My name is Hollie Emilia Willow. I chose this name to represent my own femininity, the natural beauty of the moon and the world around us, and for the initials: H.E.W., invoking both the hue of a rainbow, and the verb "to hew" as in to cut down, because that is what I have done my entire life - cut down systems of injustice.

I am a 29 year old mentally disabled, chronically traumatized, and unwaveringly outspoken transgender woman. I turned 18 in 2014, while living in the American state of Texas which has since become the most dangerous place in this country for my community. I have been an activist for as long as I remember - from theatrical activism around consent, healthy relationships, and anti-bullying throughout middle and high school, to grassroots organizing against the violent far-right/alt-right and MAGA movements, to ongoing protests against ICE's attacks on my neighbors, racist police violence, systemic oppression, and any injustices I am made aware of.

Unfortunately, however, this has taken what is perhaps too great a toll on me. I have accrued extreme PTSD from sexual violence at the hands of Homeland Security (following anti-ICE protests way back in 2018) as well as in interpersonal contexts. This has been compounded by witnessing and being subjected to a great deal of police and counter-protestor brutality. I have fought my hardest through all of this because I know two things: I am brave even to a fault, and I cannot turn away from doing what is right.

Finally, I recently became a survivor of domestic violence once again, and in the ensuing fallout have lost my core friend group and support system as well as two thirds of my working hours as a professional caregiver. As a further result, I now struggle to keep up with providing care for my remaining client as my PTSD symptoms have regressed to the worst in several years.

I would never dream of taking back the work I've done, but I simply can't continue like this. My adult life to date has been consumed by this work, I live in abject poverty, and can barely keep myself housed. I was homeless during most of 2018, and am desperate not to end up on the streets again.

There is hope, however - my parents are currently living in New Zealand temporarily - a peaceful, remote country that is known for being exceedingly safe for the LGBTQ+ community, including trans people. At this point, the prospect of leaving the USA for New Zealand has become my only lifeline.

This is my greatest chance at finding peace and being able to finally rest and heal. I am currently scraping by to afford rent, and can barely save for travel expenses. I aim to get a Working Holiday Visa, which will allow me to enter New Zealand and find work without a prior job offer letter from a New Zealand company. I am both a skilled programmer and experienced caregiver, so once I have arrived, I will be able to secure work and I am able to stay with my parents in Auckland in the meantime.

My goal is to move in May 2026, if possible, as this is the off-season for travel to New Zealand and therefore when plane tickets are the most affordable. I am raising funds on GoFundMe to cover the costs of passport and visa fees, air travel, and general moving expenses including the $2400 NZD (approx., $1500 USD) in funds I am required by local immigration law to possess upon entry to the country.

My checklist of necessary steps is as follows:

• [ ] TSA Pre-check Certification to circumvent widely documented discrimination surrounding 3D scanners and trans bodies ~80 USD

• [ ] Second Birth Certificate Copy (if possible) ~75 USD

• [ ] Passport/Visa-style photo ~35 USD

• [ ] Passport (probably most difficult) ~180 USD, and potential legal assistance due to ongoing trans passport discrimination in US State Department

• [ ] Plane ticket ~500 USD for April-May pricing

• [ ] Proof of sustainment funds: 2400 NZD = ~1500 USD OR sponsor (parents, pending verification of their visa stipulations)

• [ ] Proof of money for return ticket ~500 USD

• [ ] Cushion money for various govt fees ~$200+ USD

• [ ] Tourist Visa application ~300 USD (6-9 months) and then Working Holiday VISA ~500 USD (following 12 months)

• [ ] Then, Permanent Resident through Green List Tier 1 Employer or Longterm Resident through another employer (indefinite)

In total, this comes out to an estimated need of approximately $3870 USD, or $6430 NZD. Every donation, no matter how small, helps to achieve this goal, and will have my endless gratitude. This is my only chance to get out of a future of abject poverty, inadequate psychiatric and mental health treatment, and ongoing re-traumatization from systemic oppression in the USA.

I have never before asked for recognition, admiration, or anything else in return for my organizing work. I have never made a cent in grassroots movements, nor held any elected office or other position of power. This lifeline is all I will ever ask of The People. I need to retire from this work for the foreseeable future if I'm ever to recover any steam.

Any excess funds will be redistributed to assist anti-ICE Rapid Response and Legal Assistance teams throughout my currently-local city of Seattle following my arrival in New Zealand.

Finally hopeful,

Hollie Emilia Willow

She/Her