Dizzy and Chenoah's Escape from Texas

Hello dear friends, family, and strangers,

This is for a trans, disabled, and queer couple seeking sanctuary. Currently, Isobel and Chenoah live in Austin, Texas. Due to some unfortunate unforeseen financial issues and the constant fear of living in a state trying to deny and abolish their existence the two need help. Isobel is planning to attend grad school in Portland OR., both believe that Portland could offer them safety and resources at this time that Texas cannot. With the continued anti-trans legislation being proposed in Texas, this move needs to happen now. Feeling safe in your home is a privilege and a blessing, one not everyone receives in life but one that everyone deserves. They hope to be out by mid-August at the latest and are asking for assistance in raising $7,950 by the end of July. Any funds beyond our goal will be used to cover emergency costs and distributed among other trans escape funds. If nothing else please spread the word and share with folks. Thank you.

Isobel’s Story:

My name is Isobel, some of you know me as Dizzy. I'm a sixth-generation Texan and a trans woman. I grew up in Austin, with family in Houston and the Wichita Falls area. I've always loved living in Texas. My roots go deep. My partner Chenoah has been here only a year; they moved to Austin from Vermont so that we could live together, and at that time it was a decision that made sense. Since the Texas Legislature's session began, we have faced a torrent of anti-transgender legislation. The Texas legislature is doing its best to legislate me and my partner out of existence. Worse than that, as the tide of anti-trans rhetoric increases, we experience more harassment on the street and suffer more from housing and job discrimination. After being threatened multiple times by strangers, I'm scared to exist in the city that raised me. I don't want to leave Texas. Our situation, however, is dire, and it seems very much as though the state is going to get worse before it gets better for people like me and my partner. As much as it pains me to say it, it's time for us to leave. Portland, Oregon is a sanctuary city, where a community exists for us, and legislators work to defend our rights rather than strip us of them. In Texas, we live in poverty and cannot escape without your help.

Chenoah’s Story:

2021 was one of the most exhausting years of my life. I was ready for a change. I had lived in Vermont off and on for almost 26 years, which means I understand how important home is and how hard it can be to leave it knowing you may never return other than to visit maybe. Moving to Texas in August ‘22 came with its exciting hurdles, I totaled my car one month in on a curb, and I had to hop from job to job due to my growing list of disabilities. Because of the inconsistency with my employment, I’ve struggled just to pay bills while living in Austin. As much as I have enjoyed my time in Austin it is starting to get very scary. I’ve been called things I haven’t heard since high school, and the resources are lacking for folks like me. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 3 and throughout my life have struggled to manage my disability. Last summer I was also diagnosed with chronic migraines. The exhaustion I feel makes it difficult to work full-time and the disability resources Texas offers are so lacking that to survive I have to find ways to manage my fatigue. Portland truly feels like an oasis of sorts at this point for me and my partner Dizzy. I know they have better state-provided insurance, I will be closer to family and friends, and the housing cost is reasonable for a city of its size. We could not only survive but thrive and isn’t it worth it just to try?