I'm Johanna, a trans woman currently stuck in south Texas seeking to move towards safety in Pittsburgh near some close friends. As many of you know, a legislative assault on trans rights in Texas has made life far more difficult for many of us, a fact that's only made my difficult situation all the harder.

In 2020, I left my hometown to stay with friends in the Dallas/Fort Worth area so that I could comfortably come out and transition in a safer place, finally beginning HRT in 2022. However, once I'd finally started hormones, my parents began pressuring me to return home. My father made use of my mother’s declining physical and mental health, insisting that I come to care for her. Alongside this, he made promises to help me start college (solely if I moved), and help with renting an apartment while I hunted for a job to support myself. After several months of this I finally caved, leaving my job and moving back on December 28th.

Since I've been home, it has become clear that everything used to draw me back was exaggeration and lies. My father never had the financial ability to help as promised, leaving me trapped at home with my mother, trying to help care for her when I'm in no condition to do so. Throughout my stay, they have both pressured me to slow or outright halt my transition- particularly my father who has regularly gone on transphobic rants which I've been made to endure for the sake of survival.

Unfortunately, I am financially dependent on my dad right now, surviving off a small allowance for groceries for my mom and I, with anything extra coming from selling my things or art commissions. Due to how small my hometown is, job openings are few and far between. The drive towards the city where there may be openings has also proven to be both too expensive and too dangerous to comfortably make every day. With my savings having been burnt through for the sake of bills early in, I have little to no financial ability to leave again by myself.

With your help, I'd be able to afford a U-Haul to move my things, make the drive up, and cover additional costs along the way. It is my hope to finally get somewhere safe where I can be around the people that care about me and live life as myself.

Thank you so much for anything you can give. <3