Hello friends and kind strangers, my name is Kaylee Michelle Murphy. I am a trans woman, an organizer, and a bartender. The last few years have been incredibly difficult, marked by instability, loss, and constant barriers to basic security. Navigating medical transition alongside insurance bureaucracy has been a Herculean task on its own. At the same time, consistent work has become harder and harder to secure. I was recently laid off from a warehouse job I had held seasonally for two years after taking MLK Day and General Strike Day (January 27 and 30) off work.

In 2024, I found real community and purpose working at Kim’s in Uptown, where my coworkers and I successfully unionized and won our election. Shortly afterward, the restaurant abruptly closed. It then took months to find work again at DuNord Cocktail Room, which also closed unexpectedly later that year. After that, I found a position at a downtown wedding venue, where I was fired under dubious circumstances after speaking with coworkers about workplace issues.

Since then, it has felt nearly impossible to get hired at any restaurant in the city. Each period of unemployment has lasted longer than the last, and I am now deeply concerned about my ability to meet basic needs while continuing to search for stable and affirming employment.

I am asking for support to help me stay financially stable during this time. Any funds raised will go toward rent, food, medical expenses, and basic necessities while I look for work. I am doing this while living in a city currently occupied by ICE, which adds another layer of stress to everyday life and organizing. I have always shown up for my community, and asking for help now is not easy, but it is necessary.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting in any way you can.