Canada

tl;dr - being a newcomer is brutally hard.

No one who matters is gonna give you grief for being a Yankee, just don't bring it up in every conversation or try to explain politics to us and we're good. We all know plenty of Yanks. Many of us have family on the other side of the border, and more than a few friends, co-workers, etc.

The rest of this comment is for anyone scrolling with a similar question as you, so if this doesn't apply to your sitch, just leave it. And good luck to you.

The immigration links (ircc, canada.ca) are the first things to check out.

If you have any people up here, distant relatives, organizations you belong to that have chapters in Canada, acquaintances you met at work, etc, today's the day to reach out and say "hey, hope you're well." There's whole economies that thrive on people escaping crisis, and having real people here you know you can contact if shit really hits the fan during transit is absolutely a lifeline (like if the grifters and other coyotes get their claws in, you end up in jail/detention, etc). Brainstorm and make a list of phone numbers.

You mentioned being gay - so definitely check out any queer-friendly community centres where you're going. 519 in Toronto for example, if that's a city you want to try to live in. They're good folk. Show up for the information, stay to build your community here.

idk your financial situation (please don't tell me), but that's the hardest thing about escaping here for most people. Everything is money.

I can only buy 1/2 the amount of groceries I could get back in 2020, I'm paying the same amount, and I'm a pretty savvy shopper. The big market grocers are completely out of control. In cities at least, local small grocers are actually more affordable most of the time, so shop the markets, ignore Loblaws, etc.

Since 2018, the housing market has been pretty much completely deregulated in practice. Started with a few predatory Provincial mandated changes, and the free hand of the market has fucked it up for the rest of us. We're fighting for affordable housing as much as we can, but it's not an easy landing here for the average Jo/sphine, to say the least.

I know people that've been living in shelters for 4+ years, and many still line up every night. Homeless shelters here can be really unsafe - you don't want to get stuck there. Similarly, I know people with 2-3 jobs living in slum conditions because they get trapped paying 1000$ for a bunkbed in a basement with 10 other people. If you can hook yourself up with a place to be before you get here, with a real person you didn't meet on the internet, of course that's best. Many don't have the time or contacts for that though.

Gotta assume any under-the-table immigration help you may get offered is absolutely a scam - there's a massive human trafficking economy, designed to leech the last dime out of your pocket and leave you frozen in the woods on the border if need be. They. don't. care. I know lots of people who left their home countries relatively wealthy and were tapped in debt to heinous dudes by the time they got here. I know folks who've decided, "fuck it. I can live in soul-crushing poverty here in Canada or I can live in soul-crushing poverty where people at least speak my language" and gone back to active war zones rather than try to continue surviving here.

It's a brutal decision to make. Many people who absolutely know how dire it is still come though, despite everything. Even when it's "just" for the laws we still have protecting us from discrimination based on race, id, etc. I have friends and neighbours from Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Eritrea and on and on, who no matter how hard it's been getting and staying here, are still relieved and proud to call this place home. It's all about getting involved in your neighbourhood communities once you land. Show up to volunteer and don't isolate yourself.

None of this is encouraging information, and I'm sorry for it. But the main thing I know from the "newcomers" in my life, is the image of Canada as a safe place to land where you'll get free healthcare, a cozy apartment and a decent regulated job (and that IS how shady immigration consultants sell it)? They always say, "I wish at least 1 person had told me the truth before I came here."

If you know these things and still think you have to or want to try navigating it all, Welcome, for what it's worth.

Washington and Oregon (in cities) will protect you as much as possible in the states. I believe they are the last bastions of hope in the states. We need people to stay and fight, but rest is important too, and they’re trying to make that impossible for people not in safe spaces right now so they give up hope and leave. Please stay and fight with us if you have it in you.

Yes, you will be welcomed by the people. Being welcomed by the job market is a whole another story, though one that you being American isn’t really getting in your way.

I don't think Canadians are generally hostile to Americans unless they prove themselves to be asshole Americans. Lots of Canadians have American friends and would regularly travel over the border until a couple of months ago. And I think most Canadians can see what's going on in the USA and understand that some people may need to flee.

However, immigration to Canada isn't automatically allowed so it's worth doing a bit of research and planning. Here are some government web pages that may help:

https://ircc.canada.ca/explore-programs/index.asp

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html

You kind of seem like you are spiraling based off of your additional comments, and may be overestimating the situation somewhat. You seem to be jumping from A to E and skipping through all the other, easier things you could do.

You'll need money to flee, at least $10k on hand, likely more, to start the process for Canadian citizenship.

It will be easier to get to a blue state than it will across the border. Right now, all you need is transportation and considerably less seed money. It's likely smarter to relocate to a blue state while you work out your international travel.

Since you're in Ohio, the closest metro that will likely protect you is Chicago. That's a good place to start if you're looking to go further north.

If you can make it to the west coast, Oregon is likely the cheapest place to start, but be aware that eastern Oregon has its fair share of maga. Do not travel through or visit Idaho on your way (especially if you're a person of color), and avoid Utah if at all possible. CO to NM to AZ is pretty safe if you're looking to take the southern route to CA. You'll probably be ok getting through Indiana as long as you keep to the freeway and don't stop.

Canada will be mainly looking for skilled workers in the coming years. Being trained in healthcare or trades or engineering might give you a leg up, but it can’t be guaranteed

But overall Canada is reducing our overall immigration levels due to our previous government allowing many more immigrants than homes to house them.

Coming from a trans person in Oregon who got my passport changed last year out of paranoia, I wonder if you're overreacting. I think Oregon and other states like Washington, California, and northeastern states are friendly to lgbt folk, and it will be a hard fight if Trump wants to stop us from having rights. Portland is a metro area friendly to lgbt, and if you have no income, you can get on the Oregon health plan for free healthcare. I'm worried about you saying that you don't want to get on meds because you are afraid of the withdrawals. Of course you should make the decision you think is best, but isn't it better to have good mental health now rather than have bad MH in the hopes of avoiding your fear sometime in the future? Take care of yourself, remember that there is no certainty in life, there are risks in exposing yourself as mentally unhealthy, but there are also risks in not getting the help you need.

I'm in Oregon. Applying and being accepted to be Canadian will take a long time, my friend. You are welcome in Oregon in the meantime. We are a bastion at the moment but just like the rest of the decent states, we are going to have our rights eroded by the dick-tator and muskrat.

Now if only Canada would offer to take the PNW off the orange cancer's hands. Pretend like your doing him a favor lol

I mean, I'd give you a hug, take you to my local pub which just so happens to be queer owned and does fundraising for amazing causes and introduce you to my friends and community. Hell, I have a spare bedroom if you want a place to crash while you get set up.

You aren't your government any more than the turds running my province (Alberta) are me. You'll most likely be met with sympathy for the challenges you face in making such a big move and admiration for having the conviction and courage to do so.

Like any country, there'll be jerks, but as a rule of thumb, we're pretty friendly.

Heck, if you want a vacation, shoot me a message and come visit and use that spare room I mentioned. Do you hike or bike? I'm in Calgary which is super close to epic mountain fun and incredible scenery. We've also got three cats who demand attention, and a guide-dog in training who is a goofy/genius puppy, so there's lots of pet-therapy available too.

I suggest going to Southeast Asia instead. tickets are a couple hundred, everybody is really cool about genders and pretty much everything else there, everything is cheap, you can live indefinitely on tourist visas and if you need money you can always teach English.