My name is Oliver and I’m a trans man living in Iowa. I am an active member of the LGBTQIA+ community here, including serving as a board member for CR Pride. This year I organized an LGBTQIA+ art show at CSPS hall. I helped with the CR Pride entry in the Halloween parade and was featured in a short video, talking about how Halloween has been an important holiday for trans individuals because of the opportunity it gives us to put on an outfit that represents who we are on the inside. You can see that video here on the CR Pride Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlzv8n41sgw I also was interviewed on KCRG Channel 9 about LGBTQ+ aware mental health resources available to the community: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7H3pBjRdYg And in support of the International Day of Transgender Awareness, I was part of a dialog, along with my friend Storm O’Brink. I spoke about transitioning and Storm talked about living openly as an intersex person in the midwest. This video followed the implementation of restrictive laws around the trans, nonbinary, and intersex community in our state: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNpFEXabYDM&t=27s I also have an educational YouTube channel called Gender Adventures where my partner and I vlogged the first year of our transitions and answered frequently asked questions: https://youtube.com/@genderadventures6 In addition to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights, I am also a small business owner. I work as a massage therapist and my practice focuses on improving the health and wellbeing of those around me. While I always hope to be in a position to serve others, today, I need your help. For those who don’t know much about transitioning, the top surgery is a gender-affirming procedure performed after a trans person has already received significant care. In my case, a process of self-reflection and self-understanding before even talking with doctors about transitioning started the process. I also talked with my friends and family, was evaluated and prescribed hormones, and had a medically necessary hysterectomy before talking with doctors about the top surgery. It’s important to me to proceed on schedule and not let this linger because the procedure will allow me to look and feel like the person I truly am. I firmly believe that is a part of sound advocacy for myself and our community. Because of several recent life changes, I’ve found myself suddenly behind schedule on saving for my top surgery which has been scheduled this September for over a year. I need to raise $17,000 in 90 days to be able to proceed with the surgery as planned. I lost my previous health coverage and when I signed up for my new plan I found out the portion that would have been covered under my former plan is not covered at all under my insurance. In addition, while approaching this significant milestone, my partner and I separated. We had been sharing housing costs 50/50, and that was a part of my plan to get the money I needed to go through the procedure and recover. I won’t be working for a minimum of six weeks, and I need to cover housing, car payment, groceries, and other basic living expenses during this time. There are a number of grants and aid foundations, and I have applied to them, but due to the short notice, I am not eligible for most of them. I have applied, but I cannot count on those as sources of emergency funds. I don't want to cancel having this Gender Affirming care, and I’m asking you to participate by sharing my story and donating what you can. With Love and Pride, Oliver
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