Anxiety in the LGBTQ Community Spikes as Trump Nears Second Term
With Donald Trump’s second term nearing, anxiety is soaring in the LGBTQ community as gay couples rush to get married and others contemplate or have already left the country. Ellen DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi have already left California for the Cotswolds in the UK.
Emmy-winning trans actress Laverne Cox and her friends are researching cities in Europe and the Caribbean for a place where they’ll feel safer. “I don’t want to be in too much fear, but I’m scared,” she said. “As a public figure, with all my privilege, I’m scared, and I’m particularly scared because I’m a public figure. I feel like I could be targeted.”
Fear of being targeted is a common theme among the dozen LGBTQ individuals TheWrap spoke to. Many are also worried about the potential policy changes outlined in Project 2025, which include stripping the terms “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” from “every piece of legislation that exists.”
A poll in February showed that nearly half of all transgender people were considering leaving the country. Actor and comedian Jason Stuart told TheWrap, “This is not an American problem. This is a world problem.” He’s considered moving to Canada, but plans to stay in the US and fight for LGBTQ rights.
Others, like director Marc Huestis and writer Bruce Vilanch, are taking a “wait and see” approach. Huestis, a gay man, said he doesn’t think Trump’s second term will be that bad, but understands why others are worried. Vilanch acknowledged “a certain level of hysteria” in the LGBTQ community, but plans to stay and resist through his work.
A few individuals have already taken action, with some using online resources to research options for leaving the country. Rod Carrillo-Lundgren, a former TV executive turned travel consultant, noticed a spike in traffic to his LGBTQ+ immigration resources following Trump’s election win.
However, leaving the US is not a viable option for everyone. Deb Zahal, who immigrated to the US 25 years ago, has been searching for a safe haven for her transgender child. She’s investigated Portugal and Mexico as potential destinations, but her child, Del, is wary of leaving queer friends behind and is anxious about the recent financial support from corporations.
Despite the uncertainty, some individuals are choosing to stay and fight. Rob Epstein, the two-time Oscar-winning co-director of “The Times of Harvey Milk,” said, “We stay, we tell stories, and we resist through our work. At least, that’s where I stand right now.”
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