A user reached out to us seeking advice on remaining authentic to themselves as a trans woman while living in a conservative town. They wrote in saying that they are planning on moving to a conservative small city soon to save up money and are unsure of how to remain safely themselves while living there. They asked, "Is there anything I can do that would allow me to be more feminine while still remaining safe? I’m very much worried about discrimination in many areas, including housing and in the workplace." Sassafras Patterdale approached this question with a lot of care and highlighted the commitment this user is showing towards themselves and their goals. Sassafras replied, "I want to start by validating that this is a scary time and can be an especially overwhelming time to be transgender in this country. It sounds like you are doing a great job of being realistic about your situation and being financially responsible as you make plans for your future, while also making longer-term plans to get to a more supportive place. I’m so glad that you’re focused on your future and getting to a safer and more accepting area in the long-term and are looking for ways to stay safe and be your authentic self in the short-term! It sounds like this first move to somewhere more conservative is going to be challenging, but is ultimately going to help you fulfill your larger goals of getting to a safer place. Even if you can’t live authentically in all aspects of your life, it’s still possible to prioritize gender-affirming self-care wherever you can." This article dives into how to prioritize gender-affirming self-care, from building and nurturing a living space that represents the real you to prioritizing building community irl and in online spaces. Continue reading the rest of to learn more on surviving conservative small-town US without losing parts of yourself.
Even if you can’t live authentically in all aspects of your life, it’s still possible to prioritize gender-affirming self-care wherever you can.
