Top Surgery Fundraiser For Atlas

My name is Atlas Easton (they/them) and I am a disabled nonbinary trans artist, activist, and parent. I have been out as nonbinary for 8 years and have wanted to access top surgery for 5 of those years, but I have been hesitant to access the gender affirming care I need because of the way the NHS Gender Identity Clinics are set up. Over the years I have worked within my community to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people both online and in person and now I feel it is time for me to look after myself for a change.

The state of trans healthcare in the UK is appalling, the waiting list from referral to first Gender Identity Clinic appointment is around 5 years and the wait is only getting longer. Considering that this wait is only for the first appointment it could be at least another year on top of that before a referral for surgery can be made. Additionally, as a nonbinary person, I could go through this wait only to be told I’m “not trans enough” to require gender affirming care. This is due to the incredibly old fashioned guidelines of the NHS which focus only on binary transition and ignore the nuances of trans people and our experiences. It should be obvious that whether or not a person is trans is not a decision for the NHS to make, we should be listened to and treated with respect.

I aim to access top surgery to alleviate the dysphoria caused by my large chest. Top surgery is the term used to describe surgery to reduce the size of the chest in trans masculine and nonbinary people. Many trans people with chest dysphoria bind to alleviate it, unfortunately, due to the chronic pain I experience, binding has never been something I can consistently do. Not to mention the extra strain binding adds to your body when you are being active which, as anyone who has met my kid knows, is pretty much every waking moment.

Top surgery will significantly improve my quality of life. I currently spend a large amount of my time trying not to think about the body I am in, trying not to catch my reflection in mirrors and shop windows, struggling to be fully present in the world because I am so focused on preventing the dysphoria from taking over. It’s no way to live. I want to be able to take photos of myself and my kid because I know how precious those memories are. I want to be able to swim without thinking about how I look. I want to be able to wear clothes that make me feel confident without avoiding mirrors in case they shatter the illusion of what I think I should look like. None of this is unique to me, so many trans people want these things but there are so many barriers put in place to prevent us from getting them.

Luckily in mid-July I had a consultation with Mr Inglefield at The London Transgender Clinic and he has approved me for surgery. However, since this is a private clinic, it won’t be cheap. I will need to raise £10,000 which will cover surgery costs, hospital fees, and transaction fees from GoFundMe. This is a huge sum of money and I would never be able to pay for it without support from my community which is why I am asking for your help. If you’re not in a position to donate please share with your communities if you are able. Thank you so much for your support,

Love Atlas x