Buying One-Way Tickets
Originally Posted on 30 Augusto 2025
Hola, Friends!
We have some exciting news—we’ve decided to move to Uruguay! Yep, it’s official: we’re relocating and establishing legal residency in this beautiful country. If you’re not familiar with Uruguay, let us paint a quick picture. Brazil borders it to the north, Argentina to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean lines its eastern and southern coasts.
Why the Move?
The current climate in the U.S. has become increasingly unsafe for the LGBTQ community. Rights that many of us have long relied on are being stripped away. For example, Executive Orders now limit gender options on federal documents to “Female” and “Male” only. Another order bans transgender individuals from serving in the military. And the supreme court continues to signal interest in cases that could roll back hard-won civil rights. The direction the country is headed in—toward criminalizing our identities and allowing businesses to deny us services—left us with no choice but to think seriously about where we want to live and thrive.
Why Uruguay?
Uruguay stood out for many reasons, both general and personal.
It’s the second smallest country in Latin America, with just over 3 million people.
Politically and economically, it’s stable.
Uruguay ranks 61st on the global safety index (the U.S., by comparison, is 132nd).
Healthcare is universal and accessible. We’ve experienced it ourselves, and it’s nothing like the “socialist medicine” scare stories in the U.S.—it’s efficient, caring, and community-driven.
Education is free and government-supported for all residents, from the earliest years through graduate school. Homeschooling is not an option, as the country believes deeply in collective access to education. Uruguay also boasts a literacy rate of 97% (compared to 72% in the U.S.).
Religion does not play a role in government. There’s no prayer in schools, no religious invocations in congress, and no swearing on a Bible when taking office. The population is roughly 50% secular and 50% religious, and the national calendar does not revolve around the Christian calendar. In the US, the white christian nationalist is gaining power.
Most importantly, the people of Uruguay are incredibly warm and welcoming. The culture is built on a strong sense of community—helping someone else is viewed as helping the country as a whole.
Personal Reasons
Uruguay also has a long history of supporting LGBTQ rights:
Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1933 (the U.S. didn’t follow until 2003, when the Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws—a ruling that some justices still hope to overturn).
Marriage equality became law in 2010 (five years before the U.S. supreme court legalized it nationwide. Another right that is threatened by the supreme court).
Uruguay recognizes gender identities beyond the binary and provides excellent medical care for transgender individuals.
These rights and many more are part of the country's constitution and laws.
Why Not Somewhere Else?
We considered other options—Germany and France were on the list, but far-right political movements are gaining strength there. We didn’t want to leave one country drifting toward fascism only to land in another. England, Spain, and Portugal were also possibilities, but the cost of living was significantly higher.
In the end, Uruguay felt right. The stability, safety, inclusiveness, and warmth of its people make it the perfect place for our next chapter.
The Countdown Begins
We’re thrilled to share this journey with you. In just 53 days, we’ll touch down in Montevideo and start our new life. More updates to come as we make this exciting transition!
