[kissing noises] I love you guys so much and I'll see you next week, have a great day, bye!
Chase: Hey guys! It's Wednesdays with Chaseypoo!
Today is another vlog type of video only because I am actually working on my thesis like crazy right now
and I really don't want to have to put up my light and everything and try to look pretty for y'all
because literally like once I'm on a roll I should do it I've been procrastinating forever.
Um... I'm actually working on this thing so to me it's super important right now that I just fix that
ANYWAYS [laughs] this week's topic is financing and transition.
This. Is. A very good topic because I feel like I have a lot of experience in this.
Um, I, one, will say that 100% I am super privileged because I am white and I am passing
as a man... in society. Um I am very queer and I didn't pass for a long time but
still that doesn't matter, the privileges that I hold today, um...
I definitely believe played a part in the reason why I was able to... do...
fund my transiton.
So, um, financing and transition. So the way that I did it, just to let you know, is that I
I worked a lot and I, um, was able to get a therapist and get an endocronologist and that was free.
Very rare to get free therapy but it was like somebody doing their internship or something like that, whatever.
Uh, I did have to pay the letter though, for the letter that says that I'm trans and whatever.
[scoffs] bull.
Um, cuz if I [thumps off camera]
Beauty! [laughing] aww
She wants attention
Um... yeah so I [stutters and laughs]
Um, so at least with that I didn't have to deal with, but I did have to pay for my T and I had a job
Um, now for surgery, that's where the part gets- the way that I financed it is [stutters] I did a um...
It was called Chip In back then which is basically like a gofundme but
Chip In, they used to not take any fees which is why it's no longer a website.
They took no fees and it was just so easy and it was through paypal and... [sighs] god
If any of you are from the old school Chip In days...
Chip In days... lemme know in the comments because those were the days. Anyways,
So I did Chip In and I did Indiegogo or something like that, um, campaign
In order to help fund my surgery
and I also um...
So for surgery I had to pay for my flights, my partner's flights, where I was staying, and surgery.
In total I think my surgery in US Dollars at that time with all of the prices was probably around $9000.
Um, which is a lot of money! And I [stutters] what was it? Whatever I don't remember how much money I crowdfunded but I was able to do that.
and the way I was able to do that, and this is what advice I give to everybody who has, like, crowdfunding campaigns for their surgery or their transition,
Offer something to someone. K? People are not selfish, but when you donate, people want a physical reminder that they did that
To either feel like a nice person or to remember you or remember 'oh my god yes I did help that person'
and it makes them feel good by giving. Which is a... [stutters] that's fine! You're giving money, that's fine!
So I always like to suggest to give something
like, um, you can buy a batch of stickers and just sell them.
So obviously when you're selling, you're selling for more than what they cost which is great
because then for you, you get more.
Or um, you can sell bracelets. That's a thing that I did in the past to help one of my friends fund their surgery.
And it's really fun that way because people are able to get something and then... I don't know
I really [stutters] enjoy doing that so...
If you're going to try to finance your [stutters] transition or your surgery...
any surgery really, um... I'm talking trans related though.
and you are not sure what to do, I would recommend doing like a crowdfunding to try to give something back.
If you're able to work, that's fantastic. I know a lot of people who are able to save up money.
and were able to do it and then I also know other people
who took out a student line of credit or a line of credit, or a loan, to actually pay for their transition. So...
There's a bunch of different ways to do it.
Um, the way that I did it, because I have a large platform online and people know who I am, it was easier for me to
um, I guess like [stutters] get people or like reach people, that's what I'm trying to say, reach people.
So it was easier to do that.
But... um, not everyone has that privilege or that type of audience and...
So that's where it gets tricky but that's why I'm saying literally try to sell something.
Some people are artists... you can write... you can even write little thank you notes.
little thank you cards that are personalized for someone.
It is a lot of work but in the end, it's worth it.
And you can always do those while you're recovering, you don't have to send them right away.
So that's my advice.
I said that and I made a video like two years ago or last year or something.
Um... how to fund your transition or how to deal with crowdfunding whatever.
I- I'm glad I made that video because...
I just want people to know that it is possible to fund your surgery. 'cause there are so many crowdfunding surgeries and...
[sutters]
What I don't like is when somebody says that they are just waiting for donations
and they get angry, I've seen people get ANGRY that people aren't donating.
Um... I think that...
Putting your amount lower, if you're surgery is $7000 don't put $7000 in your gofundme
put lower, like 3000 or 4000 dollars and the rest you should be able to find
either by working or um...
you find different ways to do it, or if you really can't work 'cause you're on disability or something like that,
then obviously that... But I just feel like people just when they see a huge number like 9000 or 7000
they get scared and oh that number they'll never reach that, I might as well not even donate.
But if you put the number lower, and then you can um make it higher once you reach that goal,
then it helps people to understand. It's all about- it's all the mind. Maybe it's like the sociologist in me
or maybe I've been doing this for so long I can see it but anyways
That's what I wanted to say. Thank you for joining me for this vlog-like video
of financing your transition.
If you have any questions, please let me know. Um...
But uh, yeah I feel like it is...
its... there are an abundance of crowdfunding [stutters] for transition.
And that's okay. And I think that because we are marginalized in this society, um...
That... you know... It's fucking hard to get a job sometimes or some people like can't get jobs
and you know why? Because they're trans. And it sucks.
Anyways...
That's all I have to say. Beauty is still here by the way, as I write my thesis.
[kiss noises]
I love you guys so much and I'll see you next week! Have a great day! Bye!