Arts & Entertainment

Ames Artists Raising Money for Transgender Surgery

Musicians have banded together to raise funds for an ISU student's chest reconstruction.

Iowa State University students and local musicians are trying to save Charlie Poulson.

You see he's been trapped in a woman's body for 20 years.

They plan to rescue Charles Poulson, an  student, by hosting a unique fundraiser, Save Charlie: The Benefit Show, to raise funds for a chest reconstruction surgery, according to an article originally reported in Ames 247.

Find out what's happening in Ameswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Poulson, who identifies as transgender according to an article in the Iowa State Daily, binds his chest to appear more manly, he said in an email. The binder he wears cuts into his skin and compresses his chest. Surgery would fix that but Poulson doesn't have the thousands of dollars it would cost.

To help cover the costs, he has been selling bracelets made from “old ill-fitting clothing” that he's grown out of thanks to testosterone shots, according to Ames 247 and Iowa State Daily articles. And Sharika Soal, an Ames musician is organizing a Feb. 11 benefit to help.

Find out what's happening in Ameswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Save Charlie: The Benefit" is scheduled for Feb. 11 at 10 p.m. at Project 20/20, according to a Facebook page called Save Charlie.

ISU student run entertainment website, Ames 247 described the event as a 21 years old and older drag show “with surprise performers, as well as the living canvas of girls from Body by Svec, and live music from Ladysoal, Hath No Fury and Morning Sex & the Good Weed. Poulson’s hand-crafted $5 bracelets will also be available for purchase.”

The surgery costs $5,900, according to Facebook pages devoted to the cause

Poulson has been undergoing his gender conversion for some time, and has been documenting taking testosterone over several months on a blog and You Tube.

“I didn’t think anyone would want to work that hard just to help me,” Poulson told Ames 247. “But I couldn’t raise the money for the surgery by selling bracelets alone.”

Check Ames Patch later next week for more on Charlie Poulson.


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