Help Trans Latino Father Complete His Transition

King wrote a heartfelt letter to Ellen DeGenres a couple of years ago asking for help. As a trans single father of a 21 year old boy, who works a full-time night shift at LOWE’S, there was no way he could conceive of ever having enough money to afford bottom surgery. He was already weighed down by the existing debt on a care card for his top surgery.

TW (Sexual Assault):

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King always says: “Life is too short.” He became a father when he was raped by his son’s father. While the experience was highly traumatizing, he said of his son Imelio: “He is a blessing for me. He is my rock in this life and in my transition. There were times when we lived in a car. There were times when we didn’t have food.”

(Son, Imelio)

King's experiences depression and struggles with bouts of suicidality. Pained by a continuous dysphoria because he hasn’t had the resources to accomplish a full transition. “It breaks my heart when I look at myself. I was raised hispanic. I wasn’t able to talk about it. Growing up working class, experiencing racial inequity, then as a single parent with a child to pay for - there is no way for me to get ahead. You start to lose hope.”

According to The Trans Law Center: “The COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government’s failed response, and public panic all harm trans people in uniquely stressful and isolating ways. The federal government has failed to address the severity of this moment or protect those already made vulnerable by systemic discrimination and violence…”

King is proud. He doesn’t want your sympathy. He wants to share his story. He wants to build BIPOC LGBTQIA community. He wants to be a youth pastor one day and help kids like him through the power of prayer. His faith has never wavered through his adversities.

(King and his son Imelio at graduation)

His willpower is being challenged these days. As a trans person of color living in rural Texas with minimal benefits, he has almost zero access to resources. He needs your support. While cost estimates vary widely, the Philadelphia Center for Transgender Surgery estimates that "bottom surgery" costs about $24,900 for female-to-male transitions. This doesn’t include airfare, accommodations, and opportunity loss while taking time to recover. King has little family support and cannot afford to take time off for his bottom surgery.

BUDGET

$3,333 ———— Bottom Surgery Copay

$500 ———— Travel

$2,500———— Accommodations

$2,550———— Rent for three months while not working

$1,600———— Stipend to cover living expenses while in recovery

$4,517————Miscellaneous costs such as food, renters insurance, gas, car insurance, and national debt relief program.

TOTAL $15,000

Until we have universal health care that respects the needs of the trans community, we must join together to be that infrastructure. We must protect the lives of our trans siblings. We must lobby for a better and more equitable world. Although Ellen DeGenres never wrote back to King, we know you will! Every penny is a penny towards a surgery that will save King’s life.

If you have any resources or want to get in touch, please email fundraising organizer EJ Ayres through GoFundMe.

As Laverne Cox said: “It is revolutionary for any trans person to choose to be seen and visible in a world that tells us we should not exist.”

Please fund King’s Revolution. He gets bottom surgery on November 2nd. This is only possible with your help.

Thank you for your generosity.

(Left to Right: Son, Imelio with King)