Hey, I am a queer woman living in Jamaica and I have fallen on some hard times. I have considered sharing a photo of myself here, as that might in some ways bring life to my story. However, it is unfortunate that even in 2021, I am still afraid of what publicly outing myself may mean for my safety. I pray no one has to live with the fear of being harmed by people who know how you look.

Over the last few months I have been experiencing some real financial hardship. I have been unable to cover my bills or secure a job. I recognise at this point that some assistance is needed, but one of the hardest things to do is to ask others for money. Best believe. There seems to be a general assumption that people who ask all have nefarious reasons, when in many cases the lack of dignity is enough to deter anyone from doing so - even those who are just looking to survive or eat.

I honestly have no idea how this will be received - I am just hoping for the best. After seeing how several people's lives have been minimised to tictok memes and 'running hashtags' I think I can forgive myself for not asking sooner.

Yes it is okay to ask for help and that is what I am doing. Asking you for help through a donation or by you sharing this.

Here is the link to an article I wrote recently.

(https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/commentary/20210414/science-and-scary-trans-athletes) 

Thank you for taking the time out to read this.