Which countries are "Safe" for (trans) women?

[Stottie Girl]

You would love Arran if you like hiking. The goatfell range is stunning. They are only corbetts but it's like a mini Cuillins when you get up there. The Glen Sannox Horseshoe is something I've always wanted to do. I've done about 2/3rds of it (including the infamous witches step!) but never the whole thing. Parts of it are a bit scary. Add to that the rolling hills of the south and quiet beaches all around it's tip top.The ferry should be getting more reliable as they've got the new one running now and the 2nd new one is due this year, or you can go via the peninsula.

I went to Islay when I was young and wasn't much impressed either. rainy, bleak, not very dramatic hills and I was too young for the whisky. Mulls great though, I went on Iona when I was there as well as Staffa (a must visit). Mulls great for Wildlife. Coll and Tiree were beautiful but there's not much to do there. Great if you want to get away from it all. Don't forget the tiny island of Ghiga thats a great day out (only one place to eat there mind so book ahead or bring a packed lunch!) it's just of the kintyre coast so not too far from you.
If you get the chance go on the Waverley paddle steamer, it's fab (even though it tried to kill me a few years ago!) I think it calls into Dunoon

[Tills]

I'm getting seriously fed up with the UK at the moment.

I've had a rant over here: https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=251637.60

Everything is rules and stipulations, lack of sense and lateral thinking. And all wrapped up in a cloak of neo flag-waving trans hatred and of anything that isn't native-born white British.

I'm not yet all in on the Scottish purchase. I have time to pull out. I'm heading back there at the end of this week.

A part of me wonders if I'm kidding myself thinking that bonnie, but wet, Scotland is really going to be much different from the trajectory this country is currently taking?

xx

[Lori Dee ✅]

A part of me wonders if I'm kidding myself thinking that bonnie, but wet, Scotland is really going to be much different from the trajectory this country is currently taking?

That is something to consider. Before I moved back to Colorado, I spent a lot of time wondering if that was the best move. I considered what if the situation gets worse? What if it gets much worse? Will I be able to escape or survive?

Then I considered the opposite: what if things get better? What if things get much better? Will I have spent money or taken steps that were unnecessary, or possibly detrimental?

Because the pendulum swings both ways, and this, too, shall pass. Thinking about what your best position will be, regardless, is always a good thing.

[Stottie Girl]

I'm getting seriously fed up with the UK at the moment.

I've had a rant over here: https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=251637.60

Everything is rules and stipulations, lack of sense and lateral thinking. And all wrapped up in a cloak of neo flag-waving trans hatred and of anything that isn't native-born white British.

I'm not yet all in on the Scottish purchase. I have time to pull out. I'm heading back there at the end of this week.

A part of me wonders if I'm kidding myself thinking that bonnie, but wet, Scotland is really going to be much different from the trajectory this country is currently taking?

xx

Britain has always been beaurocratic right back to the domesday book! I think the SNP Scottish government is basically on side with trans people so it has to be better than England surely.

I've always found people in rural communities to be very friendly people, I'm having a hard time thinking that there would be much bigotry where you are moving to. However, it will be a small community so everyone will know everything about everyone, you included! It comes with the territory I'm afraid, on the flip side you get a fantastic sense of community. If you get involved in the community and at the local pub etc you will be accepted, if you stay aloof it might be harder. For me I think it's definitely worth it and I plan to do something similar not too far away one day.

I wonder if our american friends in small communities experience the same?

[Lori Dee ✅]

I wonder if our american friends in small communities experience the same?

I have had mixed experiences with this. In many rural areas, people just don't care. In others, there is a strong sense of "locals" vs "outsiders". I had a neighbor in Illinois who referred to black people as "foreigners". Here in Colorado, the larger cities are more liberal, and smaller ones are more conservative, but that is not true across the state (north/south and east/west). The South is more liberal than the North, and the West is more Trumpish than the East.

[MaryT]

The Scottish government were on side but don't forget that it was the organisation For Women Scotland that won the Supreme Court Case that caused even the British government to backtrack.

Scottish Government bill for gender court case totals over £760,000 🔗 [Link: independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-​news/scottish-​government-​scottish-​government-​court-​of-​session-​first-​minister-​b2917532.html/]

Incidentally, J K Rowling donated £70,000 to the FWS for their campaign. 

[Stottie Girl]

The Scottish government were on side but don't forget that it was the organisation For Women Scotland that won the Supreme Court Case that caused even the British government to backtrack.

Scottish Government bill for gender court case totals over £760,000 🔗 [Link: independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-​news/scottish-​government-​scottish-​government-​court-​of-​session-​first-​minister-​b2917532.html/]
Incidentally, J K Rowling donated £70,000 to the FWS for their campaign.  /quote]

Never liked Harry Potter!

I think the SNP government are still on side it's just the legal precedent that is the issue. I have feeling they will be thinking ways around the issue in years to come. The SNP don't get everything right (the ferries fiasco for one) but I do feel they are far more labour than labour has been since Kinnock (Yes, I'm that old)

[Stottie Girl]

Not sure what's happened to the last post formatting there!

[Northern Star Girl ✅]

Not sure what's happened to the last post formatting there!

   @Stottie Girl
Dear Stottie Girl:
I fixed the post formatting for you.
HUGS, Danielle

[Stottie Girl]

   @Stottie Girl
Dear Stottie Girl:
I fixed the post formatting for you.
HUGS, Danielle

Ha, it's good to have a techy guardian angel!, Thanks Danielle!

[Tills]

A bit of an update from me on a situation in the UK and why I'm still thinking of getting out.

https://www.susans.org/index.php?topic=253232.msg2326695#msg2326695

[Tills]

I'm on the verge of buying a place in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands.

I only hope that NHS Scotland, which is separate from NHS England & Wales, is different in a good way. My perception is that they are much more trans-friendly up there despite the execrable JK Rowling.

xx

[Tills]

Well by way of update, everything seems to be proceeding now. The other side asked my solicitor yesterday if I am happy to Complete in March. I said yes.

It's a beautiful place on the remote Cowal peninsula in the Western Highlands of Scotland. It needs a little work but has lovely traditional features and gorgeous views.

Every time that I have been up there everyone has been incredibly warm and friendly. I have sensed no judgement at all and nothing but acceptance.

xx

[Lori Dee ✅]

That sounds like a lovely place, Tills.

As @Jessica_Rose told me, the building is just construction. It can be changed or moved. What you are buying is the view. (And friendly, accepting neighbors.)

[Tills]

Thanks @Lori Dee

It has been a lengthy search. 9 separate visits to the Scottish Highlands in winter. I was set for the Isle of Bute but there was a problem with the title deeds. With hindsight I think that helped me because I discovered the Cowal Peninsula instead which I really love. It has an island feel (you generally reach it by ferry) but it does have a road connection to the mainland threading its way through the mountains to the north. It's a beautiful, wild, area.

The property I eventually settled on is in a village, edge of town really. It's a solid sandstone building from the C19th and has stunning views front and back. The people have been so friendly and that's what matters most to me, especially in the current climate.

So with the Scottish conveyancing system I should be locked in to the purchase very soon as missives are now underway. They asked me if I'm happy to Complete in March and I've said yes.

Last autumn I nearly postponed the search in order to go travelling and put a bit of space between myself and my late brother's sudden death. But I'm glad I held on for a property. I've just turned 62 and I don't really want to be doing much more long haul travel. I spent a lifetime overseas criss-crossing continents. That culminated in a round-the-world trip in autumn 2024 which felt at the time like a swansong to global travel.

It's time to put down some roots and explore the Western Highlands of Scotland: islands like Arran ( @Stottie Girl ), Bute, Jura, Iona; around the Arrochar Alps, Trossachs, and Loch Lomond; Oban and Glencoe, Isle of Skye, the Western Isles and Summer Isles and, of course, the wild Cowal Peninsula itself. There's a lot of exploration from my base.

xx

[Stottie Girl]

Ha ha! You'd think I was on the Arran tourist board!

That's great news about the move Tills, you will absolutely love it up there. My plan is to follow in your footsteps when I get close to retirement.

I hope you don't have to restart the battle over shared care though with it being a different NHS. I do find it ammusing that they finally set it up for you and you stick two fingers up at them and nick off North!

[Tills]

Well once I've given the place a bit of a redecoration you @Stottie Girl  and any other ladies on here would be most welcome to come and visit.

It's exciting but also a teeny-weeny bit scary. That's partly because I need to spruce the place up: mainly flooring and painting. But also because it's a long way from southern England. It's starting a whole new life and community.

And, yes, indeed about the shared care 😂 although I will have to remain on the books at my friend's in Surrey, rather than up there, until my GCS surgery. Then I can indeed stick two fingers up at them down here!

The protocol in Scotland is waaaaaaaaaaaaaay more relaxed. GP Surgeries are free to act independently on trans hormones if they wish to. And there are general guidelines from the Scottish Gov't that are very supportive of our community.

xx

[Stottie Girl]

That all sounds good to me Tills. Hope everything falls into place for you. Sounds like you need a nice place to chill out!

[Charlotte_Ringwood ✅]

Glad to hear you've got to move and everything pretty much sorted. Bet you're happy it's finally sorted x

[Lori Dee ✅]

In this report by Fortune, it isn't just transgender people leaving the U.S.:

More people are moving out of the U.S. than moving in for the first time since the Great Depression—a bad omen for the $38.8 trillion national debt
https://fortune.com/2026/02/27/trump-immigration-crackdown-worsen-national-debt/ 🔗

It isn't just celebrities like George Clooney packing up for France. Places like Portugal, Spain, and the Netherlands have seen American expat populations double lately, and Germany and Ireland both received more American arrivals last year than the other way around.