Disabled transgender non-binary person raises $8,000 to escape ‘hostile’ Florida

A disabled trans non-binary person has raised $8,000 to escape Florida as anti-LGBT sentiment surges in the state.

Jean Grey claims to have spent their entire life in Florida but wanted to leave as it’s become “increasingly hostile and dangerous for queer and trans people”. Under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, the state has enacted a series of anti-LGBT laws including the notorious ‘Don’t Say Gay’ laws which prohibits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity at school at all ages.

Jean set up a fundraiser to get the money together to pack their dog, Digby, and themselves up and move north. They wrote: “Hi, my name is Jean and I’m fundraising to escape from Florida.”

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They added: I’m a disabled trans non-binary person (they/them) who has lived in Florida my entire life. I used to love it here but in the last few years it’s become increasingly hostile and dangerous for queer and trans people to live here, to say nothing of the rising costs of living.”

Florida has brought in six anti-LGBTQ+ bills into law this year, more than the last seven years combined. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, has condemned DeSantis and other Florida legislators.

A statement from HRC President Kelley Robinson reads: “Gov. Ron DeSantis and extremist legislators in Florida are some of the most anti-LGBTQ+ politicians in America. DeSantis has made clear that demonizing LGBTQ+ people will be the center of his legislative agenda and presidential run.

“As a result, the rights of millions of Floridians are being rolled back by politicians who are attacking the LGBTQ+ community at a breakneck pace to pander to the most extreme fringes of their base.”

Jean also said there have been white supremacist demonstrations near their Florida home. Describing the full extent of their difficulties, they said: “At the end of July I was dropped as a patient by my primary care doctor due to the gender marker on my insurance.”

They wrote in the fundraiser: “I need to get out of this state. I don’t feel safe in my home any longer. I have an opportunity to have a much safer place to live where I will have a support system but the cost of moving myself and my service dog outweighs my current income and mobility, so I’m asking for help.”

Jean’s fundraiser quickly raised the $8,000 they were after and a later update reads: “Thanks to all of you, thanks to your donations and repeatedly sharing the fundraiser, I have hit my goal! I appreciate all of your support so much.

“In just a few weeks I’ll be wrapping everything up in Florida and Digby and I will hit the road for our new home up North. I can’t tell y’all what it means to me that you’ve given me a whole new, much safer life.”

Recent anti-LGBT laws brought in by DeSantis include SB 254, an extreme gender affirming care ban, and HB 1521, an anti-trans bathroom bill and SB 1580, dubbed ‘License to Discriminate in Healthcare’ bill that will allow healthcare providers and insurers to deny a patient care on the basis of religious, moral, or ethical beliefs.