Help Kyrsten Move to Safety in Chicago

My name is Kyrsten and I am a trans woman from West Virginia.

West Virginia is becoming an increasingly hostile place for transgender people like me and I’m launching this campaign to help move to Chicago, IL.

The West Virginia Legislature just passed Senate Bill 456, which will ban trans people from using restrooms in all state-owned buildings including my workplace, Marshall University. This means I will be legally prohibited from using the bathroom at my own job.

And that’s not all.

My employer, Marshall University, has eliminated its LGBTQ+ office and gutted its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives including eliminating the Safe Space program, which supported and protected LGBTQ+ students and staff like me.

As a trans woman, staying in West Virginia means constant uncertainty about my rights, safety, and well-being. With each new anti-trasngender law, the message becomes clearer: people like me are not wanted here.

How You Can Help

Moving is expensive, and I need support to cover essential costs, including:

Security Deposit + First Month's Rent: $2500

Utility Setup & Deposits: $400

Rental Truck & Gas: $800

Lodging & Food During Move: $250

Storage Unit: $150

Furniture Replacement & Household Essentials: $500

Miscellaneous Costs: $400

GoFundMe Transaction Fees: $200

Moving is expensive and there’s likely expenses I haven’t accounted for, that’s why the stretch goal for this fundraiser is $7500, to give me additional breathing room to account for unexpected costs.

Every donation, share, and kind word helps. If you can contribute—even a small amount—it brings me closer to safety and stability. If you can’t donate, sharing this campaign means the world.

Thank you for standing with me. Your support gives me hope for a future where I can live without fear.

In Solidarity,

Kyrsten