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It’s me, BilduEnjoyer, long time lurker. I’m trans-masc and fled America for the Basque Country (Euskara) last month. I made it! AMA (hexbear.net)
submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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Pictured: ACAB at a public, well maintained, outdoor gym.

I’m a long time Hexbear lurker. I came here as a lib from r/chapotraphouse and now I’m a lib who has read some theory. Thanks y’all!

I am Basque diaspora and trans masc. I had been planning to move to Euskadi (Basque Country) years ago, but with the rise of fascism in the states and the risk of being disappeared for being trans and openly anti-fascist I decided that I had to flee the country ASAP. I used all my savings, help from family, and a fundraiser to escape. I am extraordinarily lucky and beyond grateful to my found family and other loved ones. I hope to pay it forward.

I’m now living in a punk apartment in the middle of Bilbao, a historically anti-fascist region of Spain and a former victim of Franco’s reign of terror during the Spanish Civil War. The bones and memories of the Basque Partisans who fought and died for a better future are ever present.

A few facts about the Bilbao:

  • Bilbao has a massive community center called “Azkuna Zentroa”

https://www.azkunazentroa.eus/es/

The center contains:

  • A massive “climate refugee” space with heating in the winter and cooling in the summer for everyone to use, for free, as needed. Inside this space there is also clean bathrooms (nicest in the city imo) and an exhibition hall.

  • A library featuring DVD’s, media editing centers, reserve study sections, a floor dedicated to comics, and a residency hall for international comic artists. There are books in Basque, Spanish, various other languages.

  • A movie theater featuring independent films, locally made cinema, and more popular films for families. Tickets are about $5.50 on Tuesdays.

  • For an additional cost there is access to a really nice, low light, gym and a pool. People with disabilities are accommodated with their own specialized locker rooms. Gym classes are free with membership.

————

The old part of Bilbao is over 700 years old and is full of Basque punks. There is fierce support of Palestine with actions performed every week. The center of the old town is dominated by CNT: Confederación Nacional del Trabajo, more information can be found here (Sorry it’s Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confederaci%C3%B3n_Nacional_del_Trabajo

CNT has been setting up “Free Sectors of Bilbao” and emancipating abandoned churches and buildings for use as housing for the homeless. I have seen these projects throughout the city, this org puts the work in and has been active for over 100 years.

I could go on but there is so much I want to blab about. Euskadi isn’t perfect, but it is an oasis in Western Europe.

AMA and I will try to answer what I can.

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[-] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

I can’t speak on the economy too much except that I know that it’s better than the rest of Spain, with a lower unemployment rate and higher pay overall. They make a lot of effort to provide government jobs, but it’s still a struggle. The housing prices have gotten out of control because it’s so nice here. Steps are being taken to create socialized housing (there isn’t much anywhere in Spain) and the local government is good about communicating with the locals about what’s needed and where, and buildings are in the process of being made.

I will have to do more research on the Basque and EU relations in order to deep dive into that. I know that they have been (along with the rest of Spain) putting out a fig leaf for China and I’m really hoping they BRIC up lol.

As a non-Basque it can be difficult to immigrate (but not impossible!) because the best prices/locations are from the locals who speak Basque. If you make an effort to learn some of the language it will open a lot of doors and I learned that if I improve my basque I will get discounts at bars and shops. They really, really want people to keep the language alive.

As for being a trans person here: I’m pretty far along in my transition so I don’t get clocked as trans. I did let my language school know and they were supportive. It’s supportive overall and it’s very left leaning here. I’ve seen openly trans people out and about and there were no problems. Bilbao has both a summer and winter pride, with winter pride being more hot-chocolate and churros based lol. There is a trans-medical program that is provided by the government and provides care for every step of the transition, per the patient’s needs. I have yet to try it, I am hoping to get hormone implants through this service.

There is a big pagan, “witch” culture and, fun fact, Basque is a gender neutral language. AFAIK gender is only used in the context of “male” or “female” shaped bodies in the context of medicine.

this post was submitted on 12 Apr 2025
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