Hey friends,

I'm reaching out because I'm at a point in my journey where I need to ask for help, and you know that's not easy for me. But you're my people, and I know you get it.

I'm having gender-affirming surgery in the coming months – including facial feminization surgery (FFS), and breast augmentation, these will finally help me see myself in the mirror the way I feel inside.

For me, this surgery is about safety, mental health, and finally being able to exist in the world without the constant anxiety of being misgendered.

I want to be real with you about why this matters so much. Research shows that gender-affirming surgeries like FFS dramatically improve mental health outcomes and significantly reduce suicide risk for trans people. For many trans people, being able to be seen and recognized as ourselves in the world isn't just about comfort – it's literally lifesaving.

Research shows that transgender women experience violent victimization at a rate of 86.1 per 1,000 people, compared to 23.7 per 1,000 for cisgender women – that's nearly four times higher. Studies have found that 46% of trans people were verbally harassed in the past year because of being transgender, and 9% were physically attacked.

The total cost is around $73,000. Medicare covers less than $1,000 of it, so pretty much all of it is out-of-pocket. You probably know the last couple of years have been difficult ones for me, with high expenses and little capability to work.

I know times are tough for everyone, and I genuinely mean it when I say that even just sharing this would mean the world. If you're able to contribute financially – whether it's $10 or a higher amount, – I'd be incredibly grateful. And if you can't, I totally understand, and your support in other ways has already meant everything to me.

Thank you for being part of my journey, in all it's myriad phases, for your kindness, and for considering helping me get to this next chapter.

With so much love,

Amy / Imago