Help Emma access Gender Affirming Surgery
Donation protected
Hi there!
I’m Emma. I make theatre and performance art, I am a writer and I am a trans woman.
I am seeking support in order to help me access several life changing, gender affirming surgical procedures that will enable me to live my life with less fear and dysphoria.
Over the last 8 years, I have spent a lot of my time making art that represents my experience of being a trans person in the UK and working to support other trans people here and around the world, through shows and workshops and activism. (See the work here: www.notyetarobot.co.uk )
I feel as though I have had the longest transition ever. It’s certainly been well over a decade since I first spoke out and it has been five years this month since I began taking oestrogen. I’m confident and I am happy and things are so, so much better than I ever dreamed they could be.
But whilst in many respects I am delighted with the changes my body has experienced, there are many aspects which are still profoundly upsetting and living with dysphoria is a constant battle. As many trans people in the UK know, the NHS system of support is extremely flawed and painfully slow, and whilst there have been things I have been fortunate to access, there is much that is not supported - not to mention loss of income and financial support during significant recovery periods.
I’m not going to go into the detail of which specific surgeries I am seeking (I am totally happy to speak privately about them and will respond to any direct messages, especially from trans people) but I don’t want to place a value or a judgement on the specific procedures I feel I need to do for myself.
Surgeries never felt like goals for me, but I think this was because I didn’t think I was realistically able to consider them due to the huge financial cost. But then, I didn’t think I was going to be able to do many of the things I’ve done…
But one of the procedures just got cheaper and (due to NHS delays) I actually have a window of opportunity in my schedule which means if I move quickly I can get some things done without major disruption to my work, my life and to my child.
I’m nervous but I’m confident that I will feel so much better.
I feel awkward asking for money as I understand how tight things are for many; but this just isn’t the kind of disposable income that I can generate. I’ve tried to save towards this for a few years now and it has proven impossible - I am fortunate to work in an industry I love, but financial security is not one of the rewards. I know that surgery fundraisers have worked for others so here goes… this is what we do.
Gender affirming surgeries have been described as “extraordinary acts of self-inflicted violence”. I seek to reject this idea, they are indeed extraordinary acts, but extraordinary acts of self care. extraordinary acts of love. Extraordinary acts indeed.
Thank you so much for reading,
Love Emma x
I’m Emma. I make theatre and performance art, I am a writer and I am a trans woman.
I am seeking support in order to help me access several life changing, gender affirming surgical procedures that will enable me to live my life with less fear and dysphoria.
Over the last 8 years, I have spent a lot of my time making art that represents my experience of being a trans person in the UK and working to support other trans people here and around the world, through shows and workshops and activism. (See the work here: www.notyetarobot.co.uk )
I feel as though I have had the longest transition ever. It’s certainly been well over a decade since I first spoke out and it has been five years this month since I began taking oestrogen. I’m confident and I am happy and things are so, so much better than I ever dreamed they could be.
But whilst in many respects I am delighted with the changes my body has experienced, there are many aspects which are still profoundly upsetting and living with dysphoria is a constant battle. As many trans people in the UK know, the NHS system of support is extremely flawed and painfully slow, and whilst there have been things I have been fortunate to access, there is much that is not supported - not to mention loss of income and financial support during significant recovery periods.
I’m not going to go into the detail of which specific surgeries I am seeking (I am totally happy to speak privately about them and will respond to any direct messages, especially from trans people) but I don’t want to place a value or a judgement on the specific procedures I feel I need to do for myself.
Surgeries never felt like goals for me, but I think this was because I didn’t think I was realistically able to consider them due to the huge financial cost. But then, I didn’t think I was going to be able to do many of the things I’ve done…
But one of the procedures just got cheaper and (due to NHS delays) I actually have a window of opportunity in my schedule which means if I move quickly I can get some things done without major disruption to my work, my life and to my child.
I’m nervous but I’m confident that I will feel so much better.
I feel awkward asking for money as I understand how tight things are for many; but this just isn’t the kind of disposable income that I can generate. I’ve tried to save towards this for a few years now and it has proven impossible - I am fortunate to work in an industry I love, but financial security is not one of the rewards. I know that surgery fundraisers have worked for others so here goes… this is what we do.
Gender affirming surgeries have been described as “extraordinary acts of self-inflicted violence”. I seek to reject this idea, they are indeed extraordinary acts, but extraordinary acts of self care. extraordinary acts of love. Extraordinary acts indeed.
Thank you so much for reading,
Love Emma x
Organizer
Emma Frankland
Organizer
England
