Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Following the recent definition of a woman by the UK Supreme Court I wondered if we could have a thread pulling together a list of safe countries for (trans) women? I'm putting trans in brackets simply because I consider myself a woman, and that's half the point of this.

So where is safe? For those of us who have the means, where might we go to try to live?

I know that there are organisations like ILGA who produce a Rainbow Map https://rainbowmap.ilga-europe.org/ but it's not entirely accurate e.g. I would not consider the UK to be any longer a safe country for me. One of the key factors in this in my opinion is self-determination of gender. At the moment in the UK you have to go through an unbelievably complex process and a gatekeeper panel to get gender recognised. And with the new ruling it may mean zilch.

I also want to be aware of the difference between trans friendly places like Thailand and actual legally accepting countries like Spain. For example, yes Thailand may be a great place to be trans but they don't currently recognise trans women as women as such.

So, please, could we post up where we feel is safe and why?

xx

As a start-up, there is Malta.

Pretty awesome set of constitutional protections:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_Malta

xx

The Australian Sex Discrimination Act holds Gender as a protected asset, and this was upheld in the recent case of 'Tickle vs Giggle' where the company Giggle was found to have discriminated against a Trans Woman, Ms Tickle. The centre of the case was focussed on the definition of Woman, but the court held that the terminology has taken a much broader meaning in recent years, and that Ms Tickle's gender had to be recognised.

In general, Australians are pretty laid back, and only a few radicals care about Trans people. Everyone else just lives and lets live. Most places are as safe for Trans people as for Cis people, recognising that there is crime in every society. I have travelled a lot around Australia as a not really passing trans woman and have never been harassed, but I have heard stories of Trans people being harassed at places where alcohol is consumed.

Having said that, we are weeks from a Federal Election, and if the conservatives won power, things could change, though it is not likely as the Conservative Party  suffered a severe backlash at the last election for proposing anti trans laws.

Hugs,

Allie

Thanks so much for this info Allie.

I visited Queensland and NSW last autumn and loved the experience. I was hiking a lot including in the Blue Mountains when I wasn't going out of my way to glam up! I didn't feel judged once. Nor was I misgendered once. In fact, the Aussies were nothing but friendly and warm. I absolutely loved Sydney. The people were so accepting and chilled.

Truly, I now feel an alien in my homeland.

As Allie Jayne pointed out, and Sarah B too, Australia is a good place, and I think New Zealand is too.

Although Thailand does not officially recognize transgender people, there are places within the country that are accepting. I think that is true in any large country. Even Mexico has places that are accepting, while the rest of the country (including government and police) make it risky.

It is a good question to be asking under these circumstances.

@Tills

I just found this article: Best Places for LGBTQ People to Retire Abroad
https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/happy-retirement/best-places-for-lgbtq-people-to-retire-abroad

Top of the list is Spain.
I guess Devlyn already knew that.  ;D

Oh that's really helpful Lori Dee: thank you.

Yep Spain is really on my radar now. Cheap property prices too!

xx

I've ordered my Spanish guide book and am booking a week or two there next month. This is the start of my groundwork. If I go for it I'll learn Spanish. I speak 3 languages fluently but that's not one of them and it would be a great language to learn anyway. My two children speak Spanish so if I buy a property there they'll get an inheritance that might actually be helpful :)

The general consensus seems to be that the coast around the east and south is very LGBTQ friendly. In the interior most of the larger towns and cities seem to be fine too. It's only in the more traditional rural areas that you might encounter some resistance. Generally though the country seems to be extremely trans and also gay friendly.

It's a huge country so I'm going to start off in the north with Girona as that gets good reports, go to Barcelona which I've never visited, and then head west to the University town of Salamanca. Maybe also Valadolid and Leon.

Interesting discussions about this on a forum the name of which is apparently bleeped on here!!

p.s. We need to stick together at the moment like never before and need all the help we can get.

Well, I've just arrived on the overnight sleeper train in bonnie Scotland, one of my favourite countries on the planet.

In terms of the UK, you could argue that it's Scotland which kicked off the row. It was the Scottish Parliament voting for gender self-determination which precipitated the UK Gov't at Westminster to overrule them. And it's a group of Scottish dissenters who have railed against the progressive beliefs up here. Scotland generally is more left wing than south of the border and with differing views. For example, Scotland voted for remaining in the EU.

So might Scotland provide a kind of local safe haven for UK trans and non-binary people? Maybe.

Anyway the Highlands beckon and I want to admire this beautiful scenery :)

xx

Gender identity is a protected category in Canada, both federally and in all provinces.  Canadians in general are tolerant people, despite the recent rise of trumpism in Canadian politics.  We have an election under way right now.  If the vote goes the way I am hoping and the way the polls are trending, Canada will be safe for a few more years.

I have never been discriminated against, and even sideways glances are rare.  Most people in my area, if they don't know what to make of someone, will, by default, be polite.  That's not a bad default.  The vast majority of people I interact with are pleasant.

Quote from: Tills on April 20, 2025, 11:43:13 PMWell, I've just arrived on the overnight sleeper train in bonnie Scotland, one of my favourite countries on the planet.

In terms of the UK, you could argue that it's Scotland which kicked off the row. It was the Scottish Parliament voting for gender self-determination which precipitated the UK Gov't at Westminster to overrule them. And it's a group of Scottish dissenters who have railed against the progressive beliefs up here. Scotland generally is more left wing than south of the border and with differing views. For example, Scotland voted for remaining in the EU.

So might Scotland provide a kind of local safe haven for UK trans and non-binary people? Maybe.

Anyway the Highlands beckon and I want to admire this beautiful scenery :)

xx

Enjoy! Our honeymoon was spent at Croft 103 on the shore of Loch Eriboll near Durness. Beautiful place!

Well I've returned from Scotland which was beautiful as ever. People seem noticeably more chilled and friendly than in the south-east of England.

However, reading around the Scottish Gov't responses to the UK Supreme Court ruling makes me think that I'm naive to assume Scotland provides a safer space for us. Ultimately it falls under UK law and there seems little desire to stand up for [trans] women.

There is no moral or ethical compass to this. It's politicking. They want the votes of the older, less progressive, population who are more liable to support Reform. Transgender people represent a much smaller voting minority.

Sigh. I am beginning to accept the inevitable, that I shall have to emigrate for my safety and wellbeing. The question is, where?!

A question for everyone on here who knows Thailand. Can trans women use female loos without being hassled? Does it make a difference if you are pre or post op?

I can't now recall what it was like when I was out there.

@warlockmaker ?

One thing I like about the Thailand option is that they have a Retirement Visa scheme which isn't too difficult to obtain providing you have c. £20,000

Country	Legal Gender Recognition	Healthcare Access	Social Acceptance	LGBTQ+ Community	Vibe & Notes
Canada	Strong (Self-ID in most provinces)	Free/affordable HRT and surgeries (waitlists)	High, especially in major cities	Very large and organized	Extremely welcoming; Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal are top choices
Spain	Strong (Self-ID law passed 2023)	Universal healthcare covers HRT; surgery partially covered	Growing acceptance, very strong in cities	Vibrant, especially in Madrid & Barcelona	Mediterranean vibe, low cost of living compared to UK
New Zealand	Strong (Self-ID)	Free/low-cost HRT, surgeries partially funded (waitlists)	High acceptance; very trans-aware culture	Good, tight-knit communities	Very peaceful, nature-connected, slower pace
Germany	Strong (New Self-ID law coming into force 2025)	HRT and surgeries mostly covered by public insurance	Growing, varies by region (Berlin, Hamburg very accepting)	Huge scene in Berlin	More bureaucratic but very legally protective
Ireland	Strong (Self-ID since 2015)	HRT free; surgeries out of pocket or abroad often	Mostly positive, especially in Dublin	Small but loving community	English-speaking, easier UK-to-Ireland move
Portugal	Strong (Self-ID law)	Universal healthcare covers HRT; surgery needs private clinics	Very welcoming, relaxed culture	Lisbon and Porto have good LGBTQ+ hubs	Affordable living, warm weather
Argentina	One of the world's best (Gender Identity Law 2012)	Full free coverage of HRT and surgeries	Generally positive, but varies outside cities	Big trans activism scene	Spanish needed; economy unstable but laws very pro-trans

I've been working on this little table for my personal use, and I hope it's helpful.

It's coming together, but I'd recommend double-checking just to be sure.


~Lilis 💗

Canada is likely safe.  I would stay away from some middle eastern countries and some African countries.

Hi Everyone

Which states in the US and countries are safe are listed below:

• The following link provides information which are the Safest Countries. (https://www.asherfergusson.com/lgbtq-travel-safety/)
• The following link provides information which states in US are safe (https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/anti-trans-national-risk-assessment)

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Tills @Lilis

@Lilis and @Sarah B thanks so much.

Interesting link that one Sarah. It runs to 2023 and I would note a marked downturn in the UK over the past 2 years. It was noticeable during the final year of the Conservative Gov't and has, if anything, got significantly worse under Labour. The recent Supreme Court ruling feels like a terminal moment for many of us in the UK.

I hadn't really considered Ireland. Thank you for this reminder Lilis. It's strongly Catholic, of course, which adds a complication. But there is one MASSIVE advantage for a UK citizen in that we can live there permanently without a visa under the Common Travel Area agreement. In fact, currently Ireland sits outside Schengen. Hmmm. Interesting. I love Dublin. Fabulous city but certainly not cheap ;)

The reference to former colonies of the British Empire is interesting!!! Having been indoctrinated in school that we were the best of the best colonoziers I have become increasingly aware of a very different story to tell.

I feel a holiday to Ireland beckoning ...

I think a key factor for me is about people being socially chilled. And especially not being challenged when using the ladies or other female spaces. Without aggression and hostility.

On those counts I no longer feel safe or accepted in the UK.

Oh, I can scrub up and be convincing but why should anyone feel that they have to do that? And under the new ruling even that is no guarantee of acceptance.

Back to the Thailand question. It's a country where I spent a lot of time up until a couple of years ago and I had my two surgeries out there.

I love the place and the people, although I find the heat less appealing as I get older!

I also think that for [trans] women it's a complex situation. Yes, there's acceptance of gender expression and to an extent 'third' gender. But that's not the same as acceptance that a trans woman is a woman. You'll note that in a recent post from @warlockmaker who I respect greatly and who looks like any other [cis] woman. There's considerable nuance about how they do and don't accept trans women as women. Part of that nuance is tied up in Buddhism (which I generally like) because a prevailing attitude exists that trans and gay people are serving penitence due to previous life. There's also a significant sex trade element to the whole kathoey (ladyboy) phenomenon which is, again, not the same thing at all as what I'm about. Although I was once offered a permanent job in a prominent Bangkok ladyboy bar after dancing on stage during a particularly memorable night out with a friend  ;D  :D  :D
It's worth adding that the heavy tourist destinations are for the same reason best avoided although, again, I was wolf-whistled and propositioned by westerners at a bar. Oh my. Those days ;)

Seriously though, I'd like to be in a country which simply accepts me as a woman. That's all I ask. I'm not totally convinced that Thailand quite offers that?

Ireland is a great choice I think. Not only can UK people work there without a visa, after 5 years you can get an Irish passport which will entitle you to live and work throughout the EU. That will give you a lot more options if Ireland goes fash. I don't think it will, but I definitely see the value in having exit pathways.

Do we have people here that have lived in Iceland? 
How is it there for us?


Chrissy

As a tourist I had no issues in Iceland.
There are a number of LGBT+ expressions, such as a rainbow sidewalks there.
It is an interesting place to visit.
Rather cool, not warm temperatures.

There are a number of relaxing geothermal pools there.
You do not need to go to their most famous one, although I did make a stop there.
Now an active volcano keeps that one closed a lot.

Whale watching was fun, dining was fun, all the mountains and hiking were fun.
Many interesting sites, they have.  Lots of waterfalls. 

I wore pants my entire time there, it was not that warm.  Take a jacket.


Chrissy

Quote from: kira21 ♡♡♡ on April 28, 2025, 03:09:29 AMIreland is a great choice I think. Not only can UK people work there without a visa, after 5 years you can get an Irish passport which will entitle you to live and work throughout the EU. That will give you a lot more options if Ireland goes fash. I don't think it will, but I definitely see the value in having exit pathways.

I'm really interested in this idea. So much so that I bought a DK guide book to Ireland yesterday :)

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on April 28, 2025, 07:22:23 AMAs a tourist I had no issues in Iceland.
There are a number of LGBT+ expressions, such as a rainbow sidewalks there.
It is an interesting place to visit.
Rather cool, not warm temperatures.

There are a number of relaxing geothermal pools there.
You do not need to go to their most famous one, although I did make a stop there.
Now an active volcano keeps that one closed a lot.

Whale watching was fun, dining was fun, all the mountains and hiking were fun.
Many interesting sites, they have.  Lots of waterfalls. 

I wore pants my entire time there, it was not that warm.  Take a jacket.


Chrissy

I find myself increasingly preferring cold climates as opposed to the tropics where I've lived so much of my life. I was in Iceland in November and can say that I don't think I've ever been so cold as I was in Reykjavik but as I'd flown in the Pacific Ocean I didn't have the gear with me. I loved it there. It was dawn and I dived into a coffee shop and got chatting over hot chocolate with 3 travelling girls from New York. Was just a lovely time. People were so friendly and I found it an easy place to be.



 

I wonder if it's possible to claim refugee status in Ireland as a trans woman fleeing persecution from the UK, following the Supreme Court ruling?

https://www.irishimmigration.ie/how-to-become-a-citizen/become-an-irish-citizen-by-naturalisation/proofs-of-identity-and-residence/

Who can apply for international protection?

You can apply for international protection in Ireland for two separate reasons:

You have a 'well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion', and you cannot seek the protection of your country. This is called refugee status.
You cannot return to your own country because you are at risk of serious harm, but you do not qualify as a refugee. This is called subsidiary protection status.'

https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving-country/asylum-seekers-and-refugees/the-asylum-process-in-ireland/applying-for-refugee-status-in-ireland/#8dcb45

Shall I become a test case?!

(I did once have to claim refugee status under the UNHCR when I fled a coup d'etat. It was the only way I could get back into the UK without any documentation.)