I read the article, and the comments here. I am struggling quite a bit in articulating what is going on in my head. I will try, with hopefully some modicum of success.

Let's start with how you ended your comment:

>Just keep in mind that much of America seems unappealing or unfriendly to people who are not from here for legitimate reasons.

It is ironic you say that because I was thinking about something very similar while reading the piece, but with the opposite sentiment. As hard as it may be to believe, the US is fairly homogenous. The language is the same, and the accents don't vary a lot, when you compare with a number of countries out there. The values are so similar that the differences really stand out, and we spend all our time focusing on the differences. Within the US, I have lived in the big city, in a rural area, in a very liberal area and a very conservative area, and the differences in values have impacted my life very minimally (as in I have not had to actively adjust anything in my lifestyle to fit in).

From an outsider's perspective, the US is very uniform given it's size and population.

Now look at it from a perspective of a foreigner who moves to the US - regardless of whether it was via the university system, H-1B, visa lottery, etc. Many of the issues you, other commenters, and the article mention, are simply dwarfed by all the other differences they have to put up with.

And yet, by and large, immigrants are more successful in the US than the local populace. The issues they face are more. Many of them do not have cash and struggle a lot initially.

I do not think the problem lies in network effects, politics, weather, etc (although I will grant sexual orientation/gender identity probably is a big factor). The problem seems to be in attitudes and expectations. I'm guessing immigrants have the mentality of "we'll have problems, and we will seek solutions" (honestly don't know - never asked them). Whereas much of the article and sentiment I see here is "We'll have problems, let's not even try". Or "I don't want to move. It just won't be the same there" (well of course!)

Forget immigrants. Look at the history of the US. People 50 years ago moved as well, with no better certainty than today's climate. Yes, the culture of the new city will be somewhat different. Yes it may not be as walkable. Yes you'll have to develop a new support network. None of this is new.

People do not realize they may get something positive out of the new culture. I remember when I was in a small university town in the Midwest, my colleague was from California and he was really depressed about it (not the university, but the town). He would talk about how boring it was, etc. It was trivial for me to list a rather large number of interesting/fun things that were available to him that he had not even tried (most within his interests). The notion that he had a boring life was purely internal.

>Weather is a huge factor.

I mean, of all the things. You're willing to risk not having a roof over your head because you want nice weather? Do you not see how this sounds to others?

This really sounds a lot like "I found a place that is heaven, and I do not want to leave". And a lot of "Moving is hard. Someone should make it easier for me before I move."

Sorry - really do not aim to be judgmental.