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Drae's New Home & Car Support

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Hello, thank you for clicking this link. My name is Drae Upshaw and I’m hoping to save up to get OUT of Los Angeles. Below I’ll be sharing about myself, and my motives with opening this gofundme.

***i would like to remind you if you have not donated to a black trans person this week. Go do that before being concerned about me.***

I’m a 23 yr old non-binary artist born and raised in Los Angeles. They/He. Since 2017 I’ve been working non stop jobs after dropping out of college. And have been chasing my dream to become a great animator and comic book artist. In 2018 I began taking hormones and aligning my life with my heart. Which, privacy could really help me as I share a space with my family. I left school because it was too expensive in Oakland. And now I’m leaving my home in Los Angeles because it is too expensive to sustain a healthy lifestyle and try paying for rent. An 1800$ studio is not something I can step into, nor is a 900$ shared room something I want to settle for. 

In 2019, May, I began tattooing and that’s what most folks know me for. Tattooing had been a success and it was able to be my  main source of income till the pandemic hit. I put tattooing down, and my housing situation changed- a lot. Had a steady pizza job through the pandemic and it closed down. My body refuses to enter a work space like that again. My partner and family help me hold me things, but being able to find a new home has been difficult. Things take time but also, things fall apart every day while being told to wait. The time has never been better than now. As much as I love my community here, I’m not really living.  No artist residency here is gonna save me lol so it’s onward. 

This plan is the only plan that gives me hope. I’m not interested in staying in Los Angeles and seeing all my money go into housing, where I eventually crack trying to keep up. Life feels too serious right now for me. And I want to value my desires.

My goal is 5000. 2000 to put a down payment for a new home. And 3000 to secure my (first) source of transportation. Which I will use to move. I will not be touching the funds in this goal till they are reached.

With this, I can move to an affordable area or  state, and secure a spot. Where I’ll be able to do all the art work I want and build my portfolio. Just establish myself as an artist. Establish a space where my set can live. As the eldest sibling of six, with only my single mother, and a father incarcerated- with who I wish I can be supporting- the future has to be bright. I need to set myself up for success. This is a big step that I’m taking in demands of growth. I want to support my community, and be able to provide endless art and services. I know I can help myself and  others if I give myself the space.

Where do I plan to move? Currently, I am looking at surrounding states… I am trying to stay in California, but we’ll see if something affordable pops up. Other than that I’m ready to fly. 

I am hoping to reach this goal as soon as possible. I appreciate everyone who has followed me from the lesbian drawings, my animations, my tattoos, and my comics. This love WILL be shared back. Thank you for reading through. <3 

Drae Upshaw

Organizer

Drae Upshaw
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA

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