Ian Giles is pretty darn awesome. They are transgender, queer, and proud. It was an absolute pleasure to talk with them. They are the founder and owner of a non-profit called Genderbands, based in Orem, Utah. It provides grants to people who want to go through gender affirming surgery, which is very expensive.

Genderbands also provides binders, free of charge. This is something I’ve been learning about lately. Binders are kind of like sports bras on steroids. They are a safe way to bind breasts to make them flat or near flat. Some people bind incorrectly—using ace bandages or other things—which is actually very dangerous. Access to proper binders is important.
We discussed so many things, so just listen to the whole episode. But there is one thing that I want to emphasize. Every person is different. Including people in the transgender community. So while one person may be perfectly happy with wearing a binder, another person may desperately want, and need, reassignment surgery. Don’t judge anyone.
And as a final word, just be kind. Be kind and respectful to everyone, no matter how they choose to show up.

Ian’s nonprofit, Genderbands, works to help transgendered individuals afford transition-related costs. If you or someone you know needs assistance, check it out!

Genderbands also provides free binders and education on how to use them. Please don’t injure yourself with DIY binding. Bind safely.

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