Transgender Clothing Drive and Non-binary Social

By Faye Seidler

fayeseidler@gmail.com

The Red River Trans and Queer Clothing Exchange is a program that collects clothing donations from around the city, with the purpose of offering a free selection of clothes to queer and trans individuals.

This program sets up shop every Saturday between noon and 2pm at the Pride Collective and Community Center, where they display a wide array of clothes on racks and tables in a similar manner to other clothing donation centers. All of the clothing is given out free to community members, and there is a changing room for individuals to try on what they like and to see if it fits.

Anyone interested in donating clothes, volunteering in the program, or who needs to schedule a specific time to pick up or deposit items, is able to contact the program director at tremordk@hotmail.com

If someone isn’t sure if this service is for them, consider that people can look for clothes that match the gender expression they prefer without fear of being judged. A common hurdle for transgender individuals is starting a wardrobe of clothes for their identified gender, because that can be a totally nerve-wracking experience.

I know my first time shopping for female clothes I was a mess. I had no idea what I was doing and it didn’t feel safe to try anything on. That meant buying clothes without knowing my size, or even how it would fit or if it would be comfortable. This service can hopefully prevent an experience like that for others and it is a lot cheaper than just guessing with online purchases. They also have a small selection of donated binders for trans men.

Since they’re free clothes, it’s great place to experiment with your expression, whatever that may be. It is also especially good for those with a low income, or for students who may not have any income, because buying new clothes can get really expensive.

Finally, if you’re looking to donate clothes yourself, please consider the quality of the items you’re donating. Try to donate something you think someone else would be happy to wear and not just as a chance to clear out the closet. If you’re transgender and transitioning to full time, please consider donating your old clothes, because they can be super valuable for people just starting out their transition!

During the same hours that the transgender clothing drive is running at the Pride Center, Saturdays between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm, there is also the F-M Non-binary/Fluid/Nonconforming Support and Social. This group is run by the same individual who runs the clothing drive and can be contacted in the same fashion.

The group is intended for people who identify outside of the gender binary in some way. How does someone know if that’s for them? Well, they have to imagine other people seeing and treating them as male. Then they would imagine other people seeing and treating them as female. If both those scenarios made them uncomfortable, then it is possible that they identify somewhere outside of the binary. Keep in mind that that is a rudimentary explanation, but it should serve as a starting point of exploration for individuals who are unfamiliar with this identity.

Given that, this can be a really valuable group to check out if you’re non-binary or questioning and want to explore that part of yourself in a fun, social way. This group typically has activities planned for each week that range from Dungeons & Dragons tabletop roleplaying to writing workshops.

Most importantly, it offers a community for individuals who may have felt erased from the greater transgender movement, which can often still treat gender as a binary. Spaces like these can be a great place to heal from that erasure, and to start to breathe easier, by being around individuals who understand the experience and can offer perspective on it.

[Editor’s note: Faye Seidler is the North Dakota Safe Zone Project Spokeswoman]