My name is Looka, and I'm a bi, genderqueer, and mentally ill 20-year-old in need of aid.
I have planned for a while to save up to move out of my family's house due to adverse conditions. I've tried to remain closeted, as my family and the surrounding community is very unaccepting. I am also often driven to depressive episodes and mental breakdowns due to a lack of privacy, nonstop environmental overstimulation within the house, and my family's lack of understanding of my conditions, which leads to constant yelling and degradation. I've spent the past few years of my life feeling trapped, and I have realized these are all issues that can only be resolved through independent living.
Though I was at first ambitious, wanting to move out-of-state, I have lowered my fundraising goal to a more feasible 10,000 USD. This is because I now have a more urgent need to move out of my family's house by the beginning of August. Over the past few weeks, my depression has worsened to where I am almost nonfunctional, sleeping for 12 hours a day with constant physical pain, and my family has been increasingly suspicious and bigoted towards me regarding my queerness. They have gone to the extremes of digging through my drawers and interrogating me about my chest binder, the contents of my private journals, and other personal items. My parents have basically deduced that I am queer, and the situation is a passive-aggressive powder keg I fear will explode into worse abuse, or even eviction, if I say or do the wrong thing.
These $10,000 will cover initial transportation costs and a few months' living expenses in the cheapest studio apartment I can find in my area, including rent, utilities, groceries, and medication. This is important to me as a safety buffer in the event my mental illness and physical pain leave me unable to work for a period of time. My current savings and income will be covering much of this goal, but assistance through donations and shares is much appreciated.