Back to School with Transform
This post is guest written by Katie McGuire (she/her), a member of our Youth Council.
Over the summer I had the amazing opportunity to join Youth Council, and almost every week since then have come in to help style clients. Every time I volunteer it becomes more clear to me just how important Transform’s services are. I love to see parents and kids bonding over picking outfits out, and clients excitedly modeling their outfits to us. Having a styling appointment can give trans youth the confidence to explore their own unique fashion sense in a safe and supportive environment that might not be accessible at a mall or department store. It’s an experience that only Transform can offer, and that’s what makes it so special for kids in our area. While these services are crucial all year round, as we near back to school season they can take on a whole new meaning and significance.
“While back to school can be a difficult time, having a resource like Transform provides an entire support system every step of the way.”
“Whether someone decides to reinvent their style before school starts this year, or just needs a community of people that they can relate to, Transform can provide that.”
It’s important for trans youth to have clothing they feel comfortable in because it can tie heavily into mental health. Some experience gender dysphoria, defined as “distress associated with our gender, our bodies, or how those around us perceive our gender” which can make it difficult to show up to school everyday and be able to focus. On the other hand, many experience gender euphoria, which is “the feeling of comfort, certainty, joy, or excitement about your body or your identity”. This joyful feeling can happen for many different reasons, and one of them can be from having clothing they love. Having a resource like Transform that can provide specific clothing needs can help kids feel more secure when they show up to school every day and allow them to be creative with their gender expression. Feeling confident in the way you dress can often reflect on overall mental health, and that’s why coming to Transform can mean more than just having new clothes.
According to the National Retail Federation, families plan to spend an average of $239.82 on clothing and accessories for back to school. For some, this is simply not possible and can be a huge financial burden, but Transform can help with that. When a client comes in they receive an entire gender-affirming back to school wardrobe styled specifically for them for absolutely no cost. Parents have enough to worry about when it comes to paying for school supplies and other expenses, so if we can take care of the cost of clothing we’re happy to do so. And for those 6% of clients who don’t have support from their families, this might be the only place where they can get school clothes they truly feel good in. Even if a client can afford clothes, we still encourage them to come in for a styling appointment. We’re open to all trans youth regardless of their financial status.
Cincinnati is only a small portion of the tristate area, and many clients come into the shop from Kentucky, Indiana, or more rural parts of Ohio. The school environment in some of these areas is not supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, and the reality is that many students feel like their schools and peers don’t care. This is where Transform comes in. It’s not only a free closet, but also a safe space. Transform hosts community building groups for trans youth and their families every 4th Wednesday, often has events for LGBTQ+ people and allies, and we’re currently planning even more exciting things for this school year. Not every school has a GSA (gay straight alliance/gender sexuality alliance), and may not be a positive environment for students who aren’t cis and straight, but Transform offers many opportunities to connect with other LGBTQ+ people outside of the classroom.
While back to school can be a difficult time, having a resource like Transform provides an entire support system every step of the way. Whether someone decides to reinvent their style before school starts this year, or just needs a community of people that they can relate to, Transform can provide that. I can’t wait to see many clients throughout the school year and I hope that anyone who is in the area can utilize this incredible resource around back to school time, and all year round.