Want to flee America? Here’s how much it costs

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO?It’s a question on many LGBTQ+ Americans’ minds right now. And why wouldn’t it be? Peeing while trans in a public bathroom is increasingly illegal. Health care subsidies are being chopped. The sharks are circling on same-sex marriage rights. And Pantone made white the color of the year — like, WTF?“The gays are leaving,” quipped one user in my comments recently.But alas, it takes more than vibes alone to leave the country permanently. Long-term immigration requires planning. If you want to maintain a similar standard of living, it also requires money. Visa fees, minimum savings requirements, and tax surprises that can add up fast. Also, will your new country see your marriage as legal? Can you get the health care you need? You don’t have to be rich to leave the U.S. — but you do have to think ahead.If leaving the country is a long-term goal of yours, there are actions you can take now to better orient yourself toward your big gay transnational moment. To leave the United States for good, or just get to a safer state in the short term, your first step isn’t to pack a bag. It’s to look at your wallet.IMMEDIATE STATE MOVES MIGHT BE A STEPPING STONEFor queer people in red states, the situation is dire. At the time of this writing, Kansas has made “driving while trans” illegal (on less than 72 hours’ notice). And Idaho has determined that, if you pee in public restrooms while trans too many times, life in prison is definitely the best use of our taxes. If you think these states won’t push further with policies that control gays, women, and people of color, a refresher on fascism throughout history would be worth your time.The short-term solution might be to cross state lines. And while moving anywhere is expensive, scrappiness can be more valuable than savings at this stage, according to Rita-Soledad Fernández Paulino, a nonbinary money and self-care coach. When coming out to their Mexican Catholic family didn’t