Help Me Relocate for Safety, Health, and Community
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Hi! I'm Alex Clements, and I'm raising funds to move from Knoxville, TN to Champaign, IL. This move is essential for my safety, mental and physical health, and the well-being of one of my most cherished loved ones.
Why I’m Moving
As a transgender person living in Tennessee, my basic rights and access to care are severely limited. Tennessee has become an increasingly hostile place for LGBTQ+ individuals, especially trans people. For example, Tennessee currently:
- Offers very limited access to gender-affirming care. In Knoxville, Planned Parenthood is the only provider that offers HRT without a prior referral. The number of providers who can assist with transgender HRT has decreased in Knoxville in recent years instead of increasing. Many of our local providers feel pressure from the current administration to not provide hormonal treatment or risk losing federal and state funding. Surgical care often requires traveling multiple hours out of state — something that isn’t always financially or logistically possible.
- Has no statewide protections against discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation in employment, housing, or public accommodations.
- Has passed several novel laws, such as the "business bathroom sign law," which attempted to mandate private businesses to post a warning sign if they allow transgender people to use their restrooms.
- Continues to introduce and pass legislation that targets trans people and queer youth, making it clear that the future here is unsafe and uncertain for people like me and for my family in the future. Trans youth in Tennessee are prohibited from seeking any form of medical healthcare intervention, including puberty blockers and hormonal treatment. Curriculum censorship bills ban age-appropriate discussions of gender or sexuality, and school staff are mandated to report to guardians if a child tells them in confidence that they are transgender, putting them further at risk. Tennessee has passed the most anti-LGBTQ+ laws of any state in the country — many of which target youth.
While I do not currently have kids, I one day dream of raising a family, and doing that in Tennessee — where LGBTQ+ parents face legal vulnerability and where queer kids are directly targeted by discriminatory policies — feels terrifying and unsustainable.
❤️ Why Champaign, IL?
Champaign, Illinois, is one of the most affordable cities in one of the most LGBTQIA+-inclusive states in the U.S. Illinois provides the following benefits for me, as a trans individual:
- Offers better access to trans healthcare, including more providers for HRT and affirming medical care.
- Has strong anti-discrimination protections for gender identity and sexual orientation in housing, employment, and public services.
- Allows full legal recognition of gender identity, including updated documentation (like driver’s licenses and birth certificates) without unnecessary barriers.
- Has a more supportive and safe social environment for LGBTQ+ individuals and families.
Beyond that, one of my closest friends — who is chronically ill — lives in Champaign. Being closer to them would allow me to assist with daily needs, doctor visits, and provide consistent emotional and physical support. They’ve helped keep me going during some of the hardest times in my life, and I want to be able to give back in a meaningful way.
What Your Support Will Cover:
Your contributions will help me cover:
- Moving expenses (truck rental, gas, food/lodging during the move)
- First month's rent and security deposit
- Support to help myself and my three kitties for medication, food, and other living expenses during the transition
- Basic furniture and household essentials (primarily setting up a home office for remote work)
- Emergency fund
I’m working hard to save and plan, but I can’t do this alone. This move will quite literally be life-changing — not only for me, but for one of my closest friends. Any additional money that is raised outside of what is needed exclusively for moving will be allocated between helping my friend cover medical bills and/or towards a future top surgery fund.
Final Thoughts:
I want to build a safe, stable life in a place where I can breathe, grow, and help someone I love. Every dollar and every share of this campaign gets me closer to that future.
Thank you so much for reading, supporting, and caring. If you can't donate, sharing this campaign means the world to me.
With all my heart,
Alex Clements
Organizer
Alex Clements
Organizer
Maryville, TN