Two TikTok content creators raised over $1 million within six hours of their virtual fundraiser for transgender healthcare purposes.
Mercury Stardust and Jory, better known online as alluringskull, raised the funds for non-profit Point of Pride, according to NBC News. The duo ran the 'TikTok-a-Thon' fundraiser on Friday to mark the Transgender Day of Visibility.
The non-profit Point of Pride for whom the two raised the funds provides gender-affirmation surgeries and other healthcare services to transgender persons across the world.
Stardust and Jory collectively have around 4.6 million followers. They have taken turns to engage with people during their livestream along with Point of Pride President and Co-founder Aydian Dowling.
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As per the Point of Pride's website, the organisation provides the following services to trans persons: 1) Annual Transgender Surgery Fund 2) Hormone replacement therapy 3) Hair removal services to trans women 4) Gender-conforming clothing including free chest binders and femme shapewear
The proceeds from Stardust and Jory's fundraiser will go towards these activities, says NBC.
"The money raised will be used to purchase 10,000 chest binders and gaffs (undergarments that flatten the chest and genital areas, respectively), provide hormone replacement therapy and fund gender-affirming surgeries," notes NBC.
Gender-affirming surgeries refer to procedures that help people transition to their self-identified gender, which include several procedures such as facial reconstructive surgery, chest or 'top surgery' to remove breast tissue for a more masculine appearance or enhance breast size and shape for a more feminine appearance, or genital or 'bottom surgery' to transform and reconstruct the genitalia as per self-identified gender, says Cleveland Clinic's website.
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The target of the fundraiser is to reach $2 million.
Jory said that the fundraiser's success brings hope at a time when trans persons face political and cultural targeting.
Jory told NBC, "I think being trans and being queer at a time where people are calling to eradicate us, where people are legislating against our bodies, where people do not want us to exist on principle, I think seeing a bit of joy, a bit of what our community is really about, a bit of mutual aid, knowing that there's hope for you to get those surgeries and the binders and the gaffs and the HRT you need, I think it's saving lives."
Dowling of Point of Pride said the fundraiser sent a very powerful message.
Dowling said, "It's tremendously powerful and sends a very clear message to the community and outside our community that we're valid and we're here and it's time to have a different conversation that doesn't eliminate us, but rather includes us...This money is gonna be so impactful in a way that the trans community has never seen before. And I think that this is the start. This is the momentum to a movement that is not ending anytime soon."
