Help Renu Breathe a Little Easier!

Our friend and queer fam gem, Hari Vajaijay AKA DJ Supershonek AKA Renu needs our help! After an extensive hoop jumping process, and a very long wait, Renu has finally secured a chest masculinization surgery date for April 27, 2021. This surgery is an important step in feeling less constricted by dysmorphia and also, literally, by the physical pain and effort that is involved in chest binding. Renu will finally be able to catch their breath and that means everything. It is also why we are reaching out today.


Although Renu hates the idea of talking about themselves, how they show up for community, how we are all better because of their generosity, love, and spirit, I (Maggie) am really fine with saying the thing.

Renu is one of those community workhorses who shows up with humility and humour. As happy to be behind the scenes as they are to be front and center. They are a community activist and healthcare worker living and loving in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Whether you know them as SuperShonek Djing for QPOC or Synonym, as Hari Vijayjay – your over the top drag uncle/performer/organizer of the Gender Play Cabaret, as Santa or some other random gay icon for Synonym Art Consultation, as one of the founding librarians of Invisible Ink – the queer BIPOC library pop-up, or as the thoughtful and kind on-line presence that they are, Renu is a steady and welcoming queer uncle in our community. They are always up for a little homosexual fun- a chat, helping with a chore you need doing, dressing up, dancing, dog-walking. And they always, ALWAYS, have piles of candy squirrelled away in their pockets for a night out!

Renu wears their caring watchful paramedic hat everywhere they go, making sure folks are safe and well. They are always ready to intervene and save our lives on the dance floor at a moment’s notice, or to make sure folks get home safe. They show up for us all the time, and even when we aren’t aware of them taking care of us, they most definitely are. I have seen them, eyes on the crowd, making sure that we are ok, and I know that if anyone is injured or in distress, or just needs a friendly glance that they will be there. Cause it is deeply who they are.


So, if you have ever laughed at one of their stories, or felt drawn in by how much they love their mama, If you have ever been gifted a starburst or handful of skittles at club 200 when you need a little bit of sweetness, if you have ever watched them love the people in their life or the community they adore, if you have ever re-posted their words, or watched Hari be the gender bending South Asian uncle of your dreams, then now is your chance to help make their life a little bit easier.

This surgery, like for many Trans and Non-Binary folks, is literally life building. It is a chance to move in the world feeling more at ease than ever before. It is everything to them. And so it is everything to us. While the surgery is covered by MB Health (AS IT SHOULD BE), there are still a ton of expenses to tend to. Renu’s sick leave from their full-time gig doesn’t come close to covering the cost of being out of work for 6 weeks or the added expense of pet care during this time.

As many of you know, Renu is the human to two very big, very active dogs – Storm and Betty who require lots of hands-on care. Storm and Betty need to spend 6 weeks at their doggy babysitter while Renu recovers. Other, less pricey options are not available because of Betty’s high separation anxiety – the dogs need to be together and with someone they know so that Renu can recover knowing they are as happy and safe as they can be.

 If you have the cash to spare or could even just repost and share this with your folks we would be super grateful. Literally anything helps. As a drag performer Hari knows those toonies and loonies add up, so tip away!

 Renu only needs enough to cover living and pet costs during this time so any extra cash that we raise here will be placed into a fund to assist other folks who are trying to keep up while recovering from similar surgeries. We know this is life changing for so many Queer and Trans people and we want to be able to pay our community generosity forward!

 So tip, donate, and share! Let’s see what Renu will do with the extra breath that comes from an affirming surgery like this one. I bet it will be incredible.