Moving On & Better (Formerly, New Glasses)

Update: 

Hello, friend! We all hope to ease gracefully out of difficult times, let alone a span of significant trauma. The thought is that, like stones on a path, one moves deliberately, definitely ahead, out of dis-ease, toward some more comfortable future. The only issue is that moving—any transition—is not all comfortable; can be awkward, worrisome, graceless; one might need help.

I’m resurrecting this GoFundMe with an aim toward that help. As some of you know or have inferred, I recently made a rather quick, but needed, cross-country move, following nearly a year of assault and injury on my person as black and trans. And that move wasn’t cheap. Neither are the shadow of hospital and other related bills I’ve accrued since my most recent assault, as well as a few forthcoming. Here below is just one example:

I feel poised and confident that all will
be resolved in its time. With your help, I hope to build back an emergency cushion to offset some of these costs. If you were kind enuf to donate late last year, I thank you for considering being so again. And if you’re newly arrived, I’m hoping this message finds you well. Below you can find more info re: the last fundraiser + updates.

It’s never easy asking for help, especially in a world that would sooner pity black trans women than care for them. But here I am; here we are.

Grace—
RL

NOVEMBER 2020: My name is Rickey Laurentiis. Many of you may know me as a writer, professor, and friend. And I am also black and trans, living in the desperate city of Pittsburgh. As some of you might also know, over the Halloween holiday I was attacked, unprovokingly, by a group of cis and black and ultimately sad women, by direct blows to my skull, at my face and elsewhere across my body, including my spine. It was violence of the highest order,  deliberate in its intentions, yet emanating from the lowest modicum of self esteem and human decency, and it was an act of profound transphobia, insecurity and, finally, cowardice. And this attack is not isolated, but comes after a long year of similar attacks, assaults or harassment in this funny town all directed at trans, black me.

In this last fray, my vision was compromised as my glasses were ruined, and consequently lost. Many have asked me over the last few days what tangible resources or help could be useful, and I can imagine none better than helping to replace my glasses. Additionally, funds will go toward purchase of a meal or, as needed, any anticipated medical or prosecutorial bills. Your charity is appreciated, and this fundraiser will be live thru-out the entirety of today (11/4).

It is not an easy flight to experience repeated trauma, both physically or psychologically, but that is partly the flight of those of us who are trans; it would seem those still sadly grounded, and cis, would rather see us fall than fly. It must take, as always, more than mere financial resources to correct this warped conditioning, or to alleviate guilt, but it always requires vision from anyone to get there. If you help me this time, I can see that I help you the next.

Let us get there,
Rickey Laurentiis