On October 2, 2025, acclaimed transgender actor Indya Moore—best known for their role as Angel Evangelista in FX’s Pose—shared an emotional and impassioned video on Instagram, declaring their intent to seek asylum from the United States. Moore described the current political climate as “fascist” and hostile to trans people, citing escalating fears over the rollback of trans rights under the Trump administration’s second term. The video, filmed in Paris, was both a cry for help and a call to action, sparking widespread attention and support from the trans and queer community worldwide, according to Scene Magazine.
Moore’s plea was as raw as it was urgent. “Seeing all of these reports that are coming out about what the federal government is trying to do to persecute trans people and put us in concentration camps, it’s really disturbing,” Moore said, their voice trembling with emotion. They went on to question, “How do you go from ‘trans people are mentally ill and they need help’ to ‘trans people are terrorists?’” as reported by Meaww and Scene Magazine. Moore’s remarks reflected a deep fear that the U.S. government is targeting trans people, a sentiment echoed by many in the LGBTQ+ community as new policies threaten to restrict trans healthcare, military service, and even basic civil liberties.
Throughout the video, Moore’s frustration and distress were palpable. They emphasized that not caring about trans people is equivalent to hating America, stating, “Not caring about trans people means you hate America.” Moore argued that trans individuals contribute to family values and society at large—a point they felt was being dangerously ignored in today’s heated political environment.
Moore’s call for international advocacy was especially poignant. “Please advocate for us,” they pleaded, urging foreign allies to offer refuge to American trans people facing persecution. “I am now trying to seek asylum from America,” Moore declared, making it clear that their concerns were not merely theoretical, but a matter of personal safety and survival.
One of the most heart-wrenching aspects of Moore’s message centered on the ongoing debates about bathroom policies. Moore expressed confusion and distress over being forced to use men’s bathrooms, despite the clear safety risks for trans women. “I am so confused about all this stuff, especially the stuff about the bathroom. If people are separated by sex for safety, then why are you going to put trans women in the men’s bathroom?” Moore asked. They continued, “Why do you want to force us to be in the men’s bathroom when you know what they’re going to do to us? Could you imagine having to share a bathroom with the average cis man?” Moore recounted being threatened with a $100,000 fine for attempting to use a women’s restroom, calling the situation “crazy” and “not right.” “Trans people are not mentally ill because we’re trans,” Moore insisted, pushing back against stigmatizing narratives.
Moore’s video also delved into the emotional toll of being a trans person in America in 2025. Through tears, they demanded recognition for their experience of womanhood and the unique challenges faced by trans women. “When is anybody going to ask me what my womanhood means?” Moore shouted. “When are you ever going to ask me what it feels like to experience what it means to be a woman in this world in 2025? To witness what men do to women.” Moore lamented, “I am treated just like a woman in this world! And the way that you people take, and take, and take, and take from us! And you treat us like s**t!” The rawness of their words underscored the urgent need for empathy, understanding, and systemic change.
Beyond policy critiques and personal anguish, Moore’s message included a pointed critique of Hollywood itself. In particular, they called out Pose creator Ryan Murphy, accusing him of abandoning the trans community after the show’s conclusion. “Ryan Murphy, we need you to do more,” Moore said, urging Murphy to address racism, violence, and pay inequality within his productions. This critique highlighted a broader frustration within marginalized communities who often feel tokenized or left behind once the spotlight fades.
The response from the trans and queer community was swift and supportive. Fellow trans icon Laverne Cox commented, “This call to action, this call to love, this call for empathy… I hear you. I feel you deeply. I’m right there too.” According to Scene Magazine, many others echoed Cox’s sentiments, expressing solidarity and a shared sense of urgency. The outpouring of support underscored the solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community and the critical importance of mutual advocacy in times of crisis.
Moore’s video also touched on the broader context of trans rights in America. The Trump administration’s second term has seen the introduction of proposed policies that could severely restrict trans healthcare, military service, and civil liberties—a rollback that many activists and legal experts have described as unprecedented. Reports of government action targeting trans people have fueled widespread anxiety, with Moore’s reference to “concentration camps” reflecting the extreme fears circulating among some members of the community. While such language is highly charged and controversial, it speaks to the depth of fear and mistrust that has taken root.
Bathroom debates, in particular, have become a flashpoint in the larger culture war over trans rights. Laws requiring individuals to use bathrooms corresponding to their sex assigned at birth have been widely criticized by civil rights groups, who argue that they endanger trans people and violate their basic dignity. Moore’s personal account of being threatened with a massive fine for using a women’s restroom brought these abstract policy debates into stark, human terms.
Moore’s insistence that “trans people are not mentally ill because we’re trans” directly challenged narratives pushed by some far-right factions, who have sought to pathologize or criminalize trans identities. By asking, “How do you go from ‘trans people need help’ to ‘trans people are terrorists?’” Moore highlighted the dangerous escalation of rhetoric and policy that has marked recent years.
As the debate over trans rights continues to rage in the U.S., Moore’s plea for asylum and international advocacy has added a new, global dimension to the conversation. Their message resonates not only with trans Americans but with allies and advocates around the world who are watching the situation unfold with concern—and, for many, with a sense of déjà vu as similar struggles play out in other countries.
In the end, Indya Moore’s emotional appeal serves as both a warning and a rallying cry—a reminder that the fight for trans rights is far from over, and that the stakes remain deeply personal for those on the front lines.
