Meet Bowie
Bowie's story
Annual Trans Surgery Fund recipient
Bowie (he/him) is a 23-year-old trans man seeking top surgery. He had been saving up for a couple of years but was recently diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and had to put all of his savings towards taking care of his immediate health needs. On top of his recent diagnosis, Bowie has dealt with frequent housing insecurity, living paycheck to paycheck, barely scraping by. Unfortunately his health insurance does not cover any transgender health care so he’s been left with a feeling like part of him was missing.
Bowie is a local singer and frontman in a band called Nip Slip. His band is very active in his local LGBTQ+ scene playing at events like Trans Pride Fest as well as fundraiser events for harm reduction and breast cancer. In the day time, he is a chef at a preschool where he gets to cook nutritious and fun meals for his kids, one of his passions.
Bowie is looking forward to his post-op life and transitioning more into his ideal body. "I'm especially excited to be able to preform live in a body I'm more aligned with," Bowie shares, "especially since I can’t wear any form of chest binding while I sing due to my disabilities." He says it’s almost surreal thinking about how he’ll soon have the chest he’s always wanted but thought he would never get to have.
Bowie's timeline
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Award Granted
February 15, 2024
Bowie was granted a Surgery Fund Award! -
Consultation Date
April 10, 2024
Bowie had a consultation with Dr. Alan Dulin!
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Update
July 6, 2024
Bowie shared, "I’m about to have my pre-op appointment in a few days and I am 10 days away from my surgery date! In a couple days my band will be playing our last show before my surgery and it’s so exciting to think this will be my last time preforming with this extra weight on my chest. My friends have all been so excited for me and have been helping me prep for my post-op recovery. I couldn’t ask for a better chosen family!"
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Care Received
July 16, 2024
Bowie had surgery with Dr. Dulin!
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Update
September 24, 2024
Bowie shared, "Even now, a couple months healed after my surgery, I’m still having a hard time wrapping my head around it all. Every day when I wake up, walk past a mirror, or take off my shirt, I feel a little surprised and then elated. It feels unreal finally having the chest I’ve always wanted.
It no longer takes me 30 minutes to pick out an outfit that I feel comfortable in. I can finally wear whatever I want and feel great while doing it. I can finally go to the gym and don’t have to choose between uncomfortably wearing layers and layers of clothing to cover up my chest or to be creepily stared at my whole work out. It’s an amazing and comforting feeling to finally blend in with everyone else.
The first weekend of October is the first show my band, Nip Slip, is playing again since my surgery. Before my surgery, I would bind my chest every day to help ease my gender dysphoria. But singing and dancing around on stage, especially with my heart condition, I can’t have anything tight or restricting around my chest. This leaves me with having to perform feeling exposed, on top of performing being an incredibly vulnerable experience. While I am happy that I was able to be part of a movement that pushes the boundaries of what a man should and shouldn’t look like (for both the cis and trans masc community), I am excited to start this new chapter of my life, performing as authentically me. The cherry on top of it all is that this first show back we are playing at is our town’s annual Trans Pride Fest. I’m so excited to share and celebrate this major life changing moment with my community!"
Grant details
$7,325 towards gender-affirming care.
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Help us support more people like Bowie get the care they need and deserve.
About FTM Top Surgery
On average, it costs $12,000+ for Bowie's care.
- What is it?
- Before care
- Accessibility
- After care
What is it?
FTM/N top surgery is a surgical procedure that removes breast tissue and reshapes the chest contour to create a more traditionally masculine or gender-neutral appearance.
What is life like for a person who needs this care?
Prior to care, many trans masc people experience dysphoria that impacts their daily life. One of the most common and heartbreaking experiences we hear from applicants is that they cannot give hugs to their loved ones without feeling intense distress with their chest. In addition, reliance on chest binding can cause strain over long periods of time.
How accessible is it for trans folks to receive this care?
While top surgery is often categorized as a covered benefit in many insurance plans, the reality is that it's frequently denied coverage. Many people report unsuccessful attempts to appeal for coverage. In addition, finding skilled surgeons experienced in performing top surgery can be extremely challenging, particularly in states and regions most affected by anti-trans healthcare legislation.
What is the impact of this care on the recipient’s life?
Many trans folks who undergo top surgery report massive improvements to their overall well-being and mental health, leading to increased confidence and more comfort in relationships, navigating public spaces, and more.