Hi community,

It is very hard for me to ask for help for a variety of reasons (internalized ableism, shame, recovering from emotional & financial abuse) However, with the firm but compassionate encouragement of chosen family members (thank you Noa, Jill and Tiff), I’ve accepted that I deserve the same help that I always encourage others to ask for.

My name is Kiana, but many know me as King LOTUS BOY (kinglotusboy on all platforms ). I am a multiply disabled, trans and non-binary, Chinese-American drag king, performance artist, community worker, youth educator, and disability advocate. I've been living and working in the Bay Area for 7 years.

My physical disabilities make it impossible for me to work a full-time job or to perform full-time, as much as I wish I could. My part-time work is teaching middle school and high school youth on an academic year schedule; thus for the months of June-August I rely on my drag income (which usually doesn’t cover the bills). My disabilities make moving a much more difficult and strenuous task that would render me incapacitated for several days afterward. I am moving because I recently and unexpectedly broke up with a long-term partner, and thus I will need to replace some things that were previously shared. Here is the breakdown of expenses:

1st month’s rent: $1035

Movers Cost: $1000 (estimated)

Packing/organizing help: $500 (estimated)

New or Used Bed + frame: $800

New or Used Desk: $300

Storage unit: $135

TOTAL ASK: $3800

If I raise more than this or end up not using all the funds, I will be redistributing the money to disabled Black & Indigenous trans and 2-spirit people within the community.

I am also offering my services to anyone who is interested. I have 5 years of experience as a competitive speech and debate coach for middle and high schoolers. My students have been State and National finalists every year since 2018. I’ve also worked with college students and adults. I’ve taught creative and academic writing for 3 years, and have lots of editorial experience. I have a B.A. in Rhetoric and Public Discourse from U.C. Berkeley.

Please write in the comments or contact me if you’d like any of the following:

$75+ donation (pick one):

$100+ donation (pick one):

$150+ donation (pick one):

$200+ donation:

Any of the above OR a personalized drag performance or drag look based on the theme/song of your choice.

Thank you so much for reading. I am humbled to have the support and encouragement of so many friends and chosen family here in the Bay Area. Your support ensures that I can move in a safe, comfortable, and accessible way without compromising my ability to sustain myself (and my ESA pup, Jasper).