Dallas mom raises goal of GoFundMe campaign to move transgender daughter out of Texas
A Dallas mom has raised over $21,000 in donations in hopes of moving herself and her 6-year-old transgender child to a state that is more inclusive of trans rights.
“I’m moving [my daughter] Isa to a state that is considered safe for trans people according to the Transgender Law Center’s research,” Violet Augustine wrote on her GoFundMe campaign. “A state that won’t consider me an abuser when I seek medical care for my trans child and potentially remove her from my custody, as [Gov. Greg] Abbott is proposing. One such place is California.”
Last month, Abbott directed the Texas Department of Family Protective Services to investigate what he called child abuse by parents who provide gender-affirming medical care for trans kids. On Friday, a judge in Travis County judge issued a temporary injunction to prevent the state from enforcing the governor’s directive.
Augustine told Austin’s KVUE-TV that when Isa identified as female, she began to socially transition the 6-year-old by using new pronouns and dressing her differently. The Dallas mother said she’s faced criticism and judgment.
“The day care that she was in, they basically refused to accommodate the new pronouns and the fact that she’d be dressing a little bit differently. So that was our first introduction and experience to, you know, the lack of inclusivity and acceptance in Texas,” Augustine told KVUE, adding that they ended up switching day cares, but still receive “looks.”
“So when we’re out in public and she happens to bring up her anatomy, which she does because she’s not ashamed of herself, right? I see people’s reactions and to the point where it has just been just a scary feeling,” Augustine said to the TV news outlet.
Augustine’s GoFundMe, which was started on Feb. 23, has raised over $21,500 as of Tuesday morning. The Dallas mom said the initial goal to raise $11,000, to secure housing without a proof of income, was reached in two hours.
Augustine, as of last Friday, has since raised her campaign goal to $111,111 with the hope to purchase a home for her family..
“As it would benefit my child to have the stability provided by a permanent place to live, and since the original $11K I had personally saved before this fund was intended for a down payment on a house in Texas, I think [people who advised me to instead purchase a home, are] correct in their assessment,” Augustine said in an update on the fundraising campaign. “I’m raising the ask from $11K to $111K to be able to set down roots in an affirming and welcoming state.”
This story was originally published March 15, 2022 at 8:59 AM.
