Yeet The Teets - Kosmo's Top Surgery Fund
Donation protected
My name is Kosmo Parker, and I'm a Black trans comic artist and community organizer. Lately I’ve been feeling more “myself” than I have in all my life, but the one thing that is holding me back from being as confident & vibrant as I want to be is chest dysphoria. It’s difficult to navigate the world as a gender nonconforming trans person, but I feel that this affirming procedure could really help me feel more able to share my vision for myself with the world.
MY STORY --
I came out as trans in 2015, but due to several transphobia-related factors, I’ve not often had opportunities to indulge in affirming medical procedures, including testosterone therapy. Because of my gender identity I’ve experienced homelessness, multiple job losses, and, for safety reasons, a complete cross-country relocation. After my move to Seattle, I was finally able to resume testosterone therapy after not having access for over a year and find affirming community amongst the vibrant queer scene here.
So now it’s time for me to take the next step. I’ve been struggling with my chest since I was a single digit age. The early onset of adolescent puberty really negatively impacted my relationship with my body — not to mention by the time I was in 6th grade I had grown past a 36DD. I’ve got permanent bruises on my shoulders where bra straps would dig into my skin. And though my body is finished growing, I still have a very large chest that makes binding impractical, uncomfortable, & at times unsafe. I’ve tried 4-5 binder brands but none of them can bind my chest in a way that makes me feel confident. And it’s that self consciousness and dysphoria that’s led to my daily grapple with agoraphobia.
HOW YOU CAN HELP --
I don’t exactly know the “proper” procedure for going about getting top surgery as I don’t have insurance that can cover or offset this surgery. But I’ve got to try. I simply cannot keep living my life in fear and discomfort. Because of the serious lack of insurance and employment opportunities for insurance, I'm going to have to pursue this procedure out of pocket -- and that's a little scary! This fundraiser is to help cover the costs of:
⁃ Consultations with plastic surgeons
⁃ The procedure itself
⁃ Recuperation / recovery while out of work
- Post-op follow up appointments
It’s always felt like such a pipe dream to have top surgery because of all the challenges I’ve faced since coming out, not to mention the disparities between Black and non-Black trans GMFs for affirming procedures. But I’ve seen so many other Black trans folks able to meet their goals and I am feeling like maybe I can too. And with your help I feel like I can make that pipe dream a reality. Will you help me help myself?
MY STORY --
I came out as trans in 2015, but due to several transphobia-related factors, I’ve not often had opportunities to indulge in affirming medical procedures, including testosterone therapy. Because of my gender identity I’ve experienced homelessness, multiple job losses, and, for safety reasons, a complete cross-country relocation. After my move to Seattle, I was finally able to resume testosterone therapy after not having access for over a year and find affirming community amongst the vibrant queer scene here.
So now it’s time for me to take the next step. I’ve been struggling with my chest since I was a single digit age. The early onset of adolescent puberty really negatively impacted my relationship with my body — not to mention by the time I was in 6th grade I had grown past a 36DD. I’ve got permanent bruises on my shoulders where bra straps would dig into my skin. And though my body is finished growing, I still have a very large chest that makes binding impractical, uncomfortable, & at times unsafe. I’ve tried 4-5 binder brands but none of them can bind my chest in a way that makes me feel confident. And it’s that self consciousness and dysphoria that’s led to my daily grapple with agoraphobia.
HOW YOU CAN HELP --
I don’t exactly know the “proper” procedure for going about getting top surgery as I don’t have insurance that can cover or offset this surgery. But I’ve got to try. I simply cannot keep living my life in fear and discomfort. Because of the serious lack of insurance and employment opportunities for insurance, I'm going to have to pursue this procedure out of pocket -- and that's a little scary! This fundraiser is to help cover the costs of:
⁃ Consultations with plastic surgeons
⁃ The procedure itself
⁃ Recuperation / recovery while out of work
- Post-op follow up appointments
It’s always felt like such a pipe dream to have top surgery because of all the challenges I’ve faced since coming out, not to mention the disparities between Black and non-Black trans GMFs for affirming procedures. But I’ve seen so many other Black trans folks able to meet their goals and I am feeling like maybe I can too. And with your help I feel like I can make that pipe dream a reality. Will you help me help myself?
Organizer
Kosmo Parker
Organizer
Seattle, WA
