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Support Vanessa's Urgent Relocation and Surgery

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Hi everyone! I’m Vanessa. I’m an autistic trans woman currently living in Northeast Ohio.

Like other trans Americans, the election of Trump to his second term was the actualization of a living nightmare.

The Republican Party spent approximately $215 million on anti-transgender ads during the election.

You may recall that I ran for office late last year, and was disqualified in January. I made international news with that adventure, which put a target on my back.

Trump has made it clear as to what he has planned for people like me: “On day one, I will revoke Joe Biden’s cruel policies on gender-affirming care — ridiculous. I will sign a new executive order instructing every federal agency to cease all programs that promote the concept of sex and gender transition at any age.”

At any age.

Come inauguration, myself and millions of other trans Americans could very well lose our access to healthcare. For me, that could well be a death sentence, as my body does not produce hormones naturally.

The false rhetoric being spread by Trump and the Republican Party puts my community in danger. Hate crimes are on the rise. Misinformation has run rampant.

I find myself in an extremely difficult situation. In public, I only sort of “pass.” I have been fighting my insurance to obtain facial feminization surgery, but they have been denying it, despite the law saying they must cover it.

Additionally, should I lose healthcare, Ohio has no state-level protections, and with one of the most discriminatory state legislatures in the country, none will likely be put in place.

The first phase of my surgery starts around $11,000. That doesn’t include loss of business, expenses, extra fees, etc.

With my safety in jeopardy, the urgency of escaping Ohio and obtaining this surgery has expanded exponentially.

While I plan on fighting insurance, that process can take years.

Additionally, the first portion of the money crowdfunded will go toward my relocation to Washington State in January. Ohio is not a safe place for me to live. It is only going to get worse with time.

My fundraiser is twofold: to be able to quickly get surgery for both my intense dysphoria and my safety, and to have an emergency fund for my move.

I don’t want to leave. I’ll be leaving behind my son and the woman I love. But for trans people, we’re facing a life or death crisis.

I need to run in order to continue to live.

Any money that I do not used will be paid forward to other Trans people for their own escapes.

Thank you



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Fundraising team: Fundraiser Team (1)

Vanessa Joy
Organizer
Massillon, OH
Jennifer McHenry
Team member

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