You're certainly welcome to think that, and your fear is valid. I have thoughts about your outlook as well, but I won't be so rude as to call you naive for it.

That said, I’m not naive to the realities of this world or the rough times ahead. As a very visible trans woman living in a major city who attends queer and trans events very regularly, I’m acutely aware of the risks. I know how easily someone could target me and my friends—shooting up a party, firebombing a drag bar, or worse. I take that gamble every time I step outside.

But I refuse to live in terror of what might be. I won’t let the possibility of harm force me into hiding or cowering through life. I choose to live fully, not just survive. I simply will not uproot my life for fascists, especially when I live somewhere with an enormous network of queer people.

Catastrophizing doesn’t help anyone. Building community does, and it's the resource I have most readily available to me. I simply can't afford to move so easily, so I will make the best of what I have. That’s where I’m putting my energy, because community is the only way we’ll make it through what’s ahead. You can choose to flee if that feels right for you, I will not judge you for it--but I will be staying to support those in my community who can’t simply run away, and fight back against oppression as best I can when it inevitably comes our way.

I wish you the best.