Hello! This is the booking request form for the Gender-Affirming Apparel (GAA) Program at Island Sexual Health. We're so glad you're here!
Please note that the GAA Program was temporarily closed during the summer pending funding. The program is now open for September & October bookings, but wait times may be longer than usual (2-4 weeks) as we catch up! Once you've filled out the form below, you'll receive an email with the online booking calendar to book a fitting appointment.
Why were we closed in the summer? The GAA Program is entirely community and grant-funded, and we were waiting on a grant from the Victoria Foundation that has allowed us to reopen. Since we've been without funding for a few months, we're currently low on/out of some sizes in the gender-affirming gear listed below (including gaffs, tucking/binding tape, packers, and binders).
Update on the GAA Program's payment model: Over the last year, the GAA Program (and Island Sexual Health as a whole) has been in a very difficult financial situation, and we've almost had to close the program permanently. To make sure the GAA Program can continue to exist, we’re transitioning to a sliding scale model. This means that whenever possible, we’re asking that folks contribute some amount of money when receiving gender-affirming apparel from the program. This will be on a sliding scale – you can choose within a range for the cost of each item. As always, your choice will be no questions asked! No need to explain the cost you choose. We’re hoping that with this model, we can keep the GAA Program open and continue offering low-barrier access to gender-affirming gear in our community.
Here are some examples of the sliding scale for different types of gender-affirming apparel:
Gaffs: $15-$35 + tax
Binders: $20-$60 + tax
Packers: $15-$35 + tax
You can choose to contribute any amount within the sliding scale that makes sense and is doable for you financially. If you can comfortably meet your basic needs, we ask that you consider paying full price for gender-affirming apparel – this will directly support the program being able to stay open, and it helps other people receive gender-affirming apparel at a reduced cost. If you aren’t able to contribute any amount for gender-affirming gear, please do let us know – we'll accommodate this whenever we can. We hope that the sliding scale model will help us continue to offer free gender-affirming apparel to youth and other people who need it.
The GAA Program currently carries:
- Bra Buds (small breast forms – adds about 2 cup sizes)
- Bralettes (including pocket bralettes compatible with Bra Buds or other breast forms)
- Binders
- Tucking and non-tucking/padded gaffs (underwear) – stay tuned for new tucking gaffs from Origami Customs!
- Tucking Kits
- Tucking/binding/packing tape – note that we are out of stock until late August
- Packers
- Packing boxers
If there's any other gender-affirming gear that you would like to see as part of this program, let us know in the form below :)
Our work takes place on the stolen territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples (today the Songhees and xʷsepsəm Nations) and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples (SȾÁUTW, W̱JOȽEȽP, BOḰEĆEN and WSIḴEM Nations). We know the gender binary was created by European colonization and continues to be enforced by colonialism, and this is very connected to the work we do. We're grateful to be here providing gender-affirming gear and supporting our community in navigating
the colonial project of gender (O'Sullivan, 2021).
Note: Anyone can access gender-affirming gear at a reduced cost through our program, or for free if needed. No paperwork or FNHA Health Benefits required.
Have any questions? Send our Gender-Affirming Apparel Program Coordinator, Syd (they/them), an email at gaa@islandsexualhealth.org!
