Help Abby Get to a Safer Place

Hi. I'm Abby. If you know me IRL, you might know me by a different name. I never thought I'd be doing this, but here I am. So, I guess I'll share what I'm going through, and you can decide if you would like to help me to get to a safer location, where I can be me and I can start actually work on being happy.

Ever since the beginning of my transistion, things have been hard. From losing my job for coming out, to bad living situations, to threats of violence against me, I've been kind of going through it. I've been trying to be positive in spite of all of it, but I'm faltering. This past year has been roughest of all. So much so that I reached out to family. I asked for support and it was offered. That's why I moved to Florida.

After moving down, I was met by transphobia in the place I was at. From insults thrown at me near daily, to threats hurled at me, I was given that. All while the one who offered me support did nothing to stop it. I know she was afraid of losing her partner, but it doesn't excuse it. The emotional support was nowhere to be found. I started immediately trying to find a different place to stay.

After being turned away from multiple places for being trans, I was able to find a location I could stay at. Currently, I live in a small room with one of my co-workers at a retail store. While I don't deal with transphobia from her, the neighborhood isn't safe. When I leave for work, I hide the fact that I'm trans in order to leave safely. The house has been broken into in the past, and I can't imagine it won't be again.

After family issues caused by the person who offered me support occurred in October, I hit my lowest point. I was a mess of depression. That's when I almost took my own life. It's only because I called 988 and had a group of people in my online community looking for me that I'm writing this today. I knew at that point that I wasn't going to be able to keep going like this.

Things started to turn around when my friend got me in contact with a network that helps trans individuals escape from unsafe situations. After talking with them about my situation, they're looking to help me get to a safer spot of the country and secure me a network of support. In addition, the area where I'd be located will have access to my HRT, which I haven't been able to get for a while now, and transition surgeries guaranteed under the state protections. It would allow me to actually be myself and get better.

Additionally, I'd have a group of people waiting for me. People who can help me and guide me for these things. That isn't even saying I might actually be able to get a job that uses my degree, instead of never receiving second interviews in Florida after people learn I'm trans.

The network I'm working with sets up temp housing and helps trans people get on their feet outside of the hostile states. While you may not think that exists, I assure you it does. This is a refugee program in the United States, because this is what our country has been brought to.

While the network can help, they advised me to do any fundraising I could to help as well. They're small and they don't get a lot of funding, but they are working to help people like me in dangerous situations.

I don't expect anyone to help. Financial burdens are great for us all. But anything you donate will be used to help me get to this area, restart my life and help while I try to get myself on my feet again.

I just want to be me and make my happy and fun content again. I want to walk outside without feeling as afraid as I do. If you want to help make it a little easier, I can't thank you enough.