Raven's Transition Support Fund
Donation protected
Hello, I'm Raven!
I am a 36 year old transgender woman from Seattle seeking help to cover the costs of transitioning, which include medication, surgery, and therapy. Though the pandemic has left me unemployed for nearly two years, it has provided the unique opportunity to focus on self-discovery and acceptance. Now I am living as my authentic self and have started a new journey in life as Raven!
Like many people my age, I was raised in a society that unfortunately impressed on me being transgender was wrong, weird, and immoral. I have always felt like I was stuck in a male body, and from a young age would close my eyes and wish when I opened them I would see the body of a woman. However, the world around me insisted I needed to look and act like my assigned birth gender. I was bullied for feminine behavior, holding my arms the wrong way, my clothing style, or liking "girly" things. The pressures of society and wanting to be accepted beat me down and I spent the next several decades of my life trying to fit those expectations, even though I knew in my heart I was supposed to be one of the girls. As a result, I spent the last few decades rarely caring about health, my appearance, or my body, and repressing a gender dysphoria I didn't allow myself to recognize at the time. I wasn't who I felt like inside, and felt I was doomed to this existence in this body... or so I had thought.
I was able to break through decades of repression, denial, and internalized transphobia to finally accept I am the woman I have always been! I found the direction I struggled to see before, and it has renewed my sense of purpose in life. Truly, it has been the most liberating experience of my existence! This self acceptance, however, has come at the cost of recognizing the gender dysphoria I've repressed all this time. Fortunately there are many ways I can address this.
Gender dysphoria manifests itself in several ways for me. The biggest source of dysphoria has been body hair, particularly on my face. If you know me, you know I've always had some sort of facial hair since I was old enough to grow it as my body happens to be *really good* at growing facial hair, much to my detriment. Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis are a common safe treatments that can permanently remove unwanted hair, it can takes years of repeated treatments and is not cheap or covered by insurance. However for me it is a necessity, and a good portion of funds raised will be to cover these costs.
I also immediately began seeing a therapist to work through the internal struggle I've been battling with all my life, along with depression and anxiety that came with it. This has been absolutely pivotal to my transition, and bettering my mental health so I can live happily as my authentic self. It's also a cost not covered by my insurance and a large strain on my living expenses, but absolutely necessary for me going forward. I am looking to raise enough funds to cover my therapy sessions for the next 5 years.
Another major way to address my dysphoria is with HRT (hormone replacement therapy). I have been on HRT now for 12 month, and am seeing major benefits to balancing my brain chemistry, as well as the physical changes, that have already been a huge source of euphoria! HRT, however, is something I will need to maintain for the rest of my life and will cost many thousands over my lifetime. I'm fortunate that much of the medical costs are covered by insurance, but not all. I am looking to raise enough funds to cover my medication costs for the next 5 years.
I will also be looking to undergo several surgical procedures to address gender dysphoria. These gender affirming procedures will directly address major sources of dysphoria, and while they will be significant changes, also changes which are necessary for me to move forward living as my authentic self. Costs right now are estimated as final costs will be determined by several undetermined factors at this time, and i will adjust totals appropriately when they're known. However, I will need to have funds available at the time of booking these procedures in order to proceed. I would like to set aside $10,000 for these costs.
*Updated 11/17/2021
Your donations will go towards providing relief for these transition costs as follows:
$5,000 - Hair Removal treatments
$10,000 - Estimated out-of-pocket costs for gender affirming surgeries
$10,000 - 5 years of HRT expenses; medication & medical appointments
$15,000 - 5 Years of therapy focusing on transgender mental health
Any additional funds beyond my stated goal will be donated to the Trevor Project, an organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people.
I am endlessly thankful for any support you can provide. Even the smallest contribution will help keep me on my feet and on track to live a fulfilling life as my authentic self.
Thank you so much for your love and support!
-Raven
I am a 36 year old transgender woman from Seattle seeking help to cover the costs of transitioning, which include medication, surgery, and therapy. Though the pandemic has left me unemployed for nearly two years, it has provided the unique opportunity to focus on self-discovery and acceptance. Now I am living as my authentic self and have started a new journey in life as Raven!
Like many people my age, I was raised in a society that unfortunately impressed on me being transgender was wrong, weird, and immoral. I have always felt like I was stuck in a male body, and from a young age would close my eyes and wish when I opened them I would see the body of a woman. However, the world around me insisted I needed to look and act like my assigned birth gender. I was bullied for feminine behavior, holding my arms the wrong way, my clothing style, or liking "girly" things. The pressures of society and wanting to be accepted beat me down and I spent the next several decades of my life trying to fit those expectations, even though I knew in my heart I was supposed to be one of the girls. As a result, I spent the last few decades rarely caring about health, my appearance, or my body, and repressing a gender dysphoria I didn't allow myself to recognize at the time. I wasn't who I felt like inside, and felt I was doomed to this existence in this body... or so I had thought.
I was able to break through decades of repression, denial, and internalized transphobia to finally accept I am the woman I have always been! I found the direction I struggled to see before, and it has renewed my sense of purpose in life. Truly, it has been the most liberating experience of my existence! This self acceptance, however, has come at the cost of recognizing the gender dysphoria I've repressed all this time. Fortunately there are many ways I can address this.
Gender dysphoria manifests itself in several ways for me. The biggest source of dysphoria has been body hair, particularly on my face. If you know me, you know I've always had some sort of facial hair since I was old enough to grow it as my body happens to be *really good* at growing facial hair, much to my detriment. Laser Hair Removal and Electrolysis are a common safe treatments that can permanently remove unwanted hair, it can takes years of repeated treatments and is not cheap or covered by insurance. However for me it is a necessity, and a good portion of funds raised will be to cover these costs.
I also immediately began seeing a therapist to work through the internal struggle I've been battling with all my life, along with depression and anxiety that came with it. This has been absolutely pivotal to my transition, and bettering my mental health so I can live happily as my authentic self. It's also a cost not covered by my insurance and a large strain on my living expenses, but absolutely necessary for me going forward. I am looking to raise enough funds to cover my therapy sessions for the next 5 years.
Another major way to address my dysphoria is with HRT (hormone replacement therapy). I have been on HRT now for 12 month, and am seeing major benefits to balancing my brain chemistry, as well as the physical changes, that have already been a huge source of euphoria! HRT, however, is something I will need to maintain for the rest of my life and will cost many thousands over my lifetime. I'm fortunate that much of the medical costs are covered by insurance, but not all. I am looking to raise enough funds to cover my medication costs for the next 5 years.
I will also be looking to undergo several surgical procedures to address gender dysphoria. These gender affirming procedures will directly address major sources of dysphoria, and while they will be significant changes, also changes which are necessary for me to move forward living as my authentic self. Costs right now are estimated as final costs will be determined by several undetermined factors at this time, and i will adjust totals appropriately when they're known. However, I will need to have funds available at the time of booking these procedures in order to proceed. I would like to set aside $10,000 for these costs.
*Updated 11/17/2021
Your donations will go towards providing relief for these transition costs as follows:
$5,000 - Hair Removal treatments
$10,000 - Estimated out-of-pocket costs for gender affirming surgeries
$10,000 - 5 years of HRT expenses; medication & medical appointments
$15,000 - 5 Years of therapy focusing on transgender mental health
Any additional funds beyond my stated goal will be donated to the Trevor Project, an organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people.
I am endlessly thankful for any support you can provide. Even the smallest contribution will help keep me on my feet and on track to live a fulfilling life as my authentic self.
Thank you so much for your love and support!
-Raven
Organizer
Raven Faulkner
Organizer
Kenmore, WA