Support Kanautica's Journey to Gender-Affirming Care

A message from Kanautica Zayre-Brown: Please help me obtain the gender-affirming care I have been fighting for!

Hi, my name is Kanautica Promises Zayre-Brown. People often say I’m a breath of fresh air - happy, bubbly, and rooting for everyone to win. Even before we talk, I’m probably already cheering you on.

But right now, I need your help.

After years of fighting for the care I deserve, I’m finally moving forward with gender-affirming surgery. I have a vulvoplasty consultation scheduled for May 19, 2025, a procedure that is essential to my healing, my mental health, and my sense of self. I was denied this care for over seven years while incarcerated, and the effects of that denial still ripple through every part of my life.

While I’m overjoyed to be taking this step, I’m facing steep financial barriers. My insurance will not cover gender-affirming surgery. UNC has provided some assistance for copays, but I’ll still be responsible for the majority of the medical costs including anesthesia, hospital stays, post-op recovery, and more. Based on early estimates, I’m looking at a minimum of $26,000, and potentially up to $150,000 for care and recovery. I’ll update this page as I learn more.

Your donation will go directly toward these costs and help me access the care I’ve waited nearly a decade for.

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Why This Matters

This surgery is critical to my health, well-being, and sense of wholeness. It’s the care I should have received long ago. As a trans woman, especially one who has experienced incarceration, I’ve faced system after system that tried to deny my existence. But I’ve never stopped fighting - for myself, and for others like me.

In fact, through my legal case, Kanautica Zayre-Brown v. NCDPS, I fought for the rights of trans people across North Carolina to receive medically necessary gender-affirming care. With the support of the ACLU of North Carolina, ACLU National, and Patterson Harkavy, we challenged the Department of Adult Correction's refusal to evaluate my surgery request fairly. In 2024, a federal judge ruled that the state's process was unconstitutional and violated my Eighth Amendment rights. While I was released before the state fulfilled its obligations, never having received the surgery, I helped set a precedent that will open doors for countless others. That impact will last far beyond me.

I’m now working to launch my nonprofit, House of Kanautica, to support formerly incarcerated trans folks with safe housing, affirming care, and critical reentry resources. I believe in building systems rooted in dignity, compassion, and joy. That’s what I want for my community. And that’s what I’m fighting for now, for myself. While I am committed to creating long-term change through House of Kanautica, this GoFundMe is solely to help cover the costs of my gender-affirming surgery and recovery.

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How You Can Help

• Donate what you can. Every dollar helps.

• Share my GoFundMe Campaign. Amplifying my story means more people see it and can step up.

• Follow my journey @ FB: K PROMISES ZAYRE – IG: K_PROMISESZAYRE – SNAP: KPROMISESS - I’ll post updates here as I learn more and move through each step. I’d love to keep you with me.

Thank you for being part of this chapter in my life. Thank you for believing in me. I look forward to my opportunity to give back. I am a passionate advocate, a lifelong learner, and someone deeply committed to public service. Let’s build a world where everyone gets to feel whole.

With gratitude,

Kanautica