239. The Cost of Being Trans with Ash Perez

Financial Feminist

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You might think you know the financial cost of transitioning—but what you’ll hear in this episode will completely reframe how you think about money, identity, and survival. In this episode, I spoke with Ash Perez –– Cuban-Korean-Filipino writer, director, producer, and openly trans man who’s sharing what it really takes to live authentically in a world that often doesn’t make room for that authenticity. From top surgery and hormone therapy to lost job opportunities and acne treatments during a second puberty, Ash gets incredibly honest about the hidden, ongoing expenses of transitioning—and why we need to start thinking about them as necessary, not excessive.

This is one of the most candid and enlightening conversations we’ve ever had on the show. Ash walks us through not only his journey through gender discovery, divorce, grief, and systemic hoops—but also what cisgender allies often get wrong when trying to support trans folks. If you care about queer communities, want to be a better ally, or are just ready to expand your perspective on what financial security and self-acceptance really look like, tune in.

Ash’s links:

Website: https://www.2ndtry.tv/

Substack: https://substack.com/@itsashlyperez

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