federal level.”

“Even if Democrats win the White House, it’s worth keeping in mind that the Supreme Court is stacked with conservatives, so there could still be court cases that erode our rights,” they continued. “Still, though, I’m optimistic about trans rights in the US (at least in blue states, anyway) and I’m staying put in California. I have no plans to move anywhere else.”

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Some folks said moving to the United States is a bad idea in general, regardless of trans identity.

“I would highly recommend not moving here. Everything else is worse here,” one commenter advised. “Workers rights are a joke. There’s no vacation time unless you are super lucky. Insurance will actively try not to do anything. Copays and deductible are an intentional scam to discourage you from using insurance. Car dependency has ruined the majority of the country.”

Ultimately, it’s a matter of preference and politics. As for the original poster, the decision is still up in the air: “I have found this encouraging,” they wrote in an update. “I will wait til the election to make any further moves, as people have recommended.”