Top photo from left: Ben Sagan, Bryn Long, Vanessa McCoy, Paula Ellis, Olivia Tomkins and Serena Smuckers. Bottom photo, from left: Ben Sagan, Bryn Long, Jaek Avants, Paula Ellis, Olivia Tomkins and Serena Smuckers. (Photos courtesy Roger Lippert)
GEAR increased the number of scholarships awarded this year from five to 15.
Pictured with GEAR leadership are Vanessa McCoy and Jaek Avants who were awarded scholarships to pay for top surgery — one for MTF and one for FTM — is for “top” surgery.
Also three awards were given for hormone replacement therapy, two for name and gender marker change and two for what GEAR calls “presentation starter kits” which allow for $500 to purchase for MTF — wigs, breast forms, bras, makeup and FTM — binders and for both a suit for job interview.
“We have given out other scholarships throughout the year totaling approx $10,000,” Bryn Long, who runs the men’s program, said. “These were for legal fees for name/gender marker change, hormone replacement therapy, electrolysis and counseling for the Transgender community.”