Hi everyone :) my name Max, my pronouns are they/he, and I am a 23-year-old transmasc person who is trying to save up for top surgery. I came out as queer at 16 years old, which took a couple months for my parents to adjust but slowly they began to understand the pain I was going through since I was a kid. However, my journey of exploring my gender identity at began at 19 and led to a lot of disagreements with my parents. I didn't come out as non-binary/transmasc until 21-years-old, I had some really rough times from 2021-2023, because I felt so disconnected from the person my parents have seen me as since birth, and longing to be the person I felt I had always been. At the time, my parents didn't understand the magnitude of my distress and dread of my dysphoria, which was affecting my mental health more than anything I had ever experienced.

Coming out as transmasc has been a push and pull, full of breakdowns, crying, questioning, disagreements, reflection, acknowledgement, and acceptance. While my parents are still processing my gender identity and learning to use my pronouns, they have come a long way over the past two years and I am so thankful for their continuous love and support. I have had so many friends who made me feel safe and confident changing my pronouns, choosing my name, wearing my first binder and TransTape. I feel more comfortable and confident wearing what makes me feel like me. While I have been going to therapy and meeting with my psychiatrist, and most of all contemplating saving up, I know in my heart that having top surgery will reduce my dysphoria immensely.

I'm currently working two part-time jobs and trying to save as much as I can because my insurance unfortunately doesn't cover it :(

While it feels like an out-of-reach goal, I have hope that one day I will be able to afford top surgery. If anyone is willing to help donate for my top surgery, it would truly mean the world to me & anything helps! To my parents, my girlfriend, and friends, thank you so much for loving me for who I am and for giving me the courage to be true to myself.

With love,

Max c: