Horner (pictured) said the idea for this event came after they recently took the time to go on their own journey with gender to understand what gender meant for them. Photo: Lauryn Mackenzie / CHLY 101.7fm

Supporting diversity and those on gender journeys, local pride group The Coast is Queer is hosting a free clothing event with gender-affirming styles and accessories this weekend.

On November 30 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., The Coast is Queer and the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo is hosting a clothing event to offer a safe space for transgender and non-binary people to find new gender-affirming clothes.

The Transform Your Clothing event is for transgender and non-binary people to come and celebrate their authentic selves by bringing together the community through connection, fashion, and self-expression.

Co-founder of The Coast is Queer, Ash Horner came down to our studio to speak about the event.

Horner said the group was first created three years ago when they and fellow co-founder Erica Bakewell saw that there was a need for more community events for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the area.

The group hosts events such as its popular monthly “queeraoke” doing karaoke at the Quarterway Pub. The group has also organized in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Nanaimo leading a counter-rally against an anti-SOGI protest in 2023. More recently, they organized a rally at a Vancouver Island University women’s basketball team game in support of transgender athlete, Harriette Mackenzie.

Horner said the idea for this event came after they recently took the time to go on their own journey with gender to understand what gender meant for them. During this proccess they realized they wanted to do something significant for other transgender and non-binary people who also may be on their own journey.

“The basis of it was finding a space that is comfortable to go and find apparel that would affirm one's gender,” Horner said. “It's not always super comfortable walking into, you know, a shop that is male/female and you're female presenting going to the male side, it can be nerve-wracking.”

Horner said gender-affirming clothes are clothes meant to help someone express themselves and their gender, even if it’s not the same gender they were assigned at birth.

“Gender-affirming apparel refers to clothing, accessories and some undergarments that help an individual express their gender identity in a way that feels authentic and comfortable to them,” they said. “This includes items designed to align one's outward appearance with gender identity, boosting confidence and reducing gender dysphoria. So some of those things are chest binders, bras, padded bras, and different clothing styles. I believe we have some suits. We have some dresses, and then everything in between, some shoes.”

Along with having clothes available that were donated from the community, VI Binders will be at the event. They’re a Vancouver Island-based non-profit that helps people access affordable and safe gender-affirming products such as chest binders, a garment used to flatten chests.

Makeup artist Sheri Taylor will also be at the event offering free makeup tutorials. Also in attendance is clothing brand Genskee Appeal which has donated new clothing available for anyone of any gender and size. They will also be offering tailoring by donation.

Horner did not start to explore their gender until they turned 43, and they say everyone’s journey to find their authentic self and feel comfortable with their gender will be different.

“I always wanted to wear what my brother was wearing, or, you know, I didn't want to wear the church dress–I just never felt right,” they said. “As I got into my teen years, I started questioning and I remember talking a little bit about it with my sister, and as I got a little older, but there was so much stigma around being gay, and queer. It may not be safe or comfortable to explore that. So now at 43, I stepped away to kind of find myself and learn a bit more.”

Horner said everyone’s journey with gender will be different for everyone, but every journey someone takes is beautiful.

“Explore it, question it, and also don't discount anyone that might be exploring it, because we're talking on a biological level,” Horner said. “This isn't just you wake up one day and say, ‘Oh, I think I want to be a boy.’”

To support those who may be nervous about joining events hosted by The Coast is Queer, Horner said volunteers now offer to meet people outside of their events and personally walk them in.

“We'll meet you outside like personally, I will go outside and I'll introduce myself, introduce each other, and then I will take the person into ‘queeraoke’, and introduce them to everybody,” they said. “Every time it happens, they become regulars, and they really find their community.”

Horner said for the event they hope attendees get a sense of self but also a sense of community. They say this will be a safe environment for people to explore their gender, even if it's their first time.

The Transform Your Clothing event will take place at the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo at 595 Townsite Rd, on Saturday, November 30 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. More information about the event can be found on The Coast is Queer’s Facebook page.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.