Fellow LGBT - Where do we go from here?

[kayell]

We know how bad it may get. We know we are going to play the part of the Jews to the new fascists. What are our options? Do we have any safe havens? Will any country give us political asylum?

I vowed never to conceed or surrender because I truly believed that Kerry would not abandon us, but now we need to start thinking about a safe place to fight from.

Many of us do not have the money or credentials to run easily. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I hate that I am advocating leaving, but this is 1930s Germany, and we are the Jews. I think we can fight from elsewhere more effectively.

[soothsayer]

1. This lesbian ain't going NOWHERE. This is MY country, too, thank you.

[Stephanie]

2. Costa Rica?

And I will follow you there.

[TheDonkey]

3. Thinking about leaving America, too many fucking bigots

and idiots who hate me for who I am.

[nickinSTL]

4. I'm seriously considering Canada

But, I'll try to stick it out. At least until I'm done with grad school.

But depending on what * does, I may be out sooner rather than later.

[kayell]

10. I can't leave anytime soon, unless things start looking really dangerous

but I'm not willing to sacrifice my life and liberty here if I can retreat to a safe country and join the American resistance.

I have a tiny house that won't sell easily, and no money to speak of. It will be hard, and I will have to start working now, but I think LGBT are in desperate danger now, here.

What signs will we know that it is time to flat out flee in order to fight another day?

[Q3JR4]

35. Ditto.

Canada is looking good, but I'm still doing the school thing. Have to see what happens.

[geekgrrl]

5. Sweden is a lovely country

I love the cold and their a tons of feminist sociologists there.

[BearFlagDemocrat]

6. My g/f and I are thinking...

Canada or New Zealand. Germany was considered too, but I don't speak the language and German food is too heavy on carbs.

[MsUnderstood]

7. Honestly move to a blue state

I've told my daughter that we are going to build a little monastery in our home (like the Europeans did to keep away the barbarians in the middle ages) to wait out the darkness.

California may have Prop 22, but it also has a very liberal domestic partnership registry. This "ban on gay marriage" is to ban the word, not the deed.

Wait out the 4 years of Bush. His policies will implode and we will have our nation back.

[Not Me]

13. Actually, the current version of the FMA includes the text

"or the legal incidents thereof" which will preclude states (regardless of what Chimpy said last week) from allowing civil unions.

Further, DOMA along with a Fed Amendment will not treat you as a couple with respect to retirement, inheritence and tax purposes.

**'s election has locked the door for years. Probably your lifetime.

[Not Me]

8. My partner and I are considering Toronto

My mother is a Canadian citizen (married to US cit. and living in the US). By virtue of that heritage, I can get perm resident status and fast-track citizenship, if that is what we ultimately choose.

We have a decision to make. But I can safely say, if I go that route, I will not look back.

[indigo32]

9. After last night, I will be reevaluating things

to be sure... but my options are limited.

[kayell]

12. A lot of us have limited options - low income often. What is the best

way for us?

[indigo32]

16. I wish I knew...

in all honesty I never looked at any of it seriously, my family and friends would be left behind. I checked Canada briefly sometime ago and had enough points to be considered.

[siliconefreak]

11. Canada

It would be the easiest place for us to go to, plus there aren't many countries that are more progressive.

Don't expect equal rights in Costa Rica anytime soon.

[kayell]

15. What are the chances of asylum or something? I won't qualify under the

point system for immigration unless I have a firm job offer going in.

[Frederic Bastiat]

23. Nil for asylum

Reserved for people fleeing hardship countries and i'm sorry USA doesnt count.

[Q3JR4]

36. Not yet anyway. n/t

[arcos]

41. the situation is not bad in CR...

the Supreme Court is considering a case to legalize gay marriage.

[southernlad]

14. Hoping to wait it out..

I believe this is only a temporary set back. Things will get better. Bush will be out in only 4 more years. It can't be that bad right?

[Touchdown]

17. Their votes were about ME

I am their enemy, not terrorists.
I am their excuse for their situation, not corporate hegemony.
I am to blame for their all of their problems, not tax shelters for the rich.
I am the cause of their malaise, not Wal-Martization.
I caused 9/11 (remember Fatwell?) not a Prez lying down on the job.

I am gay, and am the reason why this country is fucked up. So I'll think about leaving it, and give them what they want. I don't want to be where I'm not wanted.

Growing up, and serving for 3 years as a soldier, I learned love for my country, regardless of it's blemishes. At near 40 years old, what was all that about? How is this patriotism worth anything? Why did I care so much? Why do I still care? I have given my first 40 years to this country, and have gotten NOTHING BACK! What's it worth? Why should I care anymore? Why should I spend the rest of my life dodging windmills? 35 years of Donohue, Oprah, books, lobbying, education, visibility, and they still think I have a sexuality choice. They will never change, so I have to.

[UdoKier]

18. Start shopping for striped pajamas and pink triangle emblems?

Study up on how to make a barracks look homey....

[kayell]

19. I really look bad in black and white. and have no talent for decorating.

[datasuspect]

20. i feel bad for you

you said . . .

"I hate that I am advocating leaving, but this is 1930s Germany, and we are the Jews. I think we can fight from elsewhere more effectively."

and it is true. it will be open season. you're not even a human being to these fucking people.

[HereSince1628]

21. Certainly not back in the closet, how about in their face?????

They must be stonewalled them for at least 2 years. The republicans just elected Fila Buster as a senate colleague.

[ThomCat]

22. I have friends who keep inviting me to Canada.

That's looking nice right now.

[archineas]

24. you don't go anywhere!

i'm not ready to run. a few weeks ago i thought that's what it would come to, but i don't feel that way today.

it may very well come to that, but i don't think it will happen overnight.

this is indeed a fight. my partner and i are on the cleveland heights domestic partnership registry. the certificate is framed and on our living room wall and i'll be damned if i let any bigot take that away from me. the will have to pry it from my cold dead hands.

until this summer, i've eschewed political activity. now, more than ever, i think it's an absolute necessity. as long as there are things like 'the nation' and 'air america radio' and 'democracy for america' we have a slate of opportunities out in front of us just asking for our involvement.

i will entertain going from a dark blue portion of a red state (cleveland, ohio), to a distinctly blue state, but this is my country just as much as it is yours and i don't want that to vanish for any of us, gay or straight!

it's not about our anger or our despondence...it's about what we do with that energy. it's about what we do to overcome this obstacle. an accomplishment attained through attention to detail and commitment to success makes that accomplishment all the better.

j

[tedzbear]

25. Canada

Or if you have to stay, move to San Francisco.

[cally]

26. Hugs to all my GLBT friends

Move to a blue state. California is more welcoming than most. We would welcome you. :grouphug:

[Solar]

27. its horrible to think that because of us, Kerry lost

The more and more I think about it, it beomes more clear. A large part of the election was lost because of us.

Im feeling physically sick now.

[cally]

28. Not true....

It was wedge issues. If it wasn't gay bashing, it would have been racism. It was abortion. The issue does not matter, it's the politics of ignorance and division.

YOU are not to blame for this.

[kayell]

30. He didn't lose because of us. Where are the missing votes from that

huge turnout we saw yesterday? Why were the exit polls different from recorded votes only in OH and FL?

Kerry conceeded and abandoned us, but that election was won by Diebold, not lost by us.

[freestyle]

29. We train, we prepare, we fight on all levels, we leave if we must

My partner and I are thinking seriously of Canada. But, we also must prepare to resist in any way necessary and not go anywhere without a serious fight. We must be physically, mentally, and spiritually prepared to fight for our lives. It is clear that many people in the U.S. do not consider us citizens and consider us barely human. Basically, they want us dead and would not lift a finger if we started to be disappeared into the night. We have allies, but are basically on our own. We are under attack and cannot go quietly away. At the least, we should be prepared for unarmed self defense, at the most, it may be time for well regulated militias.

[dsc]

31. It is all I can do not to cry

I can't believe we cost Kerry this election. It never occurred to me that in this enviroment so many would vote against Kerry on the basis of this. It is simply devastating.

[kayell]

32. WE didn't cost the election. Kicking ourselves for their hatred is not

the answer!

So many votes are just plain missing. The number of recorded votes don't match the hoards of people at the polls yesterday. OH and FL results don't match the exit polls. We were Diebolded.

[dsc]

33. I honestly have no clue what happened in Ohio

but it wasn't diebold or any other electronic voting. We mostly stayed with punch cards. We simply lost.

[kayell]

34. Whatever happened, WE didn't cause it. I'm not going to act

like a rape victim who blames herself.

dsc, I know it is hell, I'm am heartbroken and barely able to function today, but we can't blame ourselves for the evil that is happening in this country.

[sans qualia]

37. I am absolutely terrified.

I'm a 19 year old male-to-female transsexual. As far as the federal government is concerned, I'm still male, so if there's a draft... I don't know what I'm gonna do. :scared:

[tedzbear]

38. Move to San Francisco.

They will hide you from the Bushites like the Nazi resistance hid Ann Frank.

[theHandpuppet]

39. FIRST OF ALL -- PROTECT YOURSELF

You must assume any existing partnership benefits you may now enjoy will be revoked. Contact a lawyer and draw up legal documents regarding survivorship, inheritance, etc. If you and your partner have a mortgage make sure it is in BOTH of your names so relatives cannot take away your house (or your possessions or cars) should a spouse die. Make sure your will is properly prepared, and that you have legal documents insuring that you or your partner will be allowed visitation rights should one of you take ill.

The time to prepare is NOW, because it won't be long now before we have no rights at all. It's going to be open season on the GLBT community in this country -- the fundies have to have someone on which to focus their self-perpetuating hate.

[6000eliot]

40. I'm afraid for us

But I'm even more afraid for all of the young people who are going to be sent into the desert to die for these fucks. These are my students, and my heart is breaking for them. My partner and I are adults who have had lives together, however restricted by prejudice. I can't bear the thought of these young men and women with their lives ahead of them dieing for oil companies and Halliburton.