Help Kamili Rebuild After Domestic Violence

Hi, my name is Kamili, and I’m a Black trans woman. I never imagined I’d find myself here, writing this, but this GoFundMe is my last hope.

Just a year ago, my life was on track. I had a steady job, recently moved into my own apartment, was actively engaged in my community, and had just begun my gender transition. It felt like everything was finally falling into place. Then, in November of 2023, everything changed.

I met someone who entered my life at a time when I was at peace, but also vulnerable. What began as a whirlwind of affection and kindness quickly spiraled into something darker. It was my mistake to let him move in, but at the time, I had no idea who he really was.

Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence (DV)

I can’t pinpoint exactly when the fear began to settle in. All I know is that one day, I woke up afraid to speak in my own home, the home I paid rent for. Our relationship turned abusive, fast. His sweetness was a façade that gave way to cruelty and violence. The drinking made him unpredictable, and soon, he was threatening me and my roommates with objects, weapons, anything that could instill fear. The environment became unsafe for all of us.

I tried to leave, but as many survivors know, leaving is never simple. The fear of what he might do if I tried to escape was paralyzing. I quit my job—one that aligned perfectly with my career goals—just to avoid the risk of him showing up. With no income and dwindling savings, I found myself trapped. Despite my best efforts, he stayed.

And how could I be so weak to allow someone like that to stay? I've never allowed disrespect to live long around me before, so how could I allow this time to be different?

There’s so much more to the story than I can express, but the result is that I lost my stability, my security, and even my front teeth—teeth I had already spent money to fix in 2020. The marks of that time aren’t just physical; they run deep into my soul.

Domestic violence changes you. It shifts your priorities and warps your thinking. For me, the community work I once loved—my activism, my passion for human rights—took a back seat as I focused on just surviving. I lost my friends, my support system, and most days it felt like I had no one to turn to. Even now, I still feel that way.

In May, he was forcibly removed from my apartment, and all ties had been severed, but the damage had already been done.

Since then, I’ve had no stable income. I’ve had to resort to sex work just to scrape by, all while going through the vulnerable process of gender transition. But even that hasn’t been enough to live on. By August, I was evicted from my home. Now, I’m still transitioning, still looking for steady work, still trying to get back on my feet and return to the work that gives me purpose, and still homeless.

The funds from this GoFundMe will help me rebuild. I need help securing stable housing, finding proper clothing for job interviews, gender-affirming care, to fix my teeth, helping the people who have allowed me to temporarily stay in their homes, and covering the basic necessities I need just to survive. I desperately want to escape sex work, and I’m at the point where this fundraiser is my only option.

I’ve been through so much, and I’m asking for your support because I don’t know where else to turn. This is my last resort, and if it doesn’t succeed… I truly don’t know what I’ll do.

Thank you for reading and for any support you can offer, whether it’s through donations or by sharing my story.