Help Lee Achieve Gender Affirming Top Surgery

Hey, I'm Lee :)

I am a nonbinary person living in Chicago, working as a psychotherapist, and I love to spend time with my furry feline, Chauncey. Beyond my work and how I spend my time, I inhabit a beautiful body - that needs some adjustments.

During my gender exploration, I have been incredibly privileged and fortunate to find ways to live unapologetically and authentically. I have achieved this by reading accessible literature on trans and queer topics (a plug for reading banned books and visiting your local bookstore or library), connecting with others in the queer community, and working at a practice that focuses on serving marginalized communities, specifically queer and trans individuals.

I am reaching out to you now because I need assistance with the next step in my journey toward experiencing all the feelings of gender euphoria! I am pursuing what is called "top surgery." For those who are unfamiliar with this procedure, it essentially means that the magic of medicine will liberate me from my big ‘ol bitties (my chest), which have prevented me from feeling truly at home in my body. This will happen on 1/14/25!

While I am incredibly fortunate to have access to healthcare, there is still a significant financial burden associated with this process. I will be on medical leave from work and will have access to only a limited portion of my usual paychecks. Unfortunately, like many working-class individuals, I live paycheck to paycheck. I am in need of support to cover the out-of-pocket costs of my deductible and financial assistance to help ease the burden of not working while I recover.

I understand that many causes deserve our attention, whether through financial contributions, advocacy work, or simply "showing up" for our communities. I admit that I feel vulnerable sharing this part of my life with anyone who accesses this fund, but I am continuously learning how to ask for help and accept the care that is available to me. (A shout-out to my amazing therapist, who has been by my side since the beginning of my self-discovery journey.)

Thank you to anyone who considers donating. For those who are unable to donate but want to show me support, I would gratefully appreciate a little encouragement like "you've got this!" Thank you to my wonderful community that cares so deeply.

Thank you for reading. I truly appreciate it.

Lee (they/she)

https://pronouns.org/what-and-why

TL;DR: I am seeking financial support to fund my gender-affirming surgery and recovery.