Help Ash with Legal Support to Protect Family

Ash “Lightning Woman” Frandsen — beloved two-spirit, nonbinary Karuk/Yurok ceremonial leader, community organizer, and parent of two young children — is in need of urgent financial support to cover legal and living expenses.

Ash has had a tumultuous past two years, involving the death of one of Ash’s parents, as well a cancer diagnosis, followed by intensive, successful cancer treatment and ongoing recovery. Even with all this having happened, Ash has needed to rapidly get out of a problematic relationship.

For the sake of everyone involved — and particularly for Ash’s kids — we are not disclosing most details about these ongoing difficult events. However, Ash is in a position of urgently needing support. They have lost all of their physical possessions, they have needed to move to new costly housing, and they also need to hire expensive legal counsel. After months of legal struggle, they are fighting to regain their and their children's possessions and unfortunately at this point, legal council is the only option.

Those of you who know Ash understand intimately that they do *so much* for their community.

Ash has dedicated their life to folks who are Native American two-spirit, LGBTQ, living on the streets, and in addiction recovery. As one of few currently active two-spirit lodge pourers, they hold their community with strength and wisdom to help participants connect with Spirit and our own healing. Many of us have benefited deeply from their generosity as a friend who will drop everything to show up, provide support, and share funds when a community member is in need. And they do all this while working full-time coordinating emergency mental health services for Santa Clara County, raising kids (did we mention that these kids are such great kids?), and tending to their own health and healing.

We now ask you to share generously with Ash in return. To those who were able to pitch in when Ash has asked for support in the past — we are so grateful! We hope those who are able can share again now. We also have so much gratitude for those who have lent steady support recently, including giving Ash and the kids places to stay and gathering donated household goods for Ash’s family. It says a lot about Ash that people are coming together around them in this way, and it also says a lot about the strength and kindness of our communities.

All funds that you can share with this GoFundMe for this Indigenous queer leader and their kids will go towards costly legal assistance and help with housing expenses. Ash has spent more than $25,000 on legal expenses to protect their family and their savings are completely drained. We are urgently trying to raise $6,000 now for immediate legal fees. You may also donate to them directly to bypass fees associated with this platform. Their Venmo is @Ashlynn-Frandsen.

Thank you for your support and for your prayers for Ash’s family in this difficult time!