MIAMI — Ross Bleustein, philanthropist and co-owner of Trans500.com along with fellow co-owner and director, Josh Stone, has announed the creation of the “Trans500 Transition Surgery Fund."
Bleustein said the inspiration for the fund came from seeing reality TV star Bruce Jenner, the 1976 Olympic decathlon champion, come out as transgender in a "20/20" interview with Diane Sawyer on April 24.
“As someone who runs a business dealing with hundreds if not thousands of transgender women, I know firsthand what these amazing people go through,” Bleustein claimed. “I have spoken to so many of our brave and courageous models and heard stories that from a very young age they felt like they were born in the wrong body. Stories about how hard it was growing up and how the majority of them were ridiculed starting at very young age and that the discrimination still hasn’t stopped.
"For a lot of trans people, the discrimination they face sometimes follows them for the rest of their lives because the lack of education regarding this topic has led to very little tolerance and acceptance. What Jenner has done, is he has stepped out as a very public figure, and with a one-hour interview whether he likes it or not, became the new face of the transgender movement. It took an immense amount of bravery and courage to do what he did and we are so happy for him that he will get to live the rest of his life as the person he was born to be, and not the person society told him he had to be.”
Bleustein continued, “Many transgendered people which includes both MTF (Male to Female) and FTM (Female to Male) save for years and years to be able to afford the operations they need to complete their transition. Some of the treatments include hormone injections, implants, breast removal, testosterone treatments, plastic surgery, and sexual reassignment surgery. None of these treatments are covered under insurance so I am constantly meeting people who have saved for years and years to be able to undergo these procedures, just so when they look in the mirror, they see the reflection of how they have felt on the inside their entire life."
Bleustein went on to say, “Jenner’s unwavering courage and bravery inspired me and my company to create the Trans500 Transition Surgery Fund, which will be a grant that is given to someone transitioning to help defer some of the costs of their surgeries.
"Our hope is that Jenner will see what we are doing and become involved in our goal and perhaps even let us rename the fund after him. Transphobia is something that is rampant in our society. Young trans people have one of the highest suicide rates in the United States and the trans movement is years behind the gay rights movement. Someone needed to step up and become a voice for this fast growing group of people and Jenner is the perfect person for that job.”
For more information about eligibility for the fund, visit Trans500helps.com.