
Help save Johanni’s life
Donation protected
One of the kindest, generous, and hardworking souls I have ever met is fighting for her freedom, and life!!! My best friend Johanni Yates has been living in an unlivable situation while making her home drivable (tiny house). If you have ever had the pleasure of meeting Johanni you know that she is one of the kindest people that you could meet. She is quick to give to anyone, and has spent countless hours out in the community, and the greater world trying fight for social justice for all people. She receives transphobic comments and threats every day and it's not getting any better. It has gotten to point that I worry about her waking up alive the next day! Whenever I can’t get her on the phone I’ worried that she has been MURDERED!!! After years of saving, and major renovation she has gotten her house to the point that it's safe to live in it but she needs more professional help to get it road ready. She has been working unbelievably hard as she saves her money to pay for moving expenses and repairs. In doing so she has been able to save very little money, but has done a total rehaul of her home. She has done with all her on resources, blood, sweat, and tears over the last four years. Her tranness has led to losing most of her friends and almost all of her family. She lost her three closet friends of over a decade due exclusively to being trans. She has been ostracized, and abused by relatives both immediate, and extended alike everything from misgendering, to deadnaming, all they way to physical assault and threats of genital mutilation. I personally am scared that at any family function she will be murdered for speaking up for herself, and her autonomy. Ever since starting her transition five years ago, her tranness has been an issue with every employer she has had. She was discriminated against, and it escalated to the point that two years ago she lost her career of over decade which she loved, and thrived in! Due to losing her job she she had to stop all renovations on her tiny home, and depleted her entire life savings fighting discrimination from her employer. She ultimately was forced into homelessness, and nearly starved to death. Through her perseverance and tenacity, she was able to switch career paths but in-doing so she has taken a major paycut to not work with the general public. She still gets transphobic assaults from management due to being in such a noninclusive, rural area, due to her hyper-visibility She needs to get to a more inclusive area. The biggest obstacle is her safety, making it hard to survive. Two weeks ago someone threatened to murder her while holding a weapon! She ducked twice and was able to escape, but she might not be lucky the next time. The tension and fear of imminent death are constantly increasing. In the last couple weeks, in addition to the daily assaults, she been followed home by someone, and has been harassed daily! She is living in the middle of the woods right now, surrounded by people who have made it very clear that they are not inclusive. It is such an unsafe place that as a woman of color, I’m frightened every time I travel to her house. It is to much for anyone to deal with. It's gotten to the point that myself and loved ones are terrified that she might not survive long enough to get herself in a safe living situation, she needs your help! One of our biggest fears is the thoughts of needing to make a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses! We are desperate so we made a go fund me to cover her living expenses!!! $5,000 would cover her repairs and moving expenses but every dollar given is a dollar closer to safety! Together we can save her life! I urge your support of Queen Johanni; a bearded trans woman, a daughter, a sister, an auntie, a caregiver, a dog mom, a diva, a light, fighter of oppression and my friend. From my heart, soul and spirit,
Organizer and beneficiary
Ashley Daniels
Organizer
Duluth, MN
John Yates
Beneficiary