Yeah... yeah pretty much. It sucks how hard it is to leave sometimes. I don't think most people realize how controlling people are here.
Also if my comment sounds weird it's because I could say so much more about the South but decided to omit it. You summed it up perfectly.
That college degree can help you get jobs in other states. I'm also trans but it was hard to hold down jobs because of sexual harassment and people constantly trying to size me up. I've been looking at offers online for room sharing in blue states and there seems to be some good options. I just wish people would explicitly put "trans friendly" so I don't have to out myself.