My name is Jules, I’m a trans woman painter and former sex worker living and working in Brooklyn. This summer I finally gained access to insurance that will cover facial feminisation surgery, which I'll be getting at NYU Langone on August 18th. I've been trying to access this surgery for over a decade, and it's my hope that it will go a long way towards alleviating the dysphoria I've carried with me my entire life and make existing in a world openly hostile to trans women both safer and easier.

I am extremely lucky that my insurance covers the whole cost of the procedure itself, but like most trans women, I live paycheque to paycheque and lack the savings necessary to cover lost income and recovery expenses.

My current employment as an amp tech is contract-based, which means I don't get paid time off and only make money when I'm physically in the shop getting work done. My work involves hauling heavy equipment and working on live electrical circuits which requires intense concentration and mental stamina to maintain my own safety and that of others—it's not the sort of thing I can resume immediately after major surgery. I expect to be unable to work for at least three and possibly four weeks following surgery, which means that I will lose somewhere between $3000 and $4000 in income.

In addition to finding a way to pay rent and utilities while I'm laid up, I'll need money to cover recovery-specific expenses like cleaning supplies, recovery-appropriate food, sanitary products and transport to and from post-op appointments.

Those of you who know me personally know that there is literally nothing in this world I hate more than asking for help—I would rather pull my own teeth than be a burden to my loved ones and my community. I'm only reaching out now because I have no other choice.

I want you to know that I'm grateful to all of you—this community has saved my life and the lives of those I love more times than I can count, and I hope I can continue giving back to all of you and show you even a fraction of the care and kindness you've shown me.

I love you all.

xo Jules