Hi, I’m Val, also known as Val the Brown Queen. I’m a South Asian trans woman, drag artist and actor.

When I was 15, I was kicked out of home for being queer. I’ve had no contact with my family since. I was homeless for years, navigating the world completely alone, with no safety net, no backup plan and no one to rely on but myself.

Like so many trans people, I’ve had to fight for everything. A place to live. A sense of safety. The right to be seen as who I truly am.

You might have seen me in Unicorns, a beautiful indie film that reached cinemas across the UK that now has a home on Netflix. It was my debut acting role, and it meant everything to me. I used that pay to begin my transition, but now I’ve reached a point where I can’t afford to keep going without help.

I’m fundraising to access gender-affirming care so I can move through the world with safety, dignity and ease. Right now, I often look in the mirror and don’t see the person I know I am inside. That disconnect, and the fear of standing out in a society that feels increasingly hostile, fuels constant anxiety.

All I want is to blend in. To feel at peace in my body. But for trans women, blending in takes access to care. It takes money. And the truth is, that kind of care is expensive. Without it, I’m left exposed in ways that no one should have to be.

I’ve already spent so much trying to access care privately, since NHS waitlists are years long. I recently lost access to some of that care, and now I have to pay even more just to begin again.

Your support will help cover:

• Hormone therapy

• Laser hair removal and electrolysis

• Trauma therapy and mental health support

• Gender-affirming procedures not available on the NHS

• Vital ID and document changes

This is not just a fundraiser. It is mutual aid. It is a call for community care. I’m asking the people around me, the queer and trans community, and anyone who believes in our right to exist safely, to help me carry what I can no longer carry alone.

If you can donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If not, please share this with someone who can. Every bit of support makes a difference.

With love,

Val

(she/her)