Remember that Governor Newsom of CA isn’t our friend. Isn’t our ally. Isn’t in agreement with us. Remember that Blue states are not necessarily looking out for us.

So before you think about fleeing to CA for the promised land it is certainly not; remember that there is no safe space right now.

Think carefully before relocating or fleeing to a Blue state that won’t even let you have your 2A rights as you deserve them, and then walk back their false promises to “protect,” your rights and dignity.

Look, before you leap.

Remember that there is no safe space for us, right now. Arm up, train up, build your network and make your own.

Ad Tutela Comunitas.

https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/ca-gov-gavin-newsom-completely-aligns

https://www.reddit.com/r/Queerdefensefront/s/FSr8Lp43Vj

This article from Attorney Simone Chriss of the Southern Legal Counsel contains a lot of good information on the current state of Trump's hateful executive orders.

One part that I found particularily helpful was her comment about SSA name changes. On the last page of the article (toward the top), she said there is no reason to think that doing a name change with the SSA will revert your gender marker (i.e. if you had changed it prior to Jan 20) and she referenced an internal SSA memo directing staff to handle name changed in the "normal" way.

**NOTE: **this is just SSA, she doesn't recommend doing a passport name change right now because name changes on passports are treated as renewals and the renewal policy is to revert gender markers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Queerdefensefront/s/apeMf8gNoS

https://www.reddit.com/r/Queerdefensefront/s/l56dN0natE

REP ZEPHYR'S OFFER TO CHAT

Rep Zephyr made a Bluesky post inviting people to contact her, offering to setup a time to chat about how to take the first steps. For those interested, I suggest including some details on your personal and professional experience to the extent you are comfortable.

"How this story comes out does depend to a great degree on what we do right now" - Shannon Minter, transgender Legal Director at the National Center for Lesbian Rights. February 4, 2025.

BACKGROUND

Click here for a link to an article detailing how Rep Zephry and Rep Howell's passionate speeches on the Montana house floor on March 6th, 2025 flipped half the GOP members to no, killing two anti-trans bills. The article contains links to video of their speeches. I cried tears of joy watching them.

This gives us a clear blueprint that while we are a small minority, even a single seat of representation in elected government can have a huge impact. When the other side gets to know one of as a person, it makes a difference.

OTHER ADVICE ON RUNNING FOR ELECTED OFFICE

In another post, I read the following advice on how to get started toward running for elected office -

Getting involved with transrights activism is a great first step. You can find a list of trans advocacy organizations here, you can then build a platform to get the volunteers and the funding you need to get elected.

I just read the full extent of the executive order, and it basically calls for anyone who currently qualifies for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, PSLF, but works for any of several different types of organizations to no longer be eligible. One of those types uses the administrations rhetoric for trans healthcare.

People who were close to getting their loans forgiven are going to lose out on that because they work for non-profits that help us.

I want to scream.

Link to Subreddit Post

Link to Subreddit Post