Hiya! My name’s Lish and I’m on the journey of a lifetime.

Navigating top surgery is complicated - deciding between surgeons, choosing locations, sorting tests, all before the surgery itself. All of that on-top of saving to fund for the procedure. The general price for surgery abroad is 5k. This doesn’t include transport to the location I choose, lodgings for myself and my companion, or the time out of work it will take to heal on government sick pay (which wouldn’t even cover a council tax bill).

I’ve always felt at odds with who I am. Not good enough at being a girl, but never wanting to be one of the boys either. I had no idea who I was until I watched an episode of Drag Race UK season 3, featuring Bimini Bon Boulash and Ginny Lemon discussing their gender. For the first time I saw who I was and who I could be. Neither a boy nor a girl.

I’ve come a long way since first identifying as non-binary in 2021, but I’m still a fair way from who I want to be. Gender-affirming care is a supportive range of medical, psychological, and social services that help transgender and non-binary individuals align their lives and bodies with their gender identity. Unfortunately, there aren’t many of these services across the UK, and certainly not on the NHS (unless I want top surgery in my mid 70s by the time the waitlist gets to me).

I’m fortunate to be surrounded by love and support and people that want to see me flourish. There is no shortage of this, however I do ask that anyone with a penny to spare considers donating to my community fundraising request. I hope to hold a fundraising event this year to celebrate Transness, community and the distance I have come since resenting myself. I’m glad to feel hope, and every donation boosts that feeling tenfolds.

Thank you already, and thank you in advance.