Trans Man Can't Afford Name-Change, So His Starbucks Co-Workers Step In

A man has shared his joy after his co-workers gifted him a particularly heartfelt birthday gift—enough money to change his name legally.

Matthew is transgender and works at Starbucks in Michigan. After he had been full time at the chain for nearly two years, his co-workers decided to pool together and make the touching gesture on his birthday. In lieu of traditional gifts, the team members pooled their resources to contribute towards the cost of legally changing his name, a milestone Matthew has been aiming for.

"It made my day because they all came together to help me do something I've wanted to do forever," he told Newsweek. "I was so blown away."

The cost of legally changing your name in the U.S. can vary depending on location. Costs involved in the process can include filing fees that can range from $20 to $500 depending on the state; additional charges for updating important documents like a passport or driver's license; and, sometimes, publication costs where a notice in a local newspaper is required.

"It's not like I didn't have the money to do so, but I'm very anxious about spending my money because I was homeless for six months following moving out of my parents' house at 18," Matthew added. "The fact that they all thought of me and surprised me with it was so amazing and really put into perspective how much they all mean to me. And how much I mean to them."

Matthew shared the story on Reddit's r/MadeMeSmile subreddit where it has gained more than 74,000 upvotes and thousands of comments.

People were delighted to hear the heartwarming story and shared their reactions in the comments on the social-networking site.

"Happy Birthday Matthew! You have some mighty fine co-workers," wrote one commenter.

Another Reddit user posted: "Coworkers? Sounds to me like they're awesome friends. Either way, I would have cried (happy tears) if I were in your shoes."

Despite not having officially changed his name yet, Matthew is now embarking on the process with the help of a friend, and it is likely to happen very soon.

"I wanted to share because I was just so blown away," Matthew said. "I wanted to spread some positivity and maybe make someone else smile."

Last month, a woman shared another heartwarming gesture by co-workers when she asked her colleagues not to get huge decorations for her birthday. Instead, they surprised her with miniature birthday decorations for a low-key celebration.