Gender Affirming Surgery

My name is Renae Green a black trans woman living in Jamaica. Currently, I lead one of the trans-led and focused organizations operating in Jamaica, where there is no gender recognition legislation or anti-discrimination legislation, which means limited access to trans-specific and gender-affirming health care. I have always been an activist for the rights of the most marginalized communities in Jamaica and the world.

For example, I have served as the LGBT representative on the Jamaica Country Coordinating Mechanism for the Global fund for two years and currently now serve as the NGO alternate. I am also the Jamaica representative for the UCTRANS which is the only regional trans network in the Caribbean, and worked with international organizations such as Restless Development and the International Planned Parenthood Federation as a sexual and reproductive health rights advocate.

I am currently the Executive Director, for TransWave Jamaica, which is the only trans-led and focused organization operating in Jamaica. Under my portfolio, I am responsible for leading the organization and stand at the front of trans advocacy in Jamaica. Some of my work is featured here: https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2021/january/20210108_first-ever-jamaica-transgender-strategy-looks-beyond-health

Currently, in Jamaica, there is no gender recognition legislation or anti-discrimination legislation, which means limited access to trans-specific and gender-affirming health care. The gender non-conforming and trans communities in Jamaica lack access to public services and are often the victims of some of the highest levels of violence and exclusion against the trans community.

This reality often forces the trans community to identify alternative avenues to seek opportunities and resources to fulfil their right to an identity, which include undergoing medical procedures outside of Jamaica, which are often very expensive.

As a trans person, I have always felt that my body does not represent who I am and it's was very difficult for me to get to a place where I am able to understand who I am. Now that I understand who I am, I believe it i's time for me to take the next step in my journey, which is getting my body to match who I really am. I want to be able to look in the mirror and be happy with what I see, and this fundraiser will take me one step further in achieving that.

If I succeed, with your help, my personal advocacy and that of my organization and community in Jamaica will be substantially strengthened as a living example that it can be done, and that gender non-conforming and trans communities can pursue and achieve happiness, through a more inclusive and respectful society.

Thank you for your time and support.

Renae.