I am fortunate. I live in Michigan, and can honestly say that I haven't yet experienced any of the open hatred transgender people have in other states. Fingers crossed that I never will, but it's a commentary on the disparate societal and legal issues facing the transgender communities in each state.

I personally have two transgender friends who have moved to our state from Oklahoma and Texas respectively. Both came in the past year or so and for the same reasons: to escape the open prejudice they faced daily and fear of oppressive laws being passed aimed at transgender people. They viewed Michigan as a chance to restart their lives in a more welcoming environment. And for the most part, they have succeeded.

I'm not going to sugarcoat it and say that life for a transgender person in Michigan is idyllic. This isn't Utopia. One of my friends only recently was able to secure a decent job after being in Ann Arbor for nearly a year. She was repeatedly rejected for positions she was amply qualified for, for not perceivable reason other than she was trans. It was a cold dose of reality to her, that seemingly friendly people (her interviewers) would revert to inherent biases behind closed doors when deciding her employment.

That said, it is undeniable that our state provides a much more convivial lifestyle than the states they left.

Obviously, my friends aren't the only trans seeking asylum from where they currently reside. To achieve that end, an organization called Traction has created an initiative they have dubbed PROJECT OPEN ARMS. Their stated purpose is to support trans refugees "seeking to escape hostile legislation in their home states."

To express the widespread nature of this exodus, they have a quote from Erin Reed of "Erin In The Morning" prominently featured on their Home page:

"The scale of this issue remained under wraps until a recent Data For Progress survey brought to light the unsettling reality: hundreds of thousands of transgender people have already left their home states, and more than a million are considering a similar course of action in the coming months.”

As part of the OPEN ARMS PROJECT, they have created an online Resource site entitled InReach. As laid out in their mission statement, InReach "is a trans-led tech nonprofit increasing resource access for the diverse LGBTQ community."

InReach format provides a handy resource guide for any trans or other LGBTQ person seeking relocation help, or other services they may not be able to find on their own.

As long as persecution exists, as long as transgender people are subjected to draconian laws and societal bigotry, they will look to move elsewhere. Some will come here, to Michigan, which hopefully remains a welcoming destination.

And to those trans asylum-seekers who do end up here, let me point out to you our state's Latin motto:

Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice

Which translated to English means: "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you."

--- Anni