Hey everyone.

We're Sue and Amanda Cross. We're American citizens, and we're pretty sure that if you're reading this, you already understand what's happening and why we're scared.

We never got as far as asking for X-gender markers on our passports, but we are LGBT+ and we are not okay.

Friends who did get X markers had their passports refused, cancelled, and/or shredded before being sent home like a ripped up puzzle in an envelope.

Friends who are pacifists are now applying for gun licenses in order to protect themselves.

Some folk suggested we move (back) to a blue state. But if a certain executive order is signed later this month that's been in talks already, then the POTUS is going to be allowed to use our military troops domestically, now that ICE is admitting mistakes were made and that they kidnapped people who were citizens/here legally/had no reason for arrest.

Wiping out Trans/Womb-carriers/nonwhite rights is already happening system-wide. And being declared a "Safe City" like Boston doesn't matter if you're abducted from the airport and disappeared off US soil, never to be seen again.

It's happening. And it's only going to get worse. And we're petrified.

All that to say: we're trying to escape.

Italian descent laws changed on March 27th, rendering Amanda incapable of applying for citizenship via bloodline, and failing that option our best bet currently is that we qualify for Canadian permanent residency.

Such endeavors are expensive.

When we first moved to Pennsylvania two years ago, Sue went from being the victim of ageism in trying to find work as a graphic designer, to accepting a position as an auto-parts delivery driver for Auto Zone, and wound up missing work for back/neck/body pain from the strain of suddenly so physical a job. We're still paying off those medical bills from physical therapy, and we were without dual income for months while she recovered and couldn't work.

Similarly, Amanda was in the hospital with a staph infection in January of this year, and we are still paying off those medical bills. She also has a part time job on top of her full time job where she cleans a bank 3 nights a week after it closes. At some point she missed the memo where that part time job wasn't taking out taxes for her every paycheck, beginning when she got the job last year... so we also owe quite a bit of money on that score.

Times are very tight, but they're also more and more horrifying with every passing day.

Which is why this fundraiser exists.

We know some folk would prefer not to use this platform, because fees or some such other personal hang-ups, and we respect that. There's also Venmo, or CashApp, or Paypal, or just a plain ol' check in the mail.

If you're seeing this, odds are you know how to reach us to ask for any of those other means of contact if you don't already have them. If not, and you've stumbled upon our fundraiser and have actually read this far.... please feel free to reach out. Someone will get back to you with how to send.

Anything helps.

Like the old Japanese proverb goes:

How do you move a mountain?

One stone at a time.

This is our five-year wedding anniversary. We were hoping to be able to celebrate it in the house we bought together in Pennsylvania. Now the bar is so low that we'd consider ourselves lucky if we get to celebrate it without fearing what's lurking around every corner.