- J
*Updated Story*: Hi there, my name is Lyra. I am a 26-year-old white settler trans woman who was born in Dallas, Texas. I am currently living and working on unceded Coast Salish territories, also known as Vancouver, BC. I am reposting this campaign not because I enjoy asking for money (in fact I hate it; giving appropriate context feels like oversharing and relying on others goes against my independent nature), but because I don't have a ton of options right now.
A year and a half ago, shortly after I was able to change my legal name thanks to the generous donations made to this campaign (thank you!!), I lost nearly everything I owned and was temporarily homeless until admitted to the hospital due to an episode of psychosis (https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/psychosis) that coincided with a bad flare-up of my Crohn's disease. Despite losing almost everything, I somehow recovered enough to complete my Master's degree this past May and successfully apply for a three year post-graduation work permit to stay in Canada.
I am currently working as many hours as I can in the restaurant industry (although I've had to miss some work recently due to another Crohn's flare-up) and am pursuing professional jobs related to my education. My main goal for the moment is to find cheaper housing than where I am currently staying, but the challenge there is that my landlord is allowed to withhold my large security deposit for up to 15 days after I move, while I am responsible for my new deposit and rent for my new place immediately. Even a few hundred dollars would help immensely with this process.
I am still calling this campaign "Lyra's Transition Fund" because I cannot go for gender affirming surgery (which I am so fortunate to have paid for by the government of BC) without covering my living expenses first. My earlier promise of a free copy of my first album (expected late this year or early 2019) for anyone who donates is still good! And once my deposit gets back to me, I will continue to donate to QTBIPOC-led organizations such as BreakOUT! in New Orleans. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Love Always,
Lyra
A year and a half ago, shortly after I was able to change my legal name thanks to the generous donations made to this campaign (thank you!!), I lost nearly everything I owned and was temporarily homeless until admitted to the hospital due to an episode of psychosis (https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/psychosis) that coincided with a bad flare-up of my Crohn's disease. Despite losing almost everything, I somehow recovered enough to complete my Master's degree this past May and successfully apply for a three year post-graduation work permit to stay in Canada.
I am currently working as many hours as I can in the restaurant industry (although I've had to miss some work recently due to another Crohn's flare-up) and am pursuing professional jobs related to my education. My main goal for the moment is to find cheaper housing than where I am currently staying, but the challenge there is that my landlord is allowed to withhold my large security deposit for up to 15 days after I move, while I am responsible for my new deposit and rent for my new place immediately. Even a few hundred dollars would help immensely with this process.
I am still calling this campaign "Lyra's Transition Fund" because I cannot go for gender affirming surgery (which I am so fortunate to have paid for by the government of BC) without covering my living expenses first. My earlier promise of a free copy of my first album (expected late this year or early 2019) for anyone who donates is still good! And once my deposit gets back to me, I will continue to donate to QTBIPOC-led organizations such as BreakOUT! in New Orleans. Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Love Always,
Lyra