Gender Affirming Garments
What are gender-affirming garments?
Gender affirming garments, such as binders or tucking gaffs, can help reduce gender dysphoria and promote gender euphoria. These are non-medical interventions that are comparatively low-cost and less invasive. Gender affirming garments can help us feel more comfortable in our bodies and can be a great way to explore gender presentation on your own terms!
There are many types of gender affirming garments and there are also some health considerations to keep in mind. We want you to be safe and comfortable! Learn more below. These items can be expensive, but QYRC is here to help. If you would like financial assistance in purchasing one of the items described below, please complete the form at the end of this page.
BINDING
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Binding is the practice of wearing tight garments to flatten out your chest. You might bind to feel more comfortable in your body or in your clothing, or to help others read your gender correctly.
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There are lots of different ways to bind, depending on your preference and comfortability.
You can layer shirts, starting with a tight fitting shirt. Each shirt should get looser as you layer and button-up shirts work well as a final layer.
You can wear a sports bra under a shirt or layer shirts on top of sports bras. One with higher Lycra content and better for compression.
You can wear an athletic compression shirt, typically worn to aid in muscle recovery. They’re usually made from spandex or Lycra. These usually work best for those with less chest tissue.
Binders offer the most compression out of all these methods. These are sold widely by many companies, but can be spendy. Check out our financial assistance form and read through safety tips for binding safely.
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Make sure your binder is the correct size. Use our sizing guide below or the sizing guide provided by the binder supplier to ensure the correct size.
Smaller isn’t better. Binders are already designed to be tight, so getting a smaller one can cause injury and discomfort.
It is not recommended to bind with elastic bandages, ace bandages, duct tape, or saran wrap. Binding with any of these can restrict your ability to breathe and move properly, and can even cause injury.
Try to limit wearing your binder to 8-12 hours at a time. Giving your body a break while you’re sleeping is a great way to prevent overuse.
Make the most of your break! Practice breathing exercises and do some stretching to avoid discomfort from binding.
Avoid wearing a binder when exercising or doing strenuous physical activity. Instead, use an alternative like a sports bra or a thin undershirt.
Regularly wash your binder to avoid irritation. Binders should be air-dried only to avoid shrinking, wear-and-tear and loss of compression.
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Sizes vary by company. Be sure to follow the sizing guide listed on the website you are purchasing from.
When sizing, be sure to measure the fullest area of your chest. If you fall between sizes, it’s best to go with the larger size.
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This is not a comprehensive list, but here are some potential options to get you started:
Spectrum Outfitters
TUCKING
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Tucking involves hiding external genitalia so they are not visible in tight clothing. You might tuck to feel more comfortable in your body or in your clothing, or to help others read your gender correctly.
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Use your fingers to locate the body cavity where the testicles* can be pushed in. You can use two or three fingers to guide them up to the canal. If there is any pain or discomfort at all, stop and take a break.
The penis* can be tucked back between the legs. Everything can be held into place with a gaff or other garment.
*This is used to acknowledge that there may be many different words used to describe this body part.
More information on how to tuck can be found here: https://www.pointofpride.org/tucking
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Gaffs are a special type of underwear that can be used to hold a tuck in place, but they can also be used without tucking and still help to achieve a flatter look.
Swimsuit bottoms or underwear made from Spandex or microfiber blends are good alternatives for gaffs. Cotton can be a good inexpensive material, but may stretch out and lose shape over time.
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Nothing should ever be painful. If things hurt, take time to readjust and, if possible, take a break!
Make sure to wash your gaff after each wear and allow it to air-dry.
Where we tuck tends to be a place where we sweat a lot, but it’s important to keep skin cool and dry. Check for any open or irritated skin before and after tucking to avoid chafing or skin infections.
Tucking may affect fertility. For those who may want to have biological children, it’s recommended that you tuck sparingly and talk to your healthcare provider about other steps you can take.
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This is not a comprehensive list, but here are some potential options to get you started:
PACKING
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Packing involves using material to create a bulge in your pants. You might tuck to feel more comfortable in your body or in your clothing, or to help others read your gender correctly.
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There are many different types of packers. Some folks will use socks when they first get started with packing as it can be easy and accessible. Packers are most often made of TPR (a type of soft, squishy plastic) or silicone. Silicone are typically more expensive, but will last longer. There are also packers made of foam and cloth. You can find packers that are anatomical and non-anatomical.
In addition to standard packers meant to create a bulge, there are also stand-to-pee packers. These can function as packers while also helping you to pee while standing up.
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Once you have a packer, you are going to want something that will keep the packer secure throughout the day.
Packing harnesses are a set of straps that are worn around your body. Some are just worn around your waist, similar to a belt, while others have additional leg straps for extra security.
Packing pouches are small cloth sacks that hold your packer and then attach to your underwear. The pouch may attach to your underwear with safety pins or very strong magnets.
Packing underwear is underwear specifically designed to hold a packer, usually in a small pouch in the underwear. There may be different types of underwear to be used with different types of packers.
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Packers can be made of different materials, so ensure you are not allergic to the material of the packer before purchasing.
Regular clean your packer following the cleaning instructions that come with the packer.
If you notice any irritation or charing, be sure to give your body a break.
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This is not a comprehensive list, but here are some potential options to get you started:
Still have questions? Hillary Magallanez, Program Specialist for Triple Point LGBTQ+ support, is available as a resource to you for any questions you may have about binding, tucking, or packing. QYRC works closely with Triple Point and their host organization, Akin, and they are local to Vancouver.
You can reach Hillary at hillary.magallanez@akinfamily.org
If you are in need of a gender-affirming garment but are unable to purchase one yourself, QYRC can help!
We will order the requested item on your behalf and ship to an address of your choosing. When completing the form, please include detailed information about your request such as your preference for size, color, and vendor. Please include at least one contact method in case of questions and so that we can update you on the status of your order. We want to ensure that we are getting exactly what you want!
Scan the QR code or click on the link below to complete the form:
