Chelsey Dagger's 10 Yr Anniversary Transition Fund

The short version: Chelsey is looking for funding to help contribute towards her ongoing gender transition, since it’s been 10 years since she came out! Wow! There are things she would like your help with. See below for details⬇️

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Hey loves, it’s me Chelsey.

You may know me from a whole bunch of places, maybe we’re family or old friends.

Maybe you know me from the local LGBTQIA+ community, Deer Gaze, my bands, DJing as Chelsey Dagger (I try to play your requests I promise), around the music or arts scene, or just the tall one with blue hair.

️‍⚧️This year marks 10 years since I came out as a transgender woman to those closest to me. That time has absolutely flown by! I’ve been incredibly lucky to have a lot of great support from family and friends, old and new and I’m grateful every day for my communities, small and large.

It’s also been a pretty turbulent decade as well. I’ve had several (unrelated) chronic physical and mental health issues that have interrupted my ability to work and do other activities consistently, and I feel like I haven’t made a lot of the changes or progress that I would like. I’ve had a particularly rocky past few months with my chronic fatigue syndrome. Just when I seemed to be getting back on track, I was hit with COVID again this last week.

️‍️‍Starting transition I threw myself into supporting causes and the community. I’ve been heavily involved in the LGBTQIA+ community locally, particularly around trans advocacy. I’ve volunteered innumerable times to speak, write or interview on behalf of the trans community, but have also worked hard for broader LGBTQIA+ inclusion as well as representation of all women in the music scene and I've also spoken on mental health.

I’ve been a guide for uncountable people starting their transition or questioning, coming from all sorts of backgrounds. I've also been a point of contact for their family and friends who want to know how to be the best support and allies they can be. I established Deer Gaze as a series of events for the more alternative / artsy LGBTQIA+ culture in Wollongong based off of previous events I ran for several years with my best friend Jess - Queer & Now / Pride Tide.

I’ve done a whole lot of things, and worn a whole lot of hats (literally and figuratively).

I’ve come to the realisation that I can’t - as they say - 'pour from an empty cup.’ I haven’t been properly able to invest in myself and my transition with time nor financially. I’m able to stay afloat with expenses such as HRT (hormone replacement therapy) but I haven’t been able to seek much else over the last 10 years. I still have issues with gender dysphoria and I’m finding that it often sets off or exacerbates my other conditions. I now also have an incredibly supportive girlfriend who has helped me realise that I need to focus on myself.

I’m now looking to my community to assist with helping me feel better, safer and more secure in my skin. I’m hoping that by reducing my discomfort and increasing my feelings of safety, I can better assist my communities (and even just get to work every day). I know that there are a lot of big and important things going on, and if not supporting me I sincerely encourage you to go support those other important causes.

What your contribution would be helping with:

⌛Short Term

️Voice Training

Although I am read as a woman a lot of the time, I’m often misgendered, commonly due to my voice. This has led to years of convincing strangers on the phone that I am who I say I am, to the point where I’ve lost access to some of my accounts more than a couple of times.

I’ve spent some time trying voice training through tutorial videos. I have really struggled to do it alone and I need assistance and feedback from a professional to make proper progress. This will take time and can be costly.

Laser Hair Removal

I had a couple of courses when I first started transition and they worked really well for me! I need another round as I’m growing quite a lot of facial hair stubble overnight again, but haven't been able to afford multiple sessions.

Hormone Implant

I haven’t been able to get ahead enough financially to buy another implant. These are the best option for me as they are set-and-forget, as opposed to pills, patches or gels that need to be used much more frequently (I’m naturally chaotic and forgetful).

⏳Long Term

Things that will take a lot longer and more resources

⚕️Surgeries

Although I consider myself lucky (thanks family for my genetics) and I am at peace with the way I look after all these years, there are things I have come to the realisation that I feel the need to change to feel more at home in my body.

These multiple procedures range from $6 000 to $40 000+. They are not currently subsidised any significant amount. These are of course very personal by nature, if you have any questions feel free to enquire to me directly. I am about to embark on the consultation process.

What else you can do to help

Additionally / to help with this fundraiser, I’l be running an event in January 2025 to mark 10 years since starting HRT. If you would like to contribute to this, let me know! More details to come

Thanks in advance to anyone who can give anything at all in these tough times. Let me know if you have any other ways you could assist me - please reach out. I have so many great people around me and I appreciate you all every day. Much love.

XOXO Chelsey (Dagger) Sanderson