Support Asher's Journey to Independence

NOTE: The GoFundMe Goal and this campaign will update depending on whatever I'm dealing with! If things end up going easy and some things end up resolved, I will lower the goal. If anything comes up, the goal will increase. For now, however, the goal will remain as is. I'll also add more info via photos, pictures, etc., as evidence of the conditions I'm in.

Howdy there! My name is Asher, otherwise known as Ashuribbon on Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, pretty much most social medias you can think of! I am a transgender Persian dude, and I am on a pretty big mission. Care to help me?

I am a student who is graduating in 2026! My college portfolio got accepted, I am starting on making my first student film, and I am one step closer to my life-long dream of being an animator in the industry! However, that dream is being held back by a lot of financial-related stuff (hence the huge goal). And I am here to talk about it!

Trigger warning for mentions of bugs, unsanitary, and abuse (emotional, physical, verbal, and financial). Reader discretion is advised.

In Disney's Tangled, Rapunzel tells her "mother," aka the antagonist, that she is desperate to go outside and see the festival lights. However, as soon as her "mother" finds out, she would go into a musical number, telling her that the world is dangerous outside, and by the end of the number tells her not to ever try to go outside again. In the final act, Rapunzel realizes that the "mother" she was raised is not her real mother, and she had been held hostage against her will.

Why am I talking about this movie, you may ask? While her situation is much more different, it's very relatable to what I am going through right now. I didn't want to make this GoFundMe, but I feel it's time I did as a way to get some additional cash.

It all starts from back in the late 2010s. Back in 2017, I graduated from high school at the fresh age of 19. Before that, however, I told my high school teachers that I was planning on living independently. It was something I wanted to do for a long time, even with America's economy being crummy. When my teachers told this to my parents before graduation, I thought they would be fine with it. I did want to leave home for quite some time to pursue my dreams in animation.

Well... Let's just say I was wrong. They didn't allow that at all.

My parents had claimed to "love me," but in truth only ever "loved me" when I am obedient, when I am not a queer person who is trying to survive in this world. So as soon as they found out that I wanted to leave home, they started to do everything in their power to keep me in their scummy family, to keep me away from wanting to go to the outside world. No matter how many attempts I did to leave, they find a way to hold me back from accomplishing that, including robbing me of my money I was using to get myself a home and blow it onto road trips. To put it nice and neat, they held me hostage for seven years.

Fear tactics remained constant in my whole life. No matter how many times I did what I could to at least show I am capable enough to live on my own and manage without them, they beat me down and treated me like a child, all because I was autistic and America is full of crime. I know America isn't a safe place, especially not safe for anyone who is queer, but I'd rather be out and enjoying what life has to offer than worry about the thought of someone trying to hurt me.

Once I actually did go to college, due to my family moving from one job to another (they did it the first time before my senior year started). Because of how we moved between states, I was unable to access any of the college scholarships, so I had no other choice than to rely on student loans, something in which my family forced me to take even when I suggested I find work. With how my family spends so much on other things and only cared about my situation as of now, this very year, about my situation and what I am going through.

As stated, I was treated like a child because of my autism. Whenever I cleaned the house, all they ever do is give me scraps of dollars and cash that make minimum wage look more profitable in comparison. When I wanted to buy something I want, they insist that I don't and go with the little kiddy shirts instead of things that actually appeal to me. Even when I offered them advise on their situation, and tried to get them to at LEAST call pest control, they would make many excuses and thus leaving me to take matters into my own hands.

And as of recently, dating back in February/March of 2024, we are now dealing with a roach infestation. We have yet to know where the bugs are coming from, but it strongly correlates to the state of decay that the apartment is in and the landlords not bothering to check up on the apartment homes anymore. It doesn't help that my family shows signs of hoarding, and the cramped feeling of my apartment makes my health decline and deteriorate.

And before anyone jumps the gun, I am trying to find work, so that way I can earn more funds for myself! I am also making money through art, streams, even using Patreon! Even now, I am using my own funds to make a small mini-series. But you may also be asking yourself: Why am I still struggling to find work? Why can't I access things like scholarships?

Two words:

My father.

A liar, a con-man, and a thief all in one, my father has and always was an abusive man that I had dealt with since childhood. In the past, he would physically abuse me whenever I stirred any trouble, and would constantly argue and even physically harm my elder sister. The physical abuse stopped once middle school rolled around, but even when he claimed to have apologized, he still remained well and aware that he was the cause of why I am struggling to find work, to get scholarships, to get my chance of being an industry animator. When I told mom about my loan dilemma and why it's happening, she admitted in her own words that it was both their fault and especially my dad's fault. Yeah, no dip.

And it isn't just the student loan situation either. He backstabbed me several times, never owning up to his promising and upping more requirements of any needs. A good example I can bring is when I wanted to drive my own car. I managed to get my driver's license, and passed the road test with ease. My dad promised he'll get me a car once I passed. However, much later, he never kept his word, and I was stuck having to rely on my sister to drive me to school despite not wanting her to be late for work. Even when I stated that I should be driving and don't want to rely on him or any of my parents, he gaslighted me and went on a tangent about how it's been difficult to have all three cars he has provided for himself, my mom, and my elder sister. Even when I told him that I should be able to drive on my own, he upped the deal and said if I can find a job, he'll give me one.

Even when I am now finding work and have been making some money with my art and animation, it's still not enough for him. Now he's using my situation as a way to mock my suffering. I can't even ignore him without him constantly making jokes instead of giving indicator that he's hurt me and I don't want to put up with him anymore. If him blaming the LGBTQ+ community for when one cashier doesn't know how to use the cash register isn't enough, he has been openly transphobic towards me, using his religion as a means to stereotype trans people like myself.

He always expects everyone to work as a businessman, despite my dreams of being an animator. When he gets called out, or when things don't go his way? He goes 180 and throws a temper tantrum, basically becoming a Persian equivalent of a Caillou. He yells, screams, and even threatens me every time. He never even bothered to fact-check anything. He even verbally threatened to sue my school because of my situation when it was HIS FAULT that I didn't have a choice.

Even today, he refuses to admit that he's the reason for why I am declining in health, both physically and mentally. So much for saying he "cares for me." >m>

The abuse I've endured, from being infantilized and mistreated by my own family members, the unsanitary conditions, and the college debt that was piled on me thanks to my father's trashy decisions is enough for me to explain why I had to set up this GoFundMe in the first place. I really don't want to keep living in a place where my family doesn't care about their children.

To recap:

The first additional funds will go to my loans ($40k-$50k) and my college tuition (mostly $6k). I want to be able to graduate out of school debt free and without a problem. All remaining funds will go to finding an apartment I can stay in, away from my family and ESPECIALLY away from my father. I have until August to pay my college tuition, and December 9th of 2024 to start paying my loans. Once that is done, I hope to at least have a house of my own by the end of this year. That way, I can say goodbye to my crummy family and live on my own without a care in the world.

I thank you very much for reading, and I hope for your support! Thanks! ♥