Help Me Fund My Top Surgery & Recovery

All I want for Christmas next year is to be able to prance on the beach, shirtless, feeling fully like myself.

Will you help me reach this state of euphoria?

I’m raising $15,000 to cover the costs of top surgery and the time off work required for post-operative recovery. This surgery is not cosmetic for me, it is life-affirming, necessary, and deeply connected to my wellbeing, safety, and ability to exist comfortably in my body.

A little about me:

I am a youth mental health educator working in the community and mental health sector, and I’m recognised as a youth advocate as well as a community leader here in Canberra. My work centres young people navigating mental health, identity, and belonging. I give back where and when I can, creating safer spaces and helping young people feel seen, supported, and powerful.

You might also know me as a certified menace to society: on and off stage.

A joyful disruptor. A gender menace. A community nuisance with a microphone, lashes, and something to say.

I am a trans drag king performer known as Ravi Oli. Through drag and cultural performance, I push boundaries, educate, and create visibility for trans and gender-diverse people. Performing is joy, resistance, and storytelling but right now, it comes at a cost.

I am a trans man, and this is my identity. And while being on testosterone for almost two years has helped me achieve so much of what I need to feel aligned, it still feels like one thing is missing… (or more accurately, two things need to go).

Currently, I tape my chest to perform, which has caused ongoing skin damage, pain, and increased dysphoria. Binders no longer work for me, and the physical discomfort impacts both my mental health and my ability to perform safely. Top surgery will allow me to exist, work, and perform without harm, and finally feel like ME, on stage and off.

My surgeon will be Dr Phillip Rome, and the surgery will take place in Canberra. Having surgery close to home means I’ll be able to access community and family support throughout recovery, which is essential for my healing, safety, and wellbeing during this time off work.

Your support will help cover:

Surgical and medical expenses

Post-operative care and supplies

Time off work during recovery - about 4-6 weeks off

Every donation, no matter the size, helps me move closer to living freely, performing safely, and existing in a body that feels like home.

If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this fundraiser.

Sharing is powerful, accessible, and genuinely helps get this in front of the people who can support. Thank you for reading, sharing, donating, and backing a trans menace on their journey toward joy, healing, and euphoria.