Mercury Stardust & friends raise millions for gender-affirming care...

[Jessica_Rose]

Mercury Stardust & friends raise millions for gender-affirming care on TikTok, despite transphobic trolls

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/mercury-stardust-friends-raise-millions-for-gender-affirming-care-on-tiktok-despite-transphobic-trolls/ar-BB1l5I6e?ocid=windirect&cvid=6db0d280f64045688bd93ed5ebf5692a&ei=8

Story by Kamrin Baker (4 April 2024)

Last year, amid an enormous wave of anti-transgender bills sweeping the nation, trans TikTok duo Mercury Stardust (@mercurystardust) and Jory (@alluringskull) set a major goal of raising $1 million for gender-affirming healthcare.

All funds went to their nonprofit partner Point of Pride, which provides financial aid and direct support to trans folks in need of health and wellness care.

This year, the duo planned to go even further, announcing a fundraising goal of $4 million.

But trolls had other plans.

Although Jory and Stardust took to TikTok with great enthusiasm... they were repeatedly banned from TikTok Live, following organized reporting and hate campaigns from "trolls."

Despite the setbacks, they were flexible, moving to other accounts, continuing to stream on YouTube and Twitch, and finding ongoing support through other LGBTQ+ content creators. But they were banned over a dozen times from a myriad of accounts.

"Do not allow people to stifle our voice," Stardust said... "Do not allow people to tell us what we can and cannot talk about, or [stop us from] trying to help trans people where they're at with what we've got."

"We are making a difference, and true differences cannot happen overnight," she wrote. "It happens with a consistent effort of compassion and commitment to those around us."