Hi! My name is George and I am a non-binary person from London living in Amsterdam.

I have tried and failed to write this message countless times now, but I am finally pushing through as I really need to ask for your support in getting gender affirming treatment (top surgery!) which is scheduled for Spring of this year.

If you’re anything like me, this is probably not the first time you’ve read or donated to a gofundme page raising money for gender affirming treatment. You’ll know that there is a formula to how these texts are structured and how we have to tell our stories. I can tell you now, from the perspective of the author, that it is low-key mortifying having to expose myself over something that I sincerely wish to go through quietly and privately, but we are often left with not much choice.

After years of deliberating, and almost two years on a waiting list in the Netherlands to get the surgery covered by health insurance (with another year minimum before I am likely to get an intake, plus another year on top of that until the surgery), I started looking for alternatives abroad. I swore to myself that I would not go through another summer feeling the way I did, and just my luck, because in September 2024 I was finally put in touch with Dr Gustavo Coelho in Porto, with whom I have now set a date!!

I would like to spare the details of why getting this surgery is so critical for me. I have spent many years pushing away the bad, painful feelings, putting on a cheerful face, and telling myself that feeling uncomfortable, detached, and alienated from my body was just part of the deal of life. It took a very long time to recognise what I was feeling as gender dysphoria and even more time to accept it. But now, at 33, I have decided to stop pushing it under the carpet. Life is too short to let pain and discomfort rule when solutions are possible. While a lot of the complicated and confusing feelings are now behind me, I know without a doubt that this surgery will offer the greatest relief of all and help me to feel more at home in my body.

I have set my goal to €5800 which covers the surgery and contributes to the many added costs that will go towards supporting my recovery in Portugal, where I will have to stay for approximately two weeks for post op check-ups. It would be an absolute dream to reach the full amount but even reaching two thirds would mean the world to me. I am truly grateful for any size donation, no matter how small.

I am also planning some sort of < prize / sale / market / scenario > with objects and surprises donated by myself and my gawjus friends. All to be revealed soon on my instagram ╰(⸝⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝⸝)╯╰(⸝⸝⸝´꒳`⸝⸝⸝)╯

To all my supporting family and friends—old friends, new friends, cis/enby/trans friends, part of the furniture friends, online keyboard friends, far away friends, childhood friends, high school friends, uni friends, past friends, future friends, friends who are family, family who are friends, friends of friends, work friends, sorta friends, friends who are exes, friends I speak to once a year, friends I’ve always known and loved, ETC—THANK YOU for reading and (maybe) supporting! I am so so so lucky to have such wonderful support systems around me.

big LOVE

yours faithfully… and soon going under the knife ;)

GEORGE XXX