TikTok-a-Thon for Trans Healthcare

Last updated

TikTok-a-Thon for Trans Healthcare
Founded2022 (2022)
Founder Mercury Stardust
Type Fundraiser
Focus Transgender health care
Location
Area served
Worldwide
MethodFundraiser on TikTok and Twitch
Website www.pointofpride.org/keepup

The TikTok-a-Thon for Trans Healthcare is a yearly fundraiser to raise money for transgender health care. The fundraiser is a livestream organised by trans TikTok influencers Mercury Stardust and alluringskull to fundraise for the mutual aid nonprofit Point of Pride. The fundraiser is organised for March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility and has raised over $4 million.

Contents

Description

The fundraiser is hosted by Mercury Stardust, known as the Trans Handy Ma'am, and a TikToker named Jory, known as alluringskull. [1] The TikTok-a-Thon for Trans Healthcare guests has included the Point of Pride cofounder Aydian Dowling, Dylan Mulvaney, Mama Tot, [1] V Spehar, makeup artist Darius Hall, [2] Ve'ondre Mitchell, and Zaya Perysian. [3]

The campaign raises funds for transgender healthcare provided by the nonprofit organization Point of Pride, an organization that provides gender-affirming care. The care funded by the fundraiser includes; chest binders, femme shapewear, hormone therapy, telehealth access, permanent hair removal and gender-affirming surgery. [4] [5] 90% of funds are used to support trans healthcare through Point of Pride's Gender Affirming Care Access scholarships and grants. [1] [6] [7] Stardust has said about the event: "In a time that often feels like it is hard for us to even exist publicly, it's nice to have a refreshing moment of hope." [4]

In 2022, Stardust and Jory hosted the first "TikTok-a-thon" to coincide with International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31. Originally aiming to raise $24,000, it raised more than $120,000. [2] [8] The 2023 fundraiser was a 30-hour livestream on both TikTok and Twitch. [1] [9] [10] The livestream raised more than $100,000 in its first hour and $1 million in its first six hours. [1] [2] In total, the event raised more than $2 million from 57,500 donors. [1] [11] For 2024, Point of Pride set a fundraising goal of $4 million. [3] [12] [13] Within the first ten hours of the event, Stardust's and Jory's TikTok accounts were banned nine times due to mass reporting from trolls, resulting in multiple interruptions. [14] As of 9 April 2024 the fundraiser had raised $2 million. [15]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "These Trans Creators Have Raised Over $2 Million for Trans Healthcare on TikTok Live". Them. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Jaeckels, Beck. "TikTokers are hosting a 30-hour livestream to raise money for trans healthcare — they hit $1 million in just 6 hours". Insider. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Last Year, This TikTok Duo Raised $2 Million for Trans Healthcare. This Year, They're Doubling It". Them. March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  4. 1 2 "Keep Up on the TikTok-a-Thon for Trans Health!". www.pointofpride.org. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  5. ↑ "TikTok Stars Raise Over $1 Million For Trans Health In Virtual Fundraiser, Aim To Get $2 Million". Outlook India. April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  6. ↑ DiBenedetto, Chase (March 31, 2023). "TikTokkers, led by Mercury Stardust, double $1 million livestream goal for trans healthcare". Mashable. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  7. ↑ "2022 & 2023 Annual Report" (PDF). Point of Pride.
  8. ↑ Baska, Maggie (March 25, 2022). "TikTok's 'trans handy ma'am' is fighting for equality while solving your DIY woes". PinkNews. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  9. ↑ "TikTokers raise over $1M for trans healthcare, gender-affirming surgeries". NBC News. March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ "From Fundraising to Impact: How Point of Pride will utilize TikTok-a-Thon funding". www.pointofpride.org. April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  11. ↑ Hansford, Amelia (April 3, 2023). "Joyful queer TikTok-a-thon raises millions for trans healthcare". PinkNews. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  12. ↑ "How and where to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility in Southern California". San Bernardino Sun. March 29, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  13. ↑ "Announcing Mercury & Jory's 3rd Annual TikTok-a-Thon for Trans Health!". www.pointofpride.org. March 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  14. ↑ Mills, Emily (April 2, 2024). "Mercury Stardust's annual fundraiser for trans health care hit with troll attack and TikTok ban". Our Lives. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  15. ↑ "2024 TikTok-a-Thon for Trans Health". givelively.org.
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