Content warning for mentions of sexual assault

Hi. I’m Cazembe Jackson. I am a Black, Southern, non binary Trans Man. In the spring of 2001, I was raped by four men. I was queer and presenting in a very trans masculine way. That rape produced an unwanted pregnancy. I dropped out of school and went home. My mother wasn’t very supportive about the rape. She made it seem as if it was my fault because I was queer. Around the corner from my house was a planned parenthood. I chose it because I knew they wouldn’t give me a lecture on Christianity or trick me into not getting an abortion. I remember that it cost 300 dollars and I had to take out a payday loan in order to pay for it. It took me years to pay that loan off. When I got to the clinic they gave me the paperwork and said I had to come back a few days later to have the abortion. I did that and had what is known as a medical abortion. But they went an extra step and called the rape crisis center and set me up a free therapy appointment. I often say that my abortion saved my life because had they not called I may have never gone to therapy, which did indeed save my life.