Hi all,
Does anybody live in a city that is relatively trans-friendly, relatively easy to move to, and does not cost a fortune to live in? My friend and I are hoping to get away soon and are wondering what places may be good for us.
Thanks,
Chrissi
I've heard that Portland has a pretty big trans community and is pretty liberal besides. Western Massachusetts around Amherst is a another place people seem to find trans friendly, but I've never lived in either one.
I don't live in Portland but I live near it and have visited it several times. It is a very nice and trans-friendly city. I have found , having come from So-Cal, Oregon in general is not a very expensive state to live in. There are several others here on Susan's that may chime in about this.
Hugs Erocse :)
Twin Cities ... Minnesota ... very trans friendly --- I love it here! We have state and local protections for trans folks. Infact, we have had several issues go to the Minnesota Supreme Court on trans issues and they have all come back in favor of trans folks. Great education system & low unemployment rate. Plus we have a great social service network that many folks qualify for and can get MN health which covers trans apt. & hrt.
I live in the Seattle area and it seems to be very trans friendly. WA is a protected state but the Seattle area is also very liberal and LGBT-affirming in general. Transitioning here has been fairly easy in everyday life. There are also lots of resources in the area.
NYC is generally friendly and safe for trans people, health care is very accessible and so are low cost or pro-bono legal services.
It's not so much that people are especially friendly, it's just that nobody cares! That's friendly enough in my dictionary! :)
[fine print] It does cost a fortune, and then a little more. Stay away :D
Rob, that's it, I'm sold! When can I move in? :D
Adelaide in South Australia is pretty trans-friendly, in fact pretty friendly in general, and the cost of living is very reasonable, your biggest cost would be getting here lol!
Hugs,
Sarah
PDX is very Trans-friendly. To those who are unfamiliar, PDX is short for Portland.
RI(where I am), CT, Mass... All trans friendly states.
It does cost a fortune, and then a little more.
Bay Area very expensive also. No parking either. Don't matter, you won't be able to afford a car at any rate - besides all that walking and bike riding is good for you.
But yeah, it's expensive. Snivel, snivel, sob, sob. You know where else is expensive? Well, as above, New York, Paris is expensive, Key West is expensive, Hawaii is really expensive. You know what's cheep? Chernobyl, villages in Afghanistan, Des Moines, and pretty much anyplace in Mississippi and North Dakota will work on a budget.
The cost of living in the Bay Area pales in comparison to the cost of living in NYC or Boston. And I think the rate of pay tends to be higher for jobs that require fewer qualifications (for other jobs, it's about the same).
Having a car here is more expensive than in other places (CA = expensive insurance, registration, gas, and you have to pay about $100 per month for parking if you live in the city). But the public transportation is good enough that you don't need a car.
Downside: There's a lot of competition for jobs and housing. And your success at finding either is largely based on who you know. So it's not an easy city to move to unless you know people here and/or have a job lined up (or have a massive amount of savings).
If you move here, be patient and expect a stressful first year. After that, it becomes a really nice place to live.
And your success at finding either is largely based on who you know.
And, who knows you. But your going to find that everywhere.
Quote from: erocse on December 02, 2010, 09:40:45 AM
I don't live in Portland but I live near it and have visited it several times. It is a very nice and trans-friendly city. I have found , having come from So-Cal, Oregon in general is not a very expensive state to live in. There are several others here on Susan's that may chime in about this.
Hugs Erocse :)
Yes, may I chime in? I am within the Portland city limits and about 4 miles south of downtown Portland. Janet Lynn and Erocse are right: This is a very trans-friendly place, the weather is moderate (... considering how far north we are ...) and it's relatively inexpensive compared to the other cities mentioned here.
This is a peculiar place but in a good way. There's a small-town feel here though the metro is nearly 3 million people or so. Sure, we have the ownership and business classes like everywhere else, but there's definitely a strong counterculture vibe here. You can have a foot in each of these two worlds and actually pull it off successfully here. Pretty cool.
Many resources for transfolks:
The Q Center:
http://www.pdxqcenter.org/ (http://www.pdxqcenter.org/)
Just Out - LGBT Newspaper:
http://justout.com/ (http://justout.com/)
Superb gender counselor ... my counselor (a transman):
http://www.transtherapist.com/reid.html (http://www.transtherapist.com/reid.html)
Nationally-renowned HRT doctor ... my HRT doctor (a transwoman):
http://www.sarabecker.com/ (http://www.sarabecker.com/)
TransActive ... trans education and advocacy:
http://www.transactiveonline.org/about_transactive_new.html (http://www.transactiveonline.org/about_transactive_new.html)
Trans support group that meets at The Q Center:
http://www.nwgenderalliance.org/ (http://www.nwgenderalliance.org/)
Basic Rights Oregon ... LGBT Activists ... dignified and effective:
http://www.basicrights.org/ (http://www.basicrights.org/)
Few places can match Portland, Oregon in natural beauty, but you better like hills and mountains.
Give us a serious thought. This place rocks! PM any of us in The Great PNW for further information. Good luck!
:D Lacey
Oh! Another factor should be places that fund SRS at least partially! Of course that would be a bonus!!
Chrissi
As much as I don't want to admit it Anchorage AK is very trans-friendly, though not exactly an easy move and it is somewhat pricey.
I probably get one glare or condescending chuckle per every 100 people I see.
Quote from: Crimbuki on December 06, 2010, 03:42:16 AM
As much as I don't want to admit it Anchorage AK is very trans-friendly, though not exactly an easy move and it is somewhat pricey.
I probably get one glare or condescending chuckle per every 100 people I see.
You are in Anchorage? I would have never guessed it is trans friendly or pricey lol!!! Interesting. It must be getting pretty cold up there this time of year!!
I'm glad to hear that Portland is pretty cool about it. It's one of the places I'm considering moving to this coming year. My only real reservation is that I'm used to 300 days of sunshine per year, and after a few cloudy days, it can be really hard to even get out of bed. Maybe I'd get used to it, though...
I also live in Portland, very trans friendly and not very expensive as far a living goes. Is a bit hard to get a job here, but that could be said for anywhere at this point.
Myles
For the most part any gay friendly city is going to be trans friendly. Whatever region of the country you live in, whatever the city that "everyone" moves to is probably your local trans friendly city. I know Chicago is good and Atlanta is "the San Francisco of the south".
Many cities have trans friendly bits and not so good bits. Do your research wherever you move to.
I'm in Seattle myself and I have found it to be really supportive and trans friendly. The doctors I've found have all been awesome there are tons of resources. Plus you are right next to two other trans friendly cities Portland and Vancouver BC. They all cost about the same and you can live in the city or rural areas in all three.
;p
Check out Columbus, Ohio. You would be suprised. We have a VERY active GBLT community, many resources, and a thriving diverse community. The cost of living is also very reasonable.
For more info check out the http://www.transohio.org/wordpress/ (http://www.transohio.org/wordpress/)
I used to live in Ithaca, New York when I was younger. From what I remember, it's pretty trans and gay friendly. My preschool teacher was openly gay, if that helps.
When I lived in Tampa Florida it was pretty Trans friendly. Where I live now in Floral City, though rural Florida is Trans Friendly, but you gotta drive a little for your Endo and Therapist, also surgeries. I get no discrimination here and am accepted, addressed with proper pronouns, etc., and cost of living is very reasonable. The great thing is there are many Primary Care Dr's locally and they can handle the monitoring so your not making long drives every month. From what I understand there are other Trans friendly cities here in Florida as well.
I'm posting to keep track of this very informative thread.
Quote from: tekla on December 03, 2010, 10:49:24 PM
You know what's cheap? Chernobyl, villages in Afghanistan, Des Moines, and pretty much anyplace in Mississippi and North Dakota will work on a budget.
Errr... I think you're reading the trans-friendly-city-list from the bottom there...
;D
Is there anywhere in Michigan?