Yukon Gender Gear Program
What is Gender Gear?
Gender Gear refers to clothing or prosthetics that alter a person’s physical appearance. Gender gear is often used to affirm someone’s gender identity. Gender Gear supports people in feeling more at ease in their body, comfortable in their clothing, and help others identify correct gender identity. Gender identity supports, such as gender gear, have been shown to decrease depression and anxiety in trans and nonbinary youth.
The Yukon Gender Gear Program is offered in partnership with GenderGear.ca, BYTE, Northern Voices Rising, and UrBasics. Previous funding from the Canadian Red Cross Emergency Support to Community Organizations Program and the Government of Canada allowed this program to emerge and become what it is today.
Services Offered
We distribute gender gear to all communities in the Yukon. Gender gear products include various compression garments and prosthetics used to modify bodily appearances such as binders, breast forms, trans tape, gaffs, and packers.
Want to know more about what types of gear are available and which might be the right one for you? Visit the Gender Gear Room in Whitehorse or see our guidebook for further information.
Who can access this program?
Anyone currently residing in the Yukon (including border communities) can access this program.
The Gender Gear room in Whitehorse
Not sure what gender gear is right for you? Have questions about how to find the right item, fit, or care for your gender gear?
Our Health Navigation team can show you what we currently have in stock and assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. You can also have the room to yourself to try things on in private!
Visit our space in Whitehorse anytime during our drop-in hours. If you would like to visit outside of drop-in hours, you can request a private appointment by contacting healthnav@queeryukon.com.
How to access the Yukon Gender Gear Program
You can order Gender Gear through our linked form below, or come by our space in Whitehorse to check out our Gender Gear room!
Place an order online in 3 easy steps…
Choose an item: Visit gendergear.ca or comeasyouare.com and select your product.
Submit an application for your item through the button below.
We will submit your order and follow up if we require any additional information.
Queer Yukon staff will coordinate the ordering and pick-up/delivery of your item based on your preferred method (mail or pick up in Whitehorse or Watson Lake).
Safety Considerations
Queer Yukon Society is happy to provide access to gender gear across the Yukon. However, QYS is not a healthcare provider and cannot provide medical advice. We encourage you to learn more about the risks associated with using gender gear and to contact your healthcare provider if you have more questions. Safety practices include removing Gender Gear is pain arises, wearing garments in the correct size, and giving your body frequent breaks. For your convenience, we’ve included several resources below.
Questions?
Please reach out to the email below for any questions or concerns regarding our gender gear program. Please reach out if there is an item you require that is not listed here.
Gender Gear Inquiries:
healthnav@queeryukon.com
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Any information provided through the application process is strictly confidential and will only be available to Queer Yukon staff. Information is used exclusively to manage the program and coordinate delivery of your gear. You will not be added to any mailing lists by submitting a request to this program.
Any personal & identifying information collected through this program will be deleted within three months after the order was placed.
If you have any confidentiality concerns, please let us know via the Gender Gear request form, anonymously on our Community Safety page or by emailing us at: healthnav@queeryukon.com
-
Individuals are welcome to apply on behalf of someone else living in the Yukon. Community organizations or other service providers are welcome to place confidential orders on behalf of their clients.
-
All Gender Gear items will be mailed in discreet packaging. There will be no mention of Queer Yukon Society or Gender Gear Items listed on the exterior of the package.
-
Chest binders may be returned if free of stains. This includes deodorant stains.
Due to the personal nature of other items, no other Gender Gear item may be returned.
You are welcome to request another order if you require different items and or sizes.
-
Orders typically take 3-4 weeks to arrive. Staff must first recieve the order, place the order, wait for the order to arrive in Whitehorse, and schedule delivery or pickup. Staff will do their best to keep status orders up to date.
-
If you get the wrong size, please contact healthnav@queeryukon.com to coordinate an exchange or replacement. For items such as binders, please try on without deodorant to avoid staining. For items such as underwear or packers we are unable to exchange these once they have been worn.
Origins of the Program
-
Northern Voices Rising (NVR) developed the groundwork for this program over several months.
All Genders Yukon Society (AGYS) has been supporting Trans, Two-Spirit and Non-binary people for years. They have worked at a grassroots community level to help people get access to Gender Gear whenever possible.
Queer Yukon Society (QYS) has received numerous requests for assistance with accessing Gender Gear.
-
From the GenderGear.ca website: “Founded in 1997, GenderGear.ca is a worker-owned co-operative located in Ontario, Canada. Owned-and-operated by trans and gender variant folks, we're here to make finding gender gear simple, easy, and affordable. We wear, read, and use all of the stuff we stock, and we only carry products we truly love! Learn more about us, get in touch, or go shopping now!”
-
We would like to graciously thank gendergear.ca and comeasyouare.com for helping to provide these products at a discounted rate.
Additional Information
-
Gender Gear refers to clothing or prosthetics that alter physical appearance and are often used to affirm a person’s gender identity.
-
These are kits that provide necessary supplies for intramuscular hormone injections. The kits are available in packs of 10 or 20. Each kit includes:
18G blunt fill needle
23G or 25G needle
1mL or 3mL syringe
Alcohol swabs
*Personal sharps containers can be found at Blood Ties Four Directions.
-
An article of clothing that compresses a person’s chest to help it appear more flat.
-
Breast forms are prosthetics that promote the appearance and feel of breasts.
-
A packer is a prosthetic that creates the appearance and feel of a penis. A packing strap or pouch is used to hold the packer in place.
-
A Stand-to-pee (STP) device allows people who may not otherwise be able to do so, stand up to pee.
-
A GAFF is underwear used to tuck external genitals between the legs to help the genital area appear smoother.
-
A dilator is a prosthetic that assists in relieving vaginal pain, maintaining elasticity post-surgery, or assisting with pelvic floor exercises.
-
A pump is a device that assists people in changing the size and shape of different parts of the body.
-
Makeup is a substance that can change the appearance of a person’s face or other body parts. Makeup can affirm a person’s gender and influence how others perceive a person.
Thank you to our donors!
The QYS Gender Gear program is funded by our donors! Gendergear.ca and URbasics.ca graciously provide us discounted rates to help us make the most of every dollar donated!
If you would like to contribute to our Gender Gear program, please click here!
