Meet Dax
Dax's story
HRT Access Fund recipient
Dax (she/they) is a 33-year-old Black trans femme who is a little over a year into HRT. She was finally able to afford gender-affirming care via Plume while working as a Hospitality Specialist, where she was one of many employed by hospitals during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to help ensure precautions were upheld by all entering spaces shared with the medically vulnerable. As COVID precautions became lax, her contract was terminated, and her access to HRT jeopardized. Financial scarcity has followed her since.
"Undergoing HRT has easily been the most free I have ever felt in my life. I have felt present in my own body, and recognized me within, in ways I've never known possible before HRT," Dax shares. "This grant will save me from having to make survival-based choices between honoring my growth and having more resources to maintain housing security. It means my transition does not get put on hold. It means I get to grow further into me."
Dax describes herself as loving, a firm believer in truth, and a fierce defender of care and our community. She is a dreamer who believes a better world is possible for all of us. "I am my ancestors’ wildest dreams."
Dax's timeline
-
Award Granted
September 13, 2023
Dax was awarded a grant toward HRT/GaHT! -
HRT Onboarding Date
September 28, 2023
Dax was seen by their HRT/GaHT provider. -
Update
January 8, 2024
Dax shared, "My quality of life has changed for the better with the knowledge that I don't have to fear the growth I've experienced during my transition so far fading away due to lack of medicine access. The peace that awareness gives really can't be understated. This access means I get to continue admiring the incredible changes my body undergoes in my mirror daily and my thoughts of the future aren't shrouded by immediate worry of where next week's dose of Estradiol is gonna come from. Access beats anxiety."
Grant details
$800 towards gender-affirming care.
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Help us support more people like Dax get the care they need and deserve.
About Estrogen+
On average, it costs $1,700+/year for Dax's care.
- What is it?
- Accessibility
- After care
What is it?
Estrogen+ refers to the gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy (HRT) methods that some trans women, trans femme, and non-binary people take that result in physical changes which align with their gender identity. Every person's preferences and personal healthcare needs vary, so this can include oral medications, injections, and transdermal patches.
How accessible is it for trans folks to receive this care?
For trans folks who live in states most impacted by anti-trans healthcare legislation, it can be extremely difficult to find a knowledgeable, trans-affirming provider as well as access prescription medication. Many insurance plans do not cover HRT. For trans folks without insurance coverage, the ongoing out-of-pocket expense can be challenging.
What is the impact of this care on the recipient’s life?
Estogen+ introduces a wide range of feminizing physical, emotional, and psychological changes that align with their gender identity. This often leads to a more positive emotional well-being, increased confidence, increased safety when in public, and better opportunities at employment and more.