Hey friends…I was physically assaulted last Saturday night just outside of a West Hollywood bar. As a Trans Woman of Color, there are virtually no spaces where I am safe, and getting ganged up on by 5 gay men in West Hollywood (the supposed ‘gay capital’ of LA) was absolutely terrifying. I was violently attacked in the face, bruised and cut up, and left unconscious in a dark alleyway.I am starting a GoFundMe campaign in order to cover some basic necessary costs as I try to recover from this traumatizing event. The funds will be allocated to medical recovery, rent, food, and other basic necessities as my face heals from these attacks and my heart heals from these wounds.To provide more detail…I haven’t had much time to emotionally process what has happened in this traumatic event. Behind the straight faces and joking demeanor I carry around when dealing with trauma, this time I’ve found myself crying whenever I had even a minute alone to myself. The tears would come down a straight path, but I’d be silent and my reactions were limited to a dead stare at nothing. I feel more empty than ever before.It’s a lonesome feeling that I’ve been suffering through a lot lately. I feel pressured to put on a front whenever things get extra tough for me and my experience from being a transwoman, specifically of color. People consistently tell me to accept this reality, but do not take into consideration how my reality and all of these experiences have affected me and my mental health. I’m taking the time to describe my own narrative to the people closest to me reading this.To be as openly honest and vulnerable as I can, I was forced to withdraw from UCLA due to my mental health getting out of control. Because of this, I am no longer receiving the financial aid I had been stretching out until now.As a consequence of coming out and presenting my gender as I feel most comfortable, I have been subject to daily harassment. Everyday when I walk out of my front door, I experience some form of harassment, whether social, emotional, or sexual. I literally cannot be outside for more than 15 minutes without experiencing someone’s rude transphobic commentary or sexual harassment and that has greatly impacted my mental health - and more importantly, my ability to feel safe in this world. My social anxiety has increased greatly as a result of all these daily microaggressions and it has made it that much more difficult to secure a decent job, handle regular chores, and/or lead a fulfilling life. Therefore, I am requesting funds to help me cover my basic costs - rent, groceries, and utilities, as well as medical costs - first aid supplies, mental health prescriptions, medications, and pepper spray, and fixing my phone.Thank you if you took the time to read this. It’s a really tough time for me, especially when such a traumatic event happened to me the same week of my upcoming 2-year anniversary on HRT (hormone replacement therapy). All of your donations and support mean the world to me as I try to celebrate my 2 year anniversary.Genuinely,Alba