My name is Jamison and I’m a 22 year old transgender man from Maine. If you’re unfamiliar with the term transgender, it simply means I was assigned as female at birth but have always known in my heart that I am male.

After years of being closeted, out, and then closeted once again due to small town bigotry, abuse, and closed mindedness, I’m finally able to be out and live as my authentic self. The amount of relief that has overcome me due to this sense of freedom is astounding. I feel myself growing closer and closer to who I feel like I truly am inside and it’s indescribably liberating. I’ve already been able to begin testosterone, changed my legal name, and have even been approved by my insurance for top surgery! As soon as I can come up with the appropriate funds, I’ll be able to be put on a waitlist that typically is no longer than two months out.

To those of you who are unaware what top surgery exactly is, in short, it’s a surgery to remove breast and reconstruct the chest. As a trans individual with dysphoria, this surgery is crucial to my mental health. 

Although my insurance is covering most of the surgery, a small portion isn’t going to be covered, as nipple reconstruction under my current insurance is considered “cosmetic”. Healing from top surgery is a process which can take up to eight weeks, which means I’ll be forced to take a leave from work. As a minimum wage worker, I live paycheck to paycheck. These funds would help me reach my transition goals. Even if you can only share this fundraiser, I would appreciate the help beyond belief. Thank you all so much!