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.)

I don't think you would need to claim asylum in Ireland as you can already live and work there. You can even use health and social services with UK passport.

Good point @kira21 ♡♡♡

5 patient years of mostly living there also leads to Irish citizenship and passport.

It's a big step though. I guess the first thing is to go take a look.

xx

Good morning everyone from the UK.

I have been reading around Thailand's approach to transgender rights and they do seem to be making considerable progress, with a new bill likely to be put before parliament. In many ways they are going the opposite direction to the UK. Gender identity recognition looks to be part of the process.

 https://www.thaiexaminer.com/thai-news-foreigners/2024/02/20/lgbtq-rights-push-in-thailand-with-new-gender-identity-law/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBTQ_rights_in_Thailand#

It looks to me that if you are dressed femme you are fine using female facilities, especially if you are post-op.

My problem with the Ireland idea is one of loneliness. I literally know no-one there and if I wanted citizenship I'd have to live there for 5 years, with only about 60 days a year outside the country. That's an awfully long time to be on one's own in a country you don't know.

I've friends in Thailand, including my longest-standing friend (we go back to 7 years old).

It's also a LOT cheaper

Quote from: Tills on May 04, 2025, 12:06:54 AMMy problem with the Ireland idea is one of loneliness. I literally know no-one there and if I wanted citizenship I'd have to live there for 5 years, with only about 60 days a year outside the country. That's an awfully long time to be on one's own in a country you don't know.

I've friends in Thailand, including my longest-standing friend (we go back to 7 years old).

It's also a LOT cheaper

Don't forget the rain..😐 Yes Ireland is very expensive.

Quote from: Jessica 33 on May 04, 2025, 01:26:24 AMDon't forget the rain..😐 Yes Ireland is very expensive.

Dublin is expensive, but most of Ireland has absolutely great prices on real estate.

Quote from: Tills on May 04, 2025, 12:06:54 AMI literally know no-one there and if I wanted citizenship I'd have to live there for 5 years, with only about 60 days a year outside the country. That's an awfully long time to be on one's own in a country you don't know.

You are assuming that you would never meet anyone in five years?

When I moved to South Dakota, I didn't know anyone here. (Trust me, it is like another country.  )
But I met my neighbors, one of whom has become my best friend. I have made friends through people I interact with, from the dentist's office to grocery store clerks. You will interact with people, even if it is only casual business, but the more often it happens, the more you get to know each other.

Never worry about being alone. There are not many places on Earth where you can live in seclusion. Even Danielle has moose, bears, and deer for neighbors. 

Thank you for the lovely comments above everyone.

I've been researching this thoroughly and I'd say things have gone up a notch or two.

For me, I think Thailand would be a last resort. I've lived there quite a bit and although it's not quite as dark as White Lotus Series 3, it's a place where you do need to keep your wits about you.

I'm interested in buying a place in the Republic of Ireland. Ireland appeals for several reasons:

- As a UK citizen I can live there permanently without a visa. This contrasts with, say, Spain where I would only get 90 days in every 180. Spain remains on the table but having to go from there back into a non-Shengen area for half the year would be a pain in the proverbial.

- Real estate in Ireland is, as @Devlyn says, good value especially if you stay away from Dublin.

- It's English-speaking. Not a total deal breaker and I do speak 3 or 4 languages and have lived in several non-English-speaking countries but life is definitely easier in one's mother-tongue. It's not an over-crowded land either. Oh and they drive on the left

- If I were prepared to put in the hard graft and Mother Nature smiles on me, then after 5 years of mostly living there (10 months in every 12) I can apply for Irish citizenship, a passport, and therefore the right to live and travel anywhere in the EU. That's a big plus tick for me.

- The way the UK is headed politically leaves me cold. Since the ruling I have already detected an increase in hostility, deliberate misgendering and legitimisation of hatred. This isn't just for transgender people. The trajectory for the past 10 years has, in my opinion, been an unpleasant one for many minority groups and migrants. I fear that this is only going to get worse especially if Farage's Reform Party get anywhere near power - but their influence is already clear in the media and on current Government policy. By contrast, living in a country like Ireland which has enshrined LGBGT rights in law, including gender self-certification, is incredibly appealing.

- I don't mind the rain. Actually I like rain. I've lived in desert climates and much prefer 'green and pleasant' lands. Whether I'd still be saying that on a miserable grey November day is another matter 

So the Emerald Isle seems to be calling to me.

Well, the UK has now plummeted in the ILGA-Europe rankings to the second worst for LGBTQ+ in Western Europe, after only Italy.

https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/14/uk-lgbtq-ilga-europe-ranking-2025/

Here's the ILGA-Europe 2025 update:

https://rainbowmap.ilga-europe.org/

In terms of options for me, I've looked into Spain but I can't readily live there. Since Brexit we are only permitted 90 days in every 180, which is a pain in the proverbial. There is a thing called a non-lucrative visa but you need a monthly income of c. $3000 USD. I have capital rather than income,

I'm left really with a couple of options. One is the Republic of Ireland. The other is Thailand. I'm still mulling this. Ireland is easy for a UK citizen: we can literally just go there for any length of time and after 5 years of residency you can apply for citizenship, which also confers EU citizenship. Real estate is way cheaper than the UK but it's still a chunk of money and I would be pushing tight. A retirement visa in Thailand is straightforward: as long as you can park c. $20000 USD in a Thai bank account you get the visa which is renewable each year.

If it wasn't so far away I would also consider Australia. I really liked it there when I went. The people were so friendly and accepting, and I never got misgendered once even when I was togged up in my hiking gear.

This morning, I posted a news story about Romania passing Poland as the worst place for transgender people to live.
https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,251093.msg2304067.html#msg2304067

But, the article also states: "Malta, Belgium, and Iceland find themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum."

I don't think I could handle Iceland or Belgium, but Malta? An island nation in the Mediterranean Sea.
That could be promising.

@Tills

Quote from: Tills on May 18, 2025, 10:57:11 PMIn terms of options for me, I've looked into Spain but I can't readily live there. Since Brexit we are only permitted 90 days in every 180, which is a pain in the proverbial. There is a thing called a non-lucrative visa but you need a monthly income of c. $3000 USD. I have capital rather than income,

I'm left really with a couple of options. One is the Republic of Ireland. The other is Thailand. I'm still mulling this. Ireland is easy for a UK citizen: we can literally just go there for any length of time and after 5 years of residency you can apply for citizenship, which also confers EU citizenship. Real estate is way cheaper than the UK but it's still a chunk of money and I would be pushing tight. A retirement visa in Thailand is straightforward: as long as you can park c. $20000 USD in a Thai bank account you get the visa which is renewable each year.

If it wasn't so far away I would also consider Australia. I really liked it there when I went. The people were so friendly and accepting, and I never got misgendered once even when I was togged up in my hiking gear.

Ireland is the way to go for a UK citizen. You can walk right in and after five years you're eligible for an Irish passport. Then the EU is your oyster, including Spain if that's what you want. 

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Lori Dee on May 18, 2025, 11:37:18 PMThis morning, I posted a news story about Romania passing Poland as the worst place for transgender people to live.
https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,251093.msg2304067.html#msg2304067

But, the article also states: "Malta, Belgium, and Iceland find themselves on the opposite side of the spectrum."

I don't think I could handle Iceland or Belgium, but Malta? An island nation in the Mediterranean Sea.
That could be promising.

@Tills

Iceland is wild, but OMG is it expensive!

Hugs, Devlyn