Texas Realtors Teach LGBTQ+ People How to 'Flee' to Australia
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A real estate group based in Texas is offering to help LGBTQ+ individuals who may be considering emigration amid a wave of state legislation that they call "highly discriminatory" against their rights.
Texas Pride Realty Group is offering assistance at Move Abroad Con 2025, a convention in San Antonio where attendees can learn how to relocate to countries with more robust LGBTQ+ protections—like Australia.
Why It Matters
Transgender rights were a central theme in the 2024 election with Republicans cruising to Election Day victories by focusing on the issue as it relates to women's sports, medical care and children seeking to transition
In 2025, Texas lawmakers filed over 120 bills targeting transgender people—the most in the nation—according to the Trans Legislation Tracker. These bills relate to a number of aspects of everyday life, from identification documents to education and to health care access.
Newsweek reached to Texas Pride Realty Group and to Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott for comment.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at the Republican National Convention on July 17, 2024, in Milwaukee.What To Know
Abbott has endorsed the legislative approach, stating in his 2025 State of the State address, "The State of Texas recognizes only two genders—male and female."
Texas Pride Realty Group markets its "Flee Red States" initiative as a guide for those who feel the need to relocate.
"As LGBTQIA+ citizens of the United States many of us feel at risk," reads a statement on their site. "If you feel the need to leave, let us help you sell your property here and connect you with an LGBTQIA or ally agent in a better location of your choice."
Australia, where same-sex marriage has been legal since 2017 and antidiscrimination laws protect sexual orientation and gender identity, is highlighted as a destination for those seeking legal and social stability.
The country's legal framework allows for gender marker changes on official documents, penalizes hate crimes based on gender identity, and supports adoption rights for same-sex couples.
The realty group will also be involved at Move Abroad Con 2025, held May 23 to May 25 in San Antonio, offering seminars and resources for Americans seeking to relocate abroad.
Texas Pride Realty is one of several participants focusing on the legal and logistic aspects of international migration for LGBTQ+ individuals. They specifically tout Australia's visa offerings, including student and digital nomad visas, and its strong legal protections for LGBTQ+ residents.
The timing aligns with rising anxiety in the LGBTQ+ community over the future of federal rights such as same-sex marriage, which was decided by Obergefell v. Hodges, and decriminalized same-sex intimacy, which was decided in Lawrence v. Texas. Both cases have faced threats from some conservatives to pursue reversals at the U.S. Supreme Court.
What People Are Saying
Texas Pride Realty Group said on its website: "We must have a Plan B if politicians continue to remove and reverse our legal protections. We understand the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community. We get who we're protecting. Let us help you if you're ready to move."
Shae Gardner, the director of policy and research at LGBT Tech, told Newsweek: "When members of our community begin exploring relocation abroad, it reflects a growing and justified fear that their rights, families, and futures are under threat. At a time when physical and even online spaces that offer LGBTQ+ people connection and comfort are under attack, gatherings like this offer empowerment, community, and a renewed sense of control in an increasingly uncertain world."
What Happens Next
While most proposed 2025 LGBTQ+ legislation has not yet passed, some has and others are expected to continue advancing to Abbott's desk.
"Unless anti-LGBTQ+ legislation slows, we expect this conversation to become even more common," Gardner said. "Attendees and the broader LGBTQ+ community should pair that resilience with caution: as more people make major life decisions like relocation, protecting your personal data and digital footprints must remain a critical part of staying safe."
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