Help Alicia's transition and recovery fund
Donation protected
Presentation
Hello, my name is Alicia and I would like to ask for your help.
I am a trans public figure, activist, and militant. Over the course of my activism, I have travelled across Canada, to other countries, been a part of articles in magazines (Elle Quebec, Fugues, Magazine Vero), been involved a little with television, and have even been a part of the U.N. International Day for Trans Visibility talks. Being so visible has been a blessing, in that I have been able to bring light to important issues. At the same time, being in the light has come with its own challenges, mainly in the forms of physical and verbal abuse. During my trips abroad, as a militant and activist, I have wound up in countries where the people, and their society in general, are less welcoming and accepting of the changes I am trying to promote. At times, my security is not always guaranteed. Despite this, I still try to keep my faith and remain optimistic. However, my faith and optimism have been unable to stop my longstanding feelings and sense of gender dysphoria, which has really affected my mental health.
After having suffered from this sense of gender dysphoria, and its effect on my mental health, for so long, I have decided to launch this GoFundMe campaign so that I can finally take the next step in my transition: surgery. More accurately, surgeries. So that my body matches my gender, I plan on having four surgeries over the coming years; all of which will be performed outside my current home country of Canada. I plan on having a total of four surgeries done, over the coming years: a body feminization, a voice, a tracheal shave (Adam’s Apple reshaping), and a facial feminization surgery. There is no precise order for these surgeries. The order in which they are undergone will be mainly based on availability and the funding that can be raised.
After having lived the last thirty years under the influence of testosterone, it is my hope that, with the aid of this campaign, that I can finally be comfortable in my own body.
My Current Goal
My current goal is to raise CAD $35,000 so that I can pay for a body feminization surgery, which has already been scheduled to take place within the next three months, as well as a voice surgery, the date of which will follow the rhythm of your donations. Every little bit helps me come closer to finally having my appearance match my gender. There is no minimum amount being asked for here; just contribute as you can or want to.
Why outside of Canada?
The main reason I will be going to another country for my surgeries is because they cost less outside of Canada for the same quality of work.
However, for this first surgery I will be undergoing, the main reason I have chosen to go abroad is because I plan to stay in a recovery room there for the following two weeks after the surgery. While in this recovery room, the staff will monitor my recovery 24/7, which is not a service offered here in Canada. Those of you reading, who have gone through this in Canada, will already know how it works here: the very same day of, or the day after, the surgery, you are sent home and left to your own devices until your follow-up appointment. After not only hearing these kinds of stories from my trans brothers and sisters, and having, myself, witnessed this happening, I very much do not wish to experience that.
To add to this, I am already practically living by myself in this country. All of my immediate family still lives outside of Canada, and what family I have here live too far away to provide the kind of support that I will need. I have no family nearby who can come check up on me or help me during my recovery.
Why that much?
The amount that I have listed here is to cover the cost of all the related medical and post-op fees. Naturally, there is the cost of the surgeries and the surgical teams, and as mentioned before, the stay in a recovery room for the following two weeks after the body feminization surgery. To add to these costs, I must factor in bank conversion fees, as I go from the weaker Canadian Dollar to the stronger U.S. Dollar, and the GoFundMe fees of CAD $1100. On top of all that, the country I have decided to go to for these surgeries, will only accept US Dollars, because of its strength over other foreign currencies, such as the Canadian Dollar, or their own local currency.
All of these costs come out to CAD $35,000, which converts to USD $28000, give or take.
How will the donations be spent?
All of the donations received will be used to help cover the following costs:
- Plane tickets and travel insurance
- Consultation fees
- Reservation of surgery dates
- Surgical fees
- Recovery house fees
- Blood tests and physical exams
- Household expenses for three months. (i.e., rent, groceries, utilities) After returning from this first surgery, I will be unable to go about my day-to-day life for three months.
- GoFundMe fees
I don’t have the ability to donate through GoFundMe. How can I contribute to your campaign?
Firstly, thank you! If you find yourself unable to donate through GoFundMe, but cannot for some reason, please feel free to donate via an e-transfer or through PayPal.
- E-transfer: [email redacted]
- PayPal: @Kazobinkalicia
I am unable to financially participate, but I still want to participate. How can I?
Once again, thank you! Please share this campaign wherever you can. The more visible this campaign is, the more of a chance that it has of reaching its goal
Hello, my name is Alicia and I would like to ask for your help.
I am a trans public figure, activist, and militant. Over the course of my activism, I have travelled across Canada, to other countries, been a part of articles in magazines (Elle Quebec, Fugues, Magazine Vero), been involved a little with television, and have even been a part of the U.N. International Day for Trans Visibility talks. Being so visible has been a blessing, in that I have been able to bring light to important issues. At the same time, being in the light has come with its own challenges, mainly in the forms of physical and verbal abuse. During my trips abroad, as a militant and activist, I have wound up in countries where the people, and their society in general, are less welcoming and accepting of the changes I am trying to promote. At times, my security is not always guaranteed. Despite this, I still try to keep my faith and remain optimistic. However, my faith and optimism have been unable to stop my longstanding feelings and sense of gender dysphoria, which has really affected my mental health.
After having suffered from this sense of gender dysphoria, and its effect on my mental health, for so long, I have decided to launch this GoFundMe campaign so that I can finally take the next step in my transition: surgery. More accurately, surgeries. So that my body matches my gender, I plan on having four surgeries over the coming years; all of which will be performed outside my current home country of Canada. I plan on having a total of four surgeries done, over the coming years: a body feminization, a voice, a tracheal shave (Adam’s Apple reshaping), and a facial feminization surgery. There is no precise order for these surgeries. The order in which they are undergone will be mainly based on availability and the funding that can be raised.
After having lived the last thirty years under the influence of testosterone, it is my hope that, with the aid of this campaign, that I can finally be comfortable in my own body.
My Current Goal
My current goal is to raise CAD $35,000 so that I can pay for a body feminization surgery, which has already been scheduled to take place within the next three months, as well as a voice surgery, the date of which will follow the rhythm of your donations. Every little bit helps me come closer to finally having my appearance match my gender. There is no minimum amount being asked for here; just contribute as you can or want to.
Why outside of Canada?
The main reason I will be going to another country for my surgeries is because they cost less outside of Canada for the same quality of work.
However, for this first surgery I will be undergoing, the main reason I have chosen to go abroad is because I plan to stay in a recovery room there for the following two weeks after the surgery. While in this recovery room, the staff will monitor my recovery 24/7, which is not a service offered here in Canada. Those of you reading, who have gone through this in Canada, will already know how it works here: the very same day of, or the day after, the surgery, you are sent home and left to your own devices until your follow-up appointment. After not only hearing these kinds of stories from my trans brothers and sisters, and having, myself, witnessed this happening, I very much do not wish to experience that.
To add to this, I am already practically living by myself in this country. All of my immediate family still lives outside of Canada, and what family I have here live too far away to provide the kind of support that I will need. I have no family nearby who can come check up on me or help me during my recovery.
Why that much?
The amount that I have listed here is to cover the cost of all the related medical and post-op fees. Naturally, there is the cost of the surgeries and the surgical teams, and as mentioned before, the stay in a recovery room for the following two weeks after the body feminization surgery. To add to these costs, I must factor in bank conversion fees, as I go from the weaker Canadian Dollar to the stronger U.S. Dollar, and the GoFundMe fees of CAD $1100. On top of all that, the country I have decided to go to for these surgeries, will only accept US Dollars, because of its strength over other foreign currencies, such as the Canadian Dollar, or their own local currency.
All of these costs come out to CAD $35,000, which converts to USD $28000, give or take.
How will the donations be spent?
All of the donations received will be used to help cover the following costs:
- Plane tickets and travel insurance
- Consultation fees
- Reservation of surgery dates
- Surgical fees
- Recovery house fees
- Blood tests and physical exams
- Household expenses for three months. (i.e., rent, groceries, utilities) After returning from this first surgery, I will be unable to go about my day-to-day life for three months.
- GoFundMe fees
I don’t have the ability to donate through GoFundMe. How can I contribute to your campaign?
Firstly, thank you! If you find yourself unable to donate through GoFundMe, but cannot for some reason, please feel free to donate via an e-transfer or through PayPal.
- E-transfer: [email redacted]
- PayPal: @Kazobinkalicia
I am unable to financially participate, but I still want to participate. How can I?
Once again, thank you! Please share this campaign wherever you can. The more visible this campaign is, the more of a chance that it has of reaching its goal
Organizer
Alicia Rubanda
Organizer
Montreal, QC