Surgery for Dorian, a Black Disabled Trans Person
Top Surgery for Dorian, a Black Trans Person who is Disabled from Police Brutality
We are raising funds for Dorian Taylor to get the care they need after their gender-affirming surgery.
Dorian is a disability justice activist, an adaptive athlete, a paralegal, a student, and a dear friend to many. In 2011, Dorian was assaulted by a white OHSU Police officer without provocation. With his knee on Dorian’s spine, the medical campus cop put them into a chokehold and tased them in the spine. Nerve damage began immediately and within 8 months they had lost the ability to walk or stand; Dorian would later be diagnosed with an incomplete paralysis of the spine at T8.
Instead of pursuing top surgery in 2012, Dorian was adapting to a completely different life. Now, after years of getting denied for top surgery because they are a wheelchair user and are dependent on their upper body, Dorian has finally found a physician willing to work with them as long as a sufficient post-surgery care support program is in place. This surgery is a necessity for their mental, emotional and physical health; it will alleviate complications that have worsened as a result of binding over many years.
The surgery appointment is expected to be in late July or early August and Dorian will need 24-hour care for three full weeks and 12 to 16-hour care for at least another month so that they can return to school in the fall to work on their degree in Law & Policy. Dorian has a state-provided personal care assistant who will be working extra hours during this period. The bulk of the funds raised are to pay for an additional personal care assistant to make sure that Dorian has enough assistance during this critical period.
Thank you so much for your support of this amazing human! Please share this link widely and donate as much as you’re able.
For a breakdown of the budget please see below.
Money for Recovery
Personal Care Assistant $5,000
Food for Anti-Inflammatory Diet for 3-4 months $1,000
Equipment/Materials: $500
-Transfer Board $100
-Rehab Trainer Machine $100
-Spirometer breathing machine $25
-Grabber Tools $50
-Cleaning Supplies $125
-Miscellaneous $100
Any equipment not needed after recovery will be donated to the spinal injury care community.
Total = $6,500
Dorian is also seeking donations for herbal medicine. Please contact if you are able to donate.
Hand Cycle
In addition to the above, we are also raising funds for Dorian to get a hand-powered cycle. This would be a critical piece of exercise equipment aiding in their recovery, as going to the gym during the pandemic is out of the question.
In their own words, “I’d be on this all the time. I live less than a mile from Tacoma’s Forest Park.” Dorian attends the Wydaho Rendezvous Adaptive Sports Camp every year in order to use one of these hand cycles.
Any amount raised over $6,500 will go towards this purchase. The hand cycle is $7,000 total and remaining funds will come from the adaptive sports community or via monthly payments made by Dorian. Any funds over the $13,500 will go towards improving Dorian's quality of life.
Here’s a link to photos of and information about the cycle
Black Lives Matter
Black Trans Lives Matter
Black Disabled Lives Matter
Black Trans Disabled Lives Matter
Dorian's Life Matters
