Love on Top (Trans surgery)

I am a Baltimore City Public School teacher and I love my students, my school community, and my city.  I am also a transgender man in need of gender affirming surgery that my employer has denied me the coverage for.

My insurance provider would pay for my surgery; however, Baltimore City Public Schools specifically opted out of coverage for anything transgender related. BCPS refuses to cover gender confirming surgery, despite the fact that the exclusion on transgender care has been lifted for all other Baltimore City employees: https://www.metroweekly.com/2018/08/transgender-surgery-exclusions/ (and for all surrounding  Baltimore County school districts).
Free State Justice has been fighting on my behalf against this, but it is up to BCPS to overturn this decision. Free State Justice will continue to fight for the sake of future BCPS transgender employees. In the meantime, I am unable to pay for my surgery (scheduled for April 15th) in full on my own. 

I did NOT want to reach out and ask people for help, and I did NOT want to have to put myself out there with this extremely personal information. However, I recognize that I, and other Trans BCPS employees, need help to get the medically necessary treatments that we have been repeatedly denied. After months of fighting with no change, I had to swallow my pride and admit that I will not be able to have this necessary surgery without asking for help. 

My friend had the idea to raise some money by throwing a party for anyone who is able to come support: https://www.facebook.com/events/299918737339547/ , which has turned into making this Go Fund Me page.  I have been floored and overwhelmed by the generosity from people who have reached out to me and asked me how they can offer support.  There are not words to properly express how grateful I am for any amount to chip in toward this total cost.  The amount I put here is my total cost of the surgery, but I owe ~$9,700 (half of the hospital fee + the full doctor's fees) prior to surgery day, and can do a payment plan for the rest of the cost.  I am grateful for anything that could be contributed to what I need to pay on surgery day so that I can get the surgery I need.