Kathrine Frich
Daniel Geduld, 47, left the United States on the day of Donald Trump’s second inauguration,
Daniel Geduld, 47, left the United States on the day of Donald Trump’s second inauguration,
A Turn For The Better
He was driven by fear for his daughter’s future in what he described as a “divisive and hostile” political climate.
He relocated to Middlesbrough, UK, where life has taken a dramatic turn for the better.
For Geduld and his teenage daughter Vi, who is gay and autistic, the decision was rooted in a growing sense of danger back home.
“The more I see in the news, the more risky it seems,” he told TeessideLive.
Fear and Intolerance Drove Them Out
Geduld was living in Indiana, a deeply conservative state where Trumpism remains dominant.
He said it wasn’t just about politics, it was about everyday safety and dignity, especially for LGBTQ+ youth.
“There’s a lot of fear about schools for people like Vi,” he explained, referring to the growing push to restrict rights and erase protections for queer and neurodiverse students. “It is very worrying.”
The atmosphere, he added, made him question whether Vi would be safe at all if they stayed.
“It Felt Familiar”
Daniel drew a chilling parallel between his decision to flee and a chapter from his own family’s past.
In 1936, his grandmother made the daring move to rescue his Jewish great-grandmother from Nazi Germany.
That history weighed heavily as he watched the political situation in the US deteriorate.
“We know how this can go,” he suggested, noting that rising hate rhetoric and legislative attacks on minorities felt eerily familiar.
Where £39k Buys You a Future
Thanks to his dual citizenship through his English father, Geduld was able to legally relocate to the UK.
The family settled in Middlesbrough, where housing is far more affordable. “We’re in walking distance of the town centre,” he said, calling the change refreshing after years of living in fear.
With homes on the market for as little as £39,000, the move provided not just safety but stability.
The UK Has Been Life-Changing
Back in Indiana, Vi spent most of her time isolated in her room, having faced bullying and exclusion.
Since arriving in Middlesbrough, she’s made friends and begun opening up socially in ways her father hadn’t seen in years.
“She’s come out of her shell,” Geduld shared. “She’s going out and being active, which she never did before.”
The contrast in social acceptance, he said, has been nothing short of transformational.
“We Don’t Know How Our Friends Will Get Out”
Even after resettling, Geduld says he’s still haunted by the fate of friends they left behind, especially trans youth and LGBTQ+ families trapped in increasingly hostile US states.
“We have no idea what’s going to happen to them,” he said. “It’s terrifying.”
The family’s story may be one of escape, but for many others, escape isn’t an option.
A New Chapter, With Just One Complaint
Despite the political upheaval and life-changing relocation, Geduld has largely embraced his new home.
“I really like it here,” he said, noting that even with the culture shift, local residents have been welcoming.
His only minor gripe? “The Transporter Bridge is closed right now.”
For a man who left his country for the sake of his daughter’s safety, it’s a complaint that suggests life feels normal again.