Q&A with music Nicolle Maroulis of No More Dysphoria

For the past few years, Nicolle Maroulis has been balancing two incredibly deep passions: writing and playing music and running a nonprofit organization that provides resources directly to people in the process of transitioning. This organization, No More Dysphoria, has grown into a huge community of supporters who have helped raise thousands of dollars to cover needs that can often be cost-prohibitive but life saving and identity-affirming.

When and why did you decide to found No More Dysphoria?

I founded No More Dysphoria back in 2015/2016. A friend of mine actually came to me initially with the idea. I loved it so much and really connected with it and said, “Let me help you with this.”

So we immediately began planning and organizing ideas, and a few weeks later she said she needed to back away from the project because she was scared she might accidentally get outed. So I asked her if I could continue forward with the mission and she gave me her blessing, and I hit the ground running. 

Since you originally founded the organization, how has your vision for this work shifted or developed?

The only main thing that has shifted is our like creative/design representation. Other than that, our mission has stayed strong and true since Day 1. Another thing that I guess you can say that has developed is the amount of community involvement that has taken place over the past year. So many bands and artists with huge platforms have reached out to us this year and volunteered to donate, or let us come collect donations at their shows, or collected donations on their own tours and it was really beautiful to witness. We worked with bands this year such as Foxing, La Dispute, Petal, Kississippi, Prince Daddy and the Hyena, Mom Jeans, Koji, A.W, Coping Skills, Nervous Dater, Weakened Friends, and so many more. I am so grateful for all of their support and generosity.

If someone is interested in receiving support from No More Dysphoria, what’s the process like to connect with the organization? 

It is extremely easy: just email me at nomoredysphoria@gmail.com

There’s a quote on your website about buying a cheeseburger. Can you explain what you mean by that, and why it’s important to support the transition process holistically? 

It was supposed to just be a silly analogy for the simple fact that every transition comes in different colors. We help pay for things that seem “bigger” in the transition process such as hormone replacement therapy, and we also pay for things that seem to be the “beginning” of someone’s transition such as buying them a binder. Whatever is needed to affirm someone’s gender, we will help you with.

How do you raise money? How can folks support No More Dysphoria? 

Our main source of funding is me selling shirts and other merch items at my bands’ DIY shows and tours. Another way we raise money is by folks’ throwing their own benefit shows or events and then donating the proceeds to us afterwards. If anyone feels so inclined to support they can donate at paypal.me/nomoredysphoria

Besides monetary donations, how can someone support No More Dysphoria and the work that you’re doing? 

Maybe they can simply give us a like or a follow on our social media platforms!

Anything else you’d like people to know? 

We collect donations on every Hit Like a Girl tour, and will be on the road in the spring with a band called Short Fictions, so if anyone would like to connect in person, we can do so there!