As far back as I can remember, I refused to wear girl clothes. When I hit puberty I really felt that I was ‘different’. In school, especially high school, I was bullied because of my appearance. I never knew much about transitioning or that it was even a possibility. In 2005, I started to understand more about transgender issues after listening to a guest speaker and viewing photos of different stages of transitioning. In 2007, I knew for certain I needed to transition. My first step was getting a binder since my top has always been my biggest source of dysphoria. I struggled being honest with … [Read more...]
2018 Grant Recipient Theophilus
I had decided that being a girl was just what I was going to have to do. I never thought that I would be able to live my truth. I never thought that life would make sense and I would see a light at the end of the tunnel of not feeling comfortable in a body that I’ve been born in. I’ve always said that I was grateful for being and experiencing womanhood, it made me appreciate the woman that much more, however it just wasn’t for me. I’ll forever be thankful to those who came before me for simply showing me another way, something I knew deep down was possible. After 20 years, I’d decided to … [Read more...]
2018 Hembrough Private Grantee
Anonymous, Chest Reconstruction (JCF does not require any grant recipient to share their story as we are sensitive to privacy and safety of all members of our community). We would like to extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Kathy Rumer for generously offering pro-bono services for this procedure. … [Read more...]
Faithfully LGBTQ #TitheTrans Campaign Raises Money for Gender-Affirming Surgeries
Jim Collins Foundation thanks Faithfully LGBTQ and Eliel Cruzgo for their #TitheTrans campaign, raising money for JCF to help trans people who need gender-affirming surgery. "For those who do need surgeries in order to be at peace in their own bodies it can be hard to gain access to. The trans community is disproportionately in poverty and gender affirming surgeries can range anywhere from 10k-90k." ~Tithe Trans Campaign. JCF has made this dream happen for 17 people since its founding in 2008. Even with donated services from well-known surgeons, it takes many thousands of dollars in … [Read more...]
Transgender military members offered free surgeries
Talk about a trans action! A former Navy surgeon says she will perform gender confirmation surgery — for free — for some members of the military affected by President Trump’s ban on transgender soldiers. Dr. Christine McGinn, herself transgender,told CNN's Michael Smerconish that any of her patients who were scheduled to receive the surgery before Trump's announcement will undergo the procedure free of charge. McGinn was previously nominated in 2000 for the Navy's flight surgeon of the year award during her tenure in the military. She also founded a transgender clinic in 2007 and has … [Read more...]
Jim Collins Foundation Announces 2017 Grant Recipients
April 1, 2017 (New York, NY) – The Jim Collins Foundation (JCF), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund gender-affirming surgeries, is pleased to announce our three 2017 grant recipients, and our new grant cycle, starting April 5, 2017. This year JCF awarded two general fund grants and one matching fund grant. Our General Fund grants cover 100% of the medical fees associated with gender-affirming surgery. Our matching grant is from the Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund (Hembrough Grants) which covers 50% of the medical fees associated with gender-affirming surgery; the … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Angie Torres
Angie is a passionate and driven LGBTQ activist hailing from New York City. Angie is a proud alumni of the nation's first accredited LGBTQ high school, Harvey Milk High School. She's appeared on several television shows and networks, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, MSNBC and America's Next Top Model, in an effort to further educate the world on the issues that plague the LGBTQ community. Angie feels extraordinarily blessed and thankful to have been awarded the Jim Collins Foundation grant out of hundreds of applicants. After feeling so disconnected with her body her entire life, she now knows … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Cael Neary
It is commonly said that the end goal in life is to be happy. However, when my parents told me in my adolescent years, “We just want you to be happy,” their definition of daily and ultimate “happiness” did not include queerness or gender transition. When I finally made it out of the house and moved to college in Wisconsin, I could live as Cael 24 hours a day for the first time in my life. Every now and then, when I nearly forget how far I’ve come, I recall those first weeks, where it dawned on me that each day, I could simply get dressed. I am ready for the next step. I am ready for my body to … [Read more...]
2017 Grant Recipient Christyna
I wish I could tell you that I knew I was transgender all of my life. I have had bishops from church tell me I was going to hell for having such thoughts and wanting to be this way. I had family who later came around to this ideal of Christyna, instead of Christopher. At the JCF they believe in me, they believe in us, as people. I’m thankful for the hardships I have gone through on this journey because it shows me, as well as everyone else, anything is possible if you need or want it enough. If god hands you lemons make a merengue pie. It just tastes better! “At the JCF they believe in me, … [Read more...]
Jim Collins Foundation Announces 2016 Grant Recipients
April 5, 2016 (New York, NY) – The Jim Collins Foundation (JCF), a national nonprofit organization with a mission to fund gender-affirming surgeries, is thrilled to announce our 2016 grant recipients and open up a new grant cycle, starting April 15, 2016. This is the first year JCF offered two grant options for those seeking surgical grants. General Fund grants cover 100% of the medical fees associated with the gender-affirming surgery. Krysallis Anne Hembrough Legacy Fund (Hembrough Grants) cover 50% of the medical fees associated with the gender-affirming surgery, requiring each recipient to … [Read more...]
2016 Grant Recipient Bayne
I wish I could say I always knew I was a boy or at least point to a moment of epiphany when it all made sense, but it wasn't like that for me. I just always knew I was "wrong" in some very deep but inconceivable way. I started down a path of slow self-destruction around age 10. I cut, burned, starved, refused to speak, punched walls, pushed people away, drank, etc. I finally sorted it out in my mid to late 20s. That was over a decade ago. Being trans in the deep South is a daily struggle – from the narrow-minded perspective that is so common to the physical torment that is the reality of … [Read more...]
2016 Grant Recipient Katrina Dawn Stewart
Since I transitioned in 2001, I have given back to the GLBT community at the local, state, and national level through leadership, advocacy and education. This work was in response to my own need to build the safety nets of support I needed as I began living authentically. That work developed into a passion to both make the road of transition easier socially for others and to break through to create understanding in the communities I touched so as to be the change I wanted to see in the world. While at times frustrating and challenging, this has given me joy and has satisfied my heart. At 44, … [Read more...]
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