Dear family,


This feels vulnerable and big and like something I should have done months ago, but here I am with just 6 weeks until my Visa in Australia ends. I need your help.


The day after I graduated university I left England at the tender age of 22 and eventually settled in Aotearoa, New Zealand. I lived in Pōneke (Wellington) for four whole years. Lockdown became a blessing that kept me still long enough to rediscover who I was. I stopped drinking and started to connect to my body, face my past and get curious about my queerness.


I met so many inspiring and wonderful people who supported me and became like family. I created a life where I could dance, nourish my body, work full time as a photographer and even start a business with my best friend Lucy.

I then moved to Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) where my Sister joined me. In the summer of 2023 I completed 100 hour Somatic Dance training and went on to start Auckland Somatic Dance Collective, holding monthly deep, intentional, sober dance spaces.


Life felt perfect.


Unfortunately the immigration gods were not in my favour and my application for permanent residency got declined because I was paid just under the threshold. I took my chances and even after appealing the decision, it was time to find a new home.


I’m thankful that I now get to see that decision as a blessing.


I wasn’t sure where to go. I visited Melbourne and Sydney to look at my options but the city wasn’t feeling right. One night, feeling a bit disheartened by my options, I decided to look to ChatGPT for support

‘Hey where in Australia has somatic dance, trees, beach, burlesque, nourishing food’


The response was somewhere I’d never heard of before


‘The town of Mullumbimby would be perfect for you’


So I booked my ticket.


I landed on Bundjalung Country with just my suitcase, my camera and a mound of grief in my heart. Luckily the people I met took me in like I was one of their own. I continued to dance my way into Mullum life while slinging coffees at the cutest little coffee shop and I really got to know the locals. Small town life was blissful, but I had a deep desire to explore more of my queerness and knew that Sydney was the place for me.

I left yet another family and put a call out to community to see if anyone knew of a home I could join in Sydney. After a phone call and the trust of our mutual friends, Paisley and I decided to move in together.


I remember my first days in Sydney. Paisley took me under their wing and I met their business partner El at a Queer clothes swap. That was the beginning of the El & I’s love story. I’ll leave the to your imagination but I’ve never felt so loved, supported and cared for.


El and I now live together in a beautiful queer share house with Art, Paisley and Nyx (not forgetting the dogs Acacia and Olly). I’m nourishing my connections, performing, working at a community organisation and facilitating children’s art therapy workshops. (El is even teaching me to drive)!


After moving around so much in my life I can finally say I’ve found the place I want to spend the rest of my life.

I’m applying for a partnership visa with El. Staying in this incredible country and calling Australia home feels like a dream come true and it’s something I can’t do on my own.


A lot of you know I work really hard and that money I work for goes into fuelling my life, paying my medical bills (which last month cost $900) and living in a very nourishing way so that I can manage my chronic health issues. I’m very blessed and grateful for the way my life is set up.


I need $17,000 to give myself the best chance of being able to stay, including the cost of the visa and the support of a lawyer.


I know it feels like a lot but I truly believe that if every person I’ve connected with since leaving the UK when I was 22 gave a small amount I would make the total.


If we’ve ever had a conversation, shared a smile, had a heart to heart, danced together, if you’ve felt something from what I’ve shared online, came to my workshop, witnessed me perform, got something from my art or felt inspired please send me whatever you can so I can continue sharing my magic with the community I’ve made here.


Ways you can support me:


❤️ Buy a t-shirt (coming soon)

❤️ Donate to my page, donate $10 or more to go into the raffle (prizes announced soon)

❤️ In Sydney? Come to my fundraising event… (SAVE THE DATE SUNDAY 11TH October - ticket link coming soon)

❤️ Can’t donate? Share this with your friends and group chats with this message:

Hey friends! Lexi is raising funds to help cover the cost of their partnership visa and stay in Australia with their partner, El. This fundraiser will help them keep building the life they’ve created together. If you can donate or share, every bit of support helps. ❤️


Thank you for your support, for every person I’ve met on my journey and for this beautiful life.