Update! I am so close to meeting my goal and am overjoyed and overwhelmed with the support I've received over the last two days. I'm feeling really held by my community near and far and that alone is huge.

I'd like to leverage the momentum on my fundraiser to add on a stretch goal for a friend of mine in need.

From the gofundme page supporting her: Phoebe is a Black trans woman and a gifted chef and is excited about starting her own food business once she can access reliable transportation. The fundraising goal is $7,000 to find her a reliable vehicle that she can use for years to come, and any additional funds raised will go toward securing housing and setting her up for success in her career. There is more to her gofundme and I suggest reading here. Ideally additional donations go directly to her page, but they can go through mine to get to her - see below.

$1500 of the $7000 goal has been met for Phoebe, so I'm adding $5000 for her as my stretch goal and adjusting until hers is met. Anything beyond the original $9030 in this gofundme will be sent to her with receipts available for those who would like, please comment as such with your donation if that's the case.

Original post: Hi everyone! My name is Emma, I’m a working class writer and naturalist, and I’m trying to raise funds to be able to afford finishing electrolysis, and for a gender affirming surgery I have scheduled this fall. A little over two years ago, I made the life-saving and affirming decision to start HRT, and more recently started the process of permanent facial hair removal. My only regret is that I didn’t know I needed this critical care earlier in life. So far, I’ve mostly been able to self-fund my transition costs (avg~$375/month) but I have nothing left to save for surgery. I recently and unexpectedly lost the healthcare provided by my employer, and the marketplace options I now have won't work for the surgeon I've chosen.

After over a year of serious consideration, I’m sure that getting this care will be a similarly liberating experience. There are infinite ways for transition to look, and this is the particular care I need to feel home in my body. My main barrier to this care is financial, as I have no savable income beyond my expenses, despite working a full and part time job. The surgery and electrolysis costs of the type and degree that I’m seeking are broken down below. I am not revealing the specifics of these surgeries beyond what you see below for my own privacy, however, if you are trans and curious for your own transition care needs, I am happy to answer personal messages about my experiences seeking this care.

Bottom surgery: $4000

Remaining Electrolysis: $3000 (~20 sessions)

Anticipated lost income during out-of-work recovery time: $1280

Travel, follow-up, and recovery care costs: $750

Total trans care costs: $9030

Stretch goal for Phoebe: $5000

Asking for help has historically been hard for me, but the vulnerability of leaning into my communities when I need to feels really good and liberating. In this time, when trans people are being attacked in every imaginable way, including having our access routes to care blocked off one-by-one, pursuing the care I need feels like a radical act, and I appreciate any help I can get.

Please consider donating and sharing this widely, no amount is too small.