Hi! My name is Thomas V., and I'm female to male (ftm) transgender individual. I have been doing my best become in alignment with my true gender (male) since 2008, but it has been pretty hard, since I have either been on a fixed income, had a job without dependable hours/pay, and now I lost my job in July due to a back injury.

I also lost my social security when I got married to my husband, Aaron. In short, things did not work out for him and me and I won't have an income unless/until we are divorced. Even then it will take time for my social security to kick in again - since I have to re-apply. But for the moment, I have no income at all, because I am too disabled to work and not yet divorced.

I want to start taking male hormones (testosterone), because I feel it is the next step in my journey of transitioning to male. Right now, because of my voice and lack of body hair, people either assume I'm a very young guy or they figure out I'm a biological female once I speak. It feels like someone just ripped my heart out and did the Mexican Hat Dance on it with golf shoes on every time that happens. I know I'll be getting my Supplemental Security Income (SSI) back in the foreseeable future, but it will only be enough to cover basic survival needs, and maybe not even that.

So I can't afford testosterone on social security, and especially with no income, but I desperately want and need to start it--for my emotional health and well-being. Here's where you come in: you can help me by donating money--any amount--to my Transition Fundraiser. I hope to raise $2,000, enough money to help me pay for the hormones, lab and doctor fees (since hormone therapy isn't covered by Medicaid). Any donated amount will help--Five dollars, or even just one dollar! And if you still want to help, and you have extra money next month or next week, the need will still be there, and you could donate again.

Again, my name is Thomas V., and I thank you, sincerely, from the bottom of my heart for any help, in any form, you give!

You can track the progress of my fundraiser with me here:

If you are interested in finding more out about me, please visit my journal on LiveJournal: http://tomcat1981.livejournal.com/