Shocking Government Changes Spur Mass Preparations Among LGBTQ+ Americans — Stockpiling M3ds, Prepping Moves, and More…
Zoei Montgomery, a 25-year-old transgender woman, is stockpiling estradiol and spironolactone, preparing for what she calls her “nightmare scenario.” She envisions a time when Trump’s second term strips away her access to gender-affirming care, forcing her to make an escape — even if it means kayaking to Canada. “If things become intolerable,” she says, “I’d have no choice but to paddle away.”
Montgomery’s plan highlights a growing reality for many in the LGBTQ+ community: an escape plan is no longer just a metaphorical idea but a necessity. The fear of losing rights that many once took for granted has turned into a tangible and urgent concern.
A Backslide of Rights: From Milestone Victories to Uncertain Futures
When Trump first won office in 2016, the LGBTQ+ community celebrated significant milestones. The Supreme Court had granted same-sex couples the right to marry, and President Obama had issued guidelines ensuring transgender students could use facilities that matched their gender identity in schools across the nation. But all of that quickly unraveled under Trump’s leadership.
Within a month of Trump’s inauguration, he revoked Obama-era protections for transgender students, dismantling a sense of security that had been built. The Pentagon also banned transgender service members from serving. Now, the community fears a further rollback of rights that may dismantle everything from same-sex marriage protections to parental adoption rights.
A Nation Divided: Anti-Trans Attacks Intensify
Trump’s second term promises even more aggressive policies against the transgender community. His administration is expected to push Congress to pass a bill declaring only two genders — male and female, assigned at birth — and eliminate federal funding for gender-affirming care. Trump also wants to use Title IX protections to exclude transgender women from women’s sports competitions.
State governments controlled by Republicans have already laid the groundwork for these changes. In 26 states, laws now ban trans girls and women from playing sports that align with their gender identity. Across schools in Florida and North Carolina, gay teachers have been fired, and gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth has been denied.
In the 2024 campaign alone, more than 200 anti-trans ads aired on major networks. Trump’s super PACs spent over $50 million to spread anti-trans rhetoric, and his campaign even used slogans like “Kamala is for they/them” to fuel division.
“There’s a wave of panic and hopelessness sweeping through the community,” said Janson Wu, senior director at the Trevor Project, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. “Many young people are questioning whether they’ll even have a future under these political attacks.”
A Record Surge in Demand for Relocation Assistance
Nonprofit groups are seeing a record influx of requests from LGBTQ+ individuals desperate to relocate to states with explicit protections for their community. Keira Richards, executive director of the Trans Continental Pipeline, a nonprofit that helps people move to Colorado, said that 350 people reached out to her group in just one week after the election, a number that normally only saw around 15 requests monthly.
“We’re building a raft on a tsunami,” Richards says. “We’re just trying to meet the overwhelming need that’s suddenly here.”
Many moving costs range from $2,000 to $4,000, and with Denver rents nearing $1,700/month, affordability remains a critical hurdle. Some clients can only pay $400 monthly, highlighting the economic challenges that come with seeking refuge in more liberal cities.
The Psychological Toll: LGBTQ+ Youth Facing a Grim Reality
Trump’s re-election has been particularly devastating for young members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Trevor Project saw a 700% increase in crisis calls and messages the day after the election. In Missouri, Jake Nichols, an 18-year-old gay teen, has decided to move to California after high school graduation. In his hometown of Jefferson City, classmates now openly harass him, saying things like, “You queer people will have to go back in the closet now.”
His choice to leave Missouri is driven by a fear that the state’s growing anti-trans sentiment will make life unbearable. “Missouri’s just not the place for me anymore,” he says, knowing that an atmosphere of hostility threatens his safety and mental health.
Legal Protections at Risk
LGBTQ+ couples are also concerned about their parental rights. Family law attorney Michele Zavos reports an increasing number of calls from same-sex couples anxious about the potential curtailment of their adoption rights under Trump’s incoming administration or Supreme Court rulings. Some couples are rushing to secure parental rights through second-parent adoptions, hoping to safeguard their families amidst the uncertainty.
“I had taken a semi-retirement,” Zavos admits. “But given the situation, I’ll unretire to stand by the community.”
An Exit by Kayak — Montgomery’s Plan for Survival
For Zoei Montgomery, the preparations are not just about moving out but survival. Her plan includes a kayak, which symbolizes the extreme lengths she would go to escape the U.S. if forced to abandon her gender transition medications. If her nightmare scenario materializes — forced detransition, restricted healthcare, societal rejection — she would navigate a 20-mile sea journey to British Columbia, bypassing official ports of entry.
“If my worst fears come true, I would be compelled to leave,” Montgomery says, her eyes reflecting the gravity of a reality she never hoped would come.
Her story is a powerful symbol of the precarious situation for many in the LGBTQ+ community. What was once a fight for progress is now a battle for basic dignity, safety, and the right to exist authentically in a society that increasingly seems hostile to their existence.
