From Gay Star News: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/50000-raised-trans-activist-kate-bornsteins-cancer-treatment-two-days220313
Half of target raised in two days, but crowd-funding project seeks $100,000 in total to help legendary gender theorist, who has ‘saved thousands of lives’ from suicide
By Anna Leach
22 March 2013
Well-wishers have raised over $50,000 (US dollars, €38,600) in two days to fund cancer treatment for veteran trans rights activist and academic Kate Bornstein.
Bornstein’s friend Laura Vogel started a page on Go Fund Me crowd-funding site on Wednesday. After one day over $40,000 was raised.
‘We are all blown away by how fast this sum has grown, and by how many people have stepped up to stand by Kate’s side as she goes through this difficult process of healing,’ said Vogel.
In answer to why she started this campaign for Bornstein, Vogel said:
‘Kate, or Auntie Kate as so many of us affectionately call her, has helped so many people surmount the trappings of social pressure, bullying, and oppression that so often lead to suicide. Kate has helped thousands of people choose to “stay alive,” as she puts it.
‘So, when she told me that she wouldn’t be able to follow the treatment plan that her doctors said was her best – and only – hope for beating cancer, it broke my heart. I was sad, confused, and outraged. And then I remembered: we can fix this problem; we can make Kate’s treatment plan financially possible.’
Bornstein is an author, playwright, performance article and gender theorist – a leading academic in deconstructing the concept of gender binary. She was diagnosed with lung cancer last August. She received treatment and doctors believed they had removed the cancer – but last month they found the cancer was back.
Vogel says that Bornstein’s cancer is curable, but expensive. Although she does have health insurance she has to pay high monthly payments, cover travel costs and pay for supplements that her doctor says are an integral part of her treatment.
Also, Bornstein is not able to work – at speaking engagements, performances or writing – while she is fighting the cancer.
Continue reading at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/50000-raised-trans-activist-kate-bornsteins-cancer-treatment-two-days220313
