Meet Aru, 2022 Annual Trans Surgery Fund Recipient

Congratulations to Aru, who has been awarded $10,000 towards her gender-affirming surgery!

Aru (she/her) is a 21-year-old asylum-seeking trans woman from Venezuela who is seeking bottom surgery, also known as GRS or SRS.

The high upfront cost of bottom surgery is simply too much for her to afford: on top of having existing medical debt and being a full-time student, Aru cannot obtain a work permit. Additionally, her insurance will not cover most of her surgery (and even what they will agree to cover, they will only do so through reimbursements months after surgery.)

Even though Aru was able to raise about half the amount of money she needed for surgery on GoFundMe, care has still been out of reach.

As one of the very few openly out trans women she knows in her campus community, Aru is a mentor for other queer and questioning students. She has also organized projects to help secure housing for other Brown trans women.

Aru is excited about being able to wear pants without worry. As one of her biggest insecurities and barriers to a fulfilling life is lifted, she is excited to go to the beach for the first time in years. Aru hopes to be able to join a rock climbing gym after surgery, something her dysphoria would simply not let her do before.

Aru plans to have surgery in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates!