Maine
U.S. state · ME
Overall: 87/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but federal hostility still creates unavoidable risk.
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Trans people are under attack in the US. You have one life to live—spend it in a place that respects you. This is a space to stay informed about the dangerous situation in the US and explore safer places to live your best life.
Explore destinations and youth options
Conditions can change quickly. Scores are a starting point, not a promise of safety. A high average never cancels a serious warning.
Best U.S. States
See all U.S. statesImportant U.S. federal warning: Even the strongest state protections cannot fully shield trans people from hostile federal laws, enforcement, funding decisions, data demands, travel restrictions, or court rulings. Treat a high state score as a relative U.S. option—not a guarantee of safety—and verify current federal and state conditions before moving.
Colorado
U.S. state · CO
Overall: 86/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but high costs limit accessibility.
Illinois
U.S. state · IL
Overall: 86/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but federal hostility still creates unavoidable risk.
New York
U.S. state · NY
Overall: 86/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but high costs limit accessibility.
New Jersey
U.S. state · NJ
Overall: 83/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but high costs limit accessibility.
California
U.S. state · CA
Overall: 82/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but high costs limit accessibility.
Connecticut
U.S. state · CT
Overall: 82/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but high costs limit accessibility.
District of Columbia
U.S. state · DC
Overall: 82/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but high costs limit accessibility.
Maryland
U.S. state · MD
Overall: 82/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but high costs limit accessibility.
Vermont
U.S. state · VT
Overall: 80/100
Strong protections and a healthcare shield, but federal hostility still creates unavoidable risk.
Best Countries
See all countriesSpain
Overall: 78/100
Strong protections and regional youth-care pathways, but consent, residency, and local access matter. Housing and employment remain difficult.
Uruguay
Overall: 75/100
Strong youth transition and school rights in law, with clinical, consent, and practical access limits. Costs and jobs remain challenging.
Luxembourg
Overall: 73/100
Excellent protections, safety, and jobs, but housing costs are exceptionally high.
Australia
Overall: 71/100
Robust protections and jobs, but migration, housing, and living costs are difficult.
Canada
Overall: 71/100
Robust protections and strong communities, but housing costs and immigration hurdles are substantial.
New Zealand
Overall: 71/100
Strong protections and safe communities, but distance, housing, and skilled migration constrain options.
Estonia
Overall: 69/100
Safe, digital, and relatively affordable, but specialist care and community depth are limited.
Slovenia
Overall: 69/100
Safe and reasonably affordable with improving rights, but specialist services center on Ljubljana.
Denmark
Overall: 68/100
Safe with strong protections, but costs and social integration are difficult.
Malta
Overall: 68/100
Top-tier legal protection and English access, but housing and specialist care are limited.
News
See all updatesFederal
Supreme Court leaves protections for trans prison healthcare in place
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on October 21 to pause a lower-court injunction protecting gender-affirming healthcare in federal prisons, according to ACLU-DC, which represents the plaintiffs…
Thulani Komanisi’s family seeks answers after her death in Eastern Cape
MambaOnline reports that the family of Thulani Komanisi, a 32-year-old trans woman in Nelson Mandela Bay, is seeking answers about her death after she left home…
New Zealand High Court sets aside puberty-blocker restrictions
New Zealand's High Court set aside regulations restricting new puberty-blocker prescriptions for trans young people on October 21. It found inadequate consultation and unjustified disability discrimination.…
Mexican deputies seek trans-inclusive support in the 2027 federal budget
Mexico's Chamber of Deputies Diversity Commission said on October 20 that it would seek a comprehensive support program in the 2027 federal budget, prioritizing vulnerable trans…
Querétaro government returns gender-identity bill for a second time
La Jornada reported on October 9 that Querétaro's government returned a gender-identity reform to the state legislature with observations for a second time, preventing publication. Legislature…
State of Mexico legislators back trans-inclusive social-policy proposal
An October 5 State of Mexico Congress bulletin reports support in joint committees for a proposal to include sexual and gender minorities among groups receiving priority…
NHS England hospital guidance threatens trans patients’ dignity and access
NHS England published replacement hospital-accommodation guidance on October 15. GCN reports that it directs accommodation by sex registered at birth, with gender-neutral options and individual clinical…
Hungary
Hungarian parliament votes to remove anti-LGBTQ content restrictions
Hungary's parliament voted on October 13 to remove anti-LGBTQ provisions from the 2021 child-protection law. Euronews reports a 139–51 vote. ILGA-Europe says the amendments remove barriers…
Thabatta Pimenta joins two returning trans women in Brazil’s incoming Chamber
Brazil's Chamber of Deputies reported on October 8 that Thabatta Pimenta was elected to the federal Chamber for the first time, joining reelected trans lawmakers Erika…
Federal
New reporting documents trans women’s accounts of abuse across ICE facilities
An October 14 investigation published by EL PAÍS with The Marshall Project reports trans women's accounts of harassment, isolation and interrupted hormone treatment across ICE detention…