My name is Alex Petrovnia, and since 2021, I have dedicated my life to trans organizing, fighting to protect trans people from the anti-trans genocide unfolding in the United States. In 2025, my organizing meant that myself and my partner, Emery, needed to flee Missouri to California and become trans internal refugees.

We have since successfully landed in California, however, the stress of becoming refugees caused me to develop fibromyalgia in addition to my other disabilities (hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and post traumatic stress disorder). My chronic pain level is too severe to work a traditional job, as my pain is very unpredictable. I work as much as I am able at odd jobs, gig work, and selling things, but it is never enough.

Emery is able to be employed full time, but our rent costs a full half of their paycheck monthly. With utilities, medical care copays, and food and medicine costs, we chronically run short of our survival expenses. It cost everything we had in savings, and maxed all our credit, to flee. We have nothing left.

We are legally married, and Emery's paycheck is very slightly too high for us to qualify for most benefits. We are unable to apply for any federal benefits due to my past organizing and this administration's policies. I am unable to work in a formal setting.

My chronic pain in my legs, in particular, is becoming debilitating, limiting my movement more and more, and making it impossible for me to function. I have used a cane for the past year, and it is no longer enough. I am URGENTLY seeking funding for a manual wheelchair to improve my mobility.

I am an organizer working hard on mutual aid, and will also send 50% of funds raised here on to others in crisis, accounting for $4,000.

We are seeking $4,000 for the following expenditures:

$500 for Overdue Medical Expenses

$500 for Overdue Administrative Expenses related to moving from out of state

$500 for Manual Wheelchair

$100 for Toiletries

$250 for Grocery Staples we cannot get at the food bank

$750 for Overdue Vet Bills

$1000 for Urgent Dental Visits (Emery and I are both experiencing regular tooth pain, and I have a history of bone infections in my molars and jaw from botched dental work in the past)

$400 for Legal Expenditures to protect me from disability abuse

Thank you so much. The only way out is through, and the only way through is together.