Relief Fund for Disabled North African Queer

UPDATE: we're finally moving in late January! This has been a very tiresome journey but it's almost over. I'm grateful to everyone who helped make the initial goal happen and I'm asking for a little more help.

I won't have a job the second I enter the US so I need some assistance with living expenses such as rent and groceries for the first month or two until I have a steady income. Anything you can help with would be greatly appreciated!

Hello everyone, 

 

I'm a chronically ill, queer, non-binary Jewish person living in the Middle East (no, I do not live in Israel but I will not disclose the exact country for safety reasons).

 

 

The reason I want to relocate is safety, first and foremost. The Middle East is a dangerous place for queer people and being outed could be a death sentence; there are no resources for queer people here and violence against us is not often punished. I'd like to live in a place where I could be safe and know that I would not be hurt due to my gender or sexuality. I also have family in the US and a much better support system, whereas my mom and I alone here in MENA and I have better employment prospects in the US and access to better healthcare.

 

 

Despite being chronically ill (I have a chronic pain, autoimmune condition that affects my mobility and has caused severe heart & lung complications), I work full time, but unfortunately my salary only covers rent and basic necessities, leaving my treatment up in the air depending on my ability to work a second (or sometimes third) job, this led to the accumalation of nearly 1.5k of medical debt and I can no longer afford my medication due to salary cuts and the loss of my tutoring job because of COVID-19.

 

 

I have been trying to leave the country for some time but my financial resources don't allow it. The donations from this fund would be used to pay off my medical debt, overdue rent, buy my medication as well as plane tickets for me and my mom.

 

 

I understand that times are difficult for everyone but I'm hoping that the kindness and strength of our community will help me. If you don't feel comfortable donating through GFM or you're incapable of doing so, I have a Paypal .