Donate to Julien's Top Surgery Fund

Hello hello thank youuu for your eyes and hearts on this fundraiser! I am creating this for my partner, fierce friend and most magical human Julien, who is receiving their long-awaited gender affirming top surgery on September 2nd. Excitement is building to finally step into the body that feels aligned with who they are at their core.

Julien's job as a repair tech at ReclaimItPDX is labor intensive, and after surgery they will be unable to perform their physical duties for 6 weeks at minimum, so I am creating this fundraiser primarily for the purpose of covering their expenses and remediating work income loss during this time.

During their recovery, Julien plans to gaze inward and work on their creative practice (bringing life to a cohort of puppets and dolls using clay and mixed media).

We are so grateful to have a very sweet friend family and care team to aid in the healing process.

In Julien's words:

When I first heard about transness I was a queer teenager growing up in Iowa, doing my best to camouflage my differences from my classmates. Trans issues were binary: “a man trapped in a woman’s body ” didn’t feel quite right. But something was still wrong.

I went through a growth spurt in my late teens and have felt uncomfortable in my body ever since. My clothes didn’t fit right, I could no longer run like I’d used to, and my body attracted unwanted attention. Even with short hair I was treated like someone else. I longed to be seen for the person I really was.

I came out as gay when I got to college. Opening my heart to real love was liberating , but my dysphoria wasn’t about my sexuality, it was about my identity. I realized what I am is a secret third thing: a genderqueer alien who delights in people thinking I might be a boy from a distance.

I am getting top surgery because I’m ready to spend the rest of my life in a body I recognize, a trans body as fluid and versatile as I feel on the inside. Im ready for a body I can run naked in, for the first time in years.

My plan was to save money and get top surgery in a quiet, private way this winter. However that “big beautiful bill” is making waves I can’t ignore. I called my surgeon and asked to accelerate my timeline. So I’m getting surgery very soon, while it’s still covered by insurance.

A month from now , I’ll wake up from anesthesia with the body I’ve always dreamed of having. But I can’t recover comfortably without your support. So I ask you humbly, please share whatever you can, even if that’s just making a house call or phone call or sharing my post with your community.

I truly couldn't do this without the support of my beloved partner Robin, a trans magician in their own right. Your assistance will help them as well as me. These big moments do take a village! Thank you so, so much for reading. I’m very grateful :)

-Julien

COST BREAKDOWN:

Post Operational Care ($500)

Rent for 2 months ($1300)

General cost of living for 2 months (miscellaneous expenses such as utilities and groceries) ($1,200)

Thank you so very much for offering what you can, friends, family, and maybe even some kind-hearted strangers! <3