🌈💸From Florida to Freedom: Trans Community Turns to Crowdfunding in Exodus from Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws🚀
TL;DR: In the face of Florida’s newly minted anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, several trans people are taking to crowdfunding platforms for financial help to escape the Sunshine State’s not-so-sunny regulations. The measures, targeting access to gender-affirming care, have sparked an online exodus. One of the beneficiaries, Sage Chelf, raised over $3000 for her relocation, revealing a heartening wave of support amid challenging times. 🏳️⚧️🏃♀️💨💰
When life in Florida started resembling a not-so-merry theme park ride for the transgender community, many have decided to jump ship and buckle up for an entirely different journey. Is this really a choice, or has the recent anti-LGBTQ+ legislation turned their home into a forced ‘Twilight Zone’?
30-year-old Sage Chelf was one of many to join this virtual caravan, her story reflecting the struggle of numerous transgender individuals under these laws. With her hormone therapy clinic abruptly ending all treatments for trans patients, she had to seek new pastures. “Living not trans” was not an option for her. Yet, the ticket to a new life came at a price – a $2,500 price tag, to be exact. But who’s counting?🤷♀️
Here’s where the Internet stepped in. Chelf managed to raise more than $3000 in less than two weeks through online donations. “I was under the impression that no one’s going to actually donate,” she admitted, surprised at the generous wave of support. A literal race against the clock to retain the essence of her identity was met with a rally of support from online allies. So, are we witnessing a digital ‘Underground Railroad’ in the making?🚂💨💕
On a larger scale, GoFundMe, the popular crowdfunding platform, saw a 39% increase from April to May in fundraisers created to aid trans people leaving Florida due to these restrictive laws. With a total of $200,000 raised since January, it might seem like a drop in the ocean of charitable giving. But for individuals like Chelf, it’s a lifeboat. Isn’t it wild how impactful these small fractions can be in the right circumstances?💻💰🌊
A recent study highlighted that organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community only received a meager 0.13% of the $426 billion total in charitable giving for 2019. With many such nonprofits being small, grassroots organizations lacking substantial fundraising capacity, it’s clear they’re often punching above their weight. Can we rely on a few to provide for many?🌈🤝💔
Meanwhile, the Campaign for Southern Equality is providing direct grants of $500 to transgender minors’ families across the South and to transgender adults in Florida. “We are having folks reach out out-of-the-blue, multiple times a week,” shares Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, the organization’s executive director. Perhaps this surge in support is a silver lining, or is it more of a rallying cry for help?🗣️📣🤔
Ultimately, what we’re seeing here is the power of collective aid, of people standing up for one another. And that’s pretty dang incredible, if you ask us. But what does this say about our society, where many are driven to flee their homes because of legislation that targets their very identities? 🏘️🛫💔
And here’s the big question: If we can harness the power of the internet
