Donate to Efrin's gender affirmation surgery!

Dear world and friends,

We are raising money for our wonderful friend Efrin's gender affirmation surgery!

Efrin is in Istanbul, and we're fundraising because although officially covered by the Turkish public health system, gender affirmation surgeries are made impossible to get because there is no way to get consultations and there are no qualified surgeons. This means the only way to get it is through private surgeons which are expensive and exploitative - surgeons often take extra "tax" on top of the real costs because they know people have no choice but to pay them. The economic crisis in Turkey since 2018 has made the idea of saving for this surgery even more challenging, combined with Efrin’s own personal situation.

Everyone deserves to have their gender affirmed and to live their lives as they want. In the face of everything that trans and gender diverse people are up against in this world, standing with Trans and Gender Diverse friends and communities is so critical, and right now Efrin needs our financial support.

Efrin has been a long-term agitator for LGBTI rights, prisoner support, Kurdish self-determination and an end to Turkish military aggression. This has come with significant personal consequences for her.

She entered an academic career in Architecture in part to avoid compulsory military service and participation in the long-term war the Turkish state wages in Kurdish areas. Turkey does not allow conscientious objection, but also does not allow LGBTI people to serve, often making people prove their sexuality or gender identity in invasive ways. As a lecturer she signed the Academics for Peace petition calling for a peaceful end to the ongoing violence by Turkey in Kurdistan. This petition saw her investigated and interrogated on the grounds of "terrorism". Other people who signed were jailed.

After the screening of a cult film as part of the course she was giving, oppressive and bigoted staff in the university took issue with her for `promoting LGBTI lifestyles` . She was suspended from her job and "investigated". Despite her students' support she was forced to leave the university, is no longer a lecturer and now lives in Istanbul.

She supports trans prisoners and was active in Keskesor LGBTI Amed, a group which tried to achieve social change through workshops, protest, and campaigns. She has supported friends through court cases against the state. Turkey is a state which doesn’t shy away from harsh prison sentences for resistance with long sentences for Kurdish activists, allies and prominent Gezi park protesters.

She is engaged in ongoing legal battles and support for others legal struggles which drain any personal income she receives and need to be fundraised for as well. It has been at times scary and exhausting. It also means saving for gender affirmation surgery is nearly impossible as legal fees still take up any extra money and funds and her work is now unstable.

I would love for us to give some money to support her to live her happiest and most authentic life! So please come together and support Efrin. This is something that should be universal basic healthcare! but while it is not for now, any donation would be really appreciated, and it will really, really help!!! Please share far and wide.

Efrin has shown unwavering solidarity and dedication to a better, freer, more just and less cruel world.

For those of you who like me, met her in 2013-4 Melbourne/Narrm you know exactly what I mean when I say Efrin is a truly special, honest, amazing, caring, creative and challenging thinker and one of the truest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting and honour to call a friend. She has constantly supported others in struggle and in daily life (her vegan cooking and pickling are WELL remembered), and now I would love for us to show her some of that care and solidarity back. With all my heart I can say Efrin is a shining star in my life’s constellation, and someone I admire deeply.

Please donate, whatever you can will help, and share widely xxx