2022 Grant Recipients

Gender Confirmation Center

Surgery Grant with Dr. Mosser

"My names Cas and my pronouns are He/They! Born and raised in New Orleans and still here. After my family, friends, and community I spend most of my time with my truck and my cat Pickle. I’m so immensely grateful for this grant and Genderbands and for every person who continues to love and support Trans youth and Trans lives everyday."

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"The surgery I was able to get through Genderbands and Dr. Mossers office has been life changing. The procedure and healing were as smooth as I could’ve possibly hope for. I’m pretty much fully healed and the amount of freedom and comfortability I have every day now is priceless. Not to mention just the amazement of feeling myself in my own body. Without this grant and the people behind it, it would’ve taken me years and year before I could’ve considered getting top surgery. I’m forever grateful."

University of Utah Surgery Grant

CJ (he/him) is a student at the University of Utah, studying biology and English! He loves the outdoors, doing activities such as hiking, backpacking, and skiing. His passion for the outdoors drives his passion for conservation and action against climate change.

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"My surgery went well and with the support of Genderbands, I was able to have the surgery in the first place! I have far less dysphoria now that I've had top surgery, and it allows me to feel comfortable doing everyday things like swimming, hiking, and exercising which were more difficult to do with a binder. I feel more comfortable in myself than I have ever, and I am able to live happily and as my true self."

Genderbands Surgery Grant

BIPOC

"I am trans man living in Oakland CA. I approve asylum seeker in end 2018 and graduated from 1951 refugee coffee training program. I look forward to getting the body I knew I needed since I was 4 years old, when stole my brothers underwear because it fitted better." 

"I remember every encounter with Genderbands because they truly changed my life. I am now living life with the chest I always felt was my true self and body. I now walk with attentive posture and pride. Working out feels amazing nowadays. Especially getting noticed as the man I've always been, but this time the public sees what Ive always seen and felt. It feels unreal still, most days but I have an amazing supportive fiance who loves to remind me that this is me and I get to physically and mentally show it off. Obviously I do not go flashing people but any excuse to wear an opened button shirt I'm there! Thank you very much to Genderbands, to the funders and to the team! Thank you for giving me the chance to feel like the real me. It has given me an amazing amount of confidence back. I had lost it going through asylee process. This is truly changing lives."

Genderbands Surgery Grant

BIPOC

"Hello! I’m Myra and I’m a 22 year old transgender man from Memphis, Tennessee. I’ve been taking testosterone for almost 5 years now and I’m so grateful for the help that I’m receiving to further my transition. I’m extremely thankful and this grant will help me out immensely! Thank you Genderbands and to anyone who has donated to this foundation!"

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"Everything went great! My surgeon did exactly what I had in mind. It’s honestly perfect. Thank you so much!"

Bunke Clinic Travel Grant

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Genderbands General Surgery Grant

Trans-Masculine

"Hi, I’m T! I’m a 25 year old, non-binary artist and activist. Just trying to change the narrative.. one transphobe at a time (: I am so incredibly grateful to have been awarded this grant - this is a life saver for me! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported and donated to this amazing foundation!"

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"From start to finish, Genderbands was absolutely amazing. I found them at a low point in my life when I was depressed and hopeless about when/if I was ever going to get top surgery. I had been waiting almost 2 years, but when I found Genderbands, everything changed for me. They were like the light at the end of the tunnel. I had friends who supported me, but I didn’t share this journey with my family, so oftentimes, I felt alone through this and didn’t know how to navigate all of the moving pieces that went into this surgery. Genderbands not only made this surgery financially possible for me, but they also made me feel like I was not alone through the whole process. Life before top surgery was hard, and living in my own skin was a challenge every day. Right after getting home from the surgery I remember feeling nothing except pure happiness that my day had finally come. I am almost a year post-op, and my quality of life and mental health has improved significantly because of this surgery. Gender affirming care changes and saves lives, and I am so incredibly grateful for Genderbands for existing and doing what they do for the community"

Genderbands HRT Grant

"I’m from Arkansas where I came out as bisexual at 14 and I learned how to play guitar and compose music. when I was 25 I came out as a proud trans woman. I believe in God and connecting with my community by using my voice artistically and politically."

Buncke Clinic Grant

"I was born and raised in Texas, but moved to Utah for college where I am now the secretary of its Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA). Here I was able to have a strong support group for when I started to medically transition in 2021 to where I am now."

"I am very grateful to have received the grant I did from Genderbands. I feel so much more comfortable with and in my own body now that my chest is flat, and that wouldn't of been possible for at least another 5-10 years without the grant. Not to mention that everyone involved in this journey was so friendly and supportive the entire time, and I appreciate that more than I can say. It's been several months since the surgery, and it all still feels so surreal to me that I was actually able to do it. The sense of gender euphoria I get when my shirts lay flat against my chest without having to use a binder is very real though. Every day starts as a good day now, which is more than I could have asked for. I'm one step closer to my transition goals, and I will always be thankful for Genderbands and all of the donors for helping me make this possible. I hope that they can keep giving out more transition grants to many more deserving people for many years to come."

Genderbands General Surgery Grant

Trans-Feminine

Valerie (she/her) has worked in government and politics, and plans to attend law school in order to advance trans rights policy in New York and beyond. She is also the proud mom of a fearless young daughter.

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"It's hard for me to describe just how much this grant has changed my life. Since having top surgery -- something that wouldn't have been possible without the generous support of Gender Bands' donors -- I have gained a new sense of self that I simply didn't have before. Not only has my level of euphoria increased as my dysphoria has decreased, but I have gained a level of confidence that I've never felt before. And this has affected every facet of my life, from the personal to the professional. I am more sure of myself in social interactions and in job interviews, for instance, and my mental health has been vastly improved by this gift.
Thank you Gender Bands and everyone who has ever contributed to this cause. You are changing lives, and I am proof of that."