Chrissy's Transition and Transportation

Hi! 

I'm Chrissy! I'm a 23 year old trans metal worker and am looking for a bit of assistance! I began medically transitioning over a year ago and have made steps towards battling my gender dysphoria. Besides beginning HRT, I was going to weekly electrolysis sessions and began seeing amazing progress until Covid-19. I had spent about $1,500 (about 4 months worth) until quarantine began. Most of this money is now wasted as these hairs have grown back and need attention again. Electrolysis is a long and extremely painful process. A best case scenario would be about 75 hours of work to permanently remove my facial hair, so I'll need at least $7,500 to see this through. The little progress I did make had a clear positive impact on my mental health. Watching these hairs grow back over these past few months has been extremely disheartening and invalidating to say the least. 

I've been working with a wonderful, experienced and supportive electrologist in the Hudson valley. However, This commute is 70 miles south of my home and the mileage was already quickly adding up on my car. I have spent countless hours doing my own repairs to my 24 year old car, and have been able to save thousands over the years because of this, but at 260,000 miles, the engine and transmission are simply becoming too old and worn to keep up with my needs.

I'm a metal fabricator by trade and am beginning to work out of a shared studio about 40 minutes from my home. This space will be used for my day job and my freelance work. For years, It's been my dream to start my own fabrication studio. I dream of having a space set up where I'm able to work on commissions and develop a body of work and do what I love to do! I plan to someday hold workshops for other QTBIPOC folks to learn metal working along with other hard skills and share skillsets which allow folks to be self sufficient. Spaces in Hudson are extremely unaffordable and hard to come by, so traveling 30 miles north has become necessary for affordable space. I will need to cover a span of 100 miles weekly between work, home and electrolysis.

$16,000 will cover the cost of electrolysis and a new car. There are countless fundraisers out there for other BIPOC trans women seeking assistance for needs more dire than mine. It would be wrong to not acknowledge my job security and safety while asking for this help. It's extremely exhausting to be saving towards a financial goal with seemingly no end. $8,000 is only half of this electrolysis and car goal, but I would be extremely grateful for even a fraction of this amount. These numbers don't include gas, rent, medication, bills and just living a normal life. Finally not having to worry about when my car will give up will be an immense relief and frankly, a reality I've never known. Not having to worry about paying for this extremely painful and time consuming procedure will be an immense weight lifted from my shoulders. After just 1 year on HRT, I can confidently say it's made me feel the best I have ever felt. However, like my dear friend always says, progress is not linear. This is just the beginning and there's still so much to be done. I'm determined to continue the work of becoming a healed, whole and confident person to be able to pay it forward. I want to see our community thrive and it is my intention to support and share with others so that we can all grow and heal together. This support would truly be life changing. I'm grateful for any and all support! Thank you!

Venmo:@chrissy__
Cashapp: $Janet_Oar