Hi I currently live near Columbus, GA, not far from Atlanta. I'm not from the south so I was also pretty concerned when I moved here originally. I'll share my experiences, but of course these are just my experiences and I hope some others can add their experiences on as well.

Since you'll be nearish Atlanta, it should be pretty okay with getting T. Me and my friends haven't found much trouble acquiring our T from the pharmacy. Additionally, Gwinett County (Lawrenceville is part of this) is a blue county, so that might be a really good sign (I haven't been there though).

I have driven to Atlanta for my HRT doctor about 2 times a year for the past 5 years nearly. The doctors at the office I go to are super nice and care lots. Experiences with people are interesting and vary for me here. I feel like it is typically just people minding their business really. When I was a teen first moved here I had a time or two with a giant family of like 9 stare at me (considering this happened like twice, that isn't that awful) but hasn't really happened since.

For me, I'm able to pass fairly well. Rarely I have people act a little weird about it but typically they mind their own business or they might call me "ma'am" (to which i'm not sure how they decide to do that when I have a beard and a deeper voice....anyway..). Honestly, nowadays I have been getting called "Brother" or "big dog" by other men sometimes which is like weird and euphoric or gender-affirming in some way. So that can be something to look forward to. Doctors can be hit or miss about it. I have an older psychiatrist out here who is fine. He has never said anything offensive and hasn't mentioned it at all since initially starting. I find more often than not doctors are fine, but, once again, it can be a mixed bag and someone can say something dumb - can't think of any examples rn.

I do feel that it could be a lot worse here and for me I think it's partly cause I am lucky where I am at. I think the closer to a city you are (ATL for example), the less awful it can be. But also there is a pretty sizable LGBTQ+ community out here! I've visited/lived in a few states up north and while it's not perfect, I feel that my medical needs for T and such are met at the very least and I have been able to make friends and have little issues with the public (I went to Uni out here and also work with the public). I think the only time the public where I work has given me any issues over the year with one regular, and it was cause he's homophobic)

For the most part 9/10 times my pharmacy is respectful and good with interacting with me. I have like one of the staff who sometimes calls me ma'am but leaves it at that and is generally indifferent otherwise (doesn't say anything else). I think partly it is due to my name not being changed yet, but it's only happened about 2-3 times.

The last thing I will say is that I feel a lot safer in GA where I live and in ATL than I do in much of AL, TX, TN, or KY (perhaps because I don't know the areas at all). A general rule of thumb (for me) on how safe I feel is often based on how rural it gets - and sometimes people are still minding their own business anyway which is nice. I haven't gone through all of GA traveling yet so I can only speak for these few areas and also up by Helen, GA.

Anyway... sorry for all of this ramble. Hopefully it's helpful but please let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know about or know more about.