Dearest friends, colleagues and supporters of trans people, I need your financial help. Because of passed and proposed laws in Missouri that target the transgender community and severely limit or even block gender-affirming medical care and likely soon bathroom access and ability to exist in public safely in gender-affirming clothes, I’ve been assisting trans adults and families of trans children flee Missouri to find new homes in safe locations. Now, it is my turn as it is no longer safe for me to stay here. Thankfully, I have been called to accept a chaplaincy position in the Pacific Northwest serving unhoused young adults. My new employer is open and affirming and the new location will be a safe place for me to put down roots. Most importantly, I can put my theological background (Masters of Divinity) and years of advocacy work for the LGBTQIA+ community—including 5½ years leading Lot’s Wife Trans and Queer Chaplaincy in St. Louis, Missouri—to be the hands and feet of Love to unsheltered individuals and staff. As you can imagine, while this calling is an amazing opportunity, it will be expensive and I need to move quickly. I’m moving across the country, y’all! There’s gas, the moving van, lodging on the road and more. In addition, I must find an apartment that will be more rent than what I’m currently paying per month and set up a new home in my new city. I’ve estimated the cost of this move (from Missouri to the PNW) to be at $12,000. Please give to help me reach my goal in just a few short weeks (I leave my home of six years by Aug. 1, 2024). Talk this over with your work team, faith community, small group, or community organization to also sponsor a portion of this- and share this ask widely. I know this is a big ask but the need is urgent and therefore I must cast a wide net - so please help me by also sending this request to everyone who may be able to help. Allies often ask me what they can do to help trans people, and this is a tangible thing you can do to help this trans refugee live and move towards safety and thriving. If you’d like more detail, send me a message- I am happy to talk through this with you. This is a bittersweet move for me; the new job is fantastic, but I’ve no choice except to leave Missouri. Thank you for your generosity; I can’t do this without you. Love, Pastor Lazarus Jameson (they/them) What funds pay for: Much of this cost is the cost of the moving van/pod Beyond that: $20 buys lunch on the road $55 buys a tank of gas. $100 turns on my power $150 buys a hotel stay while on the road $250 pays for cleaners for my move-out clean $300 pays for moving helpers in St. Louis or the PNW $1500 pays for my deposit to have a place to live
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