Hey there! I’m Devin Walker. I’m a trans man and came out in 2018. As a trans man, for those that don’t know, I was assigned female at birth. But I never felt that way. I always felt like something wasn’t quite right. Imagine walking around every day with your clothes on backwards, or your shoes on the wrong feet, even though it looks correct to everyone else. I hated mirrors because they showed a stranger. That image in the glass wasn’t the image inside my head.
I still remember the exact day I started testosterone injections (May 22, 2019) as one of the happiest and most exciting moments in my journey. Every day I watched that stranger in that mirror turn into me. My mom even mentioned that I genuinely smile more instead of that awkward forced thing my face did for photos. I look more like me now, and sound more like it too! But that wasn’t the only step taken.
When I came out in 2018, I researched binders. For those who don’t know, it’s a garment to flatten breast tissue to give the chest a more masculine shape under clothes. Think of a sports bra that works for the IRS (y’know, stiff and unwilling to budge).
At first, I was able to adhere to proper usage of this garment safely by taking “break days” and not wearing it longer than recommended. As I got older, life got in the way. Sometimes there wasn’t time for breaks, which led to me wearing it longer than I should, and that can lead to serious health issues. Going into public without my binder feels worse than the clothes-on backward feeling. Without my binder feels like going into public without any pants.
My awesome therapist was able to help me get a referral for top surgery some months back. After many struggles, we’ve finally done it: I received a call today telling me I have an appointment with a doctor! I am so excited!
But there’s one big problem.
Insurance won’t cover it.
And that’s why I have made this page. I’m asking for help in paying for this surgery so I can stop being in pain. So I don’t have to fight with a stupid piece of stiff, unforgiving cloth torturing my ribs just to look like me.
