Hi all!

I'm reaching out for some support in regards to something that has always been a massive part of my life. For as long as I can remember, basically since I was able to dress myself, I have struggled with my gender identity and expression. In 2015 I discovered the term non-binary and I finally found a word to properly describe myself, but growing up in a Catholic school, I surpressed this expression until I was 20. I'm now so close to being able to live my life comfortable in my own skin for the first time in forever, but the process is not easy and certainly not cheap. My chest has been a cause of extreme emotional distress for me since puberty. I've spent my teen and adult years embarrassed by my body, always feeling like the first thing people noticed about me was that I was technically female. Even unknowingly, my body has always signalled to people that they should treat me as the very thing I feel furthest from. It always felt more like I had an extra head or limb than it did a normal body part that belonged on my body.

For the past four years I've worn binders every day to help to flatten my chest when I go out in public. In truth, you're not supposed to wear them as often as I do, as they can cause damage to your chest, back, and lungs when worn too consistently, but I've become dependant on them and the brief gender euphoria I feel when I see that my chest is less noticable. I would do anything to have been born already in the body that I feel like I belong in and to not have to ask for financial assistance, but it's something that feels so far out of my reach that I feel like this is my only option. The process of removing this alien thing from me is going to set me back about $12k and as much as I hate asking for help, this is something I know I can't do alone.

Any little bit counts, and I would like to thank everyone who donates in advance as you're all seriously changing my life for the better and I will forever be indebted to you.