Hi, my name is Lena. I am 29 years old, transgender woman, and I am finally becoming the person I always knew I was.

But I also write this with great pain. My eastern european father no longer accepts me for who I am. After I came out and began my transition recently, home became a hostile place, filled with silence, rejection, and, more and more ultimatums. Last week, he told me I had to leave. There was no room for argument. Just, “Find yourself another place to live, I don't want to see you anymore you filthy (f-word).” After arguing quite a lot, he agreed to let me stay until the end of the month.

The last few days, I have felt overwhelmed, scared, and heartbroken, but also determined. I have found a small, safe place to move into. It is nothing fancy, but it is mine. A chance for a new start, to live as my true self and finally, in peace.

But I need your help for this next step.

I was working full time as a freelance artist but a year ago after getting covid that turned into a long covid, I had to stop working to slowly rebuild my health.

My insurance didn't cover most of my bills with my long covid related problems so I've used all of my savings to get better and got some debts as well, since my father stopped helping me financially when I came out. So now, I am trying to find some money so I can buy a few things for my new place.

This is a small list of my expenses for the new place:

Basic furniture like a bed, a small table, couple of chairs,...

Essentials like a small stove, dishes, and a few groceries to help me through the first few weeks as i will be receiving a small amount of aid by social services where i live, but only the month after I move out.

I'm not looking for much, just the chance to get back on my feet while I start living as my true self. Any donation, no matter how small, will go directly to helping build a home where I feel safe, loved, and free to be myself.

Why it matters

Being a woman, is not a trend or a phase. It's my truth, it is me. And like so many others in my situation, I didn't choose to be rejected by my family; I simply chose to be true to myself.

If you've ever felt invisible, unloved, or afraid to be yourself, you might recognize yourself in my story. If you believe that everyone deserves a safe place to live, I hope you'll help me create one.

Even if you can't donate, sharing this page would be such a great help.

Thanks for your time reading my story, for your support, and for supporting people like me who are trying to live as their true self without being ashamed of who they are.

Sincerely,

Lena