The program, called Elevate Queer Yolo, is aimed at LGBTQ+ youth aged 12-26 and is funded by CommuniCare Health Centers.
March 07, 2023
The program's Free Binder Project is available to all youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and live within 90 miles of Yolo County. The group promises to mail the compression devices discreetly to the young people's homes or a safe pick-up location.
According to a post on the Elevate Queer Yolo Instagram page, the program is excited about the response to their gender-affirming shopping spree and free binder project. "This shows how important and life-changing gender expression is for folks across the LGBTQ+ spectrum," the post reads.
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However, studies have shown that breast binders can be harmful. One study found that 97 percent of adult wearers experienced negative effects such as pain, muscle wasting, spine changes, rib fractures, headaches, and respiratory issues. Another study found a similar array of negative effects and showed that some health issues do not appear for years.
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No studies have been done on minors due to ethical concerns. Despite this, it is not uncommon for organizations to provide gender-confused teenage girls and young women with these potentially harmful devices without informing parents.
In the UK, trans charity Mermaids came under fire last year when it was revealed that a staff member had offered to send a binder to an undercover journalist posing as a 14-year-old girl in the charity's online chat forum. In addition, inaccurate medical advice was also offered. The incident led to a formal investigation by The Charity Commission.
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Similar schemes are offered by charities and nonprofit organizations in many countries. Point of Pride in Oregon provides free chest binders to trans people who cannot otherwise afford or safely obtain them, and the Flamingo Market in Toronto offers the same service with its BindersOUT scheme.
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Many schools and libraries across the U.S. have "transition closets" where adolescents can access binders and other transition-related gear at school, enabling them to keep their social transition a secret from their parents. However, this has led to controversy, such as in the case of a Maine school District where a social worker allegedly gave a 13-year-old a binder without her parent’s knowledge or consent, causing the parents to threaten legal action.
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The experts at St. Louis Children's Hospital gender clinic recently advised a Missouri school district to withhold information about students binding their breasts from parents. This led to a formal investigation into the Transgender Center at St. Louis after allegations of malpractice and abuse were made in a whistleblower article.
The provision of chest compression devices to minors without the knowledge or consent of parents raises serious ethical concerns, and the potential health risks of these devices cannot be ignored.
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