Meet Laith
Laith's story
Annual Trans Surgery Fund recipient
Electrolysis Support Fund recipient
Laith (she/they) is a Black Southern trans femme who was awarded a grant in 2021 towards permanent hair removal and a grant in 2024 towards facial feminization surgery.
Laith lives with significant financial challenges due to large outstanding student loans and medical debts. After saving money and fundraising for years to afford her first surgery in her medical transition, she struggled to garner more mutual aid to continue transitioning. She knew she had more goals for herself but was unable to attain affordable insurance coverage in Georgia. Despite these difficulties, Laith threw dance parties for her local queer community, while continuing to push her GoFundMe on social media as a means of additional fundraising; however, she was still unable to afford the procedures she needed. Consequently, she didn’t know if she would ever be able to attend law school, which she planned to do after her transition.
They shared, "Having gender-affirming healthcare will literally alter my whole lifestyle: it will help me occupy spaces and feel seen in those spaces. It will help me feel better in the clothes I wear, the bathrooms I choose to use, the relationships I maintain, and the body I possess."
Laith is an advocate for queer, Black, and brown people through her work at an employment discrimination law firm based in Georgia. She hopes to deepen her practice and serve her community by becoming an attorney. She is very excited to have the confidence to continue being an out and proud Black trans woman in a field all-too-often dominated by white cis men.
Laith's timeline
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Award Granted
November 22, 2021
Laith was awarded a grant toward permanent hair removal! -
Care Received
May 17, 2022
A payment has been made toward Laith's permanent hair removal! -
Care Received
October 27, 2022
A payment has been made toward Laith's permanent hair removal! -
Care Received
December 23, 2022
A payment has been made toward Laith's permanent hair removal! -
Care Received
February 15, 2023
A payment has been made toward Laith's permanent hair removal! -
Update
March 19, 2023
Laith shared, "Being able to clear my facial hair is and has been one of my main goals in my transition journey. As unfortunate as it is, being able to pass without beard shadow is instrumental in me being able to land opportunities in high places. It's a long and difficult process, but this grant was able to get me started and that's one of the most difficult parts." -
Award Granted
March 8, 2024
Laith has been granted a surgery fund award. -
Care Received
July 9, 2024
Laith had surgery with Dr. Carson Huynh at Atlanta Surgical Arts!
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Update
July 24, 2024
Laith shared, "I've noticed a big difference in the feelings I experience when looking at myself in the mirror, even though it's still very early in the recovery process I'm much happier. Overall, my dysphoria has decreased a lot and I'm already feeling more confident navigating the world!
This surgery has given me the confidence to continue pursuing a high-profile field like law/policy as a career. I think before this, I was worried really worried about being able to land jobs and what not in a field that is so heavily white and cis. I hate to say it, but passing privilege is a real thing. And this surgery just might have afforded me more economic opportunity as well as the opportunity to give back to my community once I make it big (which I sure hope to do)!"
Grant details
$23,425 towards gender-affirming care.
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