Queer Campout started as a surgery fundraiser to finance part of the Camp Director's bottom surgery. Like many gender-affirming procedures, that procedure required a multi-year process of completing other surgeries, maintaining insurance coverage and relationships with doctors / psychologists, checking in with the wait list, developing and maintaining a supportive social circle, and staying as healthy as possible. This process can make it hard to budget enough time off from work, money for the costs to prepare, or handle the other financial strains that come with significant medical procedures. Surgery can be expensive whether or not it is covered by insurance and unexpected life changes can completely change the trajectory of the surgery process.
The Stormy Kito-Justice Surgery Fund is named in honor of Stormy, who was an ardent supporter of the Campout, the many communities that were lucky to have him, and the patients that he supported with his healthcare knowledge and experiential knowledge as a trans, Jewish person of color. You can read more about Stormy on the Queer Campout page under ‘OUR PROJECTS’
If you are getting a gender-affirming procedure and anticipate needing money to fund that procedure or costs related to that procedure (e.g., the medical care is covered, but your time off of work will not be and you won't be able to pay rent, or the skin preparation for the procedure isn't covered, or the procedure itself is just not covered at all), then you might be a great candidate for this application.
Despite the designation of "surgery fund," we also accept applicants who are getting gender-affirming electrolysis or laser hair removal without an associated surgery!
There are a few things that we ask of you as an applicant:
have a gender-affirming procedure date before April 2026
be willing to speak to Trans Medical Mutual Aid about your financial aid options, insurance, any benefits you might have through a job, and support options from their group
attend the Queer Campout (You can opt for day camp. You will get free admission. We can supply you with a sleeping bag, sleeping mat, and / or your own tent, if you want)
Queer Campout is located between Milwaukee and Madison. Queer Campout will occur August 28-30 (5pm Friday through Sunday afternoon)
There are a few things we prioritize in the applications:
Type of procedure
Insurance coverage
Work benefits
Procedure date
If you aren't sure whether your procedure will fall into the preferred timeframe, please still apply! We often have people move their surgery date or experience a change in insurance/income that allows them to pass their fund on to the next applicant in line.
One stipulation for Fund Recipients:
if your surgery date changes and puts you past the deadline of April 2027, we may pass the fund on to the next person in line
In 2023, we rasied ~$1,945 for the fund recipient
In 2024, we raised $2,000 for the fund recipient
In 2025, we raised $2,000 for the fund recipient
IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE FUND: You are welcome and encouraged to apply again in the future!