Laganja's Journey

UPDATE as of March 1, 2022:
Thank you so much for all the donations - we've reached our goal and we are closing this fundraiser.  Laganja is very thankful for all the love and support that she received in making her dream a reality.  Thank you again so much for making it a a success beyond expectations - be well, ya'll!



UPDATE as of July 30, 2021.

We've reached our goal in under 48 hours!  For any additional funds after the goal: $5K will be donated to the @transwellnesscenter, and any additional $5K raised will be given towards someone specifically. Help change someone's life.   We can do this ya'll! 

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Hello, my name is Yuhua and I have created this gofundme for my friend, who most of you know as Laganja Estranja.

Laganja Estranja is a professional choreographer, performer, model, music artist, and activist who resides in Los Angeles, California. In June 2021, she publicly came out as a transgender woman.

Laganja is a true and kind spirit that I am proud to call my friend. Many of you may have first been introduced to Laganja through RuPaul's Drag Race Season 6. Laganja was not always treated with kindness or understanding by many people within the LGBTQIA+ community following her appearance, but her strength of character, tenacity, talent, hard work, and heart came through in the end and she turned all those resulting narratives around to be a beloved icon and figure within the community. Laganja has brought us a lot of joy through moments that we are still share and talk about 7 years later: ones that have become part of the fabric and lexicon of queer culture. She is a role model and inspiration to us all for anyone that has ever felt like the world had turned their back them. She proves that if you don't give up, you can overcome it and show the world who you truly are. What she has done speaks volumes about her character and integrity.

I have created this page because I am sure Laganja would not make one for herself because she will see others in more need than herself. I also understand as people in the public eye, people will ask questions about who is in more need. But I have first hand experienced that the reality for us drag performers is far different to fan perceptions who tend to apply the lifestyles of the biggest names in drag to all performers from Drag Race.

Our reality is that drag performers are usually unable to access health benefits or other forms of social security as a result of the structure and tip-reliant work drag entails. This means that there is often no safety net and income can drop to zero during recovery periods. Drag has also been hurt extremely hard during the COVID-19 pandemic with unprecedented bookings/cancellations and lack of opportunities. Further, venue closures will go on to affect the availabilty of drag down the line. I know that Laganja has already had to face what many people who are trans, to have to take an inorganic view of how her transition should be by picking and choosing her needs based on financial constraints.

The goal currently is to raise money to support Laganja's transition in whatever way is best for her. Transition is a different process for every individual trans person but it does not come cheap. As someone who knows many people personally who have gone through this process, they require as much support as possible whether that transition is physical, hormonal, involves surgery or other treatments to affirm the person's gender. There is also a need for monetary support to aid the person's emotional well-being and mental health as they unpack years of learned notions where they were forced to be a person they are not. I am sure that Laganja will only use any donations for the purposes of supporting her transition.

#MakeItShimmy has also helped to kick the fundraiser started by contributing $1,000, and for every new follower they get on @make_it_shimmy on Instagram, they will donate $1 (up to $1,000).

Everybody deserves a chance to live their authentic life.

I know Laganja will be a beacon of light for others by living her authentic life and by existing as the person she truly is, she will be able to educate and inspire others.

I am very grateful to everyone who has taken the time to read this and to anyone who wishes to donate no matter how small. Thank you and all the love in the world to Laganja. You are our pride.

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