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A Bank Street sex shop has been handed a $260 fine after a youth purchased a “chest binder” — a sleeveless elastic garment used to flatten the chest. It costs about $40.
There’s nothing illegal about the binder. The problem is the premises. Under city bylaws, Venus Envy is licensed as an adult store and can’t serve people under 18. Even though there is a demand for products that help transgender youth affirm their gender identity, teens can’t enter the store to buy the products. It’s even unclear if those under 18 can enter the store and make a purchase if a parent or guardian is present.
Venus Envy owner Shelley Taylor says a bylaw officer told her the complainant was a parent.
Taylor says her store is the only one in Ottawa that sells products like binders and gaffs, a belt-like garment used to smooth the genital area. On an average Saturday, Taylor and her staff sell three or four gaffs and between six and eight binders.
“Do you need to have fake ID to buy something that confirms your gender? That’s good for your emotional and mental health?” asks Taylor. “Our goal is to make people comfortable and offer good service.”
Taylor believes a lot of young people come to the store because few teens have credit cards and can order online, or fear having something mailed to their home. Other teens come with their parents.
“We serve so many youth — mostly with their parents. They come from all over because we’re a trans-affirming kind of place,” says Taylor. “For us, it’s an emotional thing when we see a queer or trans kid with their parents, because they have the support that most kids don’t.”
Carling Miller, the executive director at Kind, which runs programs for LGBTTQ youth downtown and in Kanata, says some youth have to be cautious about what they tell their parents. For trans teens, controlling how they look helps to establish identity.
“It’s life-affirming. It literally saves their lives to be able to present in a way that is representative of who they are,” she says. “This situation makes it harder for young people to get these kinds of resources.”
Appearance is important to all teens, but those who are undergoing a social transition experience even more difficulties, says Laurie Rector, the director of community programs at Family Services Ottawa, which offers programs for gender creative and gender independent youth and their families.
“It’s a highly affirming part of the transition to be able to express your gender,” she says. “It’s so important for youth to have access to binders.”
When Taylor posted the news that Venus Envy had been fined on Facebook, there was an outpouring of support for the youth whose parent made the complaint.
“I’m raising a trans nephew. I’m glad that he can find binders at stores like yours,” said one message on Facebook.
Taylor has reluctantly placed a sign on the front door of the store saying customers under the age of 18 aren’t permitted in the store. She has spoken to staff at city hall, and isn’t optimistic the bylaw will change anytime soon.
Ideally, these products would be available to teens in a non-sexual environment, she says. There are some solutions to this, including running a pop-up store at another location. Kind, which already runs a “freecycle” clothing swap, is considering whether it can offer temporary space.
Meanwhile, supporters have been sending messages to Taylor with suggestions. Some have offered to buy these garments on behalf of teens who want them.
“At the very least, maybe we could organize, so if a youth goes in to buy a binder, one of us adults can pay for it, so the kid’s name is not on the bill,” read one Facebook response.
Taylor has asked the city bylaw office if teens accompanied by a parent or guardian can shop at the store. She has no had response so far.
查看原文...
There’s nothing illegal about the binder. The problem is the premises. Under city bylaws, Venus Envy is licensed as an adult store and can’t serve people under 18. Even though there is a demand for products that help transgender youth affirm their gender identity, teens can’t enter the store to buy the products. It’s even unclear if those under 18 can enter the store and make a purchase if a parent or guardian is present.
Venus Envy owner Shelley Taylor says a bylaw officer told her the complainant was a parent.
Taylor says her store is the only one in Ottawa that sells products like binders and gaffs, a belt-like garment used to smooth the genital area. On an average Saturday, Taylor and her staff sell three or four gaffs and between six and eight binders.
“Do you need to have fake ID to buy something that confirms your gender? That’s good for your emotional and mental health?” asks Taylor. “Our goal is to make people comfortable and offer good service.”
Taylor believes a lot of young people come to the store because few teens have credit cards and can order online, or fear having something mailed to their home. Other teens come with their parents.
“We serve so many youth — mostly with their parents. They come from all over because we’re a trans-affirming kind of place,” says Taylor. “For us, it’s an emotional thing when we see a queer or trans kid with their parents, because they have the support that most kids don’t.”
Carling Miller, the executive director at Kind, which runs programs for LGBTTQ youth downtown and in Kanata, says some youth have to be cautious about what they tell their parents. For trans teens, controlling how they look helps to establish identity.
“It’s life-affirming. It literally saves their lives to be able to present in a way that is representative of who they are,” she says. “This situation makes it harder for young people to get these kinds of resources.”
Appearance is important to all teens, but those who are undergoing a social transition experience even more difficulties, says Laurie Rector, the director of community programs at Family Services Ottawa, which offers programs for gender creative and gender independent youth and their families.
“It’s a highly affirming part of the transition to be able to express your gender,” she says. “It’s so important for youth to have access to binders.”
When Taylor posted the news that Venus Envy had been fined on Facebook, there was an outpouring of support for the youth whose parent made the complaint.
“I’m raising a trans nephew. I’m glad that he can find binders at stores like yours,” said one message on Facebook.
Taylor has reluctantly placed a sign on the front door of the store saying customers under the age of 18 aren’t permitted in the store. She has spoken to staff at city hall, and isn’t optimistic the bylaw will change anytime soon.
Ideally, these products would be available to teens in a non-sexual environment, she says. There are some solutions to this, including running a pop-up store at another location. Kind, which already runs a “freecycle” clothing swap, is considering whether it can offer temporary space.
Meanwhile, supporters have been sending messages to Taylor with suggestions. Some have offered to buy these garments on behalf of teens who want them.
“At the very least, maybe we could organize, so if a youth goes in to buy a binder, one of us adults can pay for it, so the kid’s name is not on the bill,” read one Facebook response.
Taylor has asked the city bylaw office if teens accompanied by a parent or guardian can shop at the store. She has no had response so far.
查看原文...
