Donate to Lyra's Flee Florida Fund

Hi, my name is Lyra. I'm a 34 year old South Floridian trans woman. My interests include things such as anime, gaming, tech, language study, and art. As a bit of a fun fact, I made the banner for my GoFundMe myself, using Krita.

Florida has been increasingly antagonistic towards the rights of trans people for the past 4 years, with laws such as SB 254, which heavily restricts gender affirming healthcare for trans people. I had some hope earlier in June when I saw the law struck down in court, but that decision was reversed by the 11th circuit in August. With the election of 2024, the GOP has gained control of all 3 branches of government. I believe that they will view their victory as a permission slip to escalate their persecution against people like me. I don’t have a support network here. And I no longer believe Florida will get better within my lifetime. All of this fills me with a deep sense of dread.

This is why I want to move to Minnesota. I have some friends there that can help me build new connections, with people I do not distrust. I want to move to a place that can provide safety and hope for a better life. They also have a lower cost of living than the part of Florida I live in.

An important note: I am looking for work before I arrive. I did try to find work and save money beforehand as a precaution but I failed. I am hoping that I can act with more confidence in a state where I am more free to be myself, which could help in the interview process.

The above is a breakdown of my GoFundMe’s goal. I will not consider it a failure if I do not reach it, since depending on how well things go, even half of my stated goal can last longer than I initially expected. This is more of an ideal amount so I don’t end up in a situation where my dear friends won’t feel like I am freeloading from them.

To everyone that chose to help me and donated to help me escape Florida, thank you!