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Hey y'all! My name is Kara Chang, and I am a transgender woman fundraising for my voice feminization surgery on September 22, 2020! I currently work full-time as a health educator where I serve homeless LGBTQ youth ages 18-24. My work is a labor of love, and while I have managed to save up for my surgery, I need your help to Raise Kara's Voice!
What does this mean to me? CW: assault, transphobia
As a transwoman who was assigned male at birth, the dissonance between my naturally baritone voice and my true gender causes me great distress. The instrument I use to communicate with the world is often also the dead giveaway that outs me as trans. I have been subject to violence while navigating public spaces upon others hearing my voice. My voice is a hindrance and a major source of my anxiety. In one instance, I was assaulted in public - paralyzed by the fear of being outed as trans and the potential further violence that could ensue if I were to cry out, I kept silent.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transwomen assists with many physical aspects of transitioning; however, it does not feminize the voice without training or surgery. Even with a year of vocal training, my voice can be inconsistent and not passable, and the pressure to sound and be perceived as my true gender is exhausting. While having a voice that passes does not define a trans person, it has always been a struggle of my identity. I often opt to not speak at all. Instead, I get by with pantomiming actions, mouthing words, or having my friends speak on my behalf. My landlord of three years is still under the impression that I do not speak. Having voice feminization surgery would help alleviate my anxieties, improve my quality of life, and most importantly, find my voice.
What is this money going towards?
Vocal feminization surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that raises a person's vocal fundamental frequency from the male range into the female range. I will have my surgery done by Dr. Kim at Yeson Voice Center in South Korea. I received a quote of around $8000 for the surgery. This includes the surgery, exams, anesthesia, and medication. I am fortunate to have my insurance cover the remainder of my gender-affirming surgeries, but my voice surgery is not covered.
After my surgery, I will be placed on voice rest for a month of total silence. Afterward, I have an additional month of minimal talking. I will be unable to work during this time and will be filing for short-term disability. Your contributions today will go towards my surgery expenses and post-op care. Any additional funds raised will help offset my daily expenses while I am on two month medical leave. I need your help raising the funds for my surgery on September 22nd!
It means a lot to me to finally be comfortable in my own body and to find my voice. There are times in our life when we need to ask for help, and for me, this is one of those times. I am immensely grateful for all of you who have supported me in my transition, and I wouldn't be the woman I am today without y'all. Thank you!
Love, Kara
Help spread the word! #RaiseKarasVoice
What does this mean to me? CW: assault, transphobia
As a transwoman who was assigned male at birth, the dissonance between my naturally baritone voice and my true gender causes me great distress. The instrument I use to communicate with the world is often also the dead giveaway that outs me as trans. I have been subject to violence while navigating public spaces upon others hearing my voice. My voice is a hindrance and a major source of my anxiety. In one instance, I was assaulted in public - paralyzed by the fear of being outed as trans and the potential further violence that could ensue if I were to cry out, I kept silent.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for transwomen assists with many physical aspects of transitioning; however, it does not feminize the voice without training or surgery. Even with a year of vocal training, my voice can be inconsistent and not passable, and the pressure to sound and be perceived as my true gender is exhausting. While having a voice that passes does not define a trans person, it has always been a struggle of my identity. I often opt to not speak at all. Instead, I get by with pantomiming actions, mouthing words, or having my friends speak on my behalf. My landlord of three years is still under the impression that I do not speak. Having voice feminization surgery would help alleviate my anxieties, improve my quality of life, and most importantly, find my voice.
What is this money going towards?
Vocal feminization surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that raises a person's vocal fundamental frequency from the male range into the female range. I will have my surgery done by Dr. Kim at Yeson Voice Center in South Korea. I received a quote of around $8000 for the surgery. This includes the surgery, exams, anesthesia, and medication. I am fortunate to have my insurance cover the remainder of my gender-affirming surgeries, but my voice surgery is not covered.
After my surgery, I will be placed on voice rest for a month of total silence. Afterward, I have an additional month of minimal talking. I will be unable to work during this time and will be filing for short-term disability. Your contributions today will go towards my surgery expenses and post-op care. Any additional funds raised will help offset my daily expenses while I am on two month medical leave. I need your help raising the funds for my surgery on September 22nd!
It means a lot to me to finally be comfortable in my own body and to find my voice. There are times in our life when we need to ask for help, and for me, this is one of those times. I am immensely grateful for all of you who have supported me in my transition, and I wouldn't be the woman I am today without y'all. Thank you!
Love, Kara
Help spread the word! #RaiseKarasVoice