From Advocacy to Exile: Why Some Families of Trans Kids Are Leaving the U.S.

In the past year, three of the most visible families advocating for transgender youth in the United States have made the heartbreaking decision to leave the country.

Debi and Tom Jackson, who nearly a decade ago became one of the most recognized families after Debi’s TEDx talk and their daughter Avery’s appearance on the cover of National Geographic, relocated abroad in 2024 as anti-trans hostility escalated.

Lizette and Jose Trujillo, longtime leaders in Tucson and co-founders of Families Transformed, left Arizona this spring with their son Daniel, after intensifying legislation and to protect themselves from what they described as “a federal government increasingly hostile to people like them: immigrants, Latinos, and trans youth.”

And now, Rachel and Frank Gonzales, and their daughter Libby who first made headlines testifying at age 7, and who many of us know from years of legislative hearings, community meetings, and even advocacy in Congress, have announced they too, have had to leave.

Together, these departures reveal a sobering truth: even the most connected, courageous parent advocates no longer feel they can keep their children safe in the United States.

The Gonzales Family’s Breaking Point

Rachel and Frank Gonzales have been fighting for their daughter Libby since she was small. Libby herself has been speaking publicly for trans kids since 2017 — more than half her life and was recently featured on MSNBC explaining why they have to move despite loving where she is from. The family has become a symbol of resilience and persistence, showing up again and again to testify, to organize, and to speak out.

But Texas has passed law after law targeting families like theirs. Gender-affirming care is prohibited. Recreational activities for trans youth are banned. Identity documents have been weaponized against kids. And an executive order declared that parents who support their trans children could be investigated for “child abuse.”

On top of that, Rachel and Frank say they have heard persistent rumors of targeted action from state officials. For them, staying finally became impossible.

In Rachel’s own words:

“There is a point where it becomes impossible to fight for the safety of my trans child without compromising the safety of all my children – and we’ve reached that point. We are leaving so my youngest doesn’t have nightmares about his parents being arrested for ‘child abuse’ for providing gender-affirming care. We are leaving so my middle child can use her amazing gifts of leadership for many causes, not just to defend her sister’s right to exist. And we are leaving so my oldest can live her authentic life without fear.”

Support the Gonzales family’s relocation →

A Sobering Reality — But Not the Only One

The Jacksons, the Trujillos, and now the Gonzaleses all had visibility, resources, and networks of support — and still, they could not stay. Their departures are a warning about the direction of U.S. policy and its real-life consequences for families.

At the same time, it’s important to name that not every family can or will leave. Thousands of families are staying, and staying does not mean failing. They are finding creative ways to keep their kids safe and affirmed, building communities of care, and creating joy in the face of hostility.

A Call to Action

The Gonzales family’s story is urgent. They need immediate support to resettle safely. But beyond one family, their decision is a call to action: to resist policies that criminalize care, to show up for families who remain, and to build a country where no parent has to choose between home and safety.

👉 If you’re able, please support the Gonzales family’s relocation fund here:
Support Rachel and Frank Gonzales →

And if you are a parent navigating this climate — whether you’re staying, leaving, or still figuring out what’s next — know that you are not alone. My forthcoming book, Raising Trans Kids: What To Expect When You Weren’t Expecting This, was written to meet families in these exact moments of fear and uncertainty.