I'm Dany Ashby, a transwoman from Atlanta, GA and I need help with several of the expensive aspects of transitioning. Insurance compaines deem these procedures "cosmetic" and do not cover them, despite the fact that they are necessary for my wellbeing as well as safetey. Aside from transitioning, I have serveral mental and physical health problems which make these costs impossible for me to cover on my own, among them Crohn's disease, clinical depression, and a deep vein thrombosis.
The primary cost is electrolysis for my facial hair, which costs $110 an hour and takes between 50 to 150 hours to clear an average beard. My skin is extremely sensitive, which prevents me from being able to shave every day, and as a result, I cannot maintain a regular passable presentation and so I very rarely leave the house. Part of this is due to fear of being harrased or assaulted for being a woman with a stubbly beard, but also because it causes tremendous dysphoria and self loathing, which saps my ability to face the outside world.
My facial hair is ginger, and so the less expensive and less painful process of laser hair removal does not work on me. Red hair does not absorb the laser beam and is unaffected by the procedure, meaning I have no option other than electrolysis. Many people have suggested waxing, sugaring, tweazing, or threading, but none of those are safe to perfom on masculine facial hair; they all cause bleeding and likely scarring. I've treid dozens of shaving products and techniques and none of them provide me with a regular, perfectly smooth face without causing horrible, burning rashes.
The facial hair was less of a problem while I was still able to be on my hormone replacement therapy, but I had to discontinue taking the estrogen because of the deep vein thrombosis, and since then, it has become much worse, thicker than it has ever been.
The secondary cost is for my legal name and gender marker change, which cost around $300. Every time I drive, on the rare occasions when I can venture outside, I am constantly filled with dread about being stopped by police and having to show them my old ID's.
Any donated funds leftover after facial electrolysis will be used for laser hair removal of my body hair. I may start a new campain for that later, but electrolysis and my ID's are much more pressing. Body hair is a significant source of self loathing and misery for me, but with my face clear, I'd at least be able to have a regualr public presentation and start to get my life back. This will mean so much to me, thank you in advance for your help.