Help jaye Access Affirming Care

Hi, my name is jaye simpson and I'm an Indigenous trans woman living on the unceded and stolen lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations colonially known as Vancouver. Both my parents are from the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation in Manitoba, but due to foster care found myself and my family in the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver.

 

The reason I'm starting this fundraiser is that while trying to access gender affirming care I've dealt with medical fatphobia and in turn racism. I often get asked if I have diabetes due to my Indigeneity and weight, which in turn has delayed my ability to access gender affirming surgical care. Unfortunately the bureaucratic process has delayed my process upwards of two years, with legalities and medical gatekeeping. I don't qualify for top reconstruction surgery because of transmisognystic parameters, most of the eligibility is based on research and surgeries for cisgender women. The gender affirming clinic in British Columbia tends to postpone folks instead of outright denying so they can keep surgery sourcing in province instead of allowing outsourcing to other clinics that can accommodate larger bodies.

 

For a long time I haven't been able to find comfort in my own body, as a fat Indigenous trans woman and now it's worsened within the British Columbia medical system, one often heralded as being more progressive than others across the country. I've found myself doing abundant research for size affirming and gender affirming care across the globe as the trauma of dealing with the surgeons in British Columbia has made me feel so deeply unsafe for any future care.

 

I have sourced some pre-surgeries to access gender affirming surgeries in a faster timeline than offered, allowing my the most time as possible in my body during my time on this planet. The associated cost is $10,000 CAD for the care, $3000 for travel for myself and my partner and I have budgeted $1000 for recovery time. I know this is a big ask but I am in some of the worst headspace I've been in for years when it comes to accessing medical care. I know that this is actually a small amount of whats needed during this time, but currently I can make it work with my support network and kin.

 

Chi Miigwech,

 

jaye simpson