Hi everyone! I'm Lee Mandelo, a gay trans writer, scholar, and editor whose work you might recognize from books like Summer Sons, The Woods All Black, Feed Them Silence, and Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity. For most of my life I've lived in and around Kentucky, but as for many trans and-or queer people in this country, that's become increasingly fraught and difficult to sustain over the last few years.

Relatedly, since I finished my doctorate in 2025 I've been struggling with the job market—also a familiar story right now, I'm sure—and with affording healthcare. I've had more and more trouble maintaining access to HRT through an ACA plan here, given the passage of laws restricting care access and the knock-on effects on insurance companies, as well as seeing my regular doctors and physical therapist for chronic pain.

So, ultimately, I made the decision move to Chicago this summer for a hopefully-improved quality of life. On the positive side: I've got tons of friends both here and there who are supportive of the move! And as of last week, I've been able to lock down a good apartment in a neighborhood I like. I'm all set to go—but while friends and fam are helping in all the ways they can, the expenses sure do add up quickly for an interstate move. (Especially one where I'm paying rent on two places simultaneously for the next month!)

I'm aiming to move in late July and am hoping to fundraise enough to cover the practical cost of the move itself: renting the truck, packing materials and boxes for my stuff, paying movers on either end, and paying for return travel tickets for the beloved friends who are volunteering to drive the truck while I drive my car. That would be covered by our minimum goal, set around $3000! Having this bit covered would make a huge difference to me, and to this whole "start a new queer life in the big city" project I'm tackling.

If the fundraiser exceeds that amount, any extra will go toward covering the other costs accrued so far:

(1) staying in Chicago for 5 days at a rental to view properties and sign a lease (already complete – apartment secured!)

(2) paying the security deposit and fees (done!)

(3) paying the dual-rent between my Louisville and Chicago apartments in July

(4) treating the buddy staying behind to clean my previous apartment to a thank-you gift

(5) starting a new ACA insurance plan in Chicago w/ a reset deductible

Job-seeking as a trans person over the last couple years has been a rough experience, which is definitely part of the reason I'm moving to Chicago. I'm currently working a half-time data entry job while starting on the next novel, so being able to complete the move without adding quite as much extra debt would be an amazing, deep relief.

I appreciate everyone's help in donating, sharing, and simply wishing me a lucky move. We're Chicago-bound for real now, ahhh!

Thanks as always –

Lee