Black Trans Survival

My name is Lucas Charlie Rose , I am a black trans hip hop artist who also happens to be the work / life / love partner of another black trans hip hop artist: King Giselle .


King Giselle is a black trans femcee, originally from Tennessee who has been known to empower folks from all different paths of life. She has made countless sacrifices for her community - as black trans women often do - and has never failed to show up for those in need.

Including me. Not only is Giselle an incredibly talented artist, she is one of the most genuine souls I have ever met. Ever since she stepped into my life she has helped me grow so much as an artist but also as a man. She has been by my side through the stress, the panic attacks, the tears without flinching, always reminding me that we were going to make it through.

After her recording equipment was stolen in October 2016, Giselle found herself unable to keep working on her first EP - which I was producing from a distance and we arranged for her to come to Montreal, QC to work on it. 
She stayed the whole month of January, giving some volunteer performances for the non-profit label I founded - Trans Trenderz - while we were working on her debut EP.


Before she left, we combined our savings and invested in another round trip ticket for the month of March. The EP wasn't done and we both knew that we were going to need each other now more than ever. Both of us are isolated from our communities and most times, all we got is each other.


On February 27th, at 10pm, Giselle landed in Montreal, QC. She was taken into the immigration office by the Canadian border patrol who told her that she wasn't allowed in Canada due to her criminal record and deported her back to New York City - far from where she usually stays - without any money.

Now, here is the story behing this criminal record: In 2009, Giselle , a black trans woman, was physically assaulted by her abusive partner, a cis white man. She had to defend herself. When the police got to the scene, they took her abuser's story and he pressed charges.
The charge she ended up with is an assault charge without bodily harm. After reaching out to lawyers we concluded that she was to be allowed in Canada 5 years after said charge. It's been 8 years.

All of the folks we have reached to so far have agreed that this is a clear racist and transphobic discrimination case.

Because we were unable to get the plane tickets refunded, we lost all of our savings and haven't been able to finish Giselle's EP, which is detrimental to start her career and find her paid bookings.

Giselle is currently without an income, unable to get a job to make ends meet, homeless and since I cannot do much to help without any funding, I am asking for your help.


With this GoFundMe we are hoping to raise enough money to help Giselle survive the month of March (food + basic neccessities), for the US tour we had planned in April / to finish her EP and for the legal council we are receiving to help us get Giselle back in Montreal before this summer, where we are planning the biggest show of our careers - that we cannot yet tell you much about just yet...



This is the break down for the money we are raising:
- 400$ for food + basic necessities so that Giselle can survive the month of March while crashing at different folks's places.

- 2400$ for legal council that includes the 400$ fees for the forms we will have to fill up plus 2000$ in lawyer fees.

- 3500$ for our April tour which includes 1500$ in transportation; 900$ for food (15$/day/person), 1100$ for lodging.

- 630$ to cover GoFundMe's 10% tax.



It is our job to show up for black trans women who are alive. Especially since this year is already looking like it will be the deadliest for them.

Giselle has invested so much into a community that she barely has access to. I want to show her that all of her efforts and sacrifices haven't been ignored and that this community she has given so much to will show up for her.

I cannot begin to explain how thankful I am for the love and support we have been shown lately.
This is what Giselle has to say about it:



If you cannot donate there are other ways to help:

- Share this GoFundMe campaign with folks who are financially capable of donating.

- Reach out to event planners in your area and ask them to book King Giselle & the Trans Trenderz.

- Reach out to media outlets and tell them about King Giselle's work and why she needs our support.

- Show Giselle some support by sending love to her facebook page: King Giselle

Thank you again so much <3