Lauren’s Gender Transition Fund

Hello everybody. My name is Lauren Hersey! I am a 21 year old Transgender woman living in Sydney Australia. I am a singer/songwriter/producer and I am also a Makeup artist. I have always been creative, ever since I was young, and I have big dreams that I believe I can accomplish. one of those dreams, is to complete my Gender transition I grew up in a big family, I have 5 brothers and 1 sister. that was a bit challenging for me, as I was clumped in with the other boys of the family. However I felt like I didn't fit in as a boy, even from a very young age. I would want to play with dolls, wear dresses and steal my mums makeup, and my brothers liked things like lego, Star Wars and sports. I always knew I was different, but I wouldn't fully understand this until I was much older. Growing up going to an all boys catholic school my whole life was very challenging for me, as I felt I couldn't express myself fully. I had it drilled into my head from a young age that "I was a boy" because I went to an all boys school. however, it wasn't until I left that environment that I realised that it didn't define me; I choose what defines me. I was bullied pretty much throughout all of school for the way I walked, the way I talked, the things I liked; essentially all the things that made me, me. this left lasting mental scars which I am still dealing with today, but day by day I am making a conscious effort to be my best self. I also grew up in a catholic religious house/family/school. As I'm sure you can imagine, this came with many challenges. I was taught that who I was was wrong, and if I didn't conform to religious expectations of me, then I would go to hell and suffer forever. This to this day has implanted a feeling of self guilt. I felt like that I was made wrong or I was defective. I spent most of my childhood trying to become a version of myself that I didn't want to be. but I am slowly breaking down the walls of catholic guilt that has been build since I was very young. due to the catholic education I received, I wasn't aware that transgender people existed, or that that was an option for me. it was a very sheltered and censored community. we didn't receive sex ed, or any kind of transgender, non binary LGBTQ+ education. Which is why it is so important that schools teach about the LGBT community and their issues, Because if I had had that when I was young, I could have started living as my authentic self many many years earlier. I was experiencing gender dysphoria years before I knew what it was. I would be really insecure about my squarish figure, my genitals, and as puberty began to happen, I didn't like that I was growing all this body hair, and that my voice was getting deeper. I looked at the girls and I would relate to them so much more than any of my guy friends. I would always make friends with the girls as opposed to the boys, because I felt like I fit in with them more. I began to experiment with makeup at 13, and it was so amazing that I could change my appearance, hide the more masculine features, and accentuate the feminine features. it was the gateway that helped me discover my feminine side. however I had to hide this from my family, friends and my school. so I would always play with makeup when everybody as asleep, and from behind a locked door. I came to realise I was transgender just after I graduated from high school, and had the freedom to explore my feminine side, and express myself how I have always wanted to. It was a slow and scary process, there wasn't one specific moment when I was like "oh yep I'm definitely trans" it was a slow realisation, that involved a lot of soul searching and looking at my past. I remember being scared when I realised that I wanted to transition, because its a difficult thing to do! I remember thinking "if I do this, this is going to change my life forever" and at 18 years old, that was very scary and daunting. However I realised that living life as my most authentic self is much greater than the fear of hiding myself out of fear. I have been transitioning for a year and a half, and have been on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for over a year now! since taking estrogen, I have felt so much more comfortable in my body, and the outside is slowly starting to match how I feel on the inside.it hasn't been easy, but I believe the road less travelled is the road to take! I have come a long way from when I was younger, but I feel as if I still have a fair way to go in becoming my authentic self. this is why I need your help! Currently, there is little to no medicare coverage for anything medical for Transgender people, I believe this needs to change! For me to feel completely comfortable in my body, there are a few procedures I would like to have done gender conformation surgery (est. $20K) breast augmentation (est. 8K - 10K) facial femminisation surgery (est 20K) I have always dreamed big in life with everything I do, that's why I've set the donation goal to $20000. now I am not expecting to hit this mark, but I would like to hope I would, as transitioning is very expensive! There is no way that I would be able to fund them by myself, that is why I am creating this GoFundMe. These life changing surgeries would allow me to feel completely at home in my body, and greatly decrease the gender dysphoria I experience on a daily basis. I would like to get these surgeries done as soon as I can afford it, as money is the only thing that is stopping me at the moment. I am not asking for all of your money, I am so grateful for anything you are willing to donate, wether that's $2 or $50, every donation is welcome and appreciated. I always feel weird asking for money from anyone, but without peoples help, I don't think I would be able to go through this all alone. If you are not in a financial position to donate THAT IS OK!!! I would however greatly appreciate b it if you could share this GoFundMe, in hopes that other people would be able to donate. thank you so much for taking the time to read my story, I am grateful for any help I receive and I want to say a huge THANK YOU to anybody that donates anything. you are helping my dreams come true and helping me become the woman I was born to be hugs and kisses Lauren xoxo