An Edinburgh non-binary person hopes gender affirming surgery would help them 'move through the world' like they've always wanted.
Jag Harlo, 31, has what they describe as a 'sizeable chest', which has given them an array of health problems - both physical and mental. Jag has wanted to reduce their chest for some time, though says they're often told to lose weight instead.
While they've donated to other people in similar situations, Jag says they never felt like asking for help was something they could do. Now, they're hoping to finally get the surgery and feel like their body is the way it is 'supposed to look'
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Jag said: "This is something that I thought other people get to do and not me and I've even given to friends fundraisers or anyone that I see sort of within the queer community that needs help.
"I've always been around that but I've always been like, oh, well that's for other people though. I got to a point where I was like, why have I got such a problem with asking for help?
"It's been something that I've wanted to do for a long time but just always had reasons for not to or just, you know, made up reasons not to do it."
Jag says they've wanted the top surgery long before discovering they were non-binary. Feeling 'stuck in their body', Jag says that some physical activities are hard to do and they feel 'trapped'.
They continued: "It's the thing that people will just look at first and be like, oh, that's a girl.
"I know I can't change that other people's perception of that. I've gone years really with having like a huge chest and people just automatically looking at me and seeing girl and I just, I'm sick of it really.
" I can't run, dance or do any activities I enjoyed as a kid anymore since no sports bra can support me adequately. Top surgery would allow me to move through the world like I’ve always wanted to.
"It would allow me to feel at home in my skin, and spend less time in pain on the sofa and more time frolicking shirtless on the beach."
Jag says the gender issue is just one factor of their decision, with chronic back pain, sciatica and depression also playing a part. They've been offered a reduction, which is not what they're looking for.
Jag continued: "I want like the full thing, I want to be pretty much flat.
"I've always been a little bit overweight but like, I feel like a lot of the weight is obviously my chest. I've spent the last 10 years trying to lose weight and just having various mental health problems."
Jag now hopes to go private with the surgery, looking for a smooth experience where they can feel 'more comfortable'. Having already found a surgeon, they're now fundraising for the operation.
You can help out with Jag's gender affirming surgery here.
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